How to find a physiotherapist

Looking for a physiotherapist in Calgary? Here are some tips to help you find the right one.
Jan. 11, 2009 | By: The Health Local Staff

Whether you’re injured, recovering from surgery or even suffering from a heart condition, you might not realize how much a physiotherapist can help restore you back to health.

According to the Canadian Physiotherapy Association, today’s physiotherapists are trained in biological and basic sciences, including areas like human anatomy, physiology, pathology, immunology, endocrinology, genetics and pharmacology, just to name a few. Their training makes them capable of tackling all sorts of health issues, including cardiac and respiratory care, neurological conditions, sports and athletics injury and performance, women’s health, orthopaedic health and much more.

At the same time, there are lots of physiotherapists around, which means choosing the right one can be a bit tricky. Here are a few tips to help you get started finding the perfect physiotherapist.

Start by listing your requirements in a physiotherapist, which can include:

• Location
• Hours of service
• Gender
• Types of services offered (i.e.  is there a massage therapist on site? Other health professionals?)
• Method of payment (i.e. do they bill your benefits provider directly? Do they accept cash, credit cards and/or debit cards?)

Once you’ve listed your needs, ask your family, friends, co-workers, family doctor or other health care practitioners if they can recommend a good physiotherapist. Next, try doing an Internet search on Health Local to find a physiotherapist in your area. The physiotherapist’s Gold Listing or website will have information (including website links) to help you determine if that physiotherapist meets your requirements.

Physiotherapists are also considered primary health care professionals, so you don’t need a doctor’s referral to see one. If you’ve suffered an injury or had surgery, however, your doctor or another health professional may be able to provide you with a referral so you see a physiotherapist who can best meet your needs.

Finally, you want to make sure the person you see has received his or her training from an accredited Canadian or recognized international physical therapy program. He or she must also be registered with the physiotherapy regulatory college in your province/territory, so don’t be afraid to ask for credentials before you begin your treatment.