How Long Does Physical Therapy Take?

Published on: June 24, 2025

How long is physical therapy? That depends on many factors. For most people recovering from injury or surgery, physical therapy lasts between 6 and 8 weeks. But that’s just an average. Some recover more quickly, while others may require several months of ongoing care and monitoring.

The actual timeline depends on your condition, its severity, your age, general health, and your level of commitment to the treatment plan. Acute injuries, such as mild sprains, may require only 3 or 4 weeks. Chronic pain or post-surgical rehab often takes longer to resolve fully.

A key part of the process is the initial evaluation. Your physical therapist will assess range of motion, strength, and mobility. Based on this, they’ll build a treatment plan tailored to your needs, complete with a rough estimate for how long physical therapy may take.

Session Lengths and Frequency

So, how long is a physical therapy session? Most last between 30 and 60 minutes. More complex cases—like neurological rehab or post-operative care—may stretch to 75 or even 90 minutes, though these longer sessions are typically the exception, not the rule.

The number of weekly sessions varies, but appointments are typically held 2 to 3 times per week. Some patients, especially after major surgeries like ACL repair or joint replacement, may start with daily sessions that gradually decrease as mobility and strength improve.

Condition-Specific Timelines

The duration of physical therapy also depends on the type of injury or condition. For example, mild lower back pain often resolves in 4 to 6 weeks with focused PT. In contrast, recovery from spinal surgery can last 3 to 6 months or longer in complex cases.

Knee injuries vary, too. Meniscus tears might improve in 6 to 8 weeks, but total knee replacement often requires 12 weeks of therapy. An ACL reconstruction may demand 6 to 9 months before the patient returns to full sports activity with confidence and safety.

Fracture rehab depends on the bone involved and any complications. A wrist fracture might need 6 weeks of therapy after the cast is removed. A broken femur or multiple fractures could require several months, especially if mobility and weight-bearing are impacted.

Your Role in Recovery

One of the biggest factors affecting how long physical therapy takes is you. Patients who follow home exercise programs, attend appointments consistently, and take an active role in their recovery often recover faster than those who skip sessions or fail to stay engaged.

Healing doesn’t always happen in a straight line. It’s normal to see fast gains early, then hit a plateau. When this happens, your therapist may modify your plan to push past the stall. This adaptive approach helps many stay on track despite temporary setbacks.

Therapy is usually complete when you’ve hit key goals—reduced pain, increased range of motion, restored strength, and improved function. Discharge happens once you’re able to perform daily tasks safely or can manage further progress through home-based work.

Beyond Injuries: Chronic and Neurological Cases

People dealing with long-term conditions like arthritis, fibromyalgia, or post-stroke deficits often require more prolonged therapy. In these cases, therapy might not “end” in the traditional sense but instead shift toward ongoing management or occasional tune-ups.

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, stroke survivors often need months to years of therapy. It depends on the part of the brain affected and how quickly therapy begins after the event. Early, consistent care often improves outcomes.

Pediatric therapy can also be long-term. Kids with developmental delays, cerebral palsy, or genetic disorders might need years of intervention as they grow. Sessions are usually shorter—around 30 minutes—and often involve play-based activities to encourage movement.

Insurance and Access Considerations

When wondering, “How long does physical therapy take?”, health insurance can play a role. Many plans cap the number of covered sessions per year, often between 20 and 30 visits. Some policies allow more if medically necessary, but pre-authorization and documentation may be required.

This means it’s essential to maximize each session. If you’re limited by insurance, you and your therapist can prioritize the most important goals and build an effective home program to continue making progress outside the clinic setting.

Other Factors That Impact Therapy Duration

Posture issues, ergonomics, and repetitive strain injuries from work or lifestyle habits often take 6 to 10 weeks to correct. These issues tend to build over years, so it makes sense that improvement isn’t instant. Still, proper education and support can accelerate change.

Athletes may undergo more intense but focused rehabilitation. A minor muscle strain might require 2 to 4 weeks, while tendonitis could take 8 to 12. Sport-specific training is often added late in the rehab process to ensure readiness and avoid re-injury on return to play.

Virtual or telehealth physical therapy is also growing. These remote sessions tend to last 30 to 45 minutes. For many conditions, studies show outcomes are comparable to in-person care, especially when patients are motivated and follow through at home.