If you are having difficulty moving around due to pain or decreased range of motion, you’ll likely be advised to find a physical therapist to assist with the healing process. Physical therapists are some of the best healthcare professionals when it comes to helping you restore function and decrease the pain levels you’re experiencing. If your care provider believes that you should seek a physical therapist, then you need to know what your options are and what you should look out for when you’re looking to figure out how to choose a physical therapist.
While your provider may recommend a particular physical therapist or refer you to specific options, it’s important to understand the distinctions between manual therapists (physiotherapists) and physical therapists, certified and non-certified physical therapists, and more. Understanding which types of providers offer which services can help you make the best decision regarding your health and wellbeing, and choosing the right physical therapist can make a world of difference on the road to recovery.
We’ve highlighted some key things you should be aware of when attempting to figure out what you should be looking out for when you’re getting ready to choose a physical therapist, some considerations you should make as you evaluate some of your physical therapy options, and other important things to be aware of as you look to begin your physical therapy journey and path to recovery.
One of the most common questions that patients typically ask when they’ve made the decision to seek out the opinion of a physical therapist or have been recommended to see a physical therapist from their provider is what type of physical therapist they should see or work with. The type of physical therapist you choose is largely up to you. Of course, you’ll want to check to see which physical therapy locations accept your insurance policy if any, and you’ll want to choose a therapist that provides you the best opportunity to heal as quickly as possible.
As you’re getting ready to learn how to choose a physical therapist, it’s always important to keep in mind several things that should help to make your choices a little bit clearer during the evaluation, selection, and treatment process. One of the most important things to keep in mind is the type of care you’re looking to receive, the treatment program outcomes you’re looking to accomplish, and the potential limitations that could impact what your options are. We’ve put together a helpful guide that will guide you along your treatment path and help you select and choose a physical therapist that aligns with your goals and treatment objectives.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing a physical therapist for yourself or a loved one.
When it’s time to visit a physical therapist following an injury or a surgery, you’ll want to be sure he or she is qualified to give medical advice, and that they have received extensive training in their field of expertise. When it comes to your health, you don’t want to play around or choose the wrong individual who will be taking care of you. That’s why you should always check to make sure that the physical therapist you select is certified to treat patients and is passionate about learning new industry teachings, improving their knowledge-base, and working to make sure they’re aware of recent developments in the field while working with patients from a variety of backgrounds.
One of the best ways to make sure that your physical therapist or PTs that you’ll be working with are certified is to be upfront and ask. Sometimes patients can be a bit hesitant to ask about the qualifications of the healthcare professionals they’ll be working with, but it’s one of the best and smartest things you can do to make sure that you’re getting the best quality of care you can. In addition, don’t hesitate to ask about what the physical therapists actively do to stay on top of all the recent developments within the industry. Some great questions you can ask when you’re evaluating physical therapists include, “Are the physical therapists certified?”, “Do the physical therapists complete additional certifications or training?”, “Do the physical therapists complete any continuing education credits per year?”, etc.
Before scheduling an appointment, inquire about specialized training or certifications the physical therapists have received. We are proud to say that our therapists receive four times the national average for continuing education.
If you’re looking to find physical therapists that are passionate about continuing their education and enhancing what they already know to provide the best quality of care, Book an Appointment Today with Results Physiotherapy!
While many physical therapy centers around the world simply give patients repetitive exercises to complete in a short amount of time, physiotherapists like those at Results PT offer a more focused, hands-on approach to healing. Rather than simply instructing patients on how to stretch joints and muscles, physiotherapists use manual therapy techniques like gentle massage and personalized mobility exercises to guide tight muscles and joints into the ideal position. Whether you’re healing from a knee replacement, a shoulder injury, or anything in between, a physiotherapist can work with you to create a customized treatment plan to fit your needs, your goals, and your abilities.
