In this episode, Physical Therapist Rachel Peterson sits down with host Pete Waggoner to talk about Physical Therapy and what it actually entails. She shares her story transitioning to this career path, revealing her journey from originally planning to become a Spanish teacher to finding her true calling in the medical field. Rachel emphasizes the rewarding aspects of her profession, highlighting the profound sense of teamwork that exists between therapists and their patients. She addresses some of the most common misconceptions surrounding Physical Therapy, dispelling the notion that it’s synonymous with “pain and torture,” and emphasizes the holistic nature of the discipline, which goes far beyond exercise. Rachel also explores the significant benefits patients can reap from Physical Therapy, such as the remarkable success stories of vertigo patients who experience significant improvements in just a few sessions of vestibular rehabilitation therapy.
Tune in to gain valuable insights into the world of Physical Therapy, debunk misconceptions, and hear about Rachel’s journey of transformation in the field!
Takeaways:
- Finding the best treatment plan is a team-effort among the Physical Therapist, the patient, and their loved ones or the people they live with.
- Different people have different experiences with pain, and understanding these unique perspectives is a key element of tailoring an effective treatment plan.
In this episode:
[0:34] Rachel recounts how she transitioned to her current career path from originally planning to become a Spanish teacher. She shares the most rewarding aspects of being a Physical Therapist and highlights how it’s about being a team with the patients.
[6:31] Pete asks Rachel to share the most common misconceptions about Physical Therapy. Rachel talks about how many patients come in with fear, even equating PT to “Pain and Torture”. She also reiterates how PT is much more than just exercise.
[12:34] Pete and Rachel delve into the biggest benefits patients can get from Physical Therapy. Rachel mentions the rise of vertigo patients’ success stories, wherein many experience great results with just 2 to 4 sessions of vestibular rehabilitation therapy.
[18:12] Rachel shares the average timeline for most treatment paths, typically ranging from 6 to 10 visits. She also talks about how they usually provide caregiver training to the loved ones of the patients so they can care for them at home.
[22:01] Rachel gets candid about insurance matters and declining reimbursements as Pete asks her to share the challenges she faces in the industry. Pete wraps up the episode on a positive note by making her share the biggest surprise in her 180-degree career pivot.
Resources:
Quotes:
“I always tell people that we’re a team. (Like) I am not going to make you do anything. We’re going to discuss, talk together and decide, and be on the same page of where we wanna go, what your biggest concerns are. Because even with diagnoses, different people are in different places in life.” – Rachel Peterson, P.T., D.P.T.
