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
"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."
Many people think that physical therapy 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, executing carefully tailored exercise programs for complex neuromuscular issues, and more.
The basic premise behind physical therapy is that movement is good for your health. Many of us take it for granted that we will start moving less and less well as we get older. This may be true but it does not need to be disabling. In other words, aging healthily is possible and should everyone's goal. 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.
Yes, but maybe not immediately. California is a Direct Access state, which means that one can start Physical Therapy without a referral from your physician. However, many insurance plans do require a referral to be on file.
Not usually. Physical therapists are experts at decreasing pain and discomfort, including pain that has been present for a long time. Some manual techniques or modalities (like shockwave therapy) may be uncomfortable for a brief moment while we work on you, but it should not last beyond the treatment session.
Sometimes, yes. Physical therapy has been shown to be effective in treating many conditions, including some rotator cuff tears, unspecified low back pain, degenerative disk disease, meniscal tears and some forms of joint degeneration. Your physician will usually be very willing to try physical therapy before proceeding with the surgery option.
I received a Degree in Physical Therapy 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.
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
- 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
The right tools in the hands of expert clinicians can make a huge difference in terms of treatment outcomes. We have made significant investments to equip the practice with unique, state-of-the-art modalities to speed up and improve your recovery.
Shockwave therapy - We use both radial pressure wave and focused shockwave. Conditions that benefit from shockwave therapy include many chronic tendon and joint problem like plantar fasciitis, achilles tendinitis, rotator cuff problems and more. Problems that are characterized by decreased circulation also respond well like slow healing wounds, neuropathies and erectile dysfunction.
Frenzel goggles - Expert evaluation and treatment of vertigo requires the accurate evaluation of small eye movements with your head in different positions. We have specialized wireless googles that measure and record these movements.
High Power Laser Therapy - Focused light energy can tremendously accelerate tissue recovery. We use high power, class 4 laser equipment.
High Energy Magnetic Field Therapy - Magnetic fields are used to speed up healing by restoring the normal ebb and flow of small currents in your body. We use a unique high power device that can emit a magnetic field strong enough to penetrate deep into the body and even trigger muscle contractions as needed.
Dynamic Exercise Platform - To improve balance reactions one needs challenging exercise. We have imported an advanced tool (Huber 360) that allows one to challenge balance and strength in infinite variations while providing feedback through a screen during exercise.
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?
- How many therapy sessions does my plan cover?
- 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?
- Is prior authorization required before beginning therapy?
The practice is in network with the following insurance plans:
- Aetna
- Alignment Health Plan
- Blue Shield of California
- Cigna
- Medicare
- Santa Clara County Independent Physicians Association (SCCIPA)
- United Healthcare
- Valley Health Plan
A fee may be incurred for sessions that are cancelled with less than a 24-hours notice.
Please make every effort to notify us early if you think you will not be able to attend the session. Thank you!
The law protects the personal information of the patient.
Patients will be provided access to our Privacy Policy at their first appointment.
- Monday-Thursday: 8am - 5:00pm
- Friday: closed
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.
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 before your first appointment. The practice management system will automatically send you links to these via email.
Please bring a photo ID, your insurance card and any relevant information (tests, records, medication lists, etc.) that may help us during the evaluation.