There is NO perfect provider for everyone. As a consumer of the medical field, you have a choice when it comes to your providers, including your Physical Therapist. So how can you tell if your current physical therapy clinic/clinician is not the right fit for you? Here are some red flags to look for in your care to determine if you are truly getting the best care for you!
🚩You are not spending the MAJORITY of your visit with your Doctor of Physical Therapy.
In the traditional physical therapy clinic, you will oftentimes find yourself working with Physical Therapy Assistants or Physical Therapy techs/aides. What you should know is unlike a Doctor of Physical Therapy who has had years of training and earned a doctorate-level degree in this specialty field, a Physical Therapy Assistant has an Associate-level degree and an aide or tech has on-the-job training only. Now I will be the first to say that there are some great techs and PT Assistants out there, but they should be exactly that – assisting the Doctor of Physical Therapy in carrying out a treatment plan – NOT treating you independently. In order to get the best care for you, the Doctor of Physical Therapy should be talking with you, assessing your movement/symptoms, putting their hands on you, and adjusting your care plan as needed EACH VISIT.
🚩You are doing the same exact exercises for multiple visits in a row.
If you are being asked to come in to perform the same exercises over and over again, do you really need to be coming in at all? A good physical therapist should be progressing your exercises, addressing new areas of issue, and adjusting the care plan to meet your needs and goals EACH VISIT. Yes, there will be times where you will be doing similar exercises for a few visits at a time with only minor progressions here and there, but if you are finding that your session is never changing or you are able to run yourself through your routine without even needing the therapist, find someone new!
🚩You are being asked to come in multiple days a week with little advice or education on what to do at home.
Even if you are coming in 3-4 times per week, you are still out of physical therapy 98% of your week. If you are not being given anything to do during these hours outside of the clinic, is this really worth your time and money?
🚩You are not being walked through your home program with the Doctor of Physical Therapy.
If you are being given exercises as an afterthought and never being walked through these exercises, A) how do you know if you are doing them correctly? B) how does your physical therapist know these are the correct exercises for you and your body? Your physical therapist should ALWAYS walk you through your homework to make sure you understand what you’re expected to do. They should be available to cue you so you can be confident you are doing your homework correctly and to answer questions to make sure you understand how these exercises are going to help you get better.
🚩Your Treatment is Not Centered Around You and Progressing Toward Your Goals.
If you are working with a Doctor of Physical Therapy that is more interested in having you reach their goals OR someone who is unable to show you progress after a few treatment sessions, find yourself someone new. Your care should revolve around you and your goals. And if you’re not seeing progress toward this after a few sessions (and are honest about this with your therapist), your Doctor of Physical Therapy should be able to adjust your treatment plan accordingly to make you confident that they can get you where you need to go.
If you are experiencing any of these red flags in your current care, address them with your physical therapist. If they can’t or are unwilling to make a change, do yourself a favor and find someone who will provide the best care for you!
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