PT and Nutrition

[amanda62]

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I am still an undergrad pre-pt student who is minoring in nutrition. It is something I am passionate about and would double major in it if I could, maybe even one day obtaining an RD or working towards some other expertise in the field. I have decided to go into DPT hoping I can one day find a way to incorporate the two fields. I am a, ACSM CPT (not much experience yet, looking to get into it part time) who loves the idea of improving the human body to work the best it can, in all domains.

This question is very broad, but do you know of specific instances/ways where PTs have incorporated nutrition?

 

[PTMattI]

I am only a first year student but what I can tell you is that in my school we focus on treating the whole person, not just the specific condition they are in...so if you are an RD you can definitely incorporate your knowledge about nutrition and diet when working with your patients..however it would also depend on the type of practice you work in and whether or not you would have the time to go that extra mile.

 

[facetguy]

Is there a way for PTs to bill for nutritional counseling services?

Do PTs ever charge cash for such services?

 

[jesspt]

Is there a way for PTs to bill for nutritional counseling services?

Do PTs ever charge cash for such services?

It isn't within our scope of practice, so I don't think you'll find a PT who will be charging for nutritional counseling.

 

[facetguy]

It isn't within our scope of practice, so I don't think you'll find a PT who will be charging for nutritional counseling.

So to address the OP's question, is there a way for PTs to incorporate nutrition into their PT practices?

 

[jesspt]

So to address the OP's question, is there a way for PTs to incorporate nutrition into their PT practices?

If they are also a registered dietician, then probably. Short of that, I wouldn't feel comfortable with the liability of providing dietary advice to a patient. Anything bad goes down and the plaintiff finds out you were administering advice outside of your scope of practice - bad news for you and your PT license.

 

[amanda62]

Is there such thing as a PT/RD? It seems like a lot of work which I'd one day possibly like to achieve since I love dietetics, but I'd like to know if it's realistic or rather impractical for someone to do both.

 

[jesspt]

Is there such thing as a PT/RD? It seems like a lot of work which I'd one day possibly like to achieve since I love dietetics, but I'd like to know if it's realistic or rather impractical for someone to do both.

I've never heard of a PT/RD. I think it is fairly unrealistic to think that you'll be able to practice as both.

 

[Fiveoboy11]

Just do it the easy way and remain a personal trainer, they can do it all.

 

[atstudent]

Just do it the easy way and remain a personal trainer, they can do it all.

LOL. Wait a sec, I thought PT's could do it all, too?!?!

 

[Fiveoboy11]

LOL. Wait a sec, I thought PT's could do it all, too?!?!

Not exactly, ankle taping is an exception for example.

 

[Jula]

I was also thinking of becoming a PT/RD my school doesn't offer nutrition but i was thinking later down the road while working as a PT i could possibly go to school at the same time and get a masters in nutrition/dietician. And then probably open my own business, would that be possible too?

 

[facetguy]

I was also thinking of becoming a PT/RD my school doesn't offer nutrition but i was thinking later down the road while working as a PT i could possibly go to school at the same time and get a masters in nutrition/dietician. And then probably open my own business, would that be possible too?

Sure it's possible. But you'd have to carve your own path, so an entrepreneurial spirit will be helpful.

 

[NewTestament]

If they are also a registered dietician, then probably. Short of that, I wouldn't feel comfortable with the liability of providing dietary advice to a patient. Anything bad goes down and the plaintiff finds out you were administering advice outside of your scope of practice - bad news for you and your PT license.

You can't even say that you take a vitamin D supplement because the research supports it?

Kevin

 

[Fiveoboy11]

You can't even say that you take a vitamin D supplement because the research supports it?

Kevin

I agree that nutritional counseling is not within the scope of PT practice, nor should it be. There's already enough to know and a big enough scope within NMSK conservative care. RD's are the experts within this realm (nutrition/supplement education with respect to disease). Weight loss education with respect to a presenting complaint within the scope of physical therapy is appropriate though in my opinion. For example, weight loss is strongly recommended for those patients with knee pain related to OA. PT's can educate on appropriate exercise in this scenario.