Fairfield Physical Therapy
Oakbend Physical Therapy - Fairfield
16333 Mueschke Rd, Suite B
Cypress, TX 77433
832-532-4243
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Fax: 832-956-1921
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Choosing a physical therapist...

7/19/2015

47 Comments

 
Welcome to what I hope is a regular blog about the world of physical therapy. There are a million physical therapy blogs out there so I’m going to mostly focus on educating patients and clients on how physical therapy works and how it can benefit them.  I think for those who work in the PT world, we take for granted that people know what PT is and the process of how it works.  Unfortunately most people don’t. Over the next few blogs I’m going to talk about the general process of starting physical therapy and how to choose your therapist/clinic.

First of all, if there is one idea you take away from today’s blog it is this:

YOU HAVE A CHOICE OF WHERE YOU HAVE YOUR PHYSICAL THERAPY.

Similar to how you would get a prescription for medication and then go to any one of numerous pharmacies, you can get a prescription for physical therapy and go to a clinic of your choice. (I am referring to PT in the state of Texas. Unfortunately politics got in the way of allowing direct access in Texas, unlike in 47 other states where you can go directly to a physical therapist and get treated without a prescription. This will be a future blog.) If a doctor prescribes physical therapy but is trying to make you go to a specific clinic (or their own) but you want to go elsewhere, ask for the prescription. If they refuse to give it to you, report them to the physical therapy board.

http://www.ptot.texas.gov/page/file-a-complaint

So what do you do now that you have a physical therapy prescription?

I will give you a list of what I think is important when looking for a physical therapist.

1)   All else being equal, a physical therapist (PT) or physical therapist assistant (PTA) treating you one on one is in my opinion the most important thing .  What is essential for readers to understand is that a PT/PTA are licensed professionals, while aides/technicians are not. If you are not being treated by a PT/PTA you are not receiving physical therapy (this is my opinion but with some insurances, mostly Medicare and some workers compensation these are the rules and therapists/clinics are not allowed to bill for time not spent with the patient).  Again, with all other things being equal there is no way that a physical therapist can provide the same level of care and attention when seeing multiple patients at one time compared to a therapist treating one on one. As a patient, ask for this and if not provided look elsewhere. This will be a future blog post covering in more detail.

2)   Look for a physical therapist that has experience and knowledge with your specific problem. For example, I think I do a really good job with ACL reconstructions and return to sport. I also think I do a good job with overhead athletes (baseball/softball/volleyball/swimming). I wouldn’t be a good option for a patient who had a severe stroke or other neurological issues. It is similar to how a person wouldn’t go to their cardiovascular surgeon for a knee replacement. Find a therapist that is an expert with your particular situation.

3)   Look for a therapist who is a good fit for you and you are comfortable with. In general a physical therapist should be empathetic, listens and genuinely acts like they care.

4)   Do your due diligence. By this I mean do a little research and don’t just go to the cheapest therapist you can find. Ask friends who have had therapy where they went and if they were happy. Ask if you can meet with the physical therapist for a free consultation. Look up the physical therapist on the state board and see if there are any disciplinary actions. If there are any disciplinary actions you can typically find out more online but you may have to request the records.  You can do the same for physicians, chiropractors and podiatrists.

Physical therapy:  http://www.ptot.texas.gov/page/pt-license-search

Medical Doctors: https://public.tmb.state.tx.us/HCP_Search/SearchNotice.aspx

Chiropractors: http://www.tbce.state.tx.us/verify.html

Podiatrists: http://www.tsbpme.texas.gov/verification.online_verification.htm

Next time I will expand on why I think one on one treatment is so important.

If there are any questions feel free to contact me. 

47 Comments
John Mahoney link
5/5/2017 11:12:52 am

My son sprained his ankle while playing soccer a few days ago and he needs a good physical therapist. Thank you for talking about choosing a therapist that has experience dealing with problems like the one you have. I can see that doing this can help yo get the best treatment and regain the mobility you have lost.

