what do you look for in a therapist?

thehamo

I have a vested interest here, but Im also just curious in comparison to my own opinions!

what is it you value most when you go to see a physical/physio therapist?

Brian?

1. Proximity to my house or workplace

2. Must be a chartered physiotherapist

3. Do they want me to come back more often that I think is needed.

4. Do I hate them when I leave? A yes means they're doing their job.

5. Price.

arybvtcw0eolkf

Chartered.

Word of mouth (from athletes who I'd know well).

Price.

And tbh, 'bed side manners'. Example, I had a brilliant physio who understood my frustrations at being injured and my worries that my injury/injuries would keep me out of competition in the medium to long term.

He has left the practice and I'm being treated for a grade II pec tear which I feel has been totally mismanaged by a new physio in the clinic who I feel is simply not listening to me.

Proximity wouldn't be very important, but safe parking is essential.

Warm hands

Alf Veedersane

Word of mouth recommendation.

Do they assess me to see what the problem is or just treat based on what I say is the problem.

Do they test and retest.

Do they ask me how much better I feel or do they decide I need X more visits?

Proximity to home/work.









Price.

Hani Kosti

Surprisingly hands on approach and recommendations what to do AFTER the session

Proximity to house plays a role but willing to travel for a seriously good physio

As mentioned above, if I'm in bits after the treatment, I know the therapist did the job right

I'm very lucky that my bf sister is an amazing physio and I trust her judgement, fixed me everytime (hated rest seems to be the key)

kal7

Most patients seem to go on word of mouth, which is fine.
But perhaps they should they look at qualifications or membership of professional association.

I think a reasonable time given to patient is very important.
A good assessment and explanation of why the problem presented and how to manage this including self help, do's and don'ts.

My declared vested interest: I am a therapist myself (Osteopath)

I tell patients if not improved over course of, at most, four treatments with any therapist to try a second opinion or style of therapy. This general advice might help to limit the practitioners stringing people along for years of treatments, with little benefit.

We can all benefit patients but need to be seeing correct therapy or individual practitioner as good and bad in all professions.

A good thread for a therapist to read.

Specifically in physio vs physical therapist, in my opinion, the newer term physical therapy is confusing patients, outside of Ireland and UK the term physical therapy is used for physiotherapists. A different therapy and whatever there training level should be easy to differentiate for member of public.

intheclouds

Someone who takes a holistic view.

Someone who judges the number/frequency of visits by progress.

Someone who listens and in turn is honest. I saw a (highly regarded) physio for over a year for a knee problem before who continued to treat me despite knowing that physio wasnt going to solve the problem (she told me this after I got a second orthopediac opinion off my own bat and said that she couldnt have advised me to get a second opinion as it would have been ethically wrong for her to do so - but apparently it wasnt ethically wrong to take 75 quid a week off me for over a year with no improvement).

Someone who doesnt dismiss troubles I am having with "you need to do your exercises more often".

Ive had a lot of knee surgery, the first one completely changed my biomechanics and I have experienced a lot of physios over the years. Lots of them are not that good.

I use a physical therapist for deep tissue massage and she has done me more good than a lot of chartered physiotherapists Ive seen.

Good parking, a fair price and personal attention also - I hate practices where you are one of a number of patients being seen and the physio is bopping from curtain to curtain like an a&e department.

thehamo

I personally base my own practice around my own frustraions of what i experienced with therapists.

To me, chartered physio is not important, in fact its been a turn off for me recently.

Time given to the patient. I dont understand what you can achieve in 30 min if 10 of that is taken up with talking.

Listen to the frustrations of the client. Understand their problem.

Price, thought im willing to pay that bit more if i think they are worth it.

Client/therapist relationship. Very important. Explaining the issue and why they are doing xyz.

Hanley

1) Recommendation

2) Explaining the problem, cause and plan to fix it

3) Treating the cause and not the problem, but taking the time to communicate it

4) Setting clear expectations

I couldn't give a flying f*ck about chartered physio or any of the bollox. It's more of a turn off.

Price insensitive once they produce the goods.

Nervous Wreck

Recommendation from someone I trust. After that, I want them to address the problem, tell me the cause and help me understand how to stop it from recurring.

size5

1. Therapist i can trust;
2. Therapist that is confidence in his/her treatment;
3. Takes a holistic look at the situation not just a specific one-ie. pain in neck ah yeah tight upper traps but then does't talk about stress and sitting posture
4.would put recommendation over qualifications;

arybvtcw0eolkf

Two people have said that 'Chartered' is a turn off, why?.

