I recently put out a question on social media for anybody who had ever received physical therapy services: what was your favorite part of PT? I broached this topic with little to no expectation, but not only did I get a lot more responses than I would have imagined, but reading them truly warmed my heart. For me, they provide validation for the work that we do day in and day out, and underline the impact that can have on our patients’ lives. The replies also reminded me of all the roles we play as physical therapists, including caretaker, teacher, movement and mobility expert, advocate, and supporter (perhaps literally).

Of course, there were a couple of the standard answers of massage and modalities, but the majority of the responses were so much more.

My favorite part of physical therapy was…

“[the therapist] listened. They never dismissed my daily report or downplayed my pain/experiences.”

“the detailed instruction of each move, knowing what muscle should be firing, where I should be feeling it, and the direction about the wrong AND right way to do a move.”

“the determination to help, and positive motivation that I wasn’t crazy! ‘Yes, you have vertigo, and here are some exercises.’ “

“[the therapist] explained everything to me and answered questions about why they were doing something; this helped to understand the importance of the exercises I do and the [manual work] they did.”

“the physical touch of a caring professional. It communicates that we really have a problem & that you can feel the problem. It’s so cool also to have your range of motion measured and to see if you are making progress over weeks and months. As a sports person, anything involving a ball to throw or catch is massive fun. For us, these are practical and life-giving skills.”

“…being taught what [we] can do at home… the fact that the therapists listen and don’t downplay the situation… the variety of treatments.”

“[the therapist] spent time with me; it wasn’t a ‘fly-by’ treatment experience.”

“feeling of accomplishment and [getting] stronger.”

“[the therapist] advocated for me when I didn’t know how to do it for myself and helped me navigate a complicated diagnosis.”

“…the hands-on approach, especially when recovering from surgery, as it keeps you for overdoing, or not doing enough. It is a teaching process as the therapists give you more work to do at home on your own. I also like the measurable goals, the encouragement to reach them, and the praise when you do.”

“…getting better than I would on my own and getting manipulated beyond what I would do on my own.”

“[the therapist] was accommodating, flexible, and able to adapt things to fit my needs; they could change an exercise… and never said ‘just don’t do it,’ but found a way to make it work.”

“learning new techniques.”

“being cared for, especially compared to other health professionals who don’t have or give the same kind of time.”

“[the therapist] picked up my shoes for me when I couldn’t reach them off the floor.”

Three Takeaways:

1. Little things make a big impact, more than you may ever realize. I mean, helping someone with their shoes may seem like nothing, but it’s a big deal for a person, perhaps an intensely-proud and independent person, whose pain limits their ability to do that for themselves. Never forget the details.
2. Listening to our patients is key. It seems simple, I know, but most of the people that walk in our door are in some kind of stress, and maybe haven’t been heard or taken seriously by their doctors. They are coming to us for help, and to feel listened to, from a patient perspective, is invaluable. This is part of the responsibility of a PT. Not only will it help you in providing the best care, but it will also help to build the all-important trust between patient and clinician. In my eyes, that relationship is essential in achieving the best patient outcome.
3. Getting feedback from patients can help remind you why you do what you do. Healthcare is a difficult world right now, in so many ways, and it can be too easy to lose sight of why we are there and to get stuck in the routine of work. Our purpose is to facilitate healing and help people to live their best lives. The patient perspective can help us to grow as clinicians, and hearing that we have had an impact can provide the motivation we need to continue to provide the best treatment possible.

Patients typically enjoy the experience of physical therapy, and it is a place of honor to provide that positive encounter for them. The thoughtfulness and reflection that goes into identifying a favorite thing about any experience can only promote growth. In fact, maybe a good next step is to ask ourselves ‘what is my favorite part of being a physical therapist?’. As they say in all relationships, communication is key, and it certainly goes both ways. A little introspection never hurt anyone, right?