Know Your Role - Great PTs Make Great Caddies
The physical therapy team here at HQPT believes we exist to walk with our patients throughout their journey towards their goals.
The way we treat our patients at HQPT is nearly identical to how great caddies navigate a round of golf for a golfer. From our perspective, all the great physical therapists would be able to make the, admittedly odd, career change to a golf caddy and they would quickly become everybody’s favorite caddy in an instant.
The reason I believe this is because great Physical Therapists (PTS) posses the “Big 4” requirements of being both a great caddy and/or physical therapists:
They Have “Book Smarts” & “Street Smarts”
Great Caddies have done their homework on not only how the golf course plays but how that specific course will interact with the way a specific golfer plays. This leads to the golfer having a chance to have their best round possible. Sometimes this doesn’t always happen, but the process to be their best was well established throughout the round.
Great Physical Therapists not only understand a patient's injury, but they also look to understand how this patient is interacting with the specific bodily issue, both mentally and physically. This will help develop a unique plan of care for the specific patient to attack the problem and get them back to doing what they love.
They Are Skilled and Unique Communicators
Great Caddies are what we like to call “communication ninjas” on the golf course. They assess the golfer they are working with and are able to speak their language based on their current skill level and knowledge of the game. This will help them give the right advice to the golfer throughout the round.
Great Physical Therapists are similar communication ninjas — just for medical care. They are able to speak the language of the patient based on the patient's level of injury and level of medical knowledge possessed by the patient. This will help them give the right advice to the patient through the plan of care.
They Keep The Glass Half-Full, Even When It’s Hard
Great Caddies know the game of golf is hard and the golfers biggest critic is likely themselves. Great caddies find the right time to provide positive feedback even when it might be hard for the golfer to find any positivity in their game. The next shot always has a chance to be their best shot.
Great Physical Therapists know the journey with an injury is hard, and the biggest critic to a patient’s progress is likely themselves. Great PTs find the right time within the journey to provide positive feedback/affirmations when it is hard for the patient to find any positivity in their rehab themselves.
They Know Their Role
Great Caddies make sure the golfer is the star of the round. They aren’t trying to undercut a golfer's success by taking all the credit when a good shot is hit, or a good round is played. It is always about the golfer and what they did during the round to be successful.
Great Physical Therapists make sure the patient is the star of the therapy journey. They aren’t trying to undercut a patient by taking all the credit when their pain/symptoms improve or when they are fully recovered and return to their activities of choice. It is always about the patient and what they did to improve the situation.
In summary,
when you are working with a Physical Therapist, it is a worthwhile question for you to ask yourself: “Would this person be a great caddy for me?” At HQPT, I think your answer will be unequivocally, “YES!”!
We are excited to be partnering with The Golf Farm in Bend, OR in their new facility! Look for more HQPT / golf content coming soon!