Have you had a bad experience with physiotherapy? Are you turned off by ever going to see a physiotherapist again? Hopefully, this post will help you change your mind!
Nowadays, most physiotherapy clinics just focus on patient quantity and not quality. Have you ever visited a clinic where the physiotherapist sees more than 4 patients an hour? I don't understand how that's considered therapy... it seems more like a factory assembly line. It's a good business model for generating revenue, but what kind of care does the patient receive? After the physio greets you and checks in on your progress, that's already 5 minutes. That leaves about 5 to 10 minutes of one-on-one care before you get handed off to an assistant or kinesiologist. What happens when a patient comes in with a new problem? The reassessment itself will take up most of this allotted time, and that leaves little to no time for actual hands-on treatment. If I were a patient, I'd get very frustrated by this philosophy; that's why I give all patients at least 30 minutes of one-on-one care (regardless of whether or not they need the full time) and never double book anyone. Scheduling so many patients per hour also affects punctuality. Nothing drives me more crazy than being late. I don't like having people wait for me - I'm not a doctor - so I can actually make a promise and guarantee that I will never be more than a few minutes late for an appointment.
When physiotherapists see more than 4 patients an hour, what else can they do but hook up people to machines for 20 to 30 minutes? This is another complaint that I hear all the time. When people think of physio, the first things that come to mind are ultrasound and IFC/TENS. I don't deny that I use these modalities as well, but I would never include these passive modalities in everyone's treatment plan just to kill 80% of their treatment time. All modalities have their place, but it should only be implemented based on each individual's case. I believe that some sort of manual therapy or mobilization is required to create mechanical changes in our tissues. That's why in my practice, I like to include manual treatments and exercises that actually make a difference.
We, as physiotherapists, all get the same basic training. However, what we do with this training and what additional continuing education we take is what separates one from another. One practitioner might use the same old skills for 20 years, while someone else might stay up to date on the latest research and continue to sharpen their diagnostic and treatment skills. Another factor that makes a big difference is the treatment environment. Is the clinic located in a doctor's office where there are children crying every half an hour? Are the treatment rooms divided by semi-private curtains where your neighbour can hear everything that you say? Is the atmosphere clean and inviting? Are the staff friendly, welcoming, and helpful every time you come in? Every little thing makes an impact on our recovery!
Make sure you do your research before going somewhere for therapy. It is, after all, your health and wellbeing that you're putting into someone else's hands. If you're unsure, ask questions! You can always schedule a free 15-minute consult so that you're confident about the care that you receive.
