Rehab Therapy Burnout: Manage Stress Due to Staffing Challenges

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” You might recall this sentiment from Charles Dickens’ “A Tale of Two Cities” from your high school English class, but today it mirrors the current landscape of the rehab therapy profession.

On the one hand, the need for rehab therapy has likely never been stronger, and it continues to grow thanks to advances in direct access, the increasing recognition of therapy’s value, and an aging U.S. population striving for longevity, wellness, and independence. Plus, exciting research, seemingly unlimited data, and advanced tools are elevating the rehab therapy field.

Yet on the flip side, reimbursement rates continue to drop, competition has intensified, and — most critically — staffing shortages leave passionate therapists feeling overwhelmed, pulling them away from what they most covet: effective and individualized patient care. This creates mounting stress and the potential for professional burnout.

As staffing shortages become increasingly pervasive in healthcare, managing stress and burnout is vital to sustaining the profession. Here’s how rehab therapy leaders can address these challenges head-on.

Understanding Burnout in Rehab Therapy

Burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress or feeling overworked, unprepared, or provided with insufficient resources (i.e. training and tools) to succeed. Over time, these feelings can negatively impact anyone’s motivations, effectiveness, and commitment to their job.

Healthcare has been hit particularly hard by these conditions. Estimates say that about half of the healthcare providers in the U.S. are struggling with burnout, sometimes to the degree that they strongly consider changing careers. Physical therapy is not immune to this. One recent report estimates between 45% and 71% of the physical therapists practicing today are impacted by burnout. This includes various components of burnout.

• Emotional Exhaustion: When a rehab therapy practitioner or staff member feels overextended, extremely fatigued, and/or drained of emotional resources. This may also be known as compassion fatigue.
• Depersonalization of Care: When a clinician or practitioner begins to feel extraordinarily detached from their job, which can negatively impact patient care.
• Low Personal Accomplishment: A feeling of incompetence in delivering services and treatments to patients, likely due to the lack of motivation or the inability to feel positive about the work being done in the clinic or facility.

The Impact of Physical Therapy Burnout

The larger impact of burnout is felt beyond individual physical therapists, occupational therapists, or speech-language pathologists. Burnout creates a ripple effect that can be felt throughout entire rehab therapy departments and private practice operations, from front desk and billing personnel performing administrative tasks to clinicians and patients seeking positive outcomes. These ripples may manifest into a number of negative effects for a rehab therapy team.

Reduced Therapist Productivity

Burnout diminishes rehab therapists’ productivity, which directly impacts financial and operational performance in clinics, skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), a hospital setting, etc. Therapists who are mentally, physically, and emotionally drained spend longer on tasks and struggle to meet productivity targets. This slowdown may create bottlenecks in scheduling, putting additional strain on the rest of the rehabilitation team and tripling their risk of burnout.

Higher Costs of Operation

Burnout can drive up operational costs through increased employee turnover, absenteeism, and the need for temporary staffing. This financial burden can disrupt patient care, delay appointments, and reduce overall clinical efficiency. It is estimated that burnout may cost the U.S. healthcare system $4.6 billion annually.

A Decline in Patient Satisfaction and Care

Burnout may also compromise the quality of care patients receive as emotionally exhausted rehab therapists struggle to engage fully with both patients and colleagues. This can lead to less personalized care, lower patient satisfaction, and slower recovery times. In a profession built on trust and connection, burnout can severely hinder the therapeutic relationship.

Damage to Workplace Culture

People who experience high levels of burnout are more likely to spread stress and negativity throughout the workplace, weakening the culture that many rehab therapy operations and departments work hard to build. This can cause interpersonal conflicts, declining morale, and deter new talent from joining. Over time, a toxic culture can damage team cohesion and worsen burnout across the organization.

