Muscular pains and body aches are a clear sign that it’s time to visit a physiotherapist ( PT). While most people believe that if they are getting a deep tissue massage, they do not need to visit a PT. However, this is untrue. The main reason behind this is that massages can give you temporary relief from the pain. Whereas, you need to see a PT to trace the root cause of your pains and get rid of them permanently.
Having said this, today we’re going to discuss some factors that you need to consider while choosing a PT. Read on to know more!
Qualification
For a physical therapist to be qualified for practice, they should have certification from their country’s board of physiotherapy. They are required to hold a medical degree in physical therapy and have cleared the PT registration test set by their board. Additionally, you should also inquire if your PT has a practicing license or not.
Experience
All physical therapists have to complete a house job in a hospital before they can start practicing individually in their own clinic. The basic time period of a house job usually varies from 6 months to a year. Therefore, all PTs that are running their own clinics have ample experience in their hands.
Moreover, physio is one of those medical fields where age cannot determine the experience that a PT might have. The experience of PTs is basically determined by the number of patients they’ve treated. So, when you’re looking for a therapist, prefer the one who has worked previously in some government sector hospital as they get to treat a lot of patients regularly.
Field of Expertise
Most physiotherapists do specialization after completing their basic degree. Some of the common areas for specializations for physiotherapists are:
- Musculoskeletal
- Sports Injury
- Mental health
- Elderly care
- Stroke rehabilitation
- Ergonomics
- Spine and head injuries
- Neuro
- Cardiovascular
- Respiratory Problems
- Pregnancy
- Post-Op Rehabilitation
If you are suffering from any specific issue, then you should see a PT that specialises in it. For instance, if you’re having muscular issues then you have a PT having expertise in musculoskeletal. Similarly, a patient suffering from a stroke should visit a physio having expertise in neuro or stroke rehabilitation.
Treatment Technique
Physiotherapists use a variety of techniques to treat their patients. They make use of different kinds of manipulations, stretching and even electrotherapy to ease the pain of their patients. However, other than the traditional approach, some physios have incorporated the use of alternative treatments in their treatment as well. Some of these methods are:
- Acupuncture.
- Reiki
- Hydrotherapy
- Reflexology.
- Shiatsu
- Bowen technique
- Cranio sacral therapy.
- Dry needling.
- Neuro structural integration.
Before you begin your sessions, you should inquire about your physical therapist about the different techniques they’ll use for the treatment. Other than this, sometimes physios can also do muscular manipulations to trace the root cause of your pain.
Ease of Access
Accessibility is something that should be your top-most priority when you’re looking for a physical therapist. Physio is one of those treatments that require patients to visit the centres regularly, therefore, it is important to consider the location of the clinic.
The ideal scenario would be to find a PT near your home or work place that is easily reachable via public transport. Ensuring that you can reach it other than your personal conveyance is essential so that you don’t have to miss your session in case your car broke. Other than accessible location, you should check that they have wheelchair access or not and do they have disable parking in case you need it.
Availability
Another important factor that you have to consider is that the physio you choose to see is readily available. This is important because sometimes a person is in great pain and they need immediate attention.
This is why, most clinics for physiotherapy in Dubai have more than one physio available, which can provide you pain relief till your personal PT is available. Likewise, you should also choose a physical therapy clinic that has more than one physio available in case you need to see one in an emergency. Having said that, if the pain is unbearable, you should visit an emergency ward of a hospital. .
These are some of the things that you should consider when you’re choosing a physiotherapist for yourself or for a loved one.
