Could I get better by just doing the exercises that my physiotherapist recommends?

Physiotherapy is in no way equivalent to just providing exercise programs. People with minor injuries might recover with just an exercise program, but most patients respond better with exercises combined with physical treatments. Physiotherapists are healthcare professionals with an in-depth knowledge of anatomy and are trained to facilitate movements by freeing up bones and soft tissues that are “stuck”. In reality, not all orthopedic conditions are treated the same way. With some form of back pain, exercising could actually make it worse just by moving the back in the wrong direction. The same can be said about most joints, what works for one person may not work for you.

Furthermore, people suffering from orthopedic conditions go through different phases of healing. A progression of difficulty is needed at each phase to ensure that structures that need work are being constantly  challenged. Generic exercise programs are simply not customized to everyone’s needs and do not necessarily address all physical limitations that are present.