In some cases, your provider might ask that you seek out a specialized physical therapist who is focused on providing care and treatment for specific areas of the body. Before you select your physical therapist, make sure that you ask the important questions to ensure that they can help assist you with some of the treatment that you need. If you’ve been referred with a specific condition that would require a specialized physical therapist, then you’ll want to make sure that you’re working with physical therapists who can help you with experience in that area.
When you visit a chiropractor, he or she is more concerned with the use of “cracking” or “popping” joints to alleviate pain and tightness, while a physiotherapist seeks to understand the root cause of the symptoms in order to determine how the joints and muscles can be returned to their ideal state.
Some people might think that physical therapy and chiropractic treatment are the same things, but while they may be similar, they’re distinctly different. The main focus and difference between the two in addition to what we’ve outlined above is that manual therapy is focused on assisting patients with identifying the problem, addressing it, and taking proactive steps to overcome it so it no longer affects patients in the long term. If you’re looking to gradually work to alleviate the pain you’re experiencing and improve function to reduce the chances of sustaining an injury or feeling pain in the future, then you should consider manual therapy over chiropractic treatments.
LEARN MORE ABOUT MANUAL THERAPY TREATMENTS
When choosing a physical therapist, one of the most important things to keep in mind is the convenience of the locations available. If you are unable to drive and require assistance getting to and from your physical therapist, convenient locations are even more essential. With hundreds of locations in nine states, Results PT has a location that’s convenient for you. We pride ourselves on making sure that all patients have a Results PT location close to them so you don’t have to drive too far or worry about all the little things like how long you wait in traffic.
Finding a convenient physical therapy location is also important to help you stick with your routine and physical therapy treatment program so you don’t have to feel like you’re going out of your way to go to your appointments. Instead, when you choose a convenient physical therapy location you can go before work, after work, during your lunch break, and more. Find where the “nearest Results PT locations are and book your next appointment today! You can also view our individual locations to see what services that individual PT location provides, contact options, hours, and more.
Another thing to keep in mind when choosing a physical therapist – the efficiency and type of professional equipment they offer. Small weights and resistance bands simply aren’t adequate enough to provide proper therapy sessions for many injuries. When you’re looking to evaluate the physical therapy offerings so you can choose a physical therapist, you should make sure that you choose a physical therapy provider that has the proper equipment, services, treatment programs, and professionals that will help you successfully complete your physical therapy treatment program. Professional physical therapy centers should offer a variety of treatment options, including dry needling, electrical stimulation, and more.
To make sure that the physical therapy location you’re considering has the proper equipment, ask to make sure that they’ve got all the things they’ll need to treat your specific condition. If the physical therapist location doesn’t have what you need, they might refer you to a specialized location or mention they don’t have what you’re looking for. Once again, it’s important to ask questions to make sure that you aren’t wasting your time and you have the answers you need to make an informed decision when choosing a physical therapist.
Dry needling is the process of using super fine needles to create a small reflex movement in the muscle which allows said muscle to relax, which in turn reduces or eliminates pain caused by muscular tightness. The process is referred to as dry needling because no medication or other substances are used, preventing the need for pain relievers or muscle relaxers which can be habit-forming. Dry needling is painless and is offered in conjunction with other manual therapy treatments to help alleviate muscle pain and tightness.
When working with a physical therapist, it’s important to find someone with whom you can build a connection and a partnership. Results PT was founded in 1996 by an Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer who understands the importance of a commitment to care and a philosophy centered around patient health and wellbeing. With more than 100,000 patients treated each year, we’ve never wavered in our commitment to providing quality care for a variety of injuries and illnesses.
When you’re trying to learn how to choose a physical therapist, it’s important to note that a good physical therapist will always align with your goals and objectives. Your physical therapist should be focused on listening to your concerns, answering your questions, and communicating with you every step along the way. Build your trust with your physical therapist by asking questions so you can be confident in the care and treatment program they’re providing.
A few telltale signs that you can trust your physical therapist is that they’re consistently trying to make you feel comfortable as you go through the program, they’re receptive to your concerns, and are implementing adjustments as you go through the program based on the feedback and comments you make.
