Expert Physical Therapy is worth it!

Most people have had or will have some exposure to physical therapy at some point in their life. Usually the process starts when an injury or disease makes it hard to continue doing the 'normal things' in life like engaging in sports, moving around the house or even something as basic as drinking or eating. Most physical therapy practices are what I would call generalist physical therapy practices, where the basic services and techniques are offered. Relatively few practices offer the more advanced, specialized treatment techniques and technology that you will find at this practice.

FAQs about Physical Therapy

How can physical therapy help me?

Many people think that PT is mainly for problems after an injury or surgery. In fact, physical therapists do a lot more than that.

Physical therapy is focused on restoring movement. It can involve mobilizing the vertebras in the spine for low back pain, stretching the muscles in the neck for patients who received radiation in the past, executing carefully tailored exercise programs for complex neuromuscular issues, and more.

The basic premise behind physical therapy is that movement is life; without movement, life starts disintegrating. Many of us take it for granted that we will start moving less and less well as we get older. This is true but it does not need to be disabling. In other words, aging healthily is absolutely possible. This is where Physical Therapy helps by restoring movement to joints and muscles that have lost some, and training up muscles, joints and brain to minimize and even prevent future problems.

The benefits you obtain from therapy depend greatly on how fully you participate in the process and put into practice what you learn. Patients who fully complete the planned treatment program and are compliant with their home exercise program and instructions always get the best outcomes.

Do I need a referral from my physician?

Is Physical Therapy painful?

It is a bit of a myth that Physical Therapists inflict pain. Past surveys found that most people who think so have never visited a PT before. Patients who have actually received physical therapy recently do not think so.

Physical therapists are experts at decreasing pain and discomfort, including pain that has been present for a long time. Some manual techniques may be uncomfortable for a brief moment while we work on you, but it should not last beyond the treatment session.

Can Physical Therapy help avoid surgery?

What type of training/licenses do you have?

I received a Master's level Degree in Physical Therapy in 1983 at the Rotterdam Physical Therapy Academy in the Netherlands. I later received an Doctorate level degree in Physical Therapy (DPT) through the University of Saint Augustine in Florida in 2007.

Prior to arriving in the USA, I was licensed to practice physical therapy in the Netherlands, Switzerland, South Africa and Germany.

After my arrival in the USA, I passed the national physical therapy licensing examination and am currently licensed with the Physical Therapy Boards of Tennessee and California.

I have received advanced training in:

Manual therapy
Deep needling for myofascial pain syndrome
Use of NMES and myofascial release in the treatment of dysphagia
Vestibular rehabilitation in the treatment of vertigo of peripheral and central nervous system origin

Fees and Insurance

Health care insurance policies like Medicare and other commercial payers typically cover some form of physical therapy. Physical therapy has also shown to reduce costs, disability and inconvenience by helping to avoid unnecessary imaging scans, surgery, or prescription drugs.

Fees for services are dependent on the services delivered and may vary between sessions. You will be asked to pay for any portion of the fees that are not covered by your insurance, such as co-pay or co-insurance.

If requested, an itemized bill (a 'superbill') can be provided to you for purposes of obtaining reimbursement by your insurance carrier for services you have paid for out of pocket.

Please check with your insurance to determine if you have coverage for physical therapy at this practice. Check your coverage carefully and make sure you understand their answers.

Some helpful questions you may want to ask them:

What are my physical therapy benefits? Are there any limitations on the coverage?
Is there a maximum coverage amount per therapy session?
How many therapy sessions does my plan cover?
How much does my insurance pay for an out-of-network therapist (if this practice is not in network with your plan)?
If my insurance will pay for out-of-network services at this practice, do they require any special documentation to be completed prior to and/or during therapy? (some insurance companies have very strict requirements)
Is a referral required from my primary care physician?

I currently accept payment from the following insurance carriers and programs:

Blue Shield of California
Cigna
Medicare

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What to expect during my first visit?

The first visit will consist of a detailed evaluation followed by an initial treatment session. The evaluation will include a review of your medical history, any medical records such as imaging reports and physician records, a review of the medication you currently take and treatment you may have already received for your complaint.

We will discuss the evaluation findings and determine what the best treatment plan for you will be.

Depending on the complexity of the evaluation, the initial treatment session may not be as long as subsequent ones. The first session will take approximately 60 minutes to complete.

How can I get ready for my first visit?

Wear comfortable clothing such as training slacks and loose fitting tops to make it easier to move around during the evaluation and treatment session.

You will be asked to complete some initial forms when you arrive for your appointment. Make sure to arrive 15 minutes prior to your session to give you enough time to complete the forms. You can also download the forms here and fill them in ahead of time.

Please bring a photo ID, your insurance card and any relevant information (tests, records, medication lists, etc.) that may help us during the evaluation.

"If we could give every individual the right amount of nourishment and exercise, not too little and not too much, we would have found the safest way to health."
Hippocrates

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