Referring yourself directly to a physical therapist removes intermediate steps through other health professionals that may lengthen the path to recovery.
Experiencing pain on a daily basis interferes with happiness and quality of life, yet we still ignore it. Sometimes we’ll take basic measures like icing the area, popping a few painkillers or, if it really hurts, going to the nearest urgent-care center. While these remedies are not the most effective, there is no argument that they’re the easiest and most convenient.
Convenience is one of the most powerful influences when it comes to making decisions; luckily, direct access makes physical therapy the most convenient and the most effective option for pain treatment! You can find a nearby facility, schedule your initial evaluation on the same or next day, and start your plan of care right away to alleviate pain.
Avoid Unnecessary Services and Treatments
Ideally every condition could be solved through physical therapy, but some cases do unfortunately require surgery. In these cases it is useful to have an MRI or x-ray for surgeons to identify potential sources of concern. In many cases, having an early MRI too early can lead to adverse effects on the course of care. Patients often become more aware of the symptoms they suffer from, which can lead to fear-based avoidance of treatment, can intensify symptoms and delay recovery. X-rays are useful when a patient has had a severe fall or collision, but they only give insight to bone health, not mobility or function.
Omit Unnecessary Appointments
If you heard about PT from a friend or an article you saw online, you’d still likely schedule an appointment with your physician; however, since physical therapy is relatively new in terms of primary care, many physicians are still learning and therefore don’t often refer to physical therapy as the first course of treatment. It’s possible that you’ll have to wait to see your physician, who may then send you for x-rays, MRIs or even surgery, which may be unnecessary and ultimately delay your recovery.
Via direct access, patients can see a PT for evaluation, diagnosis and treatment, without a referral from a physician. Imagine the amount of time you could save just by seeing a physical therapist first.
#THINKPTFIRST 