FAQ
Please note that the answers provided here are general, and not to be used in place of your medical treatment. If your physician or physical therapist has set forth guidelines for you to follow to recovery, please bring them with you to your first appointment.
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| Going to physical therapy for the first time or beginning a work out regimen after years of inactivity involves straining your body in ways it won’t be accustomed to - that’s why we always take it easy on you during your first session! We do endeavor to make the entire process - from setting your appointment to settling your bill - as stress-free as possible. We feel that the more a client knows coming in, the less they will fear and the more they will be able to accomplish. Through extensive polling of clients both long-term and recent, we have compiled this list of Frequently Asked Questions that tells you exactly what to expect when you walk in our door. |
| What can a physical therapist do for me? |
| The physical therapists at Premier Therapy are licensed, highly-educated and experienced health care professionals. Their first step with each client is analyzing your condition through a series of tests and measurements. These may include: muscle strength tests, joint motion tests, sensory and neurological tests, coordination tests, balance tests, observation, palpation, flexibility tests, postural screening and movement analysis among others. Based on their findings they will then design an individualized strategy to treat any dysfunction with various modalities and manual skills such as massage, stretching and exercise. |
| When should I see a physical therapist? |
| You can only see a physical therapist when your doctor refers you to one. Generally, this will happen after you have suffered an injury, following a surgery or if you have an illness that interferes with your daily tasks and ability to function. |
| What is a physical therapist assistant and what can one do for me? |
| Physical therapist assistants are licensed and skilled health care professionals who work under the supervision of your physical therapist to help implement treatment programs, train clients in exercises and activities, conduct treatments and report to the physical therapist on your responses to the treatment. |
| What is an occupational therapist and what can one do for me? |
| An occupational therapist takes a different perspective on the effects of a disease or injury on your body - in home and work environments. As licensed health care professionals, they recommend creative or productive activities that you can perform to accelerate your recovery. The occupational therapist specializes in the rehabilitation of the shoulder, elbow, wrist and the hand and to help clients improve basic motor functions and reasoning abilities. They also help clients compensate for permanent loss of function. Their ultimate goal is to help clients have independent, productive, and satisfying lives. |
| Are Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy the Same? |
| Although both types of therapy help their clients improve the quality of their lives, there are differences. Physical therapy deals with the issues of pain, strength, joint range of motion, endurance, and gross motor functioning. Occupational therapy deals more with fine motor skills, visual-perceptual skills, cognitive skills, and sensory-processing deficits. |
| What are your hours of operation? |
Monday and Wednesday: 7:00am to 7:00pm
Tuesday: 7:00am to 5:00pm
Thursday: 8:30am to 7:00pm
Friday: 7:00am to 3:00pm
Whether your doctor has recommended you see us for physical therapy or you simply want to get into better shape with the benefit of a personal trainer, we encourage you to make an appointment in advance. |
| Do I need to be referred by my doctor? |
| You only need a referral if you are coming to Premier Therapy Centers for physical therapy. Exclusive Fitness does not require a prescription to begin training. A clearance from your physician to begin our exercise program may be requested. |
| What should I expect on my first visit? |
| Our specialists utilize your first visit to evaluate the state of your physical health - whether you’re coming to us to get into better shape or for physical therapy. We focus on strength, balance, flexibility and function. This will require an examination, during which we will learn your past medical history and evaluate the current state of your body. Our therapists will have you perform relevant muscle system checks as well as select and administer tests and measurements that determine your baseline data. Using this information, we can measure your future progress. |
| What should I bring to my first visit to Premier Therapy Centers? |
| You will need to bring the following to your first appointment: prescription from your doctor for the therapy, personal identification, insurance card and any other appropriate information (such as your workman’s comp case number, if applicable). |
| What should I wear? |
| Anything you would normally wear to a gym or to go jogging is appropriate: a sweat suit, shorts and a t-shirt - anything with a loose fit is preferred as it should allow all of your limbs a full range of motion and be comfortable. If we are treating you for a knee or ankle injury, we do recommend wearing shorts to your appointments. |
| How long is each appointment? |
| For the first visit and your initial evaluation, plan to be here for an hour-and-a-half. Subsequent appointments for physical therapy generally last one hour. Work out sessions at Exclusive Fitness are also one hour. |
| What should I expect after the evaluation phase of my physical therapy is complete? |
Our therapists are well-versed in multiple treatment techniques and modalities that help open a new world of functionality for our clients. After the evaluation phase, your therapist will determine the best therapy strategy for you. Depending on your therapeutic goals, this may be a single type of treatment or involve a variety of multiple modalities including:
• Therapeutic exercises such as aerobic and anaerobic conditioning
• Functional training for self-care and at-home management
• Manual therapy techniques like soft tissue and joint mobilization
• Physical agents, mechanical an/or thermal modalities
• Electrotherapeutic modalities
• Educational and/or application of assistive, adaptive and protective devices and equipment |
| Will I always have the same therapist working with me? |
| Yes. Our clients always are in the primary care of the same physical therapist. You may also work with physical therapist assistants and their aids during the course of your treatment. We always do our best, depending on scheduling issues, to keep clients with the same physical therapist. |