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Ernest London link
5/25/2017 01:06:35 pm

Thanks for the tips for choosing a physical therapist. I have had neck pain for months since I hurt myself playing basketball. I like that you mentioned to find a PT who has experience with your specific area of need. I will make sure I only look into physical therapists who know how to handle neck pain.

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Courtney link
7/20/2017 06:34:37 am

This is a great post, I look forward to reading more! I really love how you mentioned that different physical therapists have different specialties so it is very important that you find one that can work with you and your goals. I also agree that physical therapy works best one on one and that if your physical therapist does not offer this you should try and find a different therapist. Thanks for sharing!

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Marcus link
8/18/2017 05:32:10 pm

My dad got hurt his ankle a few days ago while working out and we want to make sure he finds a good physical therapist to help him get better. I loved when you mentioned how you should look for a physical therapist that has experience with the type of injury you have. It makes sense that doing this can help you get the best therapy and help to regain full mobility of your body. Thank you for your article, I will share it with my dad.

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Ernest London link
8/29/2017 08:40:17 am

I like that you mentioned to find a physical therapist who has experience and knowledge in treating the specific problem you have. That way, you can be sure he knows what he is doing and he has had success in the past. I recently injured my leg playing softball, and I want to find a PT to help get me active again. I will make sure to pay attention to these qualities as I search for one, thanks for sharing.

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Gloria Durst link
9/21/2017 04:58:25 pm

I agree that you need to be comfortable with the physical therapist that you hire. It would make sense to do some background investigation into them first. My brother is looking for a physical therapist to help with a soccer injury, so he'll have to find someone who he is comfortable with.

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gloria durst link
10/5/2017 04:10:53 pm

I agree that you would want to consider where the physical therpiast is located. It would be good to consider their location because it is close by. My brother is looking for a therapist, so he'll have to find one who is experienced.

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hannah neilson link
3/8/2018 06:03:01 pm

I agree that you would want to make sure that you are comfortable with the physical therapist that you choose. It would be smart to consider how comfortable you are because it would help ensure that they are qualified. I'm looking for a physical therapist to help with an injured ACL, so I'll have to consider how comfortable I feel with them first.

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Kenneth Gladman link
4/26/2018 03:45:39 pm

I think finding a therapist that you are comfortable with is really underrated, so I like that you mentioned it. The more you can see your therapist and be open with them the better. This is something you can discover really early on in your relationship and treatment.

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Gary Puntman link
5/31/2018 01:17:48 pm

I agree that you should find a physical therapist who has the experience and knowledge with your specific problem, like you said. This will help you make sure you get the best results from the therapist. I'm sure some therapists have more experience treating certain things than others.

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Sarah Smith link
8/29/2018 02:47:32 pm

My knee has really been hurting me and when I went to the doctor they said that it was musculoskeletal in nature. When they recommended that I find a physical therapist, I realized that I had no idea what they do or how to go about finding one. I really appreciate the information you've provided on physical therapists and that to find a quality one I will need to look up the physical therapist on the state board and ask for reviews in my social circle.

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Ashley Maxwell link
8/30/2018 06:50:03 pm

I appreciate your comment about how you said that a physical therapist should be properly trained. I also like how you said that they should have experience dealing with problems just like yours. My dad is looking for a good physical therapist to help him recover from a football injury.

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Gary Puntman link
8/31/2018 10:14:14 am

I agree that you don't necessarily want to find the therapist that is the cheapest. You want them to be high quality as well. You should definitely check out their certifications too, like you said.

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Katie Wilson link
10/4/2018 05:23:33 pm

I agree that you need to find a therapist who is a licensed professional. It would make sense to check their license in order to know how qualified they are. My husband and I are looking for a therapist, so we'll have to check their license first.

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Derek Dewitt link
10/18/2018 07:10:36 am

My wife has been getting bad back pains lately, so we are considering going to a physical therapist. I like your point about choosing someone that specializes in your specific problem. We'll be sure to find someone with lots of experience dealing with lower back pain.

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Hannah Neilson link
12/14/2018 05:44:16 pm

I agree that you want to find out if a physical therapist is experienced and knowledgeable about your specific problem. Finding someone who is experienced with what you need would be helpful. My husband and I are looking for a physical therapist, so we'll have to check their experience first.

