Over their lifetimes, many people will visit a physical therapist more than once. But how can you be sure that physical therapy is what you need? Here’s some advice you can follow to determine if you should see a physical therapist.
Have You Had Surgery?
If you’ve had an orthopedic surgery, most likely your doctor will prescribe physical therapy. SELF Magazine lists several common surgeries that require rehabilitative physical therapy afterwards. They include ACL reconstruction, rotator cuff repair, or surgery to repair a herniated disk.
Of course, other orthopedic surgeries will also require physical therapy during recovery. Knee or hip replacement surgeries, Achilles tendon repair, and thoracic outlet syndrome surgery are just a few examples. Your surgeon will advise you as to whether physical therapy is the right path for you.
Have You Experienced an Injury?
Maybe your condition involves an injury rather than surgery. If so, physical therapy may still be a solution for you. As Verywell Health suggests, you might seek out physical therapy for such conditions as tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, or common sprains, among others. In short, if you are experiencing pain or limited mobility, a physical therapist can help.
If you’re not sure how serious your injury is, you can start by checking with a physical therapist. If your injury seems severe, the physical therapist will refer you to an orthopedic doctor. Alternatively, you can start by checking with your primary care provider, who will refer you to a physical therapist if this is the right treatment for you. Either route should get you the care you need.
Are You Seeking to Improve Performance?
Contrary to popular belief, your visits to a physical therapist do not have to be limited to times when you are injured or recovering from surgery. Physical therapists can help you improve your physical performance even when you are healthy. Both Verywell Health and SELF Magazine emphasize that physical therapists can help healthy people by teaching them injury prevention techniques and by designing exercise routines customized to each person.
Interestingly, some physical therapists suggest that routine physical therapy visits can be beneficial. In fact, one physical therapist interviewed by SELF Magazine noted that maintenance visits to a physical therapist can be as beneficial to preventing injuries as semi-annual teeth cleanings can be beneficial to maintaining oral health.
Do You Want a Review of Your Current Workout Plan?
Another way a physical therapist can help the healthy exerciser is by reviewing workout routines. For example, maybe you’ve had some mild back pain and have started doing some exercises customized to address that issue. You can ask a physical therapist to assess your body and your exercises to make sure they are optimized for each other.
Another scenario when a physical therapist can be helpful for a healthy exerciser is if you’ve decided to try a new fitness regimen, such as prioritizing isometric exercises. A physical therapist can review the exercises you’ve selected to make sure they target your desired areas and that you are performing the exercises correctly. Similarly, if you’ve recently decided to emphasize flexibility, a physical therapist can review both your exercise plans and performance.
How to Get Started
As always, if you aren’t sure about anything involving your healthcare, you should check with your doctor first. While a reputable physical therapist will give you medically appropriate advice, you likely have a close relationship with your doctor already and can be sure to trust whatever advice they give you.
You’ll also want to check with your insurance provider to see what kind of coverage you have for physical therapy visits. Some insurance plans allow unlimited visits with no doctor referral required. Other plans require a referral, while others limit the number of visits allowed. Some plans even do both—require a referral and limit the number of allowed visits. You’ll want to be sure to verify this information before your visit unless you plan to pay entirely out of pocket for your care.
In addition, you can check out the credentials of the physical therapist you are considering seeing. What kind of degrees and certifications does the provider have? Where were those degrees and certifications earned? How long ago? While hands-on technique is important when it comes to physical therapy, updated and verified knowledge is also important.
Finally, word of mouth can be a great way to select a physical therapist. Who do you know who has seen a physical therapist lately? Who did they see and how did it go? Answers to questions like these can give you a sense of whether the therapist’s personality and approach to fitness will match your own.