On your first visit, the physical therapists will perform a thorough evaluation lasting approximately for 45-60 minutes and includes history, postural assessment, neurological screening, and tests and measures to gain a more specific understanding of your condition. Your physical therapist we’ll use the information obtained from your evaluation to formulate a clinical judgment as to your prognosis and appropriate treatment intervention. A rehabilitation program will be developed based upon the problems identified and the individual patients personal goals.

The interventions you receive will depend on what the physical therapist finds in the evaluation. Most physical therapy plans of care we’ll include therapeutic exercise and functional training in sports, work, or home related tasks. Other interventions might include Manual therapy techniques, electrical stimulation, ultrasound, low-level laser therapy, biomechanical and postural reeducation, and ergonomic analysis. Our intervention programs include coordination among all people involved in your care (other healthcare professionals, family, friends, caregivers, and others), communication to ensure a good exchange of information, thorough documentation of the care and services provided, and instruction to you and others involved in your care.

Because your physical therapist will perform a meticulous examination/evaluation, quantifying and qualifying all the deficits and problems you’re presented with, evaluation to determine progress are possible. You will be we evaluated every 30 days or just prior to your follow-up consultation with you’re referring Physician. A complete RE evaluation will be performed that includes all tests and measures that have been performed upon your initial evaluation. This new data can be directly compared to your baseline measurements to demonstrate both subjective and objective improvements. Continuation of your therapy will be dependent upon the results of your read evaluation, insurance authorization, and Physician approval. All revaluations will be sent two you’re referring Physician prior to your follow-up consultation so that they can review your progress.

The answer depends entirely on the physical therapist’s examination/evaluation to determine your prognosis. All patients upon discharge from their formal physical therapy program would benefit from continuation of their program through a maintenance plan. Discuss this plan of action with your physical therapist prior to your discharge.

If you have a recurrent problem after your discharge from physical therapy you need to first contact your Physician. In California, an updated prescription is necessary for consultation with your physical therapist. Since your physical therapist is the one who has the most detailed information pertaining to your prior injury, they should be able to provide you with the necessary information to whether further intervention may be required. It would depend if it was a re-injury of the same specific problem, how long it has been since you were last in physical therapy, how long it’s been since you saw the Physician and many other factors.

The initial evaluation will last approximately 45-60 minutes depending upon the complexity of the case. Follow up appointments typically vary in length, and are dependent upon the type of injury and the level of rehabilitation that is required. Usually the average follow-up appointments will last anywhere from 45-60 minutes and occasionally longer if necessary. There is no specific time limit for physical therapy.

If your Physician gives you a referral to physical therapy, simply call our office for an appointment. Our office staff will get all the necessary information from you and assist you with an appointment. To expedite your admission, a copy of our patient intake form is listed on the website. Please download and print this document, filling it out prior to your first appointment. This will greatly minimize any delays in your therapy that might be related to an incomplete or inaccurate insurance, personal, or billing information.

In general, be sure to bring loose fitting comfortable attire (T-shirts, shorts, athletic shoes,etc.) To allow for evaluation and movement. In the event that you forget to wear appropriate attire, cotton gowns are available for patients with shoulder, neck or back injuries. Patients with hip, knee, ankle, or foot injury should wear shorts or loose fitting pants to allow proper exposure. Female patients with shoulder dysfunction should wear a tank top or a loose fitting short sleeved shirt to minimize the necessity for a gown while allowing adequate exposure of the shoulder girdle complex.

For your first visit you will need your insurance card, and any paperwork that was sent to you that needed to be filled out. If you have any operative reports, MRI or xray results, you may bring those as well. Additionally, if you are utilizing any type of brace, splint, or crutches those should come with you.

In physical therapy, the goals should be to resolve your problem, not just temporarily relieve it. Although medication and other forms of treatment can be helpful in relieving symptoms, physical therapy produces a long-term result. The Physician may opt to utilize medication in conjuction with physical therapy depending on your diagnosis. Additionally, physical therapy unlike some other forms of treatment, it is not designed to go on as a maintenance program. Because we look to resolution, maintenance is not generally necessary.

Oftentimes, your Physician will give you a recommendation or a listing of physical therapists in your area. Sometimes your insurance company will guide you with regard to who is “in network” for your insurance plan. Ultimately, however, the decision as to where you receive your care is up to you. If you have a specific request, you need to let your Physician or insurance company know. If we are not in network for your insurance company most plans have out-of-network benefits that will allow you you’re choice in physical therapy.

Each patient is ultimately responsible for their success in their rehabilitation program. Your physical therapist cannot do it without you! We can provide you with the tools to recover but we ask that all patients and clients cooperate by following through with their home exercise programs and instructions. Your recovery and reCOOPERation is greatly dependent upon your compliance with your physical therapy program. Please help us to help YOU.

If you have to schedule an appointment, please call us. We have an answering machine and will return your call to reschedule you as soon as possible. If you will be late, please call and we’ll see if you will still be able to receive your treatment as scheduled. Missed appointments are discouraged. They also become part of your medical record. Multiple missed visits may result in discharge from care, with a note to your Physician. Before returning to your Physician, let us know and we will let him/her know how you are doing via a written progress report.