As with any health professional, the activity of physiotherapist is also regulated by strict legal standards ( Ministerial Decree 741/94 ) and requires compliance with a code of ethics. If you have suffered an injury or are in a specific health condition, choosing a physiotherapist who can follow you properly is really essential. A hasty or ill-considered choice could delay your recovery or treatment results and involve a large investment in both economic and emotional terms.
ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A PHYSIOTHERAPIST?
Whether you are talking to a professional in a private practice or a physiotherapy clinic, it is important to ask yourself a series of questions that will help you better orient yourself before starting treatment. In this article, we have summarised five important elements to consider in order to choose the physiotherapy service that best suits your needs.
What does a physiotherapist do?
On the AIFI (Italian Association of Physiotherapy) website, we find the complete description of the profession of physiotherapist, which recalls the provisions of the Ministry of Health n.741 of 1994:
“The physiotherapist is the health worker, in possession of a university qualifying diploma, who carries out, independently, or in collaboration with other health professionals, interventions for prevention, treatment and rehabilitation in the areas of mobility, superior cortical functions, and visceral ones resulting from pathological events, of various aetiology, congenital or acquired.”
First of all, therefore, those who work as a physiotherapist fall into the category of health personnel . To obtain this title it is necessary to follow a university degree enabling the profession: it is no longer possible to work as a physiotherapist without having the qualification required by law.
The physiotherapist can work independently or in collaboration with other professions in the health sector, and deals with everything related to the motor functions of the body, both at the level of musculoskeletal and neurological and visceral systems
In practice, this means that a physiotherapist deals with different aspects of rehabilitation:
- Defines a rehabilitation program to identify, solve or prevent motor and psychomotor problems of patients;
- Carries out therapeutic activity thanks to physical, manual, massage therapy and occupational therapies;
- Proposes prostheses and other aids for patients and then educates them to use them effectively;
- Verification the effectiveness of the prostheses and of the aids with periodic check-ups;
- Verify that the rehabilitation path is going in the desired direction for the recovery of the patients.
5 tips for choosing a physiotherapist
Chances are there are several physiotherapy centers or private clinics around you, so you’re wondering how to choose the one that’s right for you. Here is a list of five things you should consider before choosing a physical therapist for you or a loved one who needs assistance.
1. Check the qualifications
As we saw at the beginning of the article, having a degree and a professional qualification is the necessary requirement to become a physiotherapist. So check that the physiotherapist you are going to contact is fully qualified, just like when choosing any other health professional. To become a physiotherapist and have the qualification to practice the profession, it is necessary to follow and complete the degree course in physiotherapy organized at the faculties of medicine and surgery
2. Evaluate competence
Physiotherapy is a very broad discipline that deals with different parts of the body. Most of the time, those who graduate in physiotherapy choose to continue training with an ad hoc specialization. According to Ministerial Decree 741/94, in fact, the specialization of physiotherapists can continue in the field of psychomotor skills or occupational therapy: & nbsp;
- The specialisation in psychomotor skills allows the physiotherapist to carry out psychic and physical rehabilitation and prevention of people with neuro-sensory or psychic deficits;
- specialisation in occupational therapy , on the other hand, is more oriented towards patients with specific problems such as visual impairment, hearing difficulties, strokes, cerebral lesions or palsy, arthritis, diabetes or serious injuries. The goal is to let patients recover autonomy in their daily life so that they can heal their relationships and reconcile free time, work or study.
Physiotherapists’ specialization can also focus on a specific part of the body. If you have suffered a hand accident, for example, it may be more effective to follow a rehabilitation program with a professional specialized in upper limb physiotherapy.
3. Choose a location that is convenient for you
When choosing a physiotherapist, it is also important to evaluate the location of his or her surgery or, especially in the case of long-term treatments. It is unwise, for example, to drive or commute over long distances if you have musculoskeletal problems or are recovering from surgery. Choose a physiotherapist who is easy for you to reach.
With Jopla, choosing a physiotherapist near you is very easy: find out if and how many Jopla PRO physiotherapists exist in your area.
4. Learn about the types of treatment
There is a tendency to associate the work of physiotherapists with rehabilitation techniques based on movement and massage to treat a specific condition or injury: in reality, the range of physiotherapy treatments is much wider . In addition to traditional methods, possible techniques include thermotherapy, reflexology, acupuncture, hydrotherapy, Tecar therapy, etc. Depending on your specific health condition, you may need a more localized or specialized type of treatment. Ask the physiotherapy practitioner or clinic that interests you what types of physiotherapy treatments they offer.
5. Check availability
One of the most important considerations to make before choosing a physiotherapist is her actual availability. A waiting list that is too long could have a negative impact on your health condition which, if neglected, could worsen. It is important to start physiotherapy treatment as quickly as possible , so always inform yourself in advance about the availability of the physiotherapist.
Bonus: find out about the reputation of the physiotherapist.
Before contacting your physical therapist, do some research to learn about other patients’ experiences and opinions on the treatment they have received. You can do a search and read the opinions on Google Maps, consult reviews on forums and medical portals or get informed by word of mouth.
With your Jopla For You account you can consult other people’s opinions about physiotherapists in your area at any time!
Have a nice job!
