Frequently Asked Questions

What should I bring to my first visit? In order to expedite your check in, fill out the new patient paperwork ahead of time and bring it with you to your appointment, along with your script/referral if you have it. Please remember to bring your insurance card and identification. If you are covered by PIP (Personal Injury Protection) from a motor vehicle accident, please bring your claim number and your case manager's contact information.

How should I dress? 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.

How long will my appointment last? Your first appointment will usually last about 45 minutes to an hour , but a full hour is allotted for your evaluation. All appointments after that will last about an hour.

How many visits will I need? This is highly variable. It depends on your diagnosis, the severity of your impairments, your doctor's recommendation, etc. You will be re-evaluated consistently and your doctor will be sent progress reports with our recommendations for treatment.

Who will I be seeing? You will be evaluated by our licensed and highly trained physical therapist. After your evaluation, you may be seen by the physical therapist or by one of our licensed physical therapy assistants.

What does a physical therapy evaluation consist of? On your first visit, the physical therapist will perform your initial evaluation. This is a series of tests and questions to determine your course of treatment. The therapist will discuss your medical history, current problems/complaints, pain intensity (what aggravates and eases the problem), functional limitations and how they impact your daily activities, goals with physical therapy, medications, tests and procedures related to your health. Our therapist will then perform some of the following: palpation (touching around the area/problem. This is done to check for the presence of tenderness, swelling, soft tissue integrity, etc), Range of Motion (ROM) (the therapist will move the joint(s) to check for the quality of muscle contraction. Pain and weakness may be noted. Often the muscle strength is graded), 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), special tests (the therapist may perform special tests to confirm/rule out the presence of additional problems) and posture assessment (the positions of joints relative to ideal and each other may be addressed).

What happens after my evaluation? After your evaluation, the therapist will develop a plan of care which will be forwarded to your referring physician for their review and signature. Your plan of care will include how many times you should see the therapist per week (which is usually 2-3 times for maximum benefit), 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 your doctor.