How to pick you physical therapist?
Having a good physical therapist in your corner can change your life, but the field is really new and not all physical therapists are the same. Even the requirements to become a physical therapist in the United States has changed a lot in my lifetime.
For instance, not a lot of people know that some physical therapists have a bachelor degree and some have a doctorate degree. Some do additional training after graduate school (if they went), and some work immediately.
Here are a few different things to consider when selecting your physical therapist.
Level of training- Did they just finish school and go straight into the field or decided to residency? Unlike MDs, residency is optional for physical therapists and very few choose to do it. For instance, I chose to do one and less than 10% of my classmates in graduate school did it with me. It makes a big difference if you do one because if you complete one you can be a specialist.
Insurance- Sometimes a PT not accepting your insurance, or even taking insurance to begin with may not be a bad thing. Cash based clinics (no insurance) often means you get more time with the therapist and may get better results in less time.
Niche- Different clinicians have different niches. For instance, a lot of my clients are stunt performers and martial artists because I happen to be one too. I understand their needs and it makes it easier to treat them. Finding a PT that understands your needs is very helpful to getting great care.
There are few more reasons I outline in this video. Check it out and let me know if there are any other questions I can help you with regards to picking a physical therapist so you can improve your health and performance.
