1.) What is Physical Therapy and who are Physical Therapists?
Physical therapists are health care professionals who maintain, restore, and improve movement, activity, and health enabling an individual to have optimal functioning and quality of life, while ensuring patient safety and applying evidence to provide efficient and effective care. Physical therapists evaluate, diagnose, and manage individuals of all ages who have impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. In addition, physical therapists are involved in promoting health, wellness, and fitness through risk factor identi- fication and the implementation of services to reduce risk, slow the progression of or prevent functional decline and disability, and enhance participation in chosen life situations.
-per the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
2.) Does Physical Therapy hurt?
Physical Therapy should not hurt. It is possible to experience muscle soreness following therapy but this needs to be distinguished from joint pain. Therapists may provide manual techniques during your session to help decrease muscle spasm or increase joint mobility that could be uncomfortable while being performed but should provide overall relief.
3.) Why should I go to Physical Therapy?
If you are experiencing pain, weakness, decreased balance, decreased function in your home, or any physical issue effecting your daily life PT can help! If you are in pain, we not only want to decrease your symptoms following your visits, we want to keep you pain free so you don't need us anymore!
4.) What if I don't have or don't want to use my insurance?
There are private pay options available for those who don't have or don't want to use their insurance. Please contact Premier PT for these options.
5.) What is the difference between a Doctor of Physical Therapy and other Physical Therapists?
As of 2016 all PT programs must be at the Doctorate level (DPT). DPTs receive 4 year of undergraduate training and 3 years of graduate level training. A PT with a masters receives 4 years of undergraduate training and 1-2 of masters level training. A PT with a bachelors degree receives 4 years of undergraduate training.
The movement towards the DPT education is to transition to becoming independent practitioners. The APTAs vision 2020 reflects the goals of the profession to include "direct access". Direct access means you will no longer need to visit your primary care physician for a prescription for physical therapy and you may see the PT directly without a prior PCP appointment. This is to allow our healthcare system to become more efficient and cost effective. With direct access Physical Therapists must participate in higher education in order to provide an accurate Physical Therapy diagnosis and determine whether PT services are warranted.
6.) What can I expect at the first appointment?
Upon arrival at your initial evaluation you will fill out forms for insurance, consent and about your current condition. During the evaluation the DPT will take a thorough history of your condition, followed by tests and measures to confirm a Physical Therapy diagnosis. Once this diagnosis has been determined the DPT will go over the plan of care with you and if time permits, get started! This process typically takes 45 minutes.
Physical therapists are health care professionals who maintain, restore, and improve movement, activity, and health enabling an individual to have optimal functioning and quality of life, while ensuring patient safety and applying evidence to provide efficient and effective care. Physical therapists evaluate, diagnose, and manage individuals of all ages who have impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. In addition, physical therapists are involved in promoting health, wellness, and fitness through risk factor identi- fication and the implementation of services to reduce risk, slow the progression of or prevent functional decline and disability, and enhance participation in chosen life situations.
-per the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
2.) Does Physical Therapy hurt?
Physical Therapy should not hurt. It is possible to experience muscle soreness following therapy but this needs to be distinguished from joint pain. Therapists may provide manual techniques during your session to help decrease muscle spasm or increase joint mobility that could be uncomfortable while being performed but should provide overall relief.
3.) Why should I go to Physical Therapy?
If you are experiencing pain, weakness, decreased balance, decreased function in your home, or any physical issue effecting your daily life PT can help! If you are in pain, we not only want to decrease your symptoms following your visits, we want to keep you pain free so you don't need us anymore!
4.) What if I don't have or don't want to use my insurance?
There are private pay options available for those who don't have or don't want to use their insurance. Please contact Premier PT for these options.
5.) What is the difference between a Doctor of Physical Therapy and other Physical Therapists?
As of 2016 all PT programs must be at the Doctorate level (DPT). DPTs receive 4 year of undergraduate training and 3 years of graduate level training. A PT with a masters receives 4 years of undergraduate training and 1-2 of masters level training. A PT with a bachelors degree receives 4 years of undergraduate training.
The movement towards the DPT education is to transition to becoming independent practitioners. The APTAs vision 2020 reflects the goals of the profession to include "direct access". Direct access means you will no longer need to visit your primary care physician for a prescription for physical therapy and you may see the PT directly without a prior PCP appointment. This is to allow our healthcare system to become more efficient and cost effective. With direct access Physical Therapists must participate in higher education in order to provide an accurate Physical Therapy diagnosis and determine whether PT services are warranted.
6.) What can I expect at the first appointment?
Upon arrival at your initial evaluation you will fill out forms for insurance, consent and about your current condition. During the evaluation the DPT will take a thorough history of your condition, followed by tests and measures to confirm a Physical Therapy diagnosis. Once this diagnosis has been determined the DPT will go over the plan of care with you and if time permits, get started! This process typically takes 45 minutes.