Many of us are lost when we encounter debilitating pains that keep us from enjoying life. It’s not always easy to figure out the right place to go to have your aches & pains addressed. Here are a few insider tips on choosing the right clinician for you:
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Google the clinic or clinician. It’s always useful to see their online reviews & ratings.
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Call the clinic to get some of your questions answered. Find out about their specialties, strengths, and how they can help you. Also, this’ll give you a preview of how friendly and helpful they are.
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You should be getting one-on-one attention for more than just 15-20 minutes. This means that your clinician shouldn’t have to juggle your appointment with 3 or 4 other patients. S/he should give you their undivided attention for much more than 15 minutes. At Health Source, we work 1-on-1 with our clients for around 45 minutes.
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Find a clinician who is certified in hands-on care. This type of training is referred to as “Manual Therapy”. The more time and effort s/he has dedicated to becoming a better clinician, the better the odds of you finding the right person for you. Residency-trained clinicians are among the most highly trained physical therapists you will find. For example, CFMT’s (“Certified Functional Manual Therapists”) and MTC’s (“Manual Therapy Certified”) are highly trained in evaluating and treating individuals by utilizing very specialized hands-on care.
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Make sure that you are working with either the physical therapist or a physical therapy assistant, NOT an aide. Physical therapy aides aren’t licensed clinicians. Physical Therapists and Physical Therapy Assistants, on the other hand, are licensed clinicians who have graduated from accredited college programs. Look for a place that have you work one-on-one with either a well-trained physical therapist or a licensed physical therapy assistant.
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Talk to valued friends, neighbors, or coworkers. Word of mouth from someone you know and trust is a great way to find a the right clinician for you.
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Find a clinician you get along with. They should be good listeners, encouraging, and always working toward your goals.
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Physical Therapy does not have to be painful. In most cases, you should see progress in the first 2 weeks of treatments. This could mean moving in a positive direction in terms of pain, mobility, function, etc. Any delayed onset of muscle soreness (that’s the “I just worked out” feeling) usually subsides in 24 hours. If you’re leaving the clinic with bruising, more pain, more difficulty moving, and more difficulty sleeping than when you came in, then you should think hard about finding a more effective route.
At Health Source, we help people avoid unnecessary surgeries (shoulder, hip, knee, low back, etc.). We also help rehab individuals who have had surgeries so that they can maximize their recovery and enjoy life again.
Our specialized clinicians look at your body through the lenses of Mechanics (how are things moving), Neuromuscular Engagement (how efficiently your muscles are working), and Motor Control (coordinating your body so that you can get back to doing what you want to do). This involves comprehensive evaluations, hands-on care, education, movement re-training, and individually tailored exercises to help you fully recover.
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