Physical Therapy
One of my favorite questions of all time is: “What do you think Physical Therapy is?” – and when I’m asking new/prospective patients that, I tend to get some VERY different answers. Obviously, these answers are sources from each individual’s prior experiences/biases with Physical Therapy, and sometimes people can’t even give me a real answer. If you visit the American Physical Therapy Association’s (APTA) website, you’ll see this as the vision for the field: “Transforming society by optimizing movement to improve human experience.”
We are human movement experts that have an array of knowledge and tools to identify movement dysfunction and provide the necessary stimulus to create lasting and beneficial changes to the human body.
In a nutshell, we are human movement experts that have an array of knowledge and tools to identify movement dysfunction and provide the necessary stimulus to create lasting and beneficial changes to the human body. Whether you’re recovering from a surgery, dealing with shoulder pain, or experiencing a decline/loss of function — Physical Therapy is right for you!
Through my journey in life, I have had enough experiences, as both a patient and clinician, to be able to understand the difference between what “great” and “good” Physical Therapy is. Side note – there is also a version of “bad” Physical Therapy, but I really only care about the difference between “good” and “great”.
“Good” Physical Therapy
Minimal time spent with primary therapist
Lots of companies use PT assistants (PTAs), aides, or techs to work with patients while the primary therapist doesn’t treat them for follow ups or a majority of their session.
Usage of modalities to decrease pain
Passive treatments like moist heat, TENS, E-Stim, ultrasound are primarily utilized to help alter pain signals in the body, but don’t have much efficacy for cellular change at the molecular level that correlates to functional/subjective improvements.
Majority of treating clinicians are new grads
Not to hate on new grads, (we were all there at one point), but let’s face it – they’re just not experts. And if it’s your health and your decision, why would you want to be treated by a noob rather than an expert?
Limited space to move/lack of equipment
Crowded areas, lots of other patients around, and limited variability in constraints/restraints to performing movement all decrease overall experience with treatment sessions.
You don’t get results!
Let’s be honest, healthcare field is a results oriented business. With PT, you either help people feel and move better, or you don’t! If you’re not getting results, or not happy with your care – its always your decision to seek alternative routes of care.
“Great” Physical Therapy
Direct one-on-one care
A complete oversight of your plan of care by a Doctor of Physical Therapy that can confidently help you reach your goals, and help you enjoy your experience doing it.
Delivery of manual therapy
The ability to use our hands as clinicians cannot be understated. I feel as though the value that we bring the table with our knowledge and hands on technical skills helps to elicit the greatest changes in human movement. Hands on manual therapy is guaranteed with every treatment session.
Expert level care
Skilled Physical Therapy that is delivered by a veteran clinician in the field who has years of experience/expertise.
Environment that’s built to optimize human movement
Minimal distractions, little clutter, space to move, variety of exercise equipment/devices to challenge patients to move better.
Positive results and experience
The great ones get their patients to hit their goals, feel better, and enjoy their experience so much that they would never recommend/go anywhere else for Physical Therapy.