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In the world of physical therapy, professionals are often asked questions about their line of work. Unfortunately, there are many misconceptions about how physical therapists can help patients improve their bodies. Physical therapists can provide more services than many people realize! In this article, we explore some common questions about PT with Jennifer Fritts, Clinic Director at our Ellington clinic.
If I haven’t experienced an injury or had surgery, why would I need physical therapy treatment?
Physical therapy can restore normal function in affected areas of the body. Physical therapists are movement specialists, so if you are experiencing a decreased ability to do what you love, PT can be the best place to start. We help figure out why you have pain when you do certain exercises and restore the restricted motion, so you no longer have pain.
When I’m already in pain, won’t physical therapy make my discomfort worse?
The sooner you see a physical therapist, the sooner you can get back to normal activity. The longer you wait to deal with the pain, the harder it can be for us to get you healthy again. If we’re not able to reduce the pain, we can refer you to the appropriate places.
While we work with a wide array of different movement dysfunctions, they’re not always associated with pain. In other words, you don’t need to have pain to seek PT! One of the goals of our treatment is to prevent the pain before it happens.
Is it expensive to seek treatment? Don’t I need a referral from my doctor?
Connecticut is a Direct Access state, which means you can receive physical therapy without a doctor’s referral. However, your insurance carrier may require a prescription from a physician in order to pay for physical therapy services. The staff in all our offices can provide further information about the requirements for your specific insurance plan. Additionally, we provide complimentary assessments to discuss options to get patients back on track with their fitness goals and determine if they are appropriate for PT.
After physical therapy treatment, some patients may benefit from our individual and group training classes, as well as other in-house options for recovery. These courses, designed to improve overall health, are not covered by insurance. Physical therapists are experts on how the body moves, so our wellness programs help keep patients of all fitness levels from experiencing injury. Whether it’s in conjunction with your rehabilitation or to help manage diabetes symptoms, our group classes and one-on-one training sessions are beneficial to all. When the whole body is healthy, you are less likely to have further injury.
Why should I choose physical therapy over massage or chiropractic care?
Massage therapy and chiropractic care are good options, but physical therapists utilize different techniques to restore the normal motion and provide solutions for long-lasting relief. Integrated Rehab also provides a high level of patient education to instruct our patients how to identify dysfunction in themselves and improve overall well-being. Everybody wants a massage, but it’s a passive activity. We work together with patients to improve overall body function. Think of PT as a lifetime investment to make sure your body is moving the way it should.
Will insurance cover the cost of my treatment?
If you come to PT at Integrated Rehab, we do accept most insurance plans. Although many healthcare plans require payment in part by the patients, think about it this way: You spend so much money on getting your hair cut, your nails done, we have gym memberships we never use, expensive coffees and vacations – all these things we do for ourselves cost money, but what people really want is for their bodies to move better.
It’s going to cost some money, but it’s worth it! Additionally, in cases where traditional insurance does not cover further PT services, we are able to offer cost effective wellness programming in individual and small group formats.
How many visits will I need before my issue is resolved?
It depends on the severity of the issue, how long you’ve dealt with the pain, how consistent you are with coming to sessions and doing your home exercises. The better we all communicate, the quicker we can progress you through your exercises. You should see some change within the first few sessions and more significant differences in the first two weeks. In general, patients can expect results in 3 to 4 weeks or 10 to 12 sessions.
Can physical therapy be a safe alternative to surgery?
Physical therapy should be considered before surgery in almost all cases. If your condition does not respond to therapy and surgery is required, we can work with your surgeon or refer you to an appropriate physician for continued care.
There are many times when physical therapy can still benefit you even when surgery is the answer. We can help get your body stronger and moving better before the surgical procedure and identify other factors that contributed to your pain and need for surgery. Additionally, we are well equipped to handle your post-operative physical therapy needs.
Do I need a personal trainer and physical therapist to get healthy again?
Physical therapists are the best option to help you get healthy again, as we are experts in the biomechanics of the body and are most qualified to restore normal function. Typical exercises you do in the gym strengthen the muscles you already use. A personal trainer will give you ways to alter an exercise that’s painful but cannot restore normal function for you.
As we age, we don’t always know how our bodies are changing. You continue to do these normal gym exercises, but they have the potential to make your pain worse! Your body moves in the path of least resistance; if you’re constantly doing the same things over and over again, there is a potential for your body to break down and cause pain.
We advise being careful about working with both a personal trainer and physical therapist. A trainer’s instruction could inadvertently undo the normal function we have restored. Many people don’t realize this, but physical therapists can also help you reach your fitness goals safely. At Integrated, we offer a unique approach to personal training in which training programs are designed and overseen by a member of our Physical Therapy team. With this model, we are able to offer programming that is biomechanically sound and mindful of your specific needs.
I work out all the time, why do I have pain?
We often don’t know when we are unable to move in a certain way because our bodies compensate for the restricted range of motion. These multiple compensations can cause even an everyday athlete to experience pain. The more active someone is, the easier it is for them to compensate, so it can be hard for athletes to understand why they have pain.
What are the benefits of choosing Integrated Rehab over other clinics?
Integrated Rehab prides itself on our individualized treatment of each patient who comes through the door. We stay current on the latest physical therapy techniques and encourage our staff to always keep improving. Many of our PTs have professional certifications that set our treatment apart from other standard clinics.
Physical therapists do more than rehabilitate injuries. You go to a medical doctor for a checkup on your insides, so why not go to a physical therapist to make sure your body is moving appropriately? To learn more, contact one of our clinic locations!