Physical Therapy Practitioners Near Me

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FAQs:

What is Physical Therapy?

Physical therapy is a dynamic and evidence-based profession that helps to improve or restore mobility, relieve pain, and reduce the need for surgery and prescription drugs. It also prevents the loss of mobility before it occurs through fitness and wellness-oriented programs that result in healthier and more active lifestyles.

Physical therapy is provided in a variety of settings, including hospitals, private practices, outpatient clinics, home health agencies, schools, sports and fitness facilities, work settings, and nursing homes. Physical therapy treatments may include:

- Therapeutic exercise

- Functional training

- Deep soft tissue massage

- Physical modalities such as electrotherapy and ultrasound

Why Is Physical Therapy Important?

When a muscle is burning or a joint is aching, your first thought is probably to take a pain reliever, get some rest and try some ice or heat. But if the pain continues despite these easy at-home remedies, it might be time to consider physical therapy.

Physical therapy can help:

- Strengthen your muscles, reducing the strain on your joints

- Improve balance and/or mobility

- Relieve joint pain

- Prevent injury

- Restore function, stability, and mobility after an injury

Physical therapists are trained to identify biomechanical deficiencies that are either currently leading to pain or might lead to pain or injury in the future. From therapeutic exercises and manual therapy with our hands to newer techniques and modalities, a physical therapist has a range of noninvasive treatment options he or she can use to help address or prevent movement issues.

A huge piece of physical therapy is education — specifically, teaching you the right way to engage your muscles and move your body. This is especially important if there are muscle groups you're using incorrectly.

What Does Physical Therapy Involve?

Exercises to actively do certain movements make up a big part of physical therapy. These exercises improve mobility (ability to move), coordination, and muscle strength. The physical therapist shows you how to do the exercises and then you can do them yourself. Generally speaking, physical therapy sessions mainly involve learning these exercises. The exercises will only help if you regularly do them at home on your own too. As well as doing special exercises, physical therapy often aims to help you increase the overall amount of physical activity in your everyday life, too.

Sometimes passive exercises are used as well. In other words, the therapist moves parts of the patient's body in a certain way. The aim may be to, for instance, improve the ability to move a stiff or locked joint. These guided movements can also prepare the patient's body for active exercises if, for example, they can't move their leg or arm themselves yet.

Other than exercises, massage, and hand movements to relax muscles and connective tissue, there are other types of physical therapy treatments that are based on physical stimuli. They include the following:

1. Manual lymphatic drainage (massage to drain fluid from the tissues)

2. Electrotherapy: Treatment with a weak electric current

3. Heat therapy: e.g. using warm baths, warm (fango) mud packs, heat lamps, or ultrasound.

4. Cold therapy: e.g. using cold packs or cold air.

What Exercises Are Done In Physical Therapy?

Physical therapy, a component of rehabilitation, involves exercising and manipulating the body with an emphasis on the back, upper arms, and legs. It can improve joint and muscle function, helping people stand, balance, walk, and climb stairs better. Techniques include

1. Range-of-motion exercises

2. Muscle-strengthening exercises

3. Coordination and balance exercises

4. Ambulation (walking) exercises

5. General conditioning exercises

6. Transfer training

7. Use of a tilt table

What Exactly Does a Physical Therapist Do?

Physical therapists typically receive referrals from doctors and other professionals. They usually start by performing a physical examination to gain a better understanding of your issue. From there, they may use a combination of the following as part of your treatment plan:

1. Exercising

2. Stretching

3. Using different equipment

4. Other hands-on techniques

The goal is to restore functionality by improving movement and increasing motion range in specific body areas. Continuous physical therapy treatment can reduce your current or future need for prescription drugs or surgery — or more physical therapy. 

Everyday tasks of physical therapists include:

1. Diagnosing your condition and ability to function by observing you standing, walking around, and performing tasks

2. Listening to your concerns

3. Developing an individualized care plan built around their observations of your condition, the goals you want to achieve, and your expected outcomes

4. Using therapeutic aids, such as electrical stimulation machines or kinesthetic tape 

5. Documenting your progress

6. Assisting you in using supportive devices like a crutch or cane

7. Creating and executing plans to discharge you from care when appropriate

Which Types of Injuries Require Physical Therapy?

Physical therapy covers just about everything when it comes to recovery. Although it may seem to be associated exclusively with sports and orthopedic injuries, there is a larger scope that this type of therapy reaches. For example, physical therapy can help patients dealing with brain disorders and diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. In another dimension, physical therapy can also aid in rehabilitating those who are struggling with a deadly cardiovascular condition. From a simple problem such as a sprained ankle to the complex issues stated above, physical therapy can be the answer to any rehabilitation process within the body.

