FAQ

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is physical therapy?

  • Physical Therapists are healthcare professionals who treat individuals of all ages, from newborns to the elderly, who have medical problems or other health related conditions, illnesses, or injuries that limit their ability to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives.

    Physical Therapists use an individual's history and physical examination to arrive at a diagnosis and establish a management plan and, where necessary, incorporate the results of laboratory and imaging studies.

    Management commonly includes prescription of or assistance with specific exercises, manual therapy, education, manipulation, and other interventions. We work with individuals to prevent the loss of mobility before it occurs by developing fitness and wellness-oriented programs for healthier and more active lifestyles. This can ensure that you restore or maintain maximum movement and functional ability throughout your lifespan.

What is the purpose of PT?

  • The purpose of physical therapy is to help the patient return to a fully active life as soon as possible. Therapy strives to reduce pain, increase flexibility, range of motion, and function, build strength, and ensure that a patient can retain a full range of movement after surgery or injury.

Can Physical Therapy help to avoid surgery?

  • In certain situations, time spent with a physical therapist can ease or even reverse your condition and make surgery completely unnecessary.

    A new study questioning the usefulness of arthroscopic surgery for osteoarthritis of the knee should encourage patients to consider physical therapy as an effective non-surgical option, according to the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). The study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).

    The study found that physical therapy, combined with comprehensive medical management, is just as effective at relieving the pain and stiffness of moderate to severe osteoarthritis of the knee as surgery.

Is physical therapy painful?

  • Your Physical Therapist will work with you to help minimize pain. As muscles are stretched and exercised, patients normally experience some soreness. As therapy progresses, range of motion increases, strength and soreness diminishes. Our goal is to find the right balance for you that will achieve the desired results with minimal discomfort.

How should I dress for therapy?

  • Wear loose and comfortable clothing. If you are receiving lower extremity treatments, we encourage shorts. For a shoulder problem, a tank top is a good choice, and for low back problems, wear a loose fitting shirt and pants. You are welcome to bring a change of clothing.

How many times will I need to come for treatment?

  • Patients are usually seen 1-3 times per week depending on the type and severity of the injury. Duration of treatment also varies depending on your recovery rate, severity of injury, and your dedication to doing the home exercises as assigned.

Does insurance cover Physical Therapy?

  • Most insurance companies pay all or part of physical therapy needs. We will contact your insurance company at your first visit to verify coverage.