Why PT gets a bad rep and how to find a good clinic
Over the past five years of practice, I have found people are astounded by the education required to be a PT and, more so, the wealth of knowledge and expertise we may possess. Notice I said “may” implying not always. Unlike the characteristic of being human, not all PT clinics and not all PTs are “created equal”. That is not to say we do not all have the potential to be great at what we do, simply some of us choose to strive for excellence serving others, and many others are just caught in the rat race trying to get their next paycheck from “the man”.
My first couple years practicing I was flabbergasted by the lack of expertise, effort, and ultimately empathy put forth by many health care professionals (not just PTs). When people share their past experiences at PT clinics it often disgusts me. The way many clinics run their practice is a disservice not only to the patients, but to the profession as a whole. They misrepresent what PT is and further consumers’ devaluation of physical therapy.
Some PTs snicker at people seeking out rehab and therapy guidance from massage therapists, strength and conditioning professionals, personal trainers, “stretch” therapists, etc. PTs wonder why would patients/clients choose these other professionals before a PT. The answer is pretty clear; it is because patients/clients VALUE their KNOWLEDGE and EXPERTISE MORE. And to be honest, I don’t blame them based on what is showcased in many PT clinics.
We graduate from PT school with doctorate degrees clinically integrating kinesiology, biomechanics, anatomy and physiology. WHY are patients riding a bike and do straight leg raises and quad sets for “knee pain”!? Patients are sick of being scheduled with 4 other people at the same time, doing the same exercises every session, and then getting a huge bill in the mail 3 months down the road for what was basically a glorified gym membership. No wonder people go elsewhere.
If you are a patient, or potential patient, seeking a professional to help you resolve a current musculoskeletal ailment, a physical therapist can be a perfect fit for you! However, beware, a lot will leave you underwhelmed and frustrated with wasted time and money. Here are a few things I recommend to look at and consider when selecting a PT clinic.
Visit the clinic and count the number of patients relative to the number of PTs (not support staff). If you have a hard time counting because you can’t tell who the PTs are, that should also tell you something.
Does the clinic have A LOT of exercise machines? If so, it is likely NOT the place you want to be. You’ll find yourself getting stuck on a bunch of different machines for “strengthening” with a whole lot of other patients doing the same thing, at the same time. You will not be addressing the movement dysfunction and root cause of your problem.
Find a clinic that is owned by a PT that actually works there! This is not a hard fast rule, but most of the time, they will have a greater investment in your care and success because it is their livelihood! Clinics owned by investors have interest in only one person. So unless your name is Ben Franklin and you’re green, they really don’t care about you...
Do not select a clinic based on location. This is your health and life, not a fast food restaurant your trying to hit on the way home from work. I’m not saying you have to drive an hour to find the right clinic, but if you find the right PT clinic, they will find a way to make it work for you in terms of frequency of appointments. Good clinics will not push the standard “3x/week” schedule on you.
If you are currently a patient somewhere, do you do the same exact rehab routine every time you go? If so, speak up! It is probably not quality care you are receiving. This happened to me when I was a teenager, hense why I thought PT was dumb, stopped going, and rehabed myself at home.
Now if you are a PT who really wants to be great and wants to help their patients but is stuck in an atmosphere that limits your potential to do so, I feel for you. More so, I encourage you to find a way out! Staying in such an environment will only burn you out and tarnish your professional reputation. There are places out there for you, although they may seem scarce at times.
If you are a PT reading this and you find yourself getting angry at me, that should also tell you something. My old football coach used to say “you can point your finger at someone else, but your thumb will always point back at you.” It is really hard to take responsibility, but that is the first step in making any change.