Physiotherapy is a scientifically proven method to aid in preventing and treating any pain that may have been caused by an injury, illness, disorder, or even a deformity.
It involves therapy through physical methods such as exercise, massage, or other body movements to restore and maintain a person’s movement and mobility, as well as strengthen bones, muscles, and joints to improve overall well-being.
Depending upon one’s condition, attending physiotherapy sessions requires a significant commitment of time, energy, and determination to ensure they get the desired outcomes. Consequently, it is essential to choose a physiotherapist that can effectively treat your condition and provide you long term relief from it. If you are seeking to undertake physiotherapy to transform your health, then it is essential to consider the following factors to choose the right physiotherapist for yourself.
Qualifications
As with any other health profession, physiotherapy is a specialized field of healthcare. It encompasses a wide-ranging of specialties including but not limited to pediatrics, sports therapy, orthopedics, geriatric therapy, neurological therapy, and cardiovascular therapy. It is a complex job, that if done by an unqualified or inexperienced person, could not only result in a delayed treatment time, but more importantly prove to be dangerous to one’s health as it could exacerbate an existing problem. Just as you would not want to get yourself checked by an unlicensed doctor, you must ensure not to seek the services of an unqualified physiotherapist.
Physiotherapists have to follow strict regulations similar to any other healthcare professionals, therefore it is vital to ensure that the physiotherapist is fully qualified and accredited by the relevant governing body. For example in the UK, it is mandated by law to be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP).
Specialization
As mentioned, physiotherapy covers a wide range of areas of practice. While a physiotherapist will have the general qualifications needed to practice the profession such as a graduate degree and a license to practice, it is particularly helpful to seek out someone who has the relevant expertise for your particular condition. Therefore, if you are experiencing pain in your back, neck, knee joint, or in any other part which affects the way you move, it is better to consult a musculoskeletal physiotherapist. Similarly, if you are an athlete and are suffering from an injury or issue related to sports, then it is highly recommended to seek treatment from a chartered physiotherapist whose expertise lies within sports therapy.
Sport-related injuries differ from ordinary day-to-day injuries as sportsmen place an additional amount of pressure on their muscles and joints to deliver optimum performance, which pushes their muscles to the limit. Therefore in such a scenario, it is very important to choose a physiotherapist that has undergone additional professional training and possesses the specific knowledge and clinical skills to treat a particular condition.
Experience and Reputation
Depending upon the severity of your condition, it is always recommended to opt for a reputed and experienced physiotherapist, preferably someone with at least 2-3 years of experience, instead of someone relatively new in the field. You may want to consult your family members and friends who have gone through the process for recommendations or check out reviews online to shortlist those with a high number of positive reviews. For example, Pain Solutions Ltd. based in Lymm, UK was named the “Best Injury Therapy Centre” after receiving 100% positive reviews by the public, owing to their high treatment standards and speedy recovery times.
While a reputed and experienced physio would certainly tend to charge more, you can rest assured that you are in safe hands by receiving the best possible treatment to relieve your pain.
Level of Care and Clinic Environment
When seeking physiotherapy, it is not only crucial to find an encouraging and empathetic personality and someone you trust but also receive treatment in an environment that makes you feel relaxed and not make you stressed or nervous. Does it look like a facility where you would be comfortable to spend some time regularly? Is it an open concept facility or does it offer private treatment rooms?
Therefore before deciding which physiotherapist to visit to undergo treatment, take into consideration factors like whether the clinic provides one on one treatment sessions so that you receive the appropriate amount of time and attention. Many a time patients are evaluated by the physiotherapist initially but then the treatment is taken over by the assistants, who may not be able to match and provide the quality of personalized care which would otherwise be given by the physiotherapist himself.
Additionally, you may also want to know whether the clinic offers private treatment rooms to ensure you feel at ease and get the desired privacy, without feeling nervous about being observed or overheard by others.
Accessibility and Availability
Unless you are receiving treatment at home, it is crucial to consider how convenient it is for you to visit the clinic from your place regularly. Since you have probably gone through an injury or illness and your condition may require long-term treatment, your health may not suit traveling long distances, and so you would not want to attend physio sessions at a facility far away from your home which could further affect your overall well being. Additionally, since you are seeking physiotherapy to get quick relief from the pain you are suffering from, it is essential to acquire the services of someone who is available at regular short intervals to attend to you and does not book the next sessions after a long period.
Finding the right physiotherapist amongst the many available can be an overwhelming task for some people. The practice is continuously evolving and to keep up, a good physiotherapist must adopt dynamic and progressive approaches to treatment for existing problems. By keeping the factors mentioned above when choosing a physiotherapist, you can not only shorten your treatment time but also increase your chances of finding someone who addresses your needs effectively as per your desired expectations and provides you with long term relief from your existing condition.