Throughout my years in various grappling martial arts I've come across all sorts of idiots who'd set themselves up as 'physical therapists' who were [putting it mildly] 'chancers.

I'd rather have a university grad with hospital based training who has comprehensive knowledge of how the body works, along with specialist training in the diagnosis and treatment of muscle and joint pain over some chancer who has done [some at best] an online course and was awarded some mickey mouse cert.

As I said earlier I've a grade II pec tear (since Feb 27th) which I feel has been mismanaged by a physio ~ but in fairness to her my doc sent me to her with a note to say I'd a rotator cuff injury ~ long story stuff. Either way if I really feel pissed at her, and this can't be corrected I have a course to redress her, I don't with some chancer who calls themselves a 'physical therapist' without any formal training.

So why the turn off if someone is chartered?.

thehamo

Jenny Wrong Historian wrote: »

Two people have said that 'Chartered' is a turn off, why?.

Throughout my years in various grappling martial arts I've come across all sorts of idiots who'd set themselves up as 'physical therapists' who were [putting it mildly] 'chancers.

I'd rather have a university grad with hospital based training who has comprehensive knowledge of how the body works, along with specialist training in the diagnosis and treatment of muscle and joint pain over some chancer who has done [some at best] an online course and was awarded some mickey mouse cert.

As I said earlier I've a grade II pec tear (since Feb 27th) which I feel has been mismanaged by a physio ~ but in fairness to her my doc sent me to her with a note to say I'd a rotator cuff injury ~ long story stuff. Either way if I really feel pissed at her, and this can't be corrected I have a course to redress her, I don't with some chancer who calls themselves a 'physical therapist' without any formal training.

So why the turn off if someone is chartered?.

I can only speak of my own experiences Ive dealt with far too many "Chartered" physios who know sweet FA. They are dismissive of any other discipline other than physiotherapy. It's their way or the high way. The culture of "stretch this and exercise this and come back to me next week" drives me insane. Last chartered physio i went to on recommendation i was told there was nothing much they could do unless ibwas showing signs of pain there Nd then, handed a sheet of stretches i could find on the wall of a gym and was asked pay 60 euro for the pleasure.

I had people come to my clinic and told me stories of diagnosis and treatment from chartered physios and its left my jaw hitting the floor.

The term "chartered" is not a gurantee of qulaity. Its an entitlement after they've received their degree. A university degree does not guarantee knowledge of how the human body works. I have a business degree, i got through cause i cramed it all in last minute and ended up learning nothing.

I know physical therapists who are not degree trained aho have a vast array of knowledge as compared to some physios.

I want clarify this is not post lambasting physios! Im giving reasons why it is a turn off for me! "
Like everything there are those who can and those who shouldn't. My experience of both is that they were never able to fix what was wrong with me.

kal7

you have to remember that there are three schools of physical therapy who run a 15month, 2yr or 3yr part time courses in Ireland, so different levels of qualification within one therapy.

I think physiotherapists can suffer from treating two people at one time slot, how they manage this I don't know. But it would explain patient's dislike of this practice, we all want someones full attention.

Hanley

thehamo wrote: »

I can only speak of my own experiences Ive dealt with far too many "Chartered" physios who know sweet FA. They are dismissive of any other discipline other than physiotherapy. It's their way or the high way. The culture of "stretch this and exercise this and come back to me next week" drives me insane. Last chartered physio i went to on recommendation i was told there was nothing much they could do unless ibwas showing signs of pain there Nd then, handed a sheet of stretches i could find on the wall of a gym and was asked pay 60 euro for the pleasure.

I had people come to my clinic and told me stories of diagnosis and treatment from chartered physios and its left my jaw hitting the floor.

The term "chartered" is not a gurantee of qulaity. Its an entitlement after they've received their degree. A university degree does not guarantee knowledge of how the human body works. I have a business degree, i got through cause i cramed it all in last minute and ended up learning nothing.

I know physical therapists who are not degree trained aho have a vast array of knowledge as compared to some physios.

I want clarify this is not post lambasting physios! Im giving reasons why it is a turn off for me! "
Like everything there are those who can and those who shouldn't. My experience of both is that they were never able to fix what was wrong with me.

Agree with this.

Just like you get **** PTs and **** lawyers, you get **** chartered physios.

When you're in pain, it's just a bit more obvious the treatment hasn't been good.

That being said - the best treatment I ever got was off a chartered physio who operated nothing like a "normal" physio would.