How To Choose The Right PT When In Pain

At some point in time, we all experience pain. When it comes to pain with our body and movement associated with it, it’s important to do your due diligence and seek out the help of the right professional when other methods have been exhausted. The help of a qualified physical therapist (PT) would be your best bet for solving complex injuries and pains that seem to not have an answer. 

That may seem pretty straightforward, but the next question should be, how do I know I have the right PT? 
 
You may see a PT clinic on every street corner, but that does not mean they all operate similarly. Just like choosing what kind of restaurant you want to go to. Sure they all cook food, but the atmosphere, quality, and style differ. Some great, some not so great. 
 
Here are the top questions you should ask when looking for the best PT for your injuries.
 
1. Do they work with me 1-on-1? 

• Many clinics may have one therapist treating multiple patients at once. Even though the PT may be skilled, they cannot help at the best of their abilities as they are spread too thin amongst other patients. 

 
2. Do I see the same clinician every time? 

• You don’t want to be bounced around by different people whenever you go in. Yes, other clinicians may be just as skilled, but you build trust and rapport working with the same person. You wouldn’t want your haircut done by someone different every time you go in for a cut, would you? 

3. Is my treatment specific? 

• This sounds like a no-brainer, but if you are given a printout of generic exercises, then you are not being specifically treated. Just because you have knee pain doesn’t mean you should have the same protocol as someone else with knee pain.

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4. Do they take a comprehensive approach?

• Will your therapist look at other influences to your injury rather than just looking directly at your pain site under a microscope? Our body is a system, and many things can influence pain. Your therapist should be able to see the forest through the trees

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5. They set clear expectations 

• Does the clinician give you a clear-cut plan for resolving your problem? They do not have crystal balls, but they should be able to have realistic goals in mind and communicate that with you.
• They should also be able to be upfront and refer out if they do not feel they are appropriate to help.

6. Do they serve the insurance company or me?

• This is a big one. You don't want your care dictated or determined by someone in an office that doesn't see you and only look at you as a statistic, do you? Unfortunately, this is the case with many insurance-based clinics where they will only help you within the insurance company's guidelines to maximize reimbursement. 

If you cannot receive those answers from your provider, then you may be looking in the wrong place. Luckily for you, Dynamic Performance & Rehab answers all of those questions for you, so you don't have to struggle to search. 

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