Cross-Disciplinary Communication

Collaborative problem-solving with a physical therapist builds trust and can strengthen referral relationships between professionals. Two professionals using different conceptual frameworks can fail to communicate effectively even when both are speaking the same language. When introducing unfamiliar concepts to physical therapists, coaches should first understand the therapist's existing knowledge base rather than leading with specialized language. Bridging concepts by relating a therapist's familiar framework to a newer model is more effective than immediately introducing specialized terminology.