Why “corrective exercises” in physical therapy fall short

Back when I was in physical therapy school, I also worked as a strength and conditioning coach with athletes at Northeastern University. Part of our job was to include “corrective” exercises in every training session to address mobility limitations or movement issues. These were low-intensity stretches commonly seen in physical therapy, mobility drills, and other movements that athletes did as part of their warmup.

The idea was solid: reduce the risk of injury by fixing underlying issues. But with 15 years of experience now, I’ve realized that this approach wasn’t as effective as we thought.

The issue with these types of exercises is that they are often performed at an intensity that is too low to produce significant results. Whether you’re a competitive athlete or a recreational gym-goer, your body is used to exerting significant effort when you play, train, or compete. To be effective, corrective exercises need to match that intensity. Your body adapts to effort, not passive movements.

At Cohen Health and Performance, we approach corrective exercises differently. We design customized corrective exercises tailored to each individual. For our physical therapy patients, these are incorporated into their daily routines as “daily essentials” or performed independently before exercise. For our training clients, these correctives are strategically woven into warmups or the training session itself.

But here’s the thing: the best corrective exercise is simply exercise done correctly.

When you perform any exercise with proper technique and enough intensity to challenge your body, it becomes “corrective.” Progress happens when the body is forced to adapt, whether that’s by increasing resistance, moving faster, working through a broader range of motion, or training in a fatigued state.

A strong body is a resilient body—especially when it’s strong through a wide range of motion and capable of handling stress in various conditions. That’s why mastering foundational lifts and progressing them step by step is far more effective than running through a long list of low-effort exercises.

Take the barbell deadlift, for example. It’s a fantastic exercise that can double as a “corrective” for athletes with hip mobility issues or back pain. It challenges core, glute, and hamstring strength while teaching the body how to create intra-abdominal pressure to protect the lower back. It might take time to safely progress to heavier weights, but the payoff is immense: a back that’s strong, resilient, and ready to handle stress.

Watch our Deadlift Tutorial below for tips on how to perform this powerful lift safely and effectively.


We also emphasize high-level movement quality in the end stages of rehab. For athletes, this means testing their ability to maintain excellent form and strength, even under fatigue. This is a critical step to ensure they’re fully prepared to return to their sport or activity.

Check out the video below to see how we approach end-stage rehab for athletes.


If you’re ready to move better, feel stronger, and get back to doing what you love, let’s make it happen. Schedule an evaluation with one of our expert Doctors of Physical Therapy today. Click here to get started.

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