Below are the types of injuries that require physical therapy:

Sport Injuries

Most people have heard of an athlete who tore their ACL, broke a bone, pulled a hamstring, sprained an ankle, etc. These prevalent injuries are sure to require some form of physical therapy for a full recovery. Although sports injuries often occur during the game or in practice, many injuries can occur in the everyday jog, sprint, or workout. Here are the top five sports injuries:

1. Runner’s Knee: Experts say that this injury occurs when an individual runs for long periods of time, improperly. The impact between “tight” joints, muscles, and ligaments in the leg on a hard surface can especially harm the knees and ankles over time. 

“Shoulder Injury”: Performing regular intense motions during a particular sport can increase the risk of a shoulder injury. These motions could include throwing a football or baseball, for example. 

2. Sprained Ankle: It doesn’t take much to sprain an ankle. This can occur in professional sports, but it can also happen in everyday activities. Sometimes a sprain is minor enough that it will heal over a period of a week or so, while more serious instances of a sprain require ice and therapy to strengthen it once again. Symptoms of a sprain can range from “tenderness” to severe bruising and “restricted range of motion.”

“Tennis or Golf Elbow”: Symptoms include the development of pain when moving other parts of the arm when carrying out regular exercises and tasks.

3. Pulled Muscle: This injury is highly common in sports, but like a sprained ankle and other injuries, it can occur in everyday tasks. When muscles are stiff and tight during movement, especially intense movement, it is easier for them to tear. Symptoms of this injury include pain, “soreness”, cramping, and “limited range of movement.”

Cognitive Injuries

Whether it is because of a sport or a malfunction within the body, physical therapy can be the path to recovery and a bright future. Injury in the brain is a perfect example of another dimension of reach in this form of therapy.

Immune Injuries

orthopedic and neurological injury can be an illustration of an autoimmune injury. For example, the autoimmune disease Lupus causes pain and tenderness in the joints. While an individual could assume that the weakness of their joints was caused by certain movements completed in an intense activity, it could be a symptom of another cause.

Can I Recover Without Physical Therapy?

Here are five important reasons to make the effort—even if it’s challenging—to get to that physical therapy appointment you have scheduled.

1. You Can Delay Your Healing 

Each appointment is key to improving your strength and agility, and skipping appointments will delay recovery. Whether you are going to physical therapy to heal injuries or to rehabilitate cardiac or neurological conditions, you cannot achieve the benefits without working with your physical therapist. Skipped appointments will ultimately postpone or prolong the results and goals you are working toward achieving.

2. The Pain May Not Go Away on Its Own

Physical therapy can help to improve alignment and range of motion for various joints – this can help decrease pain, as well as improve your overall movement ability for daily tasks.

3. You May Put Yourself at Risk for Future Injury 

Physical therapy can help you develop strength and learn proper body mechanics that are key to preventing future injuries. 

4. It Can Be Costly 

If your condition worsens because you missed therapy, you may end up needing an extended length of stay or additional medical procedures. As a result, there may be increased utilization of insurance benefits and additional out-of-pocket costs.

5. You Miss Out On Being Supported In Your Recovery

Your physical therapist works with you and your medical team to ensure that you get the best care possible. Going to physical therapy allows you to be actively involved in setting your goals and developing an exercise program. In addition, your physical therapist can provide you with community resources to address your concerns. At times, practical considerations can make it difficult to attend your appointments. If you have issues with transportation, preferences for the time of day you come in or other factors that are problems for you, discuss them with your physical therapist, who can work with you on scheduling or refer you to professionals who can help with other issues.

How Do You Know If Physical Therapy Is Working?

Most of the time you will not see drastic improvement right at the beginning, but there are little changes you will start to notice as you progress with physical therapy. Here are some signs that physical therapy is working.

1. You notice how you move. Sometimes the first sign of an improvement is simply an increase in your own awareness of how you move. You may move your body differently or in the way your physical therapist has recommended, rather than the way you used to move.

2. Your swelling has gone down. If you have swelling due to an injury or surgery, you may notice that your swelling has lessened over time in physical therapy. The movement and exercises that are part of your physical therapy can help to reduce inflammation and allow fluid to drain out so that your swelling goes down. 

3. Your pain is less frequent. Has your pain been occurring less often? Do you have times of the day when you used to feel the pain that is now pain-free? This is a very good sign. As you get stronger you will notice that you can get through your day without feeling pain as frequently. 

