What is Physical Therapy (PT)? PT is a science-based approach to treating a variety of diagnoses, health conditions or injuries for patients of all age groups. After a thorough evaluation, physical therapists create a plan to improve mobility, quality of life and prevent further injury or disability. They do this through prescribed exercise, hands-on care, and patient education. PT's work as a team with your primary care physician and other health care professionals involved in your care.
PTs have completed years of training, are licensed, and governed by the state in which they practice and are well suited to guide people who simply want to become healthier and/or to prevent future problems.
Do you participate with my insurance? Do I need a referral? If your insurance plan is an HMO (Health maintenance organization), you will need your doctor to send a referral. We work with most major insurance companies. We help to verify your coverage before your first visit, and we try to answer all your billing questions. However, it is ultimately your responsibility to know what is covered by your insurance plan. If you have a co-pay, we will collect it at each visit.
What should I expect at my first visit? Your physical therapist (PT) will talk to you about your medical history and your current symptoms. A thorough exam will be completed, you will discuss your goals with your PT, and they will create and discuss a plan of care to meet your goals and improve your function. If time allows, treatment will start on the first day.
What do I bring to my first visit? Your prescription or referral unless your doctor has already sent it to us, your photo ID and health insurance card(s). It is most efficient if you download the patient information forms from our website, fill them out and bring with you. If you have a co-pay, we will collect it after your evaluation. Please wear or bring comfortable clothing that allows access to the body part to be treated. For example, if you have knee condition, wearing shorts would be ideal.
Do you treat my diagnosis? We treat many musculoskeletal and neurological conditions. Here are some examples:
- Muscular, Back, Neck and Joint Injuries
- Arthritis and Rheumatic Diseases
- Sports Related Injuries
- Neurological Diagnoses and Rehabilitation
- Auto Accident and Workplace Injuries
- Osteoporosis
- Pre and Post-Surgical Issues
- Vertigo and Dizziness
- Fall Prevention and Balance Training
- Post-Concussion
- Wellness Assessments
- Chronic Headaches
- TMJ Syndrome
Do you treat children? Yes, usually age 5 and up
Do you talk with my doctor? We work as a team with you and your doctor. Doctors’ offices usually send us prescriptions for physical therapy and sometimes instructions. We send them our initial evaluation report and a progress report every 30 days. We speak by phone anytime we feel it is necessary.
Who will treat me? Will it be the same person every time? You will be treated by highly educated, experienced, skilled, and compassionate physical therapists. Continuity of care is very important, and we try hard to keep you with the same therapist at each visit. If your PT is taking personal time off, you may be scheduled with another of our PT’s.
How many visits will I need? Every patient and diagnosis are unique. Once we complete a thorough evaluation, we will be able to give you an estimate on how many visits we will need to meet the goals.
How long is each session? Usually, 40-60 minutes
Is PT going to hurt? You are always in control of your treatments. We will give our recommendations and try to minimize any pain from our treatment techniques. However, regaining mobility of injured areas or post-surgical joints may be uncomfortable at times.
Will I be given things to do outside of therapy? Yes, and this is what will sustain your wellness. We work together as a team to meet your goals. We usually give you a home exercise program (HEP) early on, and we will adapt it as you can tolerate. The ultimate goal is to educate you in sustaining your wellness and protecting against future injury after you are discharged.
When I am done, what can I do to ensure that my recovery is successful? From the day of your initial evaluation, your PT is already thinking about how best to ensure your success – especially after you are discharged. You will find we spend time educating you about your diagnosis and the reasons for your hoame program and teaching you how to incorporate it into your daily life. We know this is the best way to prevent reinjury and it’s what makes SMPT different. If you have a question after you have been discharged, you can always give us a call.