Risk of Burnout Among Leadership

Rehab therapy leaders and department heads are not immune to the effects of burnout. High levels of stress and burnout can hinder their ability to support their teams effectively as they may struggle with communication, staff development, and fostering a positive work environment. Without proactive intervention, this can perpetuate burnout throughout the organization, creating a cycle that is hard to break.

The Connection Between Burnout and Staffing

Like the structure of a double helix, burnout and staffing in rehab therapy, and truly all of healthcare, are closely intertwined. When staffing levels drop, therapists are left to shoulder heavier workloads, which can lead to exhaustion, disengagement, and potentially burnout. In turn, burnout fuels higher turnover rates, further widening the staffing gap and leaving working rehab therapists with a heavier load of responsibilities.

This self-perpetuating cycle is especially concerning as the U.S. population ages and the so-called “Silver Tsunami” approaches. Due to this and other factors such as the growth of healthcare consumerism, the demand for rehab therapists is projected to grow between 12% and 19% by 2032. According to the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), the vacancy rate in physical therapy practices alone is currently around 11%.

As staffing and burnout are bound together, affecting each other in a connected way, breaking the negative cycle for both requires proactive solutions that address both sides of the equation. In other words, it’s difficult to address burnout without addressing staffing — and vice-versa.

With this in mind, consider these tips for addressing both burnout and staffing within your rehab therapy operation.

Promote Work-Life Balance

Promoting a healthy work-life balance is critical in helping your rehab team proactively prevent burnout while maintaining job satisfaction. Offering flexible work hours, ensuring adequate breaks, and encouraging time off helps therapists recharge. Therapists who feel they have control over their schedules are better able to manage stress and maintain energy for patient care, reducing the likelihood of emotional exhaustion.

Also, establishing boundaries around work hours (e.g., no documenting after hours) can help therapists separate work from their personal lives. When the lines between work and personal time blur, burnout can set in. By promoting balance, rehab therapy managers and directors can create a more sustainable, supportive environment where their team is more engaged and productive.

Enhance Recruitment Strategies

Attracting talent, from new grads to seasoned rehab pros, requires an active recruitment strategy. Partnering with educational programs, attending conferences, and offering internship opportunities can build a pipeline for future rehab therapy talent. Actively engaging with students and recent graduates helps your clinic stand out and creates relationships that can lead to long-term hires.

Recruiting should also focus on promoting the clinic’s strengths, such as a supportive work culture, opportunities for career advancement, or access to cutting-edge tools, innovations, and research. By highlighting these benefits, therapy operations can position themselves as desirable places to work, even within a competitive market.

Promote Mental Health and Wellness Resources

As rehab therapists know all too well, mental and physical health are deeply intertwined, especially in high-stress professions like rehab therapy. So in addition to offering access to mental health services such as counseling or employee assistance programs, it’s essential that rehab therapy teams promote overall wellness through physical activity. Encouraging regular exercise, offering gym memberships, or organizing wellness challenges can help therapists relieve stress, boost energy, and improve mood.

Group programs like mindfulness training, yoga classes, or stress management workshops can strengthen team morale while promoting both mental and physical well-being. By prioritizing holistic wellness, therapy teams are better able to build resilience, enhancing personal well-being and professional performance.

Develop Training Programs

Effective onboarding and professional development programs are key to retaining staff and ensuring long-term success. New hires should always receive comprehensive training that sets them up for success, helping them more quickly adjust to operational workflows and expectations. Thorough and structured training reduces the frustration new employees may feel and ensures they feel supported from day one.

Providing ongoing training programs for all staff members is critical, as well. Whether teaching a new skill, tool, process, or therapy technique, such support ensures individual therapists continue to grow, stay engaged, and remain motivated. Offering growth opportunities through advanced certifications or leadership training can reduce turnover and help therapists see a clear career path within the organization.

Foster Team Support

Building a strong sense of community throughout your rehab therapy team can mitigate feelings of isolation and reduce burnout. Encouraging peer support through regular team meetings, mentorship programs, or informal check-ins (a.k.a. rounds) fosters an environment where therapists feel comfortable sharing their experiences, ideas, and concerns. This collective support can provide emotional relief and shared problem-solving for managing stress.