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Olivia Pearson link
12/21/2018 11:20:28 am

I really appreciate how you mentioned that it's important to find a knowledgeable physical therapist that has knowledge of your specific problem. My friend was recently in a car accident and sustained chronic lower back pain that inhibits her from walking like she used to. I'm sure she'd really benefit from finding an orthopedic rehab service that has skilled physical therapists with experience in helping people recover from back injuries.

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Gerty Gift link
1/16/2019 07:18:52 am

I liked your suggestion to look for a physical therapist that has experience with your specific problem. My husband has been having a lot of problems with his legs and it's been affecting his running. It would be great if we could talk to a doctor who has worked with similar injuries in the past so that we can get some expert advice while he recovers.

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Brooklyn Johnson link
4/9/2019 09:36:30 am

Thank you for stating that you should look for a physical therapist that has experience and knowledge with your specific problem. I got into a car accident a few months ago, and ever since have had horrible back pain and have been considering going to a physical therapist. If I do decide to go to a physical therapist, I will definitely keep your tips in mind when choosing the best one for me.

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Zachary link
4/22/2019 03:48:03 pm

Hello, nice blog Laurence, great advice on picking the ideal therapist.

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Skyler Williams link
8/2/2019 10:47:55 am

Thank you for your tip to find a physical therapist that has experience with your specific problem. I tore my ACL back in college and I don't think I ever properly recovered from it. I will make sure to keep this tip in mind as I find a physical therapist to help me with my old injury.

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drake welsh link
9/27/2019 11:27:56 am

It was helpful when you suggested to look for a physical therapist who has a good amount of experience. My doctor recommended that I see a physical therapist. I will be sure to choose one who is experienced.

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Ron Booker link
2/3/2020 10:38:05 am

Thank you for mentioning that it's important to find a trained physical therapist that has experience with the same problems you have. My friend was recently injured and sustained chronic lower back pain that restrains him from walking. I will recommend him finding a physical therapy specialist in his area so he can be treated.

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kate hansen link
2/27/2020 01:23:22 pm

It's good to know that you should find one that has knowledge and experience. My husband recently injured his knee in a car accident a couple of weeks ago, and he wants to find a physical therapist to help him get it working right again. I'll make sure to pass this information along to him so that he can know how to find a good physical therapist.

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charles link
3/4/2020 10:04:38 am

I hadn't thought about how important it could be for a physical therapist to be empathetic, so I appreciate that you mentioned that it needs to be an aspect of who you would choose to hire. My wife and I have been wanting to find a physical therapist to help our daughter heal from her tumbling accident properly, and it will be important for us to know that we could find the right one. When we look for a physical therapist, I will be sure to consider how empathetic they are.

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Mick John link
4/21/2020 12:57:24 am

The list you mentioned while choosing a physical therapist really helps me. Thanks for sharing this post.

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Zoe Campos link
7/23/2020 11:08:24 am

Thank you for telling me that we should find a physical therapist with enough knowledge and experience in their field. My friend is scheduled to undergo knee surgery next week and she's afraid of what she might experience after the procedure. It might be better to seek orthopedic physical therapy services as early as now so she can easily recover after.

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Physical Therapist Wasilla link
8/18/2020 03:57:05 am

thanks for sharing information about choosing a physical therapist.

Reply
Randy link
8/20/2020 11:26:02 pm

Your information is very interesting. Thank you for sharing

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rachel frampton link
9/6/2020 10:51:23 pm

I noticed that my back pain is starting to feel unbearable, which is why I'm thinking of hiring a physical therapist that will be able to address this concern. I agree with you that it would be best to check first whether my insurance provider will cover this type of treatment. Of course, I'll also keep in mind to hire someone knowledgeable and skilled.

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megan alder link
10/8/2020 01:44:22 pm

My daughter has a back issue, and we are looking for advice to be able to choose the right physical therapist. You made a great point when you recommended looking for a physical therapist that has experience and knowledge with my specific problem. We will definitely start looking for a physical therapist that is focused on her specific problem type.

