What to Expect
We work as a team. You will be evaluated by your physical therapist (PT) and each visit you will be seen for up to 30 minutes by that therapist. You will also be seen by a physical therapist assistant, a certified athletic trainer, or a trained exercise specialist, primarily for exercises prescribed by your therapist. Your total treatment time is about 60 minutes, sometimes longer or shorter based on your needs. Your therapist is responsible for determining those needs based on your evaluation. Remember, we work as a team; therapist, assistant, and you, the patient.
The Plan of Care. Your physical therapist will determine your plan of care based on your diagnosis, your comprehensive evaluation that the therapist performs, your personal goals, and the recommendation of your physician. Essentially, PTs do four things;
1. Stretch
2. Strengthen
3. Functionally retrain, and
4. Educate the patient about their condition and what they need to do at home to overcome the problem.
You can expect a global evaluation. We look at you as a machine. In therapy we like to say that “we fix the world’s most complex machine.” During your exam your therapist looks for dysfunction in your machine that may contribute to your painful condition, then develops a plan to make the machine function normally again. If your therapist or assistant is out of the clinic for any reason, such as illness, continuing education, or vacation, we will make every effort to have a replacement so that your plan of care is not interrupted. We understand that patients can get a little attached to their therapist, but be assured, if your therapist is out, the person treating you is licensed, qualified, and is aware of your needs based on your chart and consultation with your therapist.
Exercise. Exercise is the core of all of our interventions. Your therapist determines from your exam and history what exercises are appropriate, but we need your help. Home exercise is a cornerstone of our treatment. We will give you plenty to do at home, and to recover, you need to be compliant. Again, if your therapist is away it is essential that you continue coming to therapy for no other reason than to avoid an interruption in your exercise program.
