Twenty-Minute Workout

Thank you for the responses.

Most treatments are tailored individually, others are tailored for maximum reimbursement.  

The intention of the article was more about outcomes than actual time spent in therapy.  If we take the time example and apply it to surgery would it mean that the longer the surgery took, the better the results? And would it matter if one was ambulatory or not before the surgery? No. We look at the outcome of the surgery, was it successful for the patient.

The same can be applied to physical therapy.    

I think you've intertwined a few of concepts here - all merit discussion.

In terms of the 20-minute workout, I agree with Lisa in that this concept applies to healthy individuals.  Physical therapists are treating patients with some sort of deficit.  Completely different discussion.

An overarching goal should always be to make the patients as independent as possible, including them taking ownership of aspects of their recovery when appropriate.

If you "thoroughly exhaust a patient in 15 minutes" who has 3-75 minute therapy sessions each day, either the plan of care is unrealistic or you are not using wisdom in planning the treatment time.

The underlying current here is that the duration and frequency of physical therapy treatments should be individually tailored for each patient, his injury, and specific circumstances.  Always a good reminder.

I think the 20-min workout is aimed towards people who are somewhat active throughout the day- for people who walk at work, who drive to work, who go grocery shopping.  For patients at a rehab center who sit stationary or stay in bed for the majority of the day, 20 minutes of exercise is not enough.