Physical therapy is a practice with wide ranging impact on your health and lifestyle, and knowing how to find the right physical therapist can be tricky. It's not a one-size-fits-all kind of care. The reasons for receiving treatment can vary widely, and factors beyond medical needs can add to the confusion. That's why this list of eight influencing factors can help guide you in your search for the right therapist.
1. Is Your Therapist an Active Listener?
Active listening is a skill which focuses on the listener putting aside their own viewpoints to empathize and understand the speaker's point of view. It focuses on not only hearing the words that are spoken, but also on processing the words in a detailed way with a focus on retaining information. Your physical therapist will be a guide, and you may expect that they are going to do a lot of the talking. However, in order to get to the point of giving guidance they must first understand why you are receiving treatment. It's about your needs, which is why active listening throughout your treatment is important and effective.
So how do you recognize an active listener? An easy place to start is by being aware of who is doing the talking. It's difficult to listen to someone else if they aren't speaking, so take a moment to think about if you are getting opportunities to say what is on your mind. An active listener is not completely silent, but the content of their words can be a sign of their listening. Active listeners may repeat what you said, which is a way for them to confirm what they heard and a sign that they are paying attention. Your therapist may show active listening by creating opportunities for you to speak through asking questions. This is especially significant if they are asking contextual follow-up questions based on what you have said instead of following a script of standard questions. Body language is another easy way to recognize an active listener. You don't need to be a FBI profiler to recognize significant movements. Is your therapist taking the time to finish doing necessary tasks before starting critical conversation? Are they focusing on your movements when you are showing them an issue? Are they making eye contact? Active listening can be reflected in your treatment plan as well. Physical therapy takes time and effort, meaning multiple visits may be needed. Is your physical therapist asking about your progress, and are they making necessary adaptations to be sure you are on the most appropriate and effective path forward?
2. Is Your Therapist Adaptive and Aware?
As new research is conducted, human knowledge in the medical field grows. Advancements are common and allow for new and more effective treatments to be developed. Physical therapy can have such a wide range of treatment options, so having a physical therapist who commits to learning and using adaptive techniques is a huge benefit. The dedication shown in taking time to stay current with the latest medical theories, tools, and progress is a clue that your physical therapist is driven and passionate. Having a broad and fresh range of expertise can help to ensure that your treatment plan is the most effective for your unique needs. Beyond that, a physical therapist who is aware of new treatments can use their knowledge to adapt to any new circumstances which may impact your care.
Personal preferences play a role in any relationship, highlighting the importance for you to understand what you are looking for as the patient. Why are you looking to receive physical therapy? What are your goals and expectations? We encourage you to start with open and honest communication about your care, which can include having a conversation about what kind of methodology your therapist uses. Let them know if you are comfortable with trying experimental treatments, or why you feel certain methods aren't effective for you. Ask your therapist if they are involved in continuing education programs, or learning a specialty. Consider what your unique needs are to have a conversation about expectations for your care.
3. Does Your Physical Therapist Inspire You?
Physical therapy is about more than a series of office visits with a therapist. As the patient, you are responsible for making changes and following through with your treatment plan outside of appointment times. For example, you might build a habit of taking a few minutes to stretch every day and make changes to a home or work environment such as investing in a more supportive pillow or a better chair. Finding the motivation to make changes happen and new habits grow is challenging, and the good news is that you are not alone in this struggle. Your physical therapist is there to provide support and assistance, though styles may differ between therapists and your personal preferences. Consider having a conversation with your therapist about what motivates you. Do you need a clinical approach or human connection? What kind of encouragement works best for you? Do you understand why you are receiving the recommended exercises or changes? Do you need additional external resources? How can your therapist inspire you to follow through with continued efforts toward improvement?
4. Do You Require a Specialized Skillset?
Special skills can be important for focused issues or complex problems, and not all physical therapists have the same knowledge. Some therapists have additional training and education for specific types of treatment, or a large amount of experience dealing with select patient types. Do you need someone who can work with hands or legs, necks or hips? What about someone who is attuned to working with athletes or performers? Are you receiving therapy due to an unexpected injury, and how recently did it occur? Is there a specific activity you are working towards improving in or being able to do? These are some examples of factors that can help to determine if your physical therapist has the right amount of training and experience to be the best fit for your needs.
