Burnout is reaching crisis levels in the physical therapy (PT) profession. While PTs enter the field to help others heal and regain function, many find themselves emotionally drained, physically overworked, and professionally undervalued. But what exactly is causing this rise in burnout—and what can be done to address it?
What Is Burnout in Physical Therapy?
Burnout is more than just stress. It’s a state of chronic emotional and physical exhaustion, often accompanied by detachment, reduced motivation, and a sense of losing impact in one’s work. According to the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), therapists across outpatient clinics, SNFs, and home health are increasingly reporting high levels of stress, fatigue, and dissatisfaction.
Why Are Physical Therapists Burning Out?
1. Time-Consuming Documentation Requirements
Documentation has become one of the most cited contributors to PT burnout. It’s not just the act of writing notes—it’s the cumulative hours spent at the end of the day, often long after patients have gone home.
"Since I got this, I haven’t taken my computer home to do notes once. That was a regular thing for me for the past 10 years."
— Steven Churchill, PT, CORA Health
“Comprehend has saved me SO MUCH TIME. I can’t tell you the mental load it has lifted. I no longer feel overwhelmed when I get behind in notes—because I know I can catch up fast.”
— Poonam Hurley, PT, Upstream Rehab
2. Unrealistic Productivity Expectations
Many PTs are under pressure to maintain high daily patient loads, often with little buffer time between visits. The result? Rushed sessions, skipped breaks, and therapists running on empty.
“I was averaging 16 patients a day, 5 days a week. You do the math on how much documentation that is—while still trying to be present for each patient. It’s exhausting.”
— Anonymous PT, Outpatient Clinic
3. Emotional Strain of Patient Care
Beyond the physical demands, PTs also carry a heavy emotional burden—especially when working with chronic pain, post-op recovery, or terminal conditions.
“I love my patients, but after the last few years, I’ve felt emotionally fried. There’s no space to decompress between sessions, and it adds up.”
— Rachel S., PT, Home Health
4. Lack of Recognition and Autonomy
Many therapists feel their clinical expertise is undervalued in larger healthcare systems, where decisions are top-down and innovation is slow.
“It felt like no one cared what I thought as a provider. I just became a box-checker in the EMR. That’s when the burnout really started.”
— Kevin M., PT, SNF setting
5. No Work-Life Boundaries
When patient care ends, the admin work begins—often at home, at night, or on weekends. This lack of separation leaves therapists constantly “on.”
“My evenings used to be sacred. Now, I’d spend 2–3 hours every night catching up on documentation. It was like having two jobs.”
— Anonymous PT, Pediatrics
Burnout Affects Patient Care, Too
When therapists are burnt out, it’s not just their well-being that suffers—patients do too. Burnout has been shown to result in:
- Lower patient satisfaction
- Higher risk of errors or missed details
- Reduced therapist engagement
- Increased staff turnover
What’s Helping?
✅ AI-Powered Documentation Support
More PTs are turning to tools like Comprehend, which learns your note style, reduces redundancy, and cuts down documentation time dramatically.
“The quality of documentation is better than any therapist has time to write. Comprehend is worth it and more.”
— Bethany Hainje, PT, Team Rehab
“It works with my EMR so I don’t have to copy and paste anything. It’s like having a co-pilot for my notes.”
— Anonymous PT, PROMPT EMR user
✅ Better Workplace Culture
Clinics that value rest, input, and sustainable productivity are helping retain great therapists. This includes:
- Built-in documentation time
- Lower patient-to-therapist ratios
- Leadership that listens
- Respect for boundaries
✅ Peer Support and Mentorship
Burnout thrives in isolation. Clinics that foster mentorship, collaboration, and emotional support are seeing stronger retention and morale.
Final Thoughts
The question isn't “Why are PTs burnt out?” anymore. We know the reasons. The question is: What are we doing about it?
Whether it’s adopting smarter tools like Comprehend, shifting clinic culture, or finally prioritizing therapist well-being, change is not only possible—it’s necessary.
You deserve to love your work again.
