Are You Stopping Physio Too Soon?

Let’s be honest—most people don’t complete their full rehab plan.

You book a physio appointment, do a couple of sessions, the pain eases up, and you think, “Great, I’m all sorted!” But a few weeks later, the pain creeps back, or worse—you tweak the same injury again.

Sound familiar?

We all lead busy lives. We want to feel better quickly, get back to normal, and move on. Taking shortcuts feels like a time and money saver in the short term, but when it comes to injury rehab, skipping steps can end up costing more time, more money, and more frustration in the long run.

Research shows that stopping physio too soon can leave you more vulnerable to reinjury, even if you feel fine in the moment. Recovery isn’t just about getting rid of pain—it’s about restoring full strength, mobility, and resilience so the injury doesn’t come back.

At Quay Kinetics Physio in Exeter, we use a structured, research-backed approach to ensure you get back to full strength, not just back to "okay." Here’s what the evidence says about why rehab should follow a clear timeline—and why skipping steps could mean more problems down the line.

Phase 1: Pain Relief & Early Movement

🔹 Goal: Settle pain and get you moving again.
🔹 Timeframe: Usually 1-3 sessions, depending on severity.

At this stage, our focus is reducing pain, calming inflammation, and restoring movement. We use a combination of:
✅ Hands-on treatment (massage, joint mobilisations, taping, or dry needling).
✅ Pain-relief strategies (heat, ice, or bracing if needed).
✅ Gentle movement exercises to keep your joints and muscles active.

Common mistake: Thinking you’re "fixed" just because the pain has improved.

💡 Real-world example: Imagine you tweak your back. You come in for two sessions at our Exeter physiotherapy clinic, and after some hands-on treatment and gentle movement drills, it feels much better. But if we don’t address the muscle imbalances or stiffness and deconditioning that caused the problem, you might find yourself back in the clinic a few months later with the same injury.

Phase 2: Rebuilding Strength & Stability

🔹 Goal: Restore strength, stability, and movement control so the injury doesn’t come back.
🔹 Timeframe: Typically 3-6 weeks, depending on the injury.

This phase is where true recovery happens. Once pain settles, we focus on:
✅ Strength training to rebuild muscles and prevent imbalances.
✅ Stability and control exercises (especially important for shoulders, knees, and ankles).
✅ Sport- or activity-specific rehab to get you back to what you love.

Common mistake: Returning to full activity before regaining full strength and coordination.

💡 Real-world example: Let’s say you’ve had an ankle sprain. After a couple of physio sessions at Quay Kinetics Physio in Exeter, you can walk without pain. But if you don’t strengthen the muscles and retrain your balance, your ankle stays unstable—making it much more likely you’ll roll it again.

Phase 3: Prevention & Long-Term Resilience

🔹 Goal: Keep you injury-free with long-term strength, mobility, and movement control.
🔹 Timeframe: Ongoing, with check-ins every few months.

You’ve done the hard work—your pain is gone, and your strength is back. Now, it’s about keeping it that way.

At this stage, we focus on:
✅ Tailored strength and conditioning programs to prevent reinjury.
✅ Mobility drills to maintain healthy movement patterns.
✅ Check-ins every few months to fine-tune your rehab and ensure continued progress.

Common mistake: Thinking you never need to do rehab exercises again.

💡 Real-world example: You’ve had a hamstring strain. Your rehab went well, and you’re back to running. But if you stop strength training altogether, that muscle might not be as resilient as it needs to be—leading to another strain down the line.

How to Know If You’re Ready to Stop Physio

Not every injury needs months of rehab—some improve quickly, while others require a structured plan over time. The key is knowing when you’re actually ready to stop.

Before you discharge yourself, ask:
✔️ Can I do all my normal activities without hesitation or compensation?
✔️ Do I have full strength, mobility, and control in the injured area?
✔️ Have I addressed the underlying cause of the problem?

If you’re unsure, it’s worth checking in with your physio rather than guessing. The goal isn’t to keep you coming back forever—it’s to make sure you leave fully recovered and ready for whatever life throws at you.

Final Thoughts: It’s Your Recovery—Make It Count

Stopping rehab too soon doesn’t just slow down healing—it can lead to setbacks later on. Our approach at Quay Kinetics Physio in Exeter isn’t about booking unnecessary sessions—it’s about making sure you get the right amount of treatment to fully recover.

If you’re unsure where you are in your recovery journey, we’re happy to help. Book a review session, and we’ll check whether you’re ready to move on—or if there’s anything else we can fine-tune to keep you strong and pain-free.

📅 Ready to make sure your recovery is complete? Book an appointment at Quay Kinetics Physio today.