Is it ethical/kosher/acceptable?

Or is it ill-advised?

Where I currently go for PT there are two PT's working there.  One of them is the owner (my PT) and then another.

I want to change.

The other PT is very hands-on, he's vigilant, he stays by his clients, and I've been watching him and think he's much more in tune. 

My therapist spends a few minutes (less than 5) doing very light soft tissue work, and then he does 3 assisted stretches.  That's it.

The rest of the whole appointment is me doing exercises on my own. He's always on the phone, taking or making calls.  He's on the computer.  He's in and out of the room constantly.  He doesn't listen to me, pay attention to me, and he's always distracted.

To the contrary, his contemporary never leaves patients unattended, if he has to enter info on the computer he doesn't take time away from his patients, he's always doing hands-on work, he's very in touch with proper form (not just movement), and he interacts with his patients a lot.

I am less than pleased, to be gentle about it.

I'd like to switch.  Is there a way to ask this without risking offending?  Is it even possible, or would it be too weird?  I like the other PT's approach a WHOLE lot.

I'm conflicted.  Advice anyone?  Help?

M.

Thank you Susie.

I think the other PT knows how I feel already because I'm very engaged with him, I watch him closely, and actually interjects more feedback than my own PT.

So with both of them operating within one room (4 tables, 2 PT's), it wouldn't side-stepping to approach PT#2 directly?  Now to find a time when I can do so.

I'm so uncomfortable doing this, but as you pointed out, this is an integral part of my recovery.

I was wondering if I would be putting PT#2 on the spot (since PT#1, my therapist, is his boss).

M.

Too bad you only have a choice A or a choice B. If there were more therapists, it would be less awkward.

In my oncology rehab, I have had the same therapist for going on 2 1/2 years now. She's great. She spends 100% of her time by my side. She never leaves sight of me, even if she has to grab something.

If for some reason I lost faith in her, there would be at least 6-8 others I could exchange with. Though I couldn't imagine ever needing to do so. As after all this time, she knows exactly how I think, and how my body ticks. We make a good team.

I suggest you just politely say that you would be more comfortable with the other person, you shouldn't have to get into any negative details about why you want to switch. Try it the easy way and see if it works.

From what you described of the person you see now, I find that totally unacceptable at every level. That person is not doing a proper job in my opinion.

David

Merrida, the owner is a business person and he is not going to want to lose your business. He would be a fool to get upset because your want to change to the therapist. Its about money, regardless who does the therapy he is not going to want to lose money. I am sure you are not the first that has wanted to switch and will not be the last either.

I would tell him you have watched the other one & his way of doing PT is more like what you have had in the past & you would like to try the other guy to see how you respond. Its either this or find a new clinic. Remember you are paying for their services.

Susie

Like I said, he is a business man and he is all about money and he will not take it personal you wanting to switch. You can say since you have watched how the other person works you would like to give him a try. There is nothing wrong or unusual about requesting this.

Susie

I agree, if there were more than just the two PT's, it would be less awkward trying to switch over.  This is also a verrry small office, much smaller than I'm used to.  They got great reviews and the patients are often saying how happy they are.  (Now that I think about it, the ones who are more vocal happen to be patients of PT#2!)

The more you guys encourage me, the better and stronger I feel going into my appointment tomorrow.  I don't feel nearly as "uptight" as I did when I first posted.

My last PT place, in MA, was the best, most awesome and amazing place with terrific guys who made a great team!  They would sometimes swap back and forth, so I'd work with both of them.  I was also so incredibly comfortable there, that while I never needed to, if I did, they had an environment that felt very safe to ask to move around.

But they also kept an eagle eye on their patients.  Even when I was doing stuff alone, my PT (even if he was with someone else) had eyes on the back of his head and would always make sure I was being watched.  I was never, ever left alone.  They also pushed me, they shook up the routine.

This new PT, we're doing the same thing now as we did 6 weeks ago when I started.

While I have PT referrals for my spine, hip and shoulder, he will only work on one area. He would say "if I spread my time out to work on multiple areas, nothing will get full attention."  (I felt like pointing out nothing's getting his full attention as it is). My previous PT's said they could certainly roll it all into a session, and would have me do exercises that, for example, worked my shoulders and core.  Mission accomplished.  And I got stronger.

Now he's just focused on one hip so I feel even more muscle imbalance and other weaknesses developing from neglect.

He knows I've been in PT for 2 years (with 3 surgeries), and when I brought up (more than once) addressing my other issues, he told me that I've certainly been in PT long enough to know what to do, and that I could do the exercises at home.

This just feels more and more fishy the more I write....and the more I write, I realize, I have to do this tomorrow for my health, or as Susie pointed out, find a new place.

I booked 3 x week because I have multiple issues.  I'm being pro-active, eager,...and I feel like he just views me as an easy pay check, a steady client.

Thanks guys...I mean that from the bottom of my heart.  Thanks for helping me mull this over properly!!

M.