By promoting a culture of teamwork, rehab therapy departments can improve morale and productivity. When therapists feel they can rely on their colleagues, they are more likely to stay engaged with their work, preventing burnout before it becomes overwhelming.

Improve Workplace Culture

A strong workplace culture is essential for both recruiting and retention. Clinics that foster a positive, collaborative environment will naturally attract more candidates and retain current staff. Promoting open communication, celebrating team successes, and encouraging work-life balance all contribute to a supportive atmosphere where employees feel valued.

A positive culture also helps with retention by addressing burnout and keeping morale high. Therapists who enjoy coming to work and feel connected to their team are less likely to leave. Prioritizing culture-building activities like team outings or peer recognition programs can make a tangible difference in retaining staff.

Recognize and Reward Your Team

Acknowledging hard work and dedication is an important aspect of preventing burnout. Regularly recognizing therapists for their efforts, whether through public praise, awards, or performance-based bonuses, can reinforce and reinvigorate their professional passion. This not only improves morale but can also help healthcare professionals feel seen and appreciated, making them less likely to disengage.

Implementing an ongoing reward system tied to professional milestones or patient outcomes can further boost motivation. When therapists feel that their efforts are appreciated and recognized, they’re more inclined to remain committed, reducing the emotional exhaustion that can lead to burnout.

Effectively Utilize Temporary Staffing

Temporary staffing solutions—think hiring per diem therapists or using staffing agencies when it’s busy and staffing is low—can alleviate the strain on full-time employees. This can help cover gaps when demand is high, ensuring that patient care continues uninterrupted and preventing burnout among permanent staff.

Temporary staff can also be a useful stopgap while recruiting for full-time positions, giving operations the flexibility to remain productive and maintain adequate coverage. By having a system in place to bring in temporary help when needed, rehab therapy operations can manage workload fluctuations without overburdening their core team.

Reduce Administrative Burden with Technology Solutions

Rehab therapists often face overwhelming administrative demands that pull them away from patient care, contributing to burnout. Streamlining processes through better technology (i.e., electronic health record software, outcomes management systems, digital rehab solutions, etc.), automating routine tasks, and hiring dedicated administrative staff can reduce the load on therapists. This allows them to focus more on patient care, the part of their job they are most passionate about.

By reducing time spent on paperwork and other non-clinical duties, therapists can achieve better workflow balance and reduce stress. Investing in tools that simplify documentation or centralize administrative functions can make a significant difference in preventing burnout.

Reducing Burnout in Physical Therapy Is a Full-Time Effort

Proactively addressing burnout and staffing challenges in rehab therapy is not a task that can be checked off a list. It’s an ongoing effort that must be woven into the fabric of the rehab team’s culture. A healthy work environment prioritizes not just short-term fixes but long-term solutions that sustain the well-being of all rehab therapists. Creating a culture of continuous support — through mental health resources, wellness programs, recognition systems, and robust staffing strategies — requires commitment from every level of the organization.

This means being attuned to the needs of both individuals and teams. It involves recognizing early signs of burnout, promoting balance in workloads, and ensuring there are enough resources to support both therapists and their patients. Staffing shortages are an ongoing concern, and preventing them requires a proactive recruitment and retention strategy that values career development and team cohesion. Leaders must be vigilant and adaptable, willing to make adjustments when pressure begins to mount.

Ultimately, creating a culture that addresses burnout and staffing doesn’t just benefit the therapists — it enhances patient care and strengthens the organization as a whole. When therapists are supported and engaged, they’re able to deliver the high-quality, compassionate care that patients rely on. By investing in these areas as a continuous priority, rehab therapy departments can create environments that not only reduce stress and turnover but also foster growth, job satisfaction, and better patient outcomes.