Here’s what some of our patients have to say about Results PT therapy centers and staff.
Depending on the state that you live in, you might need to get a referral before you can book an appointment with a physical therapist. Many states are now switching to Direct Access, in that you might not need to get a referral to actually go to your local Results PT location. In dozens of states across the country, you no longer need to get a referral to go through a physical therapy program. Check with your insurance provider and primary care provider to see if you need a referral. If you live in a state with direct access, you can book an appointment today without needing to get a referral.
When you’re choosing a physical therapist, there are some limitations that might prevent you from selecting any physical therapist you’d like. Many patients and individuals might have some limitations on their options set forth by their insurance provider. Some insurance providers might only allow you to seek physical therapy or participate in a PT program at certain providers or in-network locations. One of the things that you should do is look at any documentation you might have when it comes to physical therapy services your insurance will cover.
We’ve put a helpful guide together which highlights the insurance we accept at Results Physiotherapy. It’s also a good idea to check what your insurance provider will do to make sure that you’re aware of some of the out-of-pocket expenses and deductibles you might have to pay as part of your treatment program.
The next thing you should keep in mind when you’re trying to figure out how to choose a physical therapist is to try to identify a physical therapist or PT organization that is focused on your goals and helping you achieve your objectives. As we’ve outlined earlier, it’s important to find a physical therapist and physical therapist organization that is providing you with care and a comprehensive program that puts you at the front and center.
You want to select a physical therapist that is focused on helping you achieve your personal goals and objectives, whether that’s improving your function, building strength, increasing your range of motion, or decreasing your pain levels. At Results PT, our focus is on always providing patients with a comprehensive education and treatment program that helps patients accomplish their goals. The physical therapist you choose should always keep you in mind as they’re building your treatment program, educating and assisting you with exercises, and more.
One of the greatest benefits and advancements in modern healthcare is telehealth, and more specifically virtual physical therapy. One of the things to consider when choosing a physical therapy provider is to check and see whether or not they have remote options. Remote physical therapy or virtual physical therapy means that you no longer have to go to an in-person clinic to actually get the physical therapy care you need.
Instead, you can do most if not all of the same physical therapy exercises, stretches, and treatment that you would get in-person, at home. When choosing a physical therapist, you should evaluate whether or not they have remote options for you to consider. You shouldn’t feel forced to choose one over another because they only allow you to go through your PT program in-person. At Results PT, we’re dedicated to providing options to our patients and you can choose to go to an in-person clinic or do virtual physical therapy, whichever works for you.
Book an Appointment Today with Results Physiotherapy!
When choosing a physical therapist, it’s important to make sure that you select a physical therapy that will help you see the whole picture. At Results PT, our goal is to provide patients with all the information, tools, and resources they need to have a successful physical therapy outcome. This means that when a patient comes into one of our clinics or does virtual physical therapy, the very first thing is a comprehensive evaluation.
This comprehensive evaluation and functional assessment is designed to determine what pain a patient might be experiencing, what kind of strength they have, what their ability to perform certain tasks or movements is, and what their range of motion is. From there, a comprehensive treatment program is designed and personally tailored for each patient. These comprehensive programs are tailored to the individual goals and objectives for each patient.
The benefit of these tailored and personalized treatment programs is that they are designed to build a reasonable timeline for recovery so both the patients and clinicians can know what to expect, what goals you’re actively working toward, and more.
Choose a physical therapist that will help you see the overall picture and provide that comprehensive evaluation and care that you need to understand where you’re at in your treatment program, what objectives you’re trying to meet, and how each aspect fits into the puzzle.
With hundreds of convenient locations found throughout the United States, chances are there’s a Results PT location near you. To learn more about our services, what makes us unique, and the differences between manual therapy and traditional physical therapy, visit our About page. You can view our locations or schedule an appointment online from the convenience of your home.
