To Do Before Choosing a Physical Therapist: Rehabilitation is an important element on the way to recovery from surgery or an injury. The problem is that there are so many professionals out there that promise the best services in physical rehabilitation. On the flipside, only a handful of them have what it takes to get you better, and in a comfortable manner. Deciding on the best physical therapist to use can be very hard. That is why this article focuses on the things you ought to do when deciding on the therapist to use.
- Ensure they are certified
The first thing you need to do even before you start looking for a physical therapist is to focus only on the certified professionals. The American Physical Therapy Association advises that the most important thing you have to do prior to picking a therapist is to make sure that he or she is licensed as a physical therapist.
For them to be allowed to practice, physical therapists are required to have a degree from recognized physical therapy programs, and should also have completed an approved national licensure examination. While providing the service, the therapist may work with an assistant. The physical therapy assistants must also be certified and qualified professionals.
- Do your research
Now that you understand the importance of choosing a certified therapist, you need to do further research on the certified therapists that you are considering. You need to begin by understanding that different outpatient clinics offer different specialization like sports medicine, neck and back strain, as well as joint replacement. The physical therapists here will be required to have specialized skills, while also having additional certification in other areas. Specialization ranges from geriatric patient therapy to pediatric care.
With larger clinics, you will get various treatments which have been segmented in various offices. Such clinics might have various locations for the various services they offer. For example, the clinic specializing in geriatric therapy might be in a different location from that offering occupational therapy. It is, however, not uncommon for all the different treatments to be offered under one roof.
- Choose someone you can get along with
Another very important thing you need to do is to make sure that you pick a physical therapist that you feel comfortable working with. Always remember that working with a physical therapist will be a partnership which involves constant dialogue between you and the therapist. Therefore, you need a therapist that you have a great rapport with; someone who you feel comfortable opening up to.
Patients are responsible for their own healing process. Your chances of a full recovery will be greater if you have a strong and trustful relationship with your therapist. You should feel comfortable and confident following their advice. The best therapist offering treatment training wellness Boston is the one that promotes honest and open communication.
- Know who you will be seeing
With larger clinics, you will not be working with the same physical therapist all the time. You will at times have to work with other therapists. This will depend on the time you arrive. It is crucial that you know the therapists that you will be seeing throughout your treatment. Ask for the list of the therapists and learn more about them. If you prefer one of them, don’t be afraid to ask if you can stick with him/her throughout the treatment.
Whether you are working with one or several physical therapists, you have to ensure that you are getting full attention from them. The last thing you want is for the physical therapist to be unavailable or to keep running around tensely or distractedly between patients. If you ever feel uncomfortable during treatment or exercise, always voice your concern.
- Ensure the therapist has great manual skills
Physical therapy involves a lot of mobility. For some movements, the therapist will need to move your limbs with his/her hands. This is done to improve function which cannot be attained with strengthening alone. If the therapist has poor manual skills, he/she will not only hinder your progress but could also end up hurting you. Take some time to learn about the experience of your physical therapist and the number of people he/she has helped over the years. Has he/she worked with anyone with a similar condition to yours?
- Ask for at-home recovery training guide
To achieve speedy recovery, you should not just exercise while at the clinic. You need to exercise on your own. To be an active participant in the rehabilitation process, you need a clinic that provides you with instructions on how to work out from home. You should get well-developed and detailed instructions for exercising on your own. This can include videos, links to online videos, or handouts. It is the job of the physical therapist to ensure that you are doing the rehabilitation correctly.
- Ensure the clinic is well-equipped
Although this is a point that should have been covered earlier, it is worth mentioning it now. Prior to picking a clinic for your rehabilitation, you have to make sure that it is well-equipped. In order for a clinic to provide quality services, it must have all the equipment you need to exercise. The equipment must also be modern. Don’t settle for a clinic with just the basic equipment. The more advanced the equipment, the better.
- Insurance
Last but not least, you have to check if your insurance policy covers for the treatment and if it is accepted. The clinic you select should be a participant in your insurance program. You don’t want to pay so much to receive care from physical therapists.
These points will help you find the best clinic for your treatment. The clinic you end up picking should set realistic timelines, be comfortable using various treatment techniques, should have experience treating the issue that you have, and also make you feel comfortable working with them. Don’t rush into the first clinic that comes your way simply because their facility looks great. Take the time to learn more about them and ensure they can meet your needs.