| Does Premier Therapy provide any special services for women? |
| Prenatal, postpartum pain and dysfunction, post gynecological surgery, incontinence, pelvic floor weakness and pelvic pain are all uniquely female conditions that can be effectively treated with physical therapy. |
| Does Premier Therapy accept my insurance? |
| Premier Therapy Centers accept MOST major insurance companies - and a heck of a lot of minor ones too! To see if we accept your insurance carrier, our Front Desk will check for you. |
| Is there anything I can do at home to speed up the therapy? |
| Depending on the nature of your condition, your therapist may recommend continuing your treatment at home. During the course of your therapy, your therapist will write, teach and closely monitor your at-home progress -if at-home exercise is required. You will be given instructions to educate not only yourself, but also your family and any other caregiver, on the nature of your condition, treatment plan and future transition to home, work and other aspects of your life prior to your current dysfunction. In general, positive physical therapy results depend on your adherence to the plan created by your therapist. |
| What types of physical therapy do you offer? |
| Our primary focus is musculoskeletal and neuromuscular therapy. We offer clients specialized manual orthopedic rehabilitation services with the highest level of expertise. |
| What is spinal therapy? |
| Spinal therapy provides specialized treatment to control back and neck pain related to acute and chronic spine conditions. The therapy itself involves intensive rehabilitation of the spine in order to return the patient to a maximum level of function. Therapy consists of individualized exercises, training in proper posture, body mechanics, lifting techniques, and pain management. |
| What is a “Modality” and what can one do for me? |
| Physical Therapy often involves the use of modalities (treatments) which include properties of heat, cold, water, electricity, ultrasound, and traction. These modalities are used to help decrease pain and increase movement and function by helping to strengthen, relax and heal muscles. Examples of modalities that you can use at home include hot packs and cold packs. Before you use one or the other, it is important to understand which one to use for specific conditions. |
| What are "Hot Packs"? |
| Hot Packs: If you have pain due to muscle tension, spasms or arthritis, hot packs are the modality (treatment) for you. The heat relaxes tight muscles causing tissues to relax. This decreases pain and causes blood vessels to dilate, which increases circulation to the area. |
| What are "Cold Packs"? |
| Cold Packs: are a frozen gel substance and are available for purchase through Premier Therapy Centers, to treat areas of pain and inflammation. They can be wrapped in a moist towel and applied directly to the area in need of treatment. The cold transferred to the patient’s skin, muscle, and tissue has several beneficial effects. The cold temperature causes the blood vessels in the area to constrict, thereby decreasing the inflammation, which in turn lessens pain and swelling. |
| What is Electrical Stimulation? |
| Electrical stimulation involves using an electrical current that results in the muscle fibers of a single muscle, or a group of muscles, to contract and relax. This is done by placing electrodes on the skin in various locations, on or around the area(s) of discomfort. The contraction and relaxation feature mimics the body’s own natural processes and re-educates the muscles to function on its own. Your physical therapy practitioner can alter the current setting to allow for a forceful or gentle muscle contraction. Along with increasing muscle strength, the contraction of the muscle also promotes an increase in blood supply (circulation) to the area and assist in healing. |
| What is Therapeutic Ultrasound? |
| An ultrasound is a modality that utilizes high frequency sound waves applied to tissue and absorbed with the production of heat. The benefits of heat from ultrasound include muscle relaxation, increased local metabolism, and reduction of pain by sedating nerve endings. Ultrasound waves also have non-thermal benefits resulting from vibration of molecules. These effects include increases in the flexibility of connective tissues such as joint capsules, ligaments, tendons, adhesions, scars and cellular membrane permeability that accelerates healing. Ultrasounds are used for both acute and chronic conditions. They are most effective as part of an overall treatment plan, including stretching, therapeutic exercise, and mobilization. |
| What is Phonophoresis? |
| Phonophoresis is the use of a therapeutic ultrasound to enhance the delivery of topically applied drugs. Medicines such as hydrocortisone contained within or under the ultrasound gel are pushed by the sound waves and driven deep below the skin. The advantage of phonophoretically-administered medications is that they can penetrate the body much deeper than those massaged by hand over the surface of the skin. |
| What is Iontophoresis? |
| Iontophoresis is a modality that involves using a topical anti-inflamatory medication such as dexamethasone or lidocaine being introduced into a joint or small body part via electrical current. This modality is non-invasive, painless, and eliminates potential side effects and adverse reactions which can occur with medications delivered orally or by injection. |
| What is Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)? |
| A TENS unit is a small battery operated machine that uses electrical transmission to decrease pain. Electrodes are applied to the affected area. The machine is then turned on and an electrical current is sent through the electrodes. A tingling sensation is felt in the underlying skin and muscle that effectively “drowns out” the pain by disrupting the nerve signal. |
| What is traction and how is it used in physical therapy? |
| Traction is the therapeutic use of manual or mechanical tension devises that utilize a pulling force to produce a combination of distraction and gliding to relieve pain and increase tissue flexibility. Traction therapy becomes necessary when decreased sensation temporarily improves with manual traction,increased muscle tone that is reduced with manual traction, extremity pain or tingling that is temporarily relieved with manual traction, spinal nerve root impediment due to bulging, herniated or protruding disc, and muscle spasms that are causing nerve root impingement and general hyper-mobility of lumbar or cervical spine regions. Electric traction units exert a pulling force through a rope with various halters and straps. |