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Levi Armstrong link
11/24/2020 03:31:20 pm

My mom is looking for a physical therapist because her physician recommended seeing one for her condition. I like that you said she should choose one with whom she feels comfortable and genuinely cares for her well-being. I'll share this with her when I visit her this weekend. Thanks!

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Adam Golightly link
1/5/2021 04:54:35 pm

My cousin has been thinking about going to see a physical therapist for her ankle because she doesn't have a lot of mobility. She would really like to get some help from a professional in order to be more efficient. I liked what you said about how they should be empathetic, listen, and genuinely care to make sure that they can be more comfortable.

Reply
Pure Relief Chiropractic link
4/1/2021 12:25:59 am

Greetings!

Thanks for sharing your story, Nice blog.
https://www.getpurerelief.com/

Reply
Charlotte Fleet link
4/22/2021 02:19:51 pm

I appreciate you suggesting to ask friends about their experience with physical therapists they have seen to help you find one. My younger brother was injured in a high school basketball game and he needs to find a physical therapist. I will have him talk to his friends or teammates that have been to physical therapy and get their referrals of good companies.

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Mia Evans link
7/7/2021 06:32:14 pm

I like that you pointed out that we should check the experience and knowledge of the therapist before hiring them. As you said, this will ensure that they are a good choice for the issues that you might have. I will share this tip with my best friend because he has back pain that he has been experiencing for five months now, so he should really find a good therapist to help him.

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blackstoneedu link
8/18/2021 01:10:52 am

The way you have presented this article is very impressive. Thank you for sharing this great article.

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Thomas Clarence link
10/14/2021 04:20:47 pm

It was really helpful when you mentioned that it is a good idea to find a physical therapist that will work with you one on one. My wife needs to find a physical therapist. A good physical therapist will help my wife heal her injured knee.

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Millie Hue link
12/20/2021 11:58:06 pm

Thanks for pointing out that we need to look for a professional who has experience with the specific problem that we might have. I will share this information with my brother now that he has been in a slip and fall accident. He might need orthopedic rehab since he was not able to stand for two days now.

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Jeff Carbine link
1/19/2022 02:16:34 am

I loved it when you said to pick a therapist that has experience and expert in your specific problem. I have been experiencing back pain near my limbs lately. I should look for a physical therapist before it gets complicated. This article is an excellent help to me.

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Physiotherapy Edmonton link
1/25/2022 08:03:09 am

When it comes to choosing a physical therapist, the options can seem endless. There are many different types of therapists out there that claim they can help you reach your goals. There are also many different schools of thought when it comes to therapy, so you will have to do some research and be sure that you find the right one for you.

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Jeff Carbine link
1/28/2022 07:33:02 am

I appreciate that you explained when all other factors are equal, a physical therapist cannot deliver the same degree of care and attention to several patients at the same time as a therapist treating one patient at a time. My best friend is looking for some info, this should help him. I appreciate that you helped me learn more about physical therapy.

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Victoria Addington link
7/26/2022 04:34:48 am

It got me when you mentioned that we should choose a physical therapist with vast experience and knowledge of your specific problem. My husband injured himself while doing an intense workout. I should advise him to look for a physical therapy service for faster recovery.

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Eli Richardson link
7/29/2022 09:50:06 am

My younger sister got into a car accident a few weeks ago, but the pain doesn't seem to fade completely, so I think it'd be wise if she looks for a physical therapist. It's good to know why we must ask about a therapist's experience and area of specialization, so I'll send these tips to my sister now and suggest she looks for physical therapy. Thanks for the information on physical therapy and how to find a quality provider.

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Daisy James link
12/8/2022 05:09:47 pm

It was really helpful when you said to find one who has experience with my injury. Last month, I was playing tennis with a couple of friends, and I injured my ankle very badly so I wanted to look into trying physical therapy since it hasn't seemed to heal yet. I'll keep these tips in mind as I search for a physical therapist.

Reply



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Oakbend Physical Therapy - Fairfield
16333 Mueschke Rd, Suite B
Cypress, TX 77433
832-532-4243
Fax: 832-956-1921