Choosing the Right Physical Therapist Matters
Finding the right therapy provider is an important, but difficult, decision. There are numerous physical therapy practices from which to choose. Unfortunately, most people have probably never experienced physical therapy and don’t know the right questions to ask to compare practices. Because of this, many people choose their therapy provider based on proximity. This can be a big mistake as there are large differences between therapy providers. When you’re dealing with your health, you need to make sure you receive the best care possible. Below, you will find several questions that should be asked before initiating therapy.
You should expect to see the physical therapist on-on-one for one hour for the initial visit and 30-60 minutes for each subsequent visit.
Many physical therapy providers attempt to substitute quality professional care provided by a licensed physical therapist with that of less educated, or even uneducated, staff. If your primary treatment is being provided by someone other than a physical therapist, you may not be experiencing good quality physical therapy.The education levels of personnel that you are likely to encounter in physical therapy are as follows: most physical therapists possess a Masters or doctorate degree, physical therapy assistants possess a two year degree and physical therapy aides need have no formal education.
Physical therapy aides will often assist patients with their exercise programs. Many facilities will have their aides supervise two to four patients at a time. Higher quality facilities will have one to two patients per aide.
You should expect to see the same provider every visit.
A physical therapy aide typically has no formal education and should be utilized only in a support staff role. Aides can be utilized to supervise exercise programs and help set patients up for electrical procedures. Many facilities, however, utilize their aides to provide the majority of the physical therapy treatment. Legally, aides are not allowed to perform any hands-on treatment. Unfortunately, many facilities utilize their aides in a hands-on capacity.
A good facility will have a complete line of exercise equipment, high tech electrical equipment and specialty devices to deal with varied patient problems. Ask if the facility has therapists that specialize in your particular problem.
Getting the Best Physical Therapy
Physical therapy should always be physical. If the therapist is not providing hands-on care then you are not receiving good care. At Fast Track Fitness and Physical Therapy, we provide the highest level of care and always provide care consistent with the above listed questions.