5. What's the Big Picture?
Sometimes small details can make the biggest difference, especially in your health. To maximize the quality of your care, it's a good idea for your physical therapist to get a baseline idea of the entirety of your health and history. Are there any seemingly unrelated issues that could have an impact on your treatment plan? Your therapist's ability to see the whole picture of your life might help to prevent setbacks in your treatment caused by underlying issues being exacerbated. Some therapists will take a proactive approach by asking you questions via paperwork or during sessions, other therapists will rely on you to make them aware of crucial knowledge. Be thoughtful and thorough in your information, and keep your therapist updated if something new comes up. Consider if you have any other medical conditions such as Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, diabetes, arthritis, or anything else that physically could interfere with treatment. Non-physical conditions can also have a significant effect, so tell your physical therapist about mental conditions or current stressors as well. Changes to your personal life can lead to changes in your therapy outcomes even though they seem like unrelated events. For example, getting a new job could mean that you are developing new physical habits. Maybe you didn't realize that you are standing more often in the new job, and now are experiencing increased knee or back pain. Your therapist can help you to recognize the cause of the change as your changed work environment, leading into sessions which work on better posture while standing, and your therapist may help guide you to find more supportive shoes. Awareness on a larger scale can be a key component to your success!
6. Does Your Physical Therapist Have Experience?
Experience levels vary greatly between therapists and can be a factor to consider when selecting a physical therapist. Depending on personal preference and your reasons for obtaining physical therapy, you may need a certain level of experience. There are a few different kinds of experience to consider, including amount of time as a physical therapist, direct experience in treating a specific kind of issue, and even a therapist's own personal experiences. A therapist who has more recently begun their career may have more experience in using new methods of treatment. Someone with more years of experience may be more skilled at identifying underlying issues or may be faster when adapting to changes. Specialty skills or experience in treating a certain type of patient may be useful if you have a more specific need. Personal experience can make a therapist more empathetic or provide a stronger connection, as well as offering a more innate understanding of the issue resulting in a more effective plan. A therapist who actively participates in activities similar to your activities also can give an in depth understanding of what your physical requirements are to return to those activities.
7. Are There Healthcare System Limitations?
The healthcare system has restrictions and stipulations which often guide choice in providers. Your healthcare insurance may not be accepted at all locations, and sometimes In-Network vs Out-Of-Network can drastically change cost of services or put a limit on number of visits with a physical therapist. Specific treatment options may be limited depending on your insurance as well. Insurance has also been decreasing the reimbursement rates and therefore larger companies are driving the therapists to be documenting throughout the session, or to shorten the length of the sessions to squeeze in more appointments, which overall decreases the amount of one-on-one focus the therapist can have with their patients. The good news is that alternate options can exist! Fee-for-service based physical therapy businesses like Physio Flows can give you back control over your treatment plan tailored to you and not to your insurance company.
8. Is Your Physical Therapist Available?
Booking an appointment to receive physical therapy should be easy, yet scheduling conflicts can often complicate matters. Finding out if your therapist has openings at consistent times is a good place to start. Depending on your schedule, you may need to take time off work or arrange transportation. If your physical therapist is located inside a larger facility, their times may be directly influenced by the main facility which can make scheduling even harder. This delicate balance of schedules is easily interrupted, sometimes resulting in large gaps between sessions and delays to your improvement. Ask questions about the scheduling process. What are the options for scheduling, such as method of scheduling, locations and location hours? Are there expectations regarding cancellation policies, rescheduling and billing schedules? How full is the schedule, who oversees scheduling and how far in advance should you book your next appointment? What is the minimum length of time an appointment requires, and do they have early/late arrival policies? How do they handle questions/messages outside of appointment times? Keep in mind that some scheduling questions may be best asked after your first assessment, once your physical therapist has outlines a treatment plan.
Want to get started right away? Physio Flows offers a wide range of appointments, including create-your-own sessions! Check out the link below to see if Physio Flows has physical therapy that is the right fit for you!