Physiotherapy will be another integral part f your rehabilitation program. Physiotherapists help in the treatment of any injury (including amputation) through physical methods, such as exercise, massage and other specialized treatments, rather than using medication and surgery.
As with any therapist, the first thing you need to look out for is the individual. While most therapists working in the health industry have a very good attitude towards their work and their clients, some individuals may be at the wrong place in their lives, which can make them unsuitable for such work. Since this profession (along with the others) is regulated and there is a high demand for physiotherapists, sometimes you can encounter individuals who are just in it for money. This is rare, but not unheard of, and it is non compromisable. Make sure your physiotherapist is someone friendly and with a good disposition.
Secondly, many physiotherapists these days go for a secondary certification in alternative therapies such as Yoga, Pilates etc. Try to find someone with atleast one such certification. This way you are being treated with someone with multidisciplinary knowledge, who is continuously improving their skillsets, who is continuously exploring new ways to help amputees and other clients. Your physiotherapist can even integrate such treatments into your rehabilitation program, which is better for you since physiotherapy treatments will be covered with insurance, but others might not be.
Another benefit might be that they may be more open to authorizing alternative texchniques, such as inclusion of yoga classes into your rehabilitation program for insurance claims purposes. Also, they should be open & understanding in recommending massage therapy treatments for you. Some physiotherapists try to ration this, which is not needed if you are going for two or three massage sessions per week. It is a different story if someone is trying to misuse the system.
Do not go by brandname. Celebrity therapists are usually too busy, charge a premium and there is more hype than value. Rather choose someone with a flexible schedule to accommodate your needs. Choose someone close to your home, or someone willing to make in-house calls i.e. come treat you at your place. You will need at least two 45 minute physiotherapy treatments per week, so if you are spending more time commuting than treatments, it is a very inefficient way to rehab.
