Why Following Your Home Exercise Program (HEP) is Crucial for Recovery

By: Laura Tallman, DPT, CMTPT, CSCS, CKTP

When you begin physical therapy, your therapist will provide in-clinic treatments and assign a home exercise program (HEP) tailored to your needs. It’s tempting to view this as optional or less important than your therapy sessions, but the truth is, your HEP is a vital part of your recovery process.

Here are five reasons why sticking to your home exercises is essential for maximizing the benefits of physical therapy:

1. Reinforces In-Clinic Treatments
   Physical therapy sessions are packed with hands-on care and targeted exercises that focus on your recovery. But real progress happens when you consistently reinforce these efforts at home. The exercises prescribed by your therapist are designed to build on the work done in the clinic, helping to strengthen muscles, improve mobility, and support healing between appointments. Skipping your home exercises can slow down your progress.

2. Speeds Up Recovery
   Recovery from injury or surgery isn’t instantaneous—it’s a process that requires dedication. Performing your home exercises regularly helps keep you moving forward in that process. Strengthening muscles, improving flexibility, and enhancing balance through your HEP all contribute to faster healing. When you follow your HEP, you’re giving your body the tools it needs to heal and regain function, helping you start living life pain free sooner.

3. Prevents Re-Injury
   Completing your home exercises can help prevent future injuries. By consistently strengthening weakened areas and correcting imbalances, you reduce the risk of re-injury. For example, if your injury was due to poor posture or muscle imbalances, your HEP will focus on correcting these issues to prevent them from recurring. Without this continued strengthening and correction, you’re more likely to experience setbacks or re-injury after completing therapy.

4. Builds Long-Term Habits
   Physical therapy isn’t just about addressing your current pain or injury—it’s about setting you up for long-term health. Your HEP fosters good habits that, if maintained, can improve your overall quality of life. Sticking to your exercises helps you stay active, maintain strength, and prevent future problems.

5. Overcoming Common Barriers
   It’s understandable that following a home exercise program can be challenging. Time constraints, discomfort, or simply forgetting can make it difficult to stay on track. However, there are ways to overcome these obstacles:

   • Set Reminders: Use your phone to set daily reminders to complete your exercises.

   • Track Your Progress: Keep a log of each session, so you can see how far you’ve come.

   • Break It Down: If your HEP feels overwhelming, break the exercises into smaller sessions throughout the day.

   • Stay Motivated: Remember that each exercise you complete is a step toward better mobility and less pain.

Following your home exercise program is not just a suggestion—it’s a critical part of your physical therapy treatment. By reinforcing in-clinic work, speeding up recovery, preventing re-injury, and building long-term habits, your HEP ensures that you achieve the best possible results. Remember, the effort you put in at home matters!

We look forward to seeing you in our clinic and know you will be diligent about following your home exercise program.

Start today, reach out. Call us: 443.906.1510.