Skip to main content

Why Your Perfect Patient Will Likely Seek Chiropractic Care Before PT

For many years physical therapists have often criticized chiropractors for their work. So why is it that the majority of people in pain are more likely to seek chiropractic care before physical therapy?

1) Instant relief. We live in a society where people are constantly seeking the easy way out. The same applies to addressing pain. Patients hope to walk into a chiropractic office, get "adjusted" and walk out with 0/10 pain. On the contrary, patients aren't able to reap the benefits following an initial physical therapy session.

2) They've done a much better job at marketing than we have. Whether you want to hear it or not, the truth of the matter is that as a profession we stink at marketing our services. How else can you explain the fact that chiropractors rarely receive MD referrals and continue to be sought out more than physical therapists? 

We have the ability to actually address the root of the problem and promote long-term changes with our patients -- real changes that can positively affect them every single day for the rest of their lives. However, this requires one critical skill: communication. Our biggest asset in health care should be our ability to educate patients. After all, as therapists we sometimes spend more time with patients than they do with their own family. Consistently having others buy into your way of thinking is no easy task. Thus, if you aren't consistently seeking self-improvement and refining your communication skills, you're doing it all wrong. 

 Hundreds of physical therapists in numerous states across the US are fighting for direct access laws to pass. However, as a profession are we ready to take full advantage of that opportunity if we do succeed? Most physical therapy schools throughout the nation do not include marketing in their curriculums. Those that are able to educate and promote their services competently are the ones who will succeed.  As a physical therapist, you can sit, whine, criticize and question chiropractors and other healthcare professionals all you want or you can realize that what many people may identify as obstacles, can actually be seen as advantages. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Listening to Understand

Imagine this: You're in your mid - 50's, recently divorced ,  and one night you're in the wrong place at the wrong time. You were just part of a severe car accident and lost consciousness (knock on wood). The following day you wake up in a  fluorescent  hospital room ,  and no one is around. You call for help ,  and the nurse rushes in .  "Mr. Jones ,  my name is Julie ,  and I'm going to be your nurse during your stay here at the hospital." She vaguely explains what happened the night before, leaving you with thousands of unanswered questions  and storms out to give the patient three rooms down her meds. Forty minutes later  a gentleman walks in and introduces himself as your surgeon. He explains that you underwent a procedure to repair a fractured hip, shoulder  and  the  blunt cardiac injury you sustained following the car accident.  He confirms your initial thought  --  you will be recovering and stayi...
Post a Comment
Read more

Working Through Graduate School

If you've opened this article it's most likely due to one of  two  reasons: 1) You've just gotten into grad school and you're currently wondering whether it's a wise choice to continue or look for a part-time job while starting graduate school. 2) You're already in grad school and you're in need of a little cash. On the contrary to what many of your program's professors may have told you or will tell you during your first day orientation,  accepting or  retaining a part-time job through grad school is a GREAT choice. Within a couple of weeks of turning 15 my mom quickly pressured me into getting my first job. I was raised by a low-to-middle class family whose parents worked 40+ hour weeks to ensure that we always had food on the table. My mom simply stated "I want you to learn what it's like to earn and work for your money." Ever since that day I've worked at least 15 hours a week while attending high school, undergrad and now g...
Post a Comment
Read more