Is Your Physical Therapist Legit? Here's Exactly How To Tell, According to PTs Themselves
Patient working with a physical therapist
If you're healing from an injury or surgery, finding a good physical therapist (PT) is crucial to your recovery process—but sometimes that can be harder than retraining your muscles to function again.
This is made even trickier by the fact that not every personal trainer, masseuse or other self-proclaimed exercise expert has the same skills as a physical therapist, which is a specialized field. It's important to know if a PT is the real deal, so if you're wondering how to tell if your physical therapist is legit, we're here to help.
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How To Tell if Your Physical Therapist Is Legit, According to PTs Themselves
The best way to find out that your physical therapist is legit is to request their license number, which is issued by the state where they practice. Licensed physical therapists will also have a national provider number. These can give you the basics, physical therapist Shannon Leggett says.
"Both can easily be found online and will give you general information about the year they graduated, number of years in practice, and this way you know the PT is licensed and is in good standing with the state board," she explains.
Dr. Michael Johnson, physical therapist and clinical director of FYZICAL in Traverse City, Michigan, also points out something key to note in regard to finding a licensed physical therapist near you.
"Recently in April 2017, the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) created an agreement in conjunction with various states to increase therapy service for cross-state practices," Dr. Johnson says. "Currently, 37 states are part of the agreement. However, your therapist will still be required to register in the state they are practicing in."
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Why Is It Important To Use a Licensed Physical Therapist?
Getting a license as a physical therapist isn't exactly a cakewalk, and it's that way for a reason: the job requires a wide breadth of knowledge to help patients recover safely.
"All therapists must pass a national examination that covers a large basis of human anatomy knowledge, neuromuscular interaction and various disabilities in order to be licensed in the United States," Dr. Johnson says. "Therapists are movement specialists for all ages; this requires them to have a good understanding of body mechanics and the effects that injuries or disabilities could cause from the young to the elderly. Using a conservative approach and holistic movement interaction, they help to restore function, reduce pain and improve body ergonomics. Licensing is a way to certify that the therapist has a basic knowledge to perform those activities."
Simply put, these certifications are crucial to making sure whoever you work with can actually help you safely, because physical therapists who don't have proper training can put you at risk of serious injury (and worse).
"I know there are trainers out there who have 'corrective' exercise experience, but they do not have the extensive education in evaluation and treatment of injuries, as well as the medical background that licensed PTs do," Leggett warns. "With the amount of chronic disease in the United States, you really want someone who understands how to manage your medical conditions as you are healing."
Dr. Johnson also points out a big reason why you should only use a licensed physical therapist: your insurance may not pay for any of your physical therapy otherwise, and we all know that can get very expensive.
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How To Know if a Physical Therapist Is Right For You
That said, just because a physical therapist is licensed and in good standing doesn't necessarily mean that they're the best option for your personal health needs.
Leggett recommends checking a physical therapy office's website to see if their physical therapists specialize in your area of need.
"Someone [who] might have vertigo should find a practice that helps people with vestibular issues. A person looking for help with incontinence needs to find physical therapists that have a pelvic floor specialist," Leggett said. "Some outpatient practices specialize in all sports while others will have PTs with a neuro background for those who might have Parkinson's disease or stroke."
Leggett recommends reading reviews of physical therapy offices and individual physical therapists, as well as interviewing specific PTs with whom you're interested in working—and she has some tips for what to look for in offices as well.
"I think that someone needs to be aware of how many patients the PT sees an hour," Leggett told us. "I don’t recommend being at a place where the PT has several patients at once. They usually have very limited time with patients. The patient might spend most of the time with an aide that only has limited education."
To avoid those situations, Leggett recommends looking for practices that mention individualized care and one-on-one sessions.
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Dr. Johnson recommends consultation with each candidate and asking yourself the following questions in terms of choosing a physical therapist:
Does my therapist take the time to ensure I understand the concept and encourage questions?
If I raise a concern, do they try and address it with empathy, or offer encouragement?
What kinds of activities are they planning for future sessions? Will it be one-on-one, hands-on, stretches and exercises, modalities, and/or functional movement patterns?
Most importantly: How do I feel about this clinician?
"Having a clinician who explains their plan of care and how it can help you to follow this plan can have an enormous impact on your recovery," he explains. "It's important to understand that this is a partnership between a clinician and patient and that neither can succeed without the other's buy-in and participation."
In terms of what you should expect from your physical therapist during your treatment, Leggett is firm: You should be moving, and your physical therapist should integrate your recovery into other aspects of your life once sessions end.
"Physical therapy should be active," Leggett emphasizes. "There should be some hands-on treatment by the PT, education (from how to do an exercise, how to set up your desk computer ergonomically and lifestyle management), stretches, exercises, mobility drills. It should not be some heat, 10 minutes on the bike and then you're sent out the door."
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