Some of your reservations can be overcome, and seem old school, but yes, you make a valid point that it’s best to model a successful system, which applies to anything, including starting a private practice. This is virgin territory for PTs, and hence the fear and reservation. I am not suggesting that every PT jump into a ‘membership program’, but providing food for thought. Personally, I have implemented this and have seen it work, in a group exercise program I provide for women in a 10 mile radius of my town in NJ.

The choice is ours, stay within our comfort zone or explore, test, challenge and improve the delivery of wellness and fitness services to patients and clients.

Any one who wants to consider trying this model would be wise to first find two or three PTs who have already incorporated it and been successful with it, that is actually made substantial money doing it, for at least 5 years. If you can find those PTs, follow their model. If not, be wise enough to stick to real physical therapy, treating patients with pain and disability. Promote that. There is a lot of money to be made practicing physical therapy if you market it and do it right. There is no need to look for other avenues of revenue if you do that.

Perception is reality. We must be able to integrate and shine with our own unique skills, otherwise we will be left behind. It’s ironic that functional fitness is now a separate ‘niche’ in the fitness community, and we have ourselves to blame for the gradual slide in consumer perception.

“Marketing is too important to be left to a marketing department.”
David Packard

“The town’s first medical exercise facility, only at ABC Physical Therapy. Isn’t it time you finally got a physical therapist and trainer to design the most remarkable transformation and injury prevention plan ever, one that consistently outperforms any run-of-the-mill program at your gym?”

The PT (physical therapist) can focus on the evaluation and day to day treatment, while the trainer can design and execute the fitness program. In a private clinic, this works well. In a school or college, PTs can work directly with groups, like you mentioned.

In practice, the #1 thing the consumer looks for in a trainer is NOT certification, NOT designation, frankly, they don’t even care much if we are licensed PTs. When looking for a trainer, they note how fit you are (as PTs we must be in excellent shape before advice others about training), how strong of a motivator you are (gentle, but persuasive) and how quickly they see results.

Yes, trainers can send patients to PTs, and this becomes more likely when the trainer and the PT have a symbiotic relationship.

Also the consumer may only be interested in working with a trainer NOT a PT and so it is nice to say you are a trainer when one asks you ….
I also trademarked a MAPP that trainers are asking me to do before they see someone for training and it has been great..We need to learn to work with them not against ….they can send us a patient

VInce