Physical Therapy has become an ever-expanding part of the medical field that helps millions of people a day recover from illness or injury to get back to their desired level of functioning.  The problem with physical therapy is that the differences and treatment approaches amongst physical therapists vary greatly.  The training and skills of two well-educated, trained therapists can be completely different.  Because of this, people’s experiences and the effectiveness of the treatments they receive vary greatly. 

A person can go to one physical therapist for a particular condition such as low back pain, and receive 10 treatments that produce no significant benefit for the patient.  That same patient can then see another physical therapist for the same condition and have the pain completely eliminated and their functional abilities totally restored.  Why is this?  The person saw a licensed physical therapist at both clinics, they had no significant results at one clinic, and complete resolution of the condition at the other.  The answer lays in the treatment philosophy and training of the therapist. 

All physical therapists graduate from accredited colleges and universities with Masters degrees, and often times Doctorate degrees, in the physical therapy field.  They are then required to take and pass a national examination to assure a certain amount of knowledge within the field.  Where the differences begin to occur are after graduation and licensure.  Physical therapists in the State of Ohio are required by law to complete 24 hours of continuing education every two years to maintain an active license as a physical therapist.  However, it is up to the individual therapist what courses they attend, and what content is being taught in those courses. 

Read more: Not All Physical Therapy Services Are Created Equal