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If you are like most people, you may have a vague idea of what physical therapy is, and why it is an important part of healthcare. What you may not know is that no matter what is going on in your life or with your health, physical therapy can most likely help! PT is a type of health care practice that focuses on improving the way you move, and everything that is involved in safely getting around throughout your day.
Physical therapy treatment ranges from carefully prescribed exercises to hands-on techniques specifically designed to target your mobility or functional impairment. It can also help with recovery from surgery, injury prevention, and fall prevention, among many other things!
Physical therapy is a type of treatment provided by a physical therapist to improve your mobility and physical function. Physical therapy can also help manage pain and other chronic conditions like arthritis or low back pain. Physical therapists use a combination of therapeutic exercise, patient education, hands-on treatments, and modalities like heat or ice to help people affected by injury, disease, or disability.
Physical therapists can work in a variety of different settings, including hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and private outpatient practices. Some physical therapists may choose to continue their education and training by pursuing a board certification specializing in one of the following fields:
At Confluent Health, our experienced physical therapists provide outpatient services at our clinics. Their expertise includes:
Physical therapy is effective at treating a wide range of conditions. For example, research shows that physical therapy can successfully improve pain, mobility, and function in people with shoulder pain1, while a different study indicates that physical therapy is helpful for athletes post-concussion2.
The benefits of physical therapy are extensive—if you have pain or difficulty with movement, call today to make an appointment with one of our physical therapists. With Direct Access, you don’t need a referral from your physician to be seen.
Physical therapy can treat a wide variety of conditions; however, some conditions are more commonly treated than others. Most of these conditions fall into two categories: musculoskeletal and neurological.
Commonly treated musculoskeletal conditions:
Commonly treated neurological conditions:
Other commonly treated conditions include vertigo (inner ear dysfunction) and temporomandibular joint dysfunction (jaw pain). Physical therapists receive extensive training on a wide variety of conditions during their education and clinical experience, making them the go-to healthcare professionals whenever you’re experiencing pain or mobility issues.
Many people can benefit from physical therapy, not just those recovering from significant injury or surgery. Physical therapists work with people in all age groups with various conditions that result in loss of mobility, pain, or decreased physical function. Physical therapy can help improve movement and manage pain, enhancing overall quality of life.
Just as physical therapy can treat a wide variety of conditions, the symptoms of these conditions can vary as well. Here are some general symptoms associated with commonly treated conditions in physical therapy:
Severity and frequency of symptoms will vary from patient to patient. Everyone’s pain experience is different, so it’s important to communicate with your physical therapist about your needs and limitations. They will work with you to ensure you are progressing towards your goals, making adjustments as needed.
It is important to treat pain and mobility issues early to optimize rehabilitation and avoid worsening symptoms. If you’ve been experiencing pain and/or difficulty with movement for two weeks without improvement, call Confluent Health to make an appointment with a physical therapist. With Direct Access, you don’t need a referral to see a physical therapist.
Your first physical therapy appointment will include an initial evaluation. During the evaluation, your physical therapist will review your medical history before moving on to the physical examination to look at your posture, range of motion, strength, and tissue tenderness. After the physical examination, you will be asked to perform a variety of functional tasks to determine areas of weakness or instability. Throughout the evaluation, your physical therapist will ask questions to ensure your comfort while assessing the level of pain or difficulty you’re having with certain movements.
The details of the initial evaluation will vary based on the condition. Patients with neurological conditions, like post-stroke rehabilitation or Parkinson’s disease, may undergo additional static and dynamic balance testing to pinpoint areas where the patient is having the most difficulty. Patients seeking physical therapy after surgery may have post-surgical precautions that could limit the amount of physical testing during the initial evaluation. Talk to your physical therapist about any concerns you may have at the initial evaluation or any subsequent treatment session—they want to ensure you have the best treatment plan to reach your goals.
Once your physical therapist has completed the examination, they will analyze their findings to create a personalized plan of care to help you achieve your goals. The plan of care will consist of exercises to be performed in the clinic and at home, patient education, hands-on techniques, and modalities like heat and ice.
The initial evaluation is only the beginning of your treatment plan. Your physical therapist will perform frequent, regular reassessments to ensure you’re making good progress towards your goals. As you get stronger, your exercises will progress, both in the clinic and at home. As your physical therapist will remind you, performing your exercises at home is important to your overall success at physical therapy. If you’re having trouble keeping up with your home exercise program, talk to your physical therapist about ways to improve your compliance.
Many people wonder, ‘Physical therapy—does it work?’ Physical therapy offers many benefits for people of all ages and activity levels. It helps restore movement, improve strength, and reduce pain without relying on medication or surgery. As movement experts, physical therapists are trained and experienced in assisting people with pain and mobility concerns. Whether you want to run your next race pain-free or you’re having difficulty standing up from the couch, your physical therapist will work with you to achieve your movement goals.
Common goals for your physical therapy sessions are to reduce pain, increase strength and range of motion, and improve overall physical function. Your physical therapist will develop an individualized treatment plan designed to help you reach your goals. Physical therapy treatment plans will include in-clinic physical therapy exercises, a home exercise program, hands-on techniques, modalities as needed, and patient education.
One of the most important aspects of your physical therapy treatment is the partnership between you and your physical therapist, also called the therapeutic alliance. A strong therapeutic alliance opens communication between you and your physical therapist to ensure your needs are being met. Actively participating in your rehabilitation will help you get the most out of your treatments.
Physical therapy is an evidence-based practice (EBP). Your physical therapist will use approaches supported by high-quality research and integrate them with their own clinical expertise and their patients’ values and preferences. EBP delivers the highest level of care to the patient while respecting the patient’s beliefs and circumstances, resulting in a treatment plan aligned with patient goals.
If you are having pain or mobility issues, call Confluent Health today to make an appointment with a physical therapist. With Direct Access, you don’t need a referral to be seen by a physical therapist. Call today to start on the path towards long-term health and well-being.
Each Confluent Health partner brand has a list of accepted insurances available. To discover if your insurance covers our services, contact the scheduling department of your nearest clinic or speak with your insurance company about in-network and out-of-network providers.
Sessions typically last 40-60 minutes. The first visit is approximately 20 minutes longer to complete the preliminary screening and assess treatment needs. Overall treatment plans can range from 1-3 times per week.
It’s best to wear relaxed clothing that allows you to freely move and perform exercises.
The main goals of physical therapy are managing pain and improving physical function. This is done through a combination of exercise, hands-on techniques, patient education, and modalities like heat and ice.
Call Confluent Health to be connected with a physical therapist near you. You don’t need a physician referral to see a physical therapist.
No, you do not need a referral to see a physical therapist. With Direct Access, you can call Confluent Health today to make your appointment.
This will depend on the severity of the condition, the presence of underlying health conditions, and the patient’s commitment to their treatment plan. Patients who perform their home exercises and attend their treatment sessions regularly will have better outcomes in a shorter amount of time. Minor injuries may take as little as 6-8 weeks to rehabilitate, while more complex conditions or post-surgical rehabilitation could take more than 6-8 months.