The Pros And Cons Of Physical Therapy

According to California State law, the Physical Therapy profession has restricted direct access. Patients can seek an evaluation from a licensed Physical Therapist without a referral from a physician, although the commencement of treatment pertaining to the evaluation is dependent on a Physicians referral. Physical Therapists are required to form a Plan of Care to report to a Physician, where the physician grants the final word of approval of treatment. The treatment is also restricted to a specific time constraint that cannot be surpassed without physician approval of extension (Hayhurst, 2012, p. 22). The restrictions undermine the extensive professional training required for accreditation. Physical Therapists are being prevented from providing the full care necessary to rehabilitate patients. Legislature has restricted the profession in the form of time and visit restraints, prior diagnosis requirements, limited patient populations, and requiring physician referral for certain types of treatments (Hayhurst, 2012, p. 21). The Physical Therapy profession is unable to reach its full potential for providing treatment for patients, due to the hesitancy to grant Direct Access to patients seeking Physical Therapy treatment.

Patients accessibility to Physical Therapy treatment is solely dependent on Physician approval. Direct Access would allow patients to choose Physical Therapy as a less invasive treatment compared to medications, injections, and surgery (Pendergast, Kliethermes, Freburger & Duffy, 2012, p. 1577). It would also decrease the time between assessment and implementation of treatment, allowing patients to receive the treatment closer to time of injury or onset of symptoms. This would improve the effectiveness of the Physical Therapy treatment (Riley, Tafuto & Brismée, 2016, p.