FAQ

Please bring your ID, insurance card (even if coming for worker’s compensation or no-fault), paperwork if you completed it ahead of time, and a change of clothes if you are wearing restrictive attire.

When you arrive for your first visit, you will need to complete our paperwork.Please allow yourself 30 minutes prior to your appointment time to completely fill this information out.After your paperwork is finished, a physical therapist will bring you back for a thorough evaluation and same-day treatment if time allows.

During your evaluation, you can expect to discuss your medical history, your current problems or complaints, pain intensity and what aggravates and eases the problem, how your injury is impacting your daily activities or limiting your function, your goals for therapy, and any medications, tests, or procedures related to your health.Additionally, your therapist may require a range of motion measurements, muscle testing, balance testing, gait assessments, palpations of affected areas, and special tests to allow for an accurate assessment.

While aquatherapy is an excellent alternative to traditional, land-based physical therapy for some patients, it is not for everyone.Fear of water or not knowing how to swim are not contraindications to aquatherapy.Talk to your therapist about your concerns in the water and a plan can be made to accommodate you. The following are limitations to our pool program:

• Patients must be able to independently ascend/descend 5 stairs with railings to enter/exit the pool
• Open wounds are always a contraindication to pools due to the increased risk of receiving an infection through the wound. Ask your therapist to inspect any possible wounds you may have, even if not in the treatment area.

At your first visit, you should plan to wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing, or clothing that allows access to the area to be treated.For example, if you are coming for your knee, you may wear shorts to allow easy access and assessment to the area.Tight and restrictive clothing will limit our ability to assess your function and limitations.

If you have been referred specifically for aquatherapy, please bring water outfit (bathing suits, shorts/t-shirts, etc.), a towel, and change of clothes.A locker room with enclosed shower is available for you after your pool session.

Parking is available and included for all locations.

Physical therapy, aquatherapy, and massage therapy visits are scheduled for 1 hour. Work Conditioning/Work Hardening sessions are 2 hours, and Functional Capacity Evaluations are 4-5 hours.

While your treatment program will be individualized based on your specific needs, treatment sessions can include:

Active Range of Motion (AROM) - the patient lifts or moves a body part through range of motion against gravity.

Active Assistive Range of Motion (AAROM) - the therapist-assisted active range of motion.

Gait or Walking Training - the analysis of walking problems by visually examining the interaction of the low back and the joints of the thighs, legs, and feet during the various stages of walking, including initial contact, loading response, mid stance, terminal stance, pre swing, mid swing, and terminal swing.

Isometrics - muscle contraction without joint movement.
Isotonics - muscle(s) contracting through the ROM with resistance.
Soft Tissue Mobilization - the therapeutic mobilization of body tissue performed with the hands. Soft tissue mobilization may be used for muscle relaxation, to decrease swelling, to decrease scar tissue adhesions, and for pain relief.

Mobilization - hands-on therapeutic procedures intended to increase soft tissue or joint mobility.

Posture Training - instruction in the correct biomechanical alignment of the body to reduce undue strain on muscles, joints, ligaments, discs, and other soft tissues.

Passive Range of Motion (PROM) - the patient or therapist moves the body part through a range of motion without the use of the muscles that "actively" move the joint(s).

Stretching/Flexibility Exercise - exercise designed to lengthen muscle(s) or soft tissue.

Electrical Stimulation - the application of electrical stimulation to aid in decreasing pain or facilitating muscle activation. Electricity is applied through pads that adhere directly to your skin.

Cervical Traction - a gentle longitudinal/axial pull on the neck, either manual or mechanical, intermittent or continuous.

Lumbar Traction - the longitudinal/axial pull on the lumbar spine, either manual or mechanical, intermittent or continuous

Ultrasound - ultrasound uses a high frequency sound wave emitted from the sound head when electricity is passed through a quartz crystal. The sound waves cause the vibration of water molecules deep within tissue causing a heating effect. When the sound waves are pulsed, they cause a vibration of the tissue rather than heating. The stream of sound waves helps with nutrition exchange at the cellular level and healing. Studies have shown that ultrasound is helpful for ligament and tissue healing.

Billing for physical therapy services is similar to what happens at your doctor's office. When you are seen for treatment, the following occurs:

The physical therapist bills your insurance company, Workers' Comp, or charges you based on Common Procedure Terminology (CPT) codes.Those bills are then processed by your insurance company and they make payments based upon their fee schedule.

An Explanation of Benefits (EOB) is generated and sent to the patient and the physical therapy clinic with a check for payment and a balance due by the patient.

The patient is expected to make the payment on the balance if any.