Dr. Rachael McGuinness hops on the blog to share her lessons learned after 10 years as a PT :
As I come up on 10 years of being a practicing physical therapist, I am reflecting back on how much I have learned and how my practice has evolved. I am proud to say that I am a very different PT than I was 10 years ago, as the only way to get better is to change. What I have noticed is the most impactful learning experiences stem not from patient wins, but from the patient’s where I missed something. Here are 10 lessons I’ve learned over 10 years of being a PT:
- Pain is never just structural, and sometimes there is no structural part to it at all
- Hip pain, back pain, groin pain can be directly caused by pelvic floor tightness
- It is better to do 3 exercises addressing the root cause of an issue than 10 exercises that work on every little deficit a patient has
- The patient always knows their body best, as a PT it is imperative to stay away from assumptions based on what is “common”
- No exercise is “good” or “bad” and following that rhetoric is teaching fear of movement
- Lifting to fatigue is necessary for true strength gains, even in injured and elderly patients
- Controlling your breath is the most important form of any exercise
- You can still feel tight without having any flexibility deficits
- As a PT, the ability to pivot when the treatment plan isn’t working is not a weakness, it’s the ultimate strength
- Believing you can get better is necessary for progress, and it’s the PTs job to communicate how this is possible
I am so happy that I get to treat patients at The METHOD as it allows me to practice what I’ve learned in these past 10 years. With 60 minute sessions, dedicated 1:1 care, no insurance restrictions, and with a small caseload, I now have the time and energy to reflect on my patient care daily. I finally am able to apply these principles without feeling burnt out, rushed, or overwhelmed. Looking for a practice that will prioritize your recovery with experienced staff who care about continually getting better as a PT? Book your discovery call today!
