When to Make a Move: Signs You’re Seeing the Wrong Physical Therapist
Are you wondering if you need to break up with your physical therapist? I always encourage my clients to listen to their gut, especially when choosing healthcare providers. So if your gut is telling you that your physical therapist (or any healthcare provider for that matter) isn’t helping you the way you need to be helped, then listen to it.
This may seem like odd advice coming from a physical therapist. However, I truly believe that finding the right therapist for you as a unique human is incredibly important. With a physical therapist on your team who gets you and is able to help your specific needs, your life can truly be transformed.
If you’re not leaving your physical therapy appointments feeling supported, guided, and like you can truly trust your therapist, then it is time to make a move.
This blog post is NOT meant to be a roast. I truly want to believe the best in every provider, but the truth is that there are bad professionals in any sector. There are bad accountants, bad lawyers, bad doctors, bad nurses, and bad physical therapists. There are also good providers in bad settings. A great physical therapist can only be so great in an environment where they see 30 patients a day and are double booked.
That being said, this is your guide to spotting the signs of a bad physical therapist (or a good physical therapist in a bad system) and knowing what to do to find your forever therapist.
In this blog post, we will talk about:
Why finding the right physical therapist matters
Top signs of a bad physical therapist (or a good therapist in a bad setting)
What to do if you notice these signs
How to find the best physical therapist for you
Why finding the right physical therapist matters
Quality physical therapy truly has the power to transform your life, and I believe that with every ounce of my being. That is why it breaks my heart to hear friends, family, and total strangers share bad physical therapy experiences. Sub-par physical therapy is a waste of time at best, and can leave lasting traumas and beliefs at worst. The detrimental beliefs that stem from a bad healthcare experience are pervasive in your own mind, as well as the minds of those you influence.
You and the people around you start thinking things like:
Physical therapy doesn’t work for me
I’ll never get better
I’m just so tight and stiff and I don’t think it’ll ever get better
Physical therapists just follow a protocol
Surgery is my only option
And worst of all…
I’m just going to have to live with this
I’ll never feel all the way good again
No one can help me
If you have thought any of these things, I kindly invite you to challenge those thoughts.
You just haven’t experienced care from a physical therapist who is a great fit for you.
Think of it like this. If you try kale and don’t like it, do you say that you dislike all vegetables? Of course not! You may love broccoli, arugula, and zucchini. You may even like kale roasted or in a salad, just not steamed.
So just because you’ve had one bad experience with a physical therapist doesn’t mean physical therapy doesn’t work for you. You just need to find the physical therapist you love.
Finding the right physical therapist matters for so many reasons. Here are some of the ways a great physical therapist can support you.
A great physical therapist will:
Get you feeling better faster
Finding the root cause of the problem is so important and will ultimately save you time, money, and energy. If the root problem isn’t addressed, you may end up throwing 20 exercises at the problem, hoping something works. Who has the time or desire to do extra things you may not need? A great physical therapist allows you to be efficient and effective with your time between visits, doing only the exercises that truly address the problem. This allows you to get better and see results after just the first few sessions.
Tailor your care to you
Have you ever felt like your physical therapist was just following a protocol or checking the boxes? You are a unique human and the standard protocol may not adequately address your needs. A great physical therapist will tailor your care to you so that you can recover most effectively.
Be your go-to person that you truly trust
A great physical therapist can truly be a one-stop-shop for many of your health and wellness needs. Think of us as your physical therapist + life coach + health coach. We can help you with all areas of your physical, mental, and emotional wellness plus connect you with other great providers to pick up care that is out of our scope of practice. I’ve had clients tell me, “You are my everything! I can talk to you about all my problems. I trust you more than my other providers.”
Top signs of a bad physical therapist (or a good therapist in a bad setting)
Now that we know what a good physical therapist looks like, we can spot the signs of a bad physical therapist. Again, not a roast, just being honest here.
Here are the the red flag signs of a bad physical therapist:
Not seeming interested or curious about your current problem and history up to this point
Not asking you many questions about your problems
Not asking you what your goals are or what success looks like to you
Not making eye contact with you
Not giving you time to ask questions
Not touching you or making sure you’re doing exercises correctly
Frequently changing the course of care OR not changing the course of care if you’re not making progress
Always seeming confused
Frequent distraction
You’re getting worse
Ignoring other lifestyle factors like sleep, stress, nutrition, and exercise
Poor or unclear communication
You feel fear or a lack of hope after your appointments (this is often unintentional, but is a dangerous place for you to be)
Since this isn’t a roast, we need to know if any of these signs listed above are truly signs of a bad physical therapist, or if they could indicate a good physical therapist in a bad setting.
Here are signs of a bad setting. If you notice any of these signs during your bad physical therapy experience, please send your therapist some love because he/she is probably really struggling.
Seeing two or more patients at the same time
Unsupportive or grumpy front office staff
You frequently see different physical therapists, physical therapy assistants (PTAs), and rehab aides during your plan of care
Very high volume clinics
Your insurance company limiting the number of visits you receive
None of the staff seem happy
Staff appear to be overwhelmed and rushed
What to do if you notice these signs
If you experience anything listed above, either signs of a bad physical therapist or a bad setting, I encourage you to carefully consider whether continuing this care is the best use of your time, money, and energy. Staying in this situation could be ineffective at best, but could really set you back long-term.
The first thing I recommend doing is having an honest conversation with your physical therapist. Voice any concerns you have. A good therapist (who is maybe stuck in a bad setting) should genuinely listen to you and adjust your plan moving forward. In the words of Brene Brown, “Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind.” Be clear in your communication so that both you and your therapist are on the same page and he/she can meet your needs moving forward.
If you try having a conversation with your therapist, but his/her answer doesn’t sit well with you or nothing changes moving forward, then it is time to move on. You are the consumer in your healthcare and you deserve to have the best providers for you on your team.
Remember, a great physical therapist will be your go-to person. You’ll notice awesome progress, feel truly supported, and the trajectory of your life will be changed. Oftentimes my clients tell me that their physical therapy appointment is something they most look forward to on their calendar.
How to find the best physical therapist for you
In the search for finding your forever physical therapist, the best place to start is asking your trusted friends and family members if they have a physical therapist they love. Get several names of physical therapists then look them up. Check out their website and social media platforms to see if they seem like a good fit for you. Many physical therapists/clinics offer discovery calls where you can get on the phone with one of the therapists or office staff. This is where you can ask questions and see if they are a good fit for you.
Other ways to find a great physical therapist is doing a Google search or looking in local area Facebook groups. Check out Google reviews for that physical therapist or office and see what other people have to say. This can give you insight into the type of care provided and results other people have achieved.
After all this, let your gut be your guide.
Just like you know when that perfect pair of jeans fits just right and is coming home from the store with you, you will know when you’ve found the perfect fit in a physical therapist.
Conclusion
To wrap things up, I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to have a great physical therapist on your healthcare team. Physical therapists are movement experts and have the niche expertise to help you keep your body moving well for life. Just like you want a great mechanic working on your car, you want a great provider whom you trust working on your body.
If you’re in search of your forever physical therapist or have additional questions, we would love to talk with you! You can call or text us at (614) 423-9731 or schedule a free discovery call. You can also learn more about Empower Physio and Wellness + our team or check out the services we offer.