Touching in Physical Therapy
Palpationis the act of using the hands to examine a body part.
Maintaining patient comfort, trust, and safety is paramount when using palpation techniques.
What If Your PT’s Touch Feels Wrong?
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If you feel this has happened, you should protect yourself and contact law enforcement.
What If You Start To Feel Attracted to Your PT Due to Touching?
What if you are going to PT, and you like the palpation and touching?
What if this causes positive emotions, and you become attracted to your physical therapist?
Acting on these emotions is never acceptable.
Your physical therapist may be a nice person, but the therapist-patient relationship must remain friendly and non-sexual.
Your physical therapy sessions should always remain professional, and you should remain focused on improving your pain-free mobility.
Inappropriate Behaviors of Patients Against Therapists
Physical therapy is a two-way street.
Many physical therapists report harassing or inappropriate behaviors from their patients.
This may include saying inappropriate things or inappropriate or unwanted touching.
And healthcare providerslike physical therapistsare likely to experience this form of harassment while working.
A recent study published in thePhysical Therapy Journalexamined the problem of inappropriate patient behaviors towards physical therapists.
The 12-month prevalence of inappropriate behaviors was 47 percent.
This bond can help motivate you, and it may help you have a positive physical therapy experience.
Sometimes in therapy, palpation and touching are needed to assess and treat your condition.
This touching should always be professionalno exceptions.
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Physiotherapy Theory and Practice; 2015.
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