If you were asked what a physical therapist (PT) does, would you be able to answer it?
The truth is, many people do not know what a PT does unless they are involved in the profession or have been a patient themselves. To start, here’s what a PT is NOT:
- Personal trainer
- Massage therapist
- Athletic trainer
- Stretching ninja
Physical therapy encompasses some of the above, along with treating people of any age, from infants to centenarians, with various conditions such as traumatic brain injuries, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, joint replacements, low back pain, cancer, autism, cerebral palsy, tendinitis, and the list goes on (click here for a comprehensive list: https://www.choosept.com/symptomsconditions.aspx). They work in hospitals, clinics, homes, and assisted living facilities. Physical therapy can consist of hands-on techniques to improve the mobility of joints and muscles, exercise prescription, walking/running analysis, teaching patients how to get out of bed after a hip replacement, and much more.
Generally speaking, physical therapists are the movement experts in the healthcare industry. They receive extensive education (doctorate-level) about human anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, and how to treat various medical conditions with movement and education. The goal of any physical therapist, no matter what setting they practice in, is to help rehabilitate and restore a patient’s quality of life through improving their function and ability to perform every day activities.
CONCIERGE PT:
The concierge model of physical therapy is relatively new, with the goal being to provide above and beyond service to patients. The term “concierge” can mean something different to everyone, but the overall idea is that it involves improving the quality of care and service that patients typically do not receive in a clinic-setting (mostly due to insurance limitations and restrictions with clinic operations).
Concierge physical therapists pride themselves on being able to spend as much one-on-one time with their patients as needed. Typically, they travel to patient’s homes (convenience factor, anyone?), conduct sessions that last 60-90 minutes (which almost never happens in a clinic) and may or may not accept insurance (this relieves them of visit limits and other restrictions). These factors together make the physical therapy experience much more enjoyable and effective for patients (aka they get better, faster)!
You do NOT have to be in pain to benefit from physical therapy. Prevention is key when it comes to your health and PTs are equipped with the knowledge to assess your movement and current level of function to predict whether you may have an injury in the future. Elevate Physical Therapy is focused heavily on being PREVENTIVE rather than REACTIVE to your health. If you want to improve your health and fitness from the comfort of your home, concierge physical therapy is definitely for you.
Still curious? Read more about how a concierge physical therapist can help you here: https://www.elevateptconcierge.com/about
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