How to Find a Good Physiotherapist

Finding a good physiotherapist can seem like a very difficult task at first because few people know one when they need one, unlike patients of general practitioners, dentists or dermatologists, who see these doctors on a regular basis. Because physiotherapists are so specialized in what they do, it is important that you take your time to find the right one for you. While it may take some serious digging and research, finding the right physiotherapist does not have to be an overwhelming task.

Things You'll Need

• Local phone book or online telephone directory
• Computer with Internet connection

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Instructions

• 1

  Ask your friends, family or colleagues for references to a physiotherapist they have seen or had a consultation with. Ask them about their experiences, and if they would return to the person they're referring you to. Get contact information so you can set up a consultation.

• 2

  Contact a doctor or someone in the medical field whom you trust. Your general practitioner, chiropractor and dermatologist generally have a wide network of medical professionals to whom they refer patients. You will still need to do your own research on the physiotherapist you were referred to, but doctors can be pretty hard on others in the medical field, and a bad referral looks bad to patients.

• 3

  Peruse your local phone book or online telephone directory for a physiotherapist in your area. While you will need to do a bit of additional research on somebody you meet this way, it is possible to find a good physiotherapist without a personal referral.

• 4

  Check your state board of physical therapy to make sure that the physiotherapist you are interested in working with has a valid license in your state. You can access most state boards of physical therapy over the Internet.

• 5

  Check websites like Physician Reports and Health Grades for ratings of the physiotherapist you are considering. While some websites like this deal only with general practitioners and surgeons, there are some that deal with physical therapists and other medical professionals as well. One or two negative opinions may not be enough to make you stay away from a certain physiotherapist, but if the reviews are predominantly negative, it is best to avoid this person.