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When should I consider physical therapy as a treatment option?
Your life is filled with movement. Whether you are physically moving
from location to location, reaching, grasping, etc... you rarely
are completely motionless. If you find that pain, lack of flexibililty,
lack of strength or endurance are keeping you form moving freely,
physical therapy may be an alternative. At Spine & Sport, we
offer a brief screening, fifteen to thirty minutes, during which
one of our qualified staff will gather information about your past
medical history, current levels of pain or movement restrictions,
and daily routines /activities. From this information, your therapist
will provide you with options and recommendations.
What are the qualifications of the physical therapy staff?
Physical thrapists are college graduates, many from masters programs,
and are required to become licensed in Wisconsin by passing professional
certification exams. Most have obtained specialties through continuing
education programs. The therapists at Spine & Sport also average
over 10 years of clinical practice in outpatient physical therapy.
Am I required to get a physicians referral to obtain physical therapy?
Wisconsin is a “direct access” state which means that you
are allowed to obtain physical therapy services without needing a physicians
referral. However, the exceptions to this right currently exist where
the services are to be covered under Medicare and some other insurance
plans.
In today's environment, Medicare patients are required to have a referral from their doctor before beginning physical therapy. The patient is also required to see their physician every 30 days during the treatment program. However, legislation is currently being considered at the federal level to eliminate those requirements. Check back often for updates on this important issue.
As for non-medicare patients, some insurance plans still require a referral from the physician before they will reimburse for therapy services. It is important that you check with your health insurance provider for their requirements.
What happens when I receive a physician's order for physical therapy?
When your doctor suggests that you should get physical therapy, it
is important to remember that you do have a choice as to where you
will receive those services. You should request the names of at least
three unaffililated clinics from which your therapy could be obtained.
Then take a little time to talk to your friends about their experiences
with those clinics. You should even visit those clinics to meet the
people and view the facilities before making your decision.
How long do treatments last and how frequent are the visits?
The answer to this question varies greatly depending upon the diagnosis,
the physicians referral (if required), how long the problem has persisted,
the person's age and physical condition, and how well the individual
follows the prescribed home exercise program. After the initial evaluation
which typically takes a full hour, follow-up visits often range from
thirty to forty-five minutes. In the early stages, more acute problems
will be seen two – three times per week with decreasing frequency,
and more of the program performed at home between visits, as the problem
becomes less accute.
At the conclusion of your initial evaluation, your therapist should be able to provide you with an estimate of the length and frequency of your treatment plan. Please understand that this is a “best estimate.” Based upon many of the factors referred to above, your individual experience may require more or less visits. Your diligence in performing the home exercise program will play a big role in speeding your recovery.