How to Choose the Best Physical Therapist
There are many factors that go into choosing the best physical therapist for your rehabilitation.
One such factor is access. If you are having a total knee replacement you will inevitably have questions about your incision or positioning or any number of other factors.
In this article we will discuss choosing your physical therapist based on availability and access. I will share three important criteria for choosing your physical therapist and how you can screen potential candidates before you have surgery.
3 Criteria to Consider When Choosing a Physical Therapist
Treatment Philosophy After Total Knee Replacement
No Pain No Gain
For simplicity we can break down a therapist’s treatment philosophy into two camps:
The no pain no gain therapist believes that it is important to push through the pain as long as you, the patient, are safe. The NPNG treatment philosophy is that a total knee replacement is a painful procedure and painful recovery. The most important thing is gaining range of motion as quickly as possible.
The NPNG philosophy is one in which the therapist and patient would rather put up with higher pain initially to enjoy less pain and frustration in the future.
Slow And Steady Wins the Race
In this case, your therapist believes that it is better to progress more slowly and comfortably. Your therapist will never push to the point of pain.
This therapist will help you find the level of discomfort that stimulates improvement, but tries everything to avoid over-doing it and causing a flare-up.
Will You Have Voice, Text, or Email Access After Hours?
After total knee replacement surgery, you will likely have questions outside of normal clinic hours of operation. Many small, private practice clinics will provide patients with access to their therapist via email, text message, or telephone. In some cases you might have telehealth access including video and audio communication.
As an example, I will often share my personal cell phone number with post surgical patients in order to provide them with 24-hour access during the first couple weeks after surgery.
This is sometimes a service covered by insurance reimbursement or offer as a self pay service.
Scheduling Accessibility
After a total knee replacement, most patients will not return to driving for 6 weeks.
If you are dependent on friends or family for transportation, you will want to choose a therapy provider that has enough open appointments that you can easily coordinate your treatment times with your transportation options.
Many larger hospital clinics are busier and less able to work around your schedule.
Some smaller office providers will allow you to have priority scheduling or purchase a membership that assures you greater access to the clinic’s equipment.
Mobile therapists provide outpatient therapy in your home. This might be a great option until you are able to drive. *Note – outpatient physical therapy is covered under the Medicare Part B benefit and is not the same as home health physical therapy.
Anthony Maritato, PT
Physical Therapist
Anthony Maritato, PT has been a licensed physical therapist and private practice owner since 2006. Ohio license #PT011602.
Anthony has been passionate about helping patients recover from total knee replacement surgery as well as rotator cuff repair surgery.