FAQs
Common Physical Therapy Frequently Asked Questions
General FAQs
Whether you have or have not received physical therapy treatment in the past, there are a variety of options for you, and almost all of them look different. At Accelerate Physical Therapy, we pride ourselves on spending the necessary one on one time to educate you on your condition, why it continues to affect your life, and what you can do to actively rid yourself of pain and get back to the things you love. We are with you every step of the way to guide and coach you through your rehabilitation. If we can help you understand WHY you are in pain, it will make it that much easier for you to change your habits, move more effectively, and fix the problem. We empower you with long-term solutions to prevent recurrence and keep you out of pain. An added bonus is our flexible, real-time online access to our physical therapists’ schedules as well as app-based technology for you to apply the principles you’ve learned in physical therapy at home. We are always adapting with the most advanced technology to improve your experience as a client.
Physical Therapy is one of the most conservative measures in alleviating pain as well as improving mobility and strength. Think of it as an alternative to surgical intervention, injections, and medication, but can also be used in conjunction with any of these to improve your quality of life. Much of the testing and intervention we do in physical therapy helps to determine whether there is a functional or structural problem by evaluating your daily habits, postures, and movements. If we can alter any of these three things and change your pain, then we can say with near certainty that physical therapy will work for you. We encourage all of our new and prospective clients to at the very least try physical therapy treatment before considering surgery or injections.
All physical therapists are different in terms of training, experience, communication style, and applications of their craft. Likewise, the clinics they work in make it difficult for them to consistently perform well at times. There are common themes amongst other professions, and physical therapy is no different. We stand firm on our ability to have experienced physical therapists, a well constructed training program, and are humble enough to adapt and modify our treatment plans when something isn’t working. Ultimately, we attempt to pair you with a physical therapist that will fit your needs best and optimize your experience. If you have been to a physical therapist in the past, and you are unable to identify WHAT condition you have, WHY you have it, and HOW you can solve the problem, then you need to look elsewhere. Although the delivery of information may be different, each of our physical therapists have the same core beliefs in how physical therapy should be practiced. You will find we all work together and bounce ideas off of each other to get the best results.
Your treatment will begin with a variety of questions from your physical therapist, in which they will dive into more details regarding your specific injury: when it started, how it has or hasn’t changed over time, what aggravates it, and what treatments you have or haven’t attempted previously. Once all the necessary information is gathered, it helps us paint a picture as to what tissues are involved and how they continue to get irritated based on your mobility, muscle performance, and movement strategies or postural habits. We then determine which of the three is the primary contributor to your injury, and this helps develop your specific treatment plan. Sometimes all three can be an issue, but typically it’s just one or two.
This is completely dependent on your prognosis from the physical therapist and what they recommend for continuing your care. This can range anywhere from a few visits in total to multiple visits per week depending on the specifics of your case. A typical plan of care is 2-3 times per week for 4-6 weeks. Again, this is just a guideline and every person doesn’t fit the same mold.
All clients are able to schedule appointments online in real-time by clicking on the “Schedule Appointment Online” link on any of our website pages. This service is also available in Onpatient, our patient engagement portal. Our Electronic Health Record software automatically updates our schedules in real-time as appointments become available.
Each visit is 45 minutes and is one-on-one with your physical therapy provider.
Please note: Due to scheduling constraints, we cannot guarantee additional time if you arrive late. Staying on time helps us respect everyone’s schedule.
Wear loose, comfortable clothing — like activewear or gym clothes.
If we’re treating a specific area (shoulder, knee, etc.), try to wear something that allows easy access. We will always maintain privacy and respect for client comfort.
Yes. After reviewing your health history and movement patterns, your therapist will typically begin hands-on treatment or guided cuing and exercises during the initial evaluation.
If you’ve completed your forms online — you’re all set!
We also recommend bringing:
- Any referrals or prescriptions from your doctor
- Any relevant medical records or imaging reports (X-rays, MRIs, etc.)
Please note: You are able to upload both referrals/prescriptions and imaging records to our system when filling out our intake forms.
Most likely. Your PT will assign a home exercise program to support your progress between visits. Staying consistent with the physical therapist’s plan of care and home program will lead to faster results.
Your PT will recommend a plan of care and schedule based on your current condition and goals.
If you’re in pain before your visit, still come in — but let us know. Your physical therapist will always prioritize your comfort and safety.
Your PT provider will focus on managing pain first, before addressing more advanced movement or strength goals.
We’ll adjust your session as needed to keep treatment effective and appropriate for how you’re feeling that day.
Just because you have a “structural” problem doesn’t mean physical therapy can’t help you. Many studies have been conducted that have shown structural anatomical problems in both healthy and unhealthy (i.e. patients with pain) subjects. There are times when you may have “structural” sources of pain as seen on imaging, and there are other times where “structural” things may be present but are not the source of pain. Visit our treatment area to learn more about how a physical therapy evaluation can help determine whether your pain is caused by a structural issue, or if it’s just the way you move that causes irritation to a specific muscle, tendon, ligament, or joint.
Traditionally, physical therapists and chiropractors have been big competitors. We are firm believers that both forms of treatment can be used to keep you moving healthy and pain-free. Physical therapists tend to focus on movement retraining, improving soft tissue and joint mobility, and muscle performance to restore normal biomechanics, while chiropractors use a