The Patient-Therapist Relationship often times requires work by both the PT and the patient to make things run smoothly and effectively. Here is a list of ideas I suggest to help patients improve their physical therapy experience.
Have open communication with your PT - honest feedback regarding symptom intensity, aggravating factors , limitations in ADLs, schedule conflicts, needs, upcoming big events in your world (moving, trip to Africa, having a baby) - we try to ask about all of these things but be the one to help keep us informed - the more we know the more we can try to help.
1. Be proactive - complete exercises as prescribed; if your PT doesn’t suggest it, ask if you can come early to warm up; ask, “what is the best way to do X, provided my current situation?”
2. Come ready - in our current health care environment, our time with patients is limited both during each session and, in most cases, in number of visits - if you can be to your appointment on time, even early, ready to discuss your current complaints and reaction to the previous session, and any new important factors to your case that would be tremendously helpful to us in providing the highest level, most efficient, and successful care possible. Furthermore, on your first visit, arriving 15 minutes early to complete the necessary paperwork and have time to let our administrative assistants help explain your health insurance benefits to you, will be very helpful.
3. Complete the picture -let us know about the rest of your healthcare team and what role they are playing in your care. For example: “Steve Chiro my long time chiropractor who I see 1x/month for managing my low back stiffness.” This list may also include personal trainers, coaches, doctors, acupuncturists, naturopathic physicians, or massage practitioners. Knowing the other influences on you and your health, activity, and sports can be very helpful. We may ask you if mind us contacting them to discuss your case and promote your getting better.
4. Ask us - don’t hold back with the questions - whether it is the article you found on a blog somewhere on the internet or something your uncle told you - bring it up, ask us what we think - if it is something related to your treatment or your diagnosis definitely don’t hold back. Education of you the patient is one of the most important components of your treatment. We need for you to understand as much as you can about your condition and the process of rehabilitating it so that you can develop skills to make good decisions about body mechanics, exercise, and activity levels when we are not around, not only while you are a patient, but also after your discharge to your own independent program.
If you have any questions about this information or any other questions regarding the physical therapy process, please don’t hesitate to contact me at Chris.Clock@JointVenturesPT.com or 617 536 1161.
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