4. Your pain is less intense. Perhaps you still feel pain at the same times of the day, but is the pain less intense? As you work through physical therapy you may notice that your pain is less sharp or is at a lesser degree than it was before. If your pain was at a 10 before, and now you can say it feels more like an 8, that’s significant progress even though it still hurts. 

5. You can do more reps of your exercises. Have you been able to increase the number of reps for some of your exercises? If you’re working on your exercises at home or with your physical therapist, you may find that over time you can do more repetitions of some or all of your typical exercises. You may even be able to take your exercises to a more difficult level. 

6. The exercises feel easier or hurt less. Have your exercises begun to feel easier for you? Perhaps you can do them without trying so hard or without feeling the same pain you felt before as you did them. You’ll notice with time that your usual exercises become easier and less painful as you get stronger. 

7. You have a greater range of motion. Can you move your injured body part farther than you could before? Maybe you can bend your knee farther or rotate your shoulder all the way around when you couldn’t before. An increased range of motion is a definite improvement that results from consistent physical therapy. 

8. You feel less fear or anxiety. It is common after an injury or surgery to be afraid to move because of the pain. You’re afraid of doing physical therapy exercises or other routine daily activities because it may hurt. But as physical therapy progresses you may notice that your fear and anxiety regarding movement is less or goes away altogether. You gain renewed confidence in yourself and your abilities.

How Long is a Physical Therapy Session?

A typical physical therapy session lasts 30 to 90 minutes and is scheduled 2-3 times per week. In most cases, treatment may begin immediately following your physical therapist’s initial evaluation. Additionally, most patients will attend an evaluation and follow-up sessions for a faster healing process. However, the length of your physical therapy program will be determined by your condition, healing rate, and the course of the treatment plan. Physical therapists usually keep track of pain management, function, strength, and gains in range of motion. Depending on the progress and your physician’s prescription, more sessions will go on or end.

How Much Does Physical Therapy Cost?

The average cost of receiving physical therapy without health insurance is now $75 to $150 per session. The actual price you pay depends on the type and severity of the injury. The standard out-of-pocket fee for a single evaluation assessment is $150. If you’re going to have a consultation and training in a single session, then you may need to pay up to $225. In-home therapy costs more than what you pay when you visit therapists in their clinic. The cost of in-home physical therapy is about $100 to $150 per session. This price covers travel expenses incurred to visit your home. If you don’t have insurance, it will cost you $125 per session to receive treatment for post-operative care and treatment for ACL tears and other injuries.

Does Insurance Cover Physical Therapy?

In almost all cases, physical therapy will be covered by insurance if the services are deemed “medically necessary.” Generally, major healthcare providers consider physical therapy to be medically necessary if it:

1. Has been prescribed by a physician

2. Improves the patient’s functioning in a reasonable period of time

3. Outlines attainable, quantifiable goals for the patient

4. Requires the skills of a licensed, trained physical therapist (as opposed to another type of medical specialist)

For instance, a patient may receive physical therapy to regain function after a stroke, slow physical deterioration due to illness, or improve motor function after surgery. In all these cases, physical therapy likely would be considered medically necessary. Physical therapy isn’t considered medically necessary if:

1. The patient’s condition isn’t expected to improve in response to therapy

2. The patient can gradually regain function without therapeutic services

3. Treatment will not lead to medical improvement

For example, if a patient received physical therapy to return to a sport, such treatment is not considered a medical necessity. Additionally, if a physician expects a patient to regain function as a natural part of the healing process, physical therapy will not be considered medically necessary.

Coverage for assistive equipment or specialty PT procedures may vary based on your insurance plan. For more details on what’s covered in your plan, reach out to your insurance provider directly. You can also discuss coverage with your physical therapist, as they’re often well-versed in coverage options.

The Aim of Physical Therapy

Depending on your medical problem and personal circumstances, the treatment can focus on various goals, such as:

1. Improving or restoring the functioning of the body or the ability to move normally

2. Improving metabolism and the circulation of blood

3. Relieving pain

4. Improving coordination and strength

5. Compensating for physical disabilities: for example, strengthening the left arm if the right arm can’t move due to paralysis

6. Preventing chronic problems

Common Conditions Physical Therapy May Help With

Physical therapists can provide supplementary treatment to a wide variety of medical conditions, depending on their specialty.

Although physical therapists may not directly and independently treat the medical condition other than pure musculoskeletal conditions, they work to optimize recovery or educate a person on how to optimize their movement patterns.

