PT vs personal training vs health coach

As someone with experience and education in all three worlds, maybe it is time to clear the air. What are the differences between the different fields? The full answer is far too long to put into a short blog, but I can sum up some of the main points.

Physical therapy is a medical profession with an extensive educational background. PT falls primarily in the post-injury or illness phase. Usually, this is in a clinic setting to work along side other providers (occupational, speech therapy, primary care physicians). PT does a combination of manual work, exercises, and research based. This sometimes includes following protocols. PT does a lot of great work, but is limited primarily by insurance needs and regulations.

Personal training works a lot on personalized goals and outcomes. This can take place in a gym or independent. It is more based on cash pay, but sometimes is covered with insurance or work benefits. Personal training can focus on improving mobility, strength, endurance, or other. This does not have to follow as many protocols, but is still faily regulated by larger companies (NASM, ACE, ACSM, and so forth). However, people can also get cheap and quick licenses which may open up the door to less qualified professionals doing the same work.

Health coaching is relatively new compared to the other two. This focuses on personal goals both physical and emotional. The benefits are a more holistic approach. It can be very personalized and works to how you want it to. The biggest downside is that “license” does not mean much. There is no regulations for health coaching, so literally anyone could call themselves a health coach. This means someone who knows nothing off the street could tell you they are a health coach, and try to work with you to take your money. These are almost entirely cash based, and each coach sets their price points. It can be virtual, in person, or a hybrid version of this.

All three have different benefits and drawbacks. As someone with all 3 under my belt, I bring the education and knowledge of physical therapy, and also my more personalized and free flowing structure of the other two. There are scientific reasons some things work, and I can use these to help you achieve your personal goals.