Frequently Asked Questions

• Arrive at your appointment with your paperwork completed (you can download it from our website – see the paperwork.)

• You will provide us with your prescription or orders for physical therapy from your doctor’s office.

• We will copy your insurance card.

• You will be seen for the initial evaluation by the therapist.
• The therapist will discuss the following:
  1. Your medical history.
  2. Your current problems/complaints.
  3. Pain intensity, what aggravates and eases the problem.
  4. How this is impacting your daily activities or your functional limitations.
  5. Your goals with physical therapy.
  6. Medications, tests, and procedures related to your health.

• The therapist will then perform the objective evaluation which may include some of the following:
  1. Palpation – touching around the area of the pain/problem. This is done to check for the presence of tenderness, swelling, soft tissue integrity, tissue temperature, inflammation, etc.
  2. Range of Motion (ROM) – the therapist will move the joint(s) to check for the quality of movement and any restrictions.
  3. Muscle Testing – the therapist may check for strength and the quality of the muscle contraction. Pain and weakness may be noted. Often the muscle strength is graded. This is also part of a neurological screening.
  4. Neurological Screening – the therapist may check to see how the nerves are communicating with the muscles, sensing touch, pain, vibration, or temperature. Reflexes may be assessed as well.
  5. Special Tests – the therapist may perform special tests to confirm/rule out the presence of additional problems.
  6. Postural Assessment – visual observation of the positions of joints relative to ideal and each other may be assessed.
  7. Gait Assessment – 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. Many back, thigh, leg, ankle, and foot problems may be caused by or manifest themselves in subtle gait abnormalities.
  8. Movement Assessment- the analysis of body movement by visually examining the isolated and gross movement sequencing and timing of functional movement in a variety of positions and from moving from one position to another. Many musculoskeletal problems may cause the body to deviate from normal movement patterns, thus guide the therapist to isolate the possible origin in order to treat specific impairments with the ultimate goal of restoring normal functional movement and returning to life’s activities.

The therapist will then formulate a list of problems you are having, and how to treat those problems. A plan is then developed with the patient’s input. This includes how many times you should see the therapist per week, how many weeks you will need therapy, home programs, patient education, short-term/long-term goals, and what is expected after discharge from therapy. This plan is created with input from you, your therapist, and if referred, your doctor.

Make sure you bring your physical therapy prescription or orders (provided to you by your doctor), if you were referred, and your payment information. If your insurance is covering the cost of physical therapy, bring your insurance card. If you are covered by Workers’ Compensation, bring your claim number and your case manager’s contact information. If you are covered by auto insurance make sure you bring this information also.

You should wear loose fitting clothing so you can expose the area that we will be evaluating and treating. For example, if you have a knee problem, it is best to wear shorts, for a shoulder problem, a tank top is a good choice, and for low back problems, wear a loose fitting shirt and pants, again so we can perform a thorough examination. You should also wear comfortable shoes.

Your first visit will last between 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Appointment frequency varies from patient to patient.

On your initial visit you will be evaluated by one of our licensed and highly trained physical therapists. In most cases he/she will also treat you during subsequent visits and at times along with other team members consisting of PT’s and PTA’s. We are aware of the many different therapist and patient variables that may interfere with this process, such as schedules, appointment times, cancellations, reschedules, vacations and illness, but we feel it is very important to develop a one-on-one relationship with you to maintain continuity of care for effective, productive and efficient outcomes.

For many patients, one of the primary objectives is pain relief. This is frequently accomplished with hands-on techniques, modalities such as ultrasound, electrical stimulation, and/or heat or cold therapy. Movement often provides pain relief as well. Your physical therapist will provide you with the appropriate exercises not only for pain relief but to recover range of motion, strength, and endurance.

In some cases, physical therapy techniques can be painful. For example, recovering knee range of motion after total knee replacement or shoulder range of motion after shoulder surgery may be painful. Your physical therapist will utilize a variety of techniques to help maximize your treatment goals. It is important that you communicate the intensity, frequency, and duration of pain to your therapist. Without this information, it is difficult for the therapist to adjust your treatment plan.

Flare-ups are not uncommon. If you have a flare up (exacerbation), give us a call. We may suggest you come back to see us, return to your doctor, or simply modify your daily activities or exercise routine.

In most cases, you have the right to choose any physical therapy clinic. Our practice is a provider for primarily orthopedics. Please refer to NPT services. NPT is a provider for many different insurance plans; please refer to our current NPT provider list. If you don’t see your provider listed please give us a call as these change frequently.

Yes, you can be seen without a referral. In accordance with the state of FL. Physical Therapy can be a direct point of access (see individuals without first seeing a medical doctor). If the condition is found to be outside the scope of practice, the PT may consult with or refer you to the appropriate healthcare provider- your physician or other medical professional. A PT can see you for 21 days, if you were not previously seen for the same condition, otherwise there are no time constraints, other than your insurance. Self pay patients previously seen have no time constraints. If physical therapy treatment for a patient is required beyond 21 days for a condition not previously assessed by a practitioner of record, the physical therapist shall obtain a practitioner of record who will review and sign the plan.

Physical therapists are important members of your medical team. At this point in time, physicians are typically the health care providers that will provide you with a medical diagnosis. Physical therapists can provide a Physical Therapy diagnosis related to particular movement impairment, i.e. Lumbar Extension Syndrome, Shoulder Superior Glide Syndrome.

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

1. The physical therapist bills your insurance company, Workers’ Comp, or charges you based on Common Procedure Terminology (CPT) codes.
2. Those codes are transferred to a billing form that is either mailed or electronically communicated to the payer.
3. The payer processes this information and makes payments according to an agreed upon fee schedule.
4. 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.
5. The patient is expected to make the payment on the balance if any.

It is important to understand that there are many small steps (beyond the outline provided above) within the process. Exceptions are common to the above example as well. At any time along the way, information may be missing or misunderstood. This can delay the payment process. While it is common for the payment process to be completed in 60 days or less, it is not uncommon for the physical therapy clinic to receive payment as long as six months after the treatment date.

Most patients will need to continue with a home program consisting of self-care management-body mechanics, ergonomics, postural/movement awareness principles and appropriate exercises. Some may choose to continue with or transition to a gym exercise program. Others will complete their rehabilitation and return to normal daily activities. It is important that you communicate your goals to your therapist, so he/she can develop a custom program for you.

Physical therapists (PT’s) and physical therapist assistants (PTAs) are licensed by their respective states.

Monday – Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm

Before and after hours available upon request

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