Some conditions that could benefit from physical therapy are:

- cardiopulmonary conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, and post-myocardial infarction heart failure

- conditions that affect the hand, such as carpal tunnel syndrome and trigger finger

- musculoskeletal dysfunction, including back pain, rotator cuff tears, and temporomandibular joint disorders

- neurological conditions, such as stroke, spinal cord injuries, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, vestibular dysfunction, and traumatic brain injuries

- pediatric conditions, including cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy

- sports-related injuries, such as concussions and tennis elbow

- female health and pelvic floor dysfunction, including urinary incontinence and lymphedema

- skin conditions or injuries, such as burns, wound care, and diabetic ulcers

Benefits of Physical Therapy

Depending on the reason for treatment, the benefits of physical therapy may include:

- pain management with reduced need for opioids

- avoiding surgery

- improved mobility and movement

- recovery from injury or trauma

- recovery from stroke or paralysis

- fall prevention

- improved balance

- management of age-related medical problems

A sports therapist can help an athlete maximize their performance by strengthening specific parts of the body and using muscles in new ways. A physical therapist or other healthcare professionals can advise individuals about the benefits specific to their personal medical history and their need for treatment.

What are the Different Types of Physical Therapy

There are many types of physical therapy, and therapists often choose to specialize. These types include:

1. Orthopedic physical therapy: This treats musculoskeletal injuries, involving the muscles, bones, ligaments, fascia, and tendons. It is suitable for conditions such as fractures, sprains, tendinitis, bursitis, chronic health problems, and rehabilitation or recovery from orthopedic surgery. Patients may undergo treatment with joint mobilizations, manual therapy, strength training, mobility training, and other modalities.

2. Geriatric physical therapy: This can help older adults who develop conditions that affect their mobility and physical function, including arthritis, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease, hip and joint replacement, balance disorders, and incontinence. This type of intervention aims to restore mobility, reduce pain, and increase physical fitness levels.

3. Neurological physical therapy: This can help people with neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease, brain injury, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injury, and stroke. Treatment may aim to increase limb responsiveness, improve movement patterns, manage toneTrusted Source, improve strength, and promote balance.

4. Cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation: This can benefit people affected by some cardiopulmonary conditions and surgical procedures. Treatment can increase muscular and cardiovascular endurance and stamina.

5. Wound care therapy: This can help ensure that a healing wound is receiving adequate oxygen and blood by way of improved circulation. Physical therapy may include the use of manual therapies, e-stim, compression therapy, and wound care.

6. Vestibular therapy: This aims to treat balance problems that can result from inner ear conditions. Vestibular physical therapy involves several exercises and manual techniques that can help patients regain their balance and coordination.

7. Decongestive therapy: This can help drain accumulated fluid in patients with lymphedema and other conditions that involve fluid accumulation.

8. Pelvic floor rehabilitation: This can help treat conditions that affect the pelvic floor, such as urinary or fecal incontinence, urinary urgency, and pelvic pain as a result of injuries or surgery or because of certain conditions.

When to Start Physical Therapy After an Injury

By starting proper physical therapy as soon as it is safe and possible after an injury occurs, patients can dramatically reduce their risk of further complications and, in some cases, even speed up their recovery period. Based on the nature and severity of your injury, our knowledgeable team will recommend a customized treatment schedule for you. If appropriate, physical therapy may begin as soon as a few days after the injury is sustained. For patients who delay physical therapy, their injuries and symptoms often become worse and may be more difficult and/or more expensive to treat. In fact, patients can experience permanent nerve damage, reduced range of motion, and other complications when physical therapy is delayed or declined.

How to Prepare for Physical Therapy

Here are the things you need to get done before your first physical therapy session. Completing these before you enter the clinic will alleviate confusion and stress leading up to your appointment and help the whole process run smoothly.

1. Do some research 

Doing anything for the first time can be intimidating, and if your medical provider referred you to a physical therapist, you might have no idea what your appointments will be like. Researching something is always a great way to alleviate nerves. Look up some articles about what physical therapy is and how it works to know a bit about what you are getting yourself into. 

2. Track your symptoms 

It is beneficial to your therapist to track your symptoms, including pain or a lack of mobility, for at least three days before your first appointment, keeping notes of what hurts when, and how you are currently managing that pain. Your therapist will still conduct their initial evaluation to determine your treatment, but giving symptoms can help inform your therapist of what may work and what won't right off the bat.

3. Fill out your intake paperwork, including medications 

Most clinics will allow you to fill out your intake paperwork and medical history online before your appointment, and we recommend you do so. If you cannot fill it out beforehand or forget, try to arrive at least 20 minutes before your appointment to allow enough time. If you need assistance doing this, bring your chosen caregiver along to help, or ask one of the front desk staff. It is also helpful to bring a list of all your current medications. 

