One of the most important decisions to make as an injured athlete is to choose your “team”, including choosing your physical therapist. This team can include many different people from skill coaches, to doctors, to physical therapists and sports psychologists. Many times within the medical field you are referred to a provider because it is convenient or there is a marketing agreement in place.
For example, a large health system or orthopedic group “sponsors” a high school or club team and provides an athletic trainer. That athletic trainer is often encouraged or required to refer athletes to that hospital’s orthopedic physicians with any injury. That doctor is typically then encouraged or required to refer out to that hospital’s physical therapy group.
But, as an athlete, is this in your best interest? Are you required to go to a physical therapist because you were referred there by a doctor?
Maybe, maybe not. There are 8 questions that will greatly help you in deciding how to choose your physical therapist and see if they are the right fit for you and your needs. I expand on these questions in much more detail in the podcast.
If you are an athlete or a parent of an athlete that is dealing with an injury, hopefully you find this information helpful! And you can use it to be an advocate for your own health and performance!
Listen above, on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. You can also watch the podcast on our YouTube Channel!
At Kinetic Sports Medicine and Performance we specialize in helping athletes return to play and maximize their performance. Learn more about our philosophy or schedule a free consult today.