On your first visit you will fill out some paperwork for the receptionist. When your paperwork is completed you will be taken into a room where you will meet with the physical therapist. He will talk to you about your injury and may do a few manual tests to assess your strength, range of motion, and the integrity of the affected tissues. This gives him a baseline to compare your progress to. After he is finished an aide will come in and do some modalities with you. After this the therapist will probably stretch you and then will have you start some light exercises depending on your pain level. The first day is geared to ease you into physical therapy and won’t be too aggressive – we promise!

The first visit usually takes about 90 minutes due to the paperwork and the evaluation. The next few visits will probably take around an hour. As you progress the therapists will add more to your program to challenge you in preparation to return you to regular activity. If you have specific time constraints talk to your physical therapist to see how we can accommodate you.

Yes! Physical therapy combines modalities that help reduce pain and inflammation, manual stretching by the physical therapists to help obtain functional mobility and exercises to help strengthen and stabilize the area of injury. We understand the need for you to regain your functionality. We create treatment plans for each individual to address his/her specific deficits and needs. This treatment combination is designed to get you back to where you need to be to function in your daily life. We will also give you the educational tools to maintain the progress you have made as well as teach you ways you can prevent injury in your daily activities.

The goal of physical therapy is to restore functional movement and capability through stretching, strengthening, manual techniques and modalities. We want to address the dysfunction and give you the tools to prevent the problem from returning and to protect yourself from further injury. Rarely do we use manipulation as a treatment technique. We try to stretch and strengthen the areas affected in order to get (and keep) things where they need to be. We recognize there are times when this is necessary but always follow with the appropriate exercises to stabilize and essentially keep things where they should be.

Surgery repairs the structural damage you have suffered, but there is still a lot of the rehabilitation process that you will face. Surgery of any kind is traumatic to the body and brings in inflammation and swelling. This limits your range of motion and causes muscle atrophy. We have a limited window of opportunity to regain that motion before the scar tissues lock down too much and cause lasting problems. Strengthening exercises address the muscle atrophy and are vital to get you back to your prior level of function.

Frequently, surgery-requiring injuries are sustained well before you actually have surgery. Because you are in pain you tend to favor that area of your body – you may push off the other leg more when you stand up, use your other arm for daily activities, or walk more stiffly to reduce movement in your back. All of these protective measures cause stiffness and atrophy before surgery.

The exercises we do are designed to increase your range of motion and strength. The body lays down scar tissue as part of the recovery process. In order to heal as quickly as possible this scar tissue is formed in a very haphazard way. When we work during this time the scar tissue is able to form in an organized fashion, allowing for better functional movement. The healing process is uncomfortable, but while you are recovering it is prudent to work on range of motion stretching and strengthening. If we wait until your soreness is completely gone the tissues are going to be incredibly stiff and the muscles will be atrophied from lack of use. If we can work while the body is healing we are much better off.

We encourage our patients to continue with physical therapy until they have full motion and are safe and able to continue their home exercise program at home. Typically we see patients 3 times a week for the first 2-3 weeks, just to make sure they are making consistent progress. Once we know a patient is responding consistently and is progressing toward his goals consistently, we will start spreading out visits as we start transitioning into more strengthening and into a home program. An average duration for our patients is 6-8 weeks.

We are not directly affiliated with Vasa Fitness, but we are able to use the equipment in Vasa Fitness for our patients. Most of our patients will be doing exercises in the gym under the direction and instruction of a DPT or PTA.

Yes, that way we can make sure we are properly staffed to take care of your needs and give you the excellent care you’ve come to expect from us.

Not all insurances require a referral. If you are in doubt whether your insurance requires one, call our office. We’d be happy to call your insurance company for you to find out.