4. Bring your referral with you 

Your doctor may have sent your referral directly to the clinic, but if they gave it to you, please make sure to bring it. If you don’t have a referral, give the physical therapy clinic a call to see how they can assist you. Depending on your state or your insurance, you may not need one for the initial visit. 

5. Schedule enough time for your appointment

Life can become rushed sometimes, but you do not need to feel rushed during your physical therapy sessions. Make sure you allow plenty of time for your appointments, at least 90 minutes for your first session and at least 75 minutes for each session after. This way, you will get the greatest benefits out of your appointment possible. If you cannot commit this much time, speak with your therapist about how your sessions can be scheduled to best suit your needs. 

6. Get a good night’s sleep 

The night before your appointment, get as much rest as you can. Sleep has incredible benefits for the body, and a lack of it will negatively affect healing, how your body performs during your session, and how you recover after each visit. 

7. Wear comfortable clothing

When getting dressed for your session, wear clothing similar to what you would wear to the gym or just to be comfortable around the house. It’s also critical to make sure your clothes allow access to the specific area your therapist is working on. For example, if you are getting treatment after knee surgery, it is not recommended to wear tight yoga pants or leggings that are difficult to roll up. 

8. Eat a good meal 

During your recovery, a balanced diet is essential for healing and successful outcomes. Most patients know how to time their meals before/after exercise or strenuous activity. Make sure you eat appropriately to settle your stomach and provide fuel for your session. Your therapist can offer suggestions on how to manage nutrition as it relates to your visits.  

9. Drink plenty of water 

Proper hydration throughout your time in physical therapy will aid in your healing process and give you the ability to work harder with your exercise.

What to Expect in Physical Therapy

Physical therapy starts with an evaluation, during which your physical therapist will assess your overall functional mobility. This includes:

- Strength

- Range of motion and joint mobility

- Flexibility

- ain and neurological function

- Cardiovascular performance

- Balance

After this evaluation, you, your physical therapist, and your physician will work together to come up with your mobility goals and develop a plan for reaching them. This plan will be unique to you and your lifestyle. It may involve both one-on-one appointments in a “gym-like” facility, clinical settings like a hospital or outpatient facility, and/or exercises you can do at home. Physical therapy also teaches you how to safely move your body to prevent injury.

What to Do After a Physical Therapy Session

These three tips can help you to relieve some of your discomfort.

1. Ice the area

Most times, pain is a sign that the tissue is inflamed. Apply ice to the affected area. Ice can calm the area and ease inflammation, which is part of the healing process. Ice can be applied for as long as 20 minutes, depending on how often it is needed.

2. Get water

You may feel sore after a session of physical therapy. This is due to local inflammation. The body produces waste products that it wants to flush out. You should drink lots of water after a workout to flush out any toxins.

3. Take notes

Write down the sensations you are experiencing. Your comments will be helpful to your therapist in future sessions.

Finding Affordable Physical Therapy

One of the main ways to save money on physical therapy is by seeing a therapist who is in-network for your insurance (because seeing a provider that's out of network will cost you more).  You can call your insurance carrier to ask if a PT is in-network or search for providers online. If you're worried about how you will pay for physical therapy, tell your therapist right up front. You can talk to them about how to get the care you need while keeping costs low. The skills and motivation offered by a licensed physical therapist are essential to your recovery, but your therapist can also show you what you can do on your own. Not only will this empower you to be actively involved in your recovery, but it could also help you save money.

For example, you might be able to make PT more affordable by:

1. Support a speedy recovery by following your home exercise program

2. Doing therapy on your own at home and visiting the therapy clinic a few times a month for “booster sessions” (rather than several times a week)

3. Ask about telehealth options (ask about insurance coverage and out-of-pocket costs compared to in-person appointments)

You might be able to reduce your physical therapy costs in other ways, such as:

1. Using a health savings account (HSA) or flexible savings account (FSA)

2. Asking your PT clinic or provider if they offer lower prices for services if you pay in cash (sometimes called "self-pay")

3. Reaching out to patient advocates, financial assistance departments, and community resources and ask about payment arrangements or other kinds of help paying for your medical bills

4. Getting an explanation of benefits (EOB) and itemized list of charges for all your medical bills to make sure there are no errors

Sources:

Explore Health Careers

WebMD

Houston Methodist

Very Well Health

Ortho Bestheda

Insurify

NIH

Medical News Today

EW Motion Therapy

Pro Kinetix

Primal Physical Therapy

Merch Manual

Marque Medical

Hackensack Meridian Health

Bone Joint

Northwestern Medicine

BHFS Medical

 

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 (in the United States) immediately.