How to Choose a Physical Therapist

Physical therapy is a hands-on way to relieve and treat muscle and joint pain. While other forms of medical treatment tend to talk their way to relief, physical therapists manipulate the body to work out the pain. Physical therapists have completed medical training and are educated about injury prevention, as well as therapy techniques. Follow these steps to find the right physical therapist for you.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Computer with Internet access

Seek a Therapist who Displays a Positive Approach to Treatment

1. Choose a physical therapist that makes you feel comfortable. You may need to partially undress for some forms of therapy. It's important that you can relax.
2. Find a therapist who talks through the treatment process before actually performing the action. People who have little experience with physical therapy can get anxious from not knowing what is being done to them.
3. Seek to find a therapist who will choose a varied approach to pain relief rather than a single method treatment plan.

Know Additional Options are Available for Pain Management

4. Look into holistic approaches to complement physical therapy treatments.
5. Try acupuncture treatment as an alternative to prescription drugs or surgery. Acupuncture is the insertion of small needles at various energy points on the body and can be helpful in easing pain and discomfort.
6. Choose electric nerve stimulation to treat chronic pain that is not responding to other pain management procedures.
7. Schedule therapeutic massage to reduce tension and stress associated with acute pain.
8. Change your daily routine to include exercise at least 3 times each week. The health benefits alone may make you feel better. They can help take your mind off of your pain.

Research Your Therapist Before Beginning Treatment

9. Check the therapist's qualifications to make sure your therapist has been properly trained to treat you.
10. Trust your instincts. Ask for references if you feel that the therapist isn't being honest with you.
11. Check with family members to see if they have had successful physical therapy treatment in the past. Some of the best advice comes from the people you trust.
12. Visit the "American Physical Therapy Association" Web site for more information on choosing a physical therapist (see Resources below).

Tips & Warnings

• Find a physical therapist close to home or work to ensure you can make all scheduled appointments.
• Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day to help rid your body of toxins and impurities.
• If you feel intense pain during treatment, alert your therapist immediately. It may be a matter of adjusting the amount of pressure they are using.
• Physical therapy is not a substitute for emergency treatment. If you experience acute pain or vomiting please go to your medical physician or emergency room.