How Do I Choose a Physical Therapist as a Plus-Size Patient?
Glad you asked!
I mean it - clicking on this post means that you value your health and recovery, and that you’re not afraid to ask for help. Or, if you are afraid, you did it anyway. Which means you’re taking initiative, bravely!
I wish I could tell you that you’ll never be discriminated against in physical therapy as a plus-size patient. Unfortunately, I have encountered some really judgey comments from my colleagues against fat or fat-bodied patients.
Here are 3 things you can screen for when shopping around for a physical therapist to help with your orthopedic concerns:
What is the PT’s reaction to you asking about considerations for plus size patients?
Call em up and ask! That’s sometimes the best way to gauge how prepared a person is to work with you.
Don’t look for perfect answers, but rather compassion and understanding for whatever you bring up to them. If they ask you what sorts of considerations, you can ask about the weight limit on the treatment tables, the size of the chairs in the waiting area, and even their philosophy on the place of weight loss in physical therapy treatment.
Is there anything on social media that makes you lean either towards or away from working with them?
Ever seen a person’s Instagram post and thought, “I wonder what kind of clients even like working with them?”
I’m not telling you to judge a person for their beliefs - this is an anti-judge blog post after all - but I am telling you to use it to inform yourself to make the best decision for you.
If your potential PT is retweeting (re-x’ing?) fat-phobic content or making blanket statements on TikTok about weight loss being the answer to all of life’s aches and pains, perhaps it’s best you leave them to work with someone who better fits that style.
Don’t make any assumptions based on how they look
As a plus-size woman, myself, I have to be honest and tell you that I have absolutely judged thin women and muscular men, thinking that they’d never be able to understand my struggles enough to provide me with excellent PT care. I’m happy to report that I have been wrong nearly every time. You want to find someone you fit with personality-wise, but you also want to make sure your provider has the right training and education to help with your specific concern.
If you’re looking for a physical therapist who has experience exercising and rehabbing in a plus size body, one who is understanding and inclusive of all types of body diversity, and who loves to have a good time during PT sessions, I’m your girl!
Book a free 10-15 minute consultation below to get started and we can talk through whether I’m a good fit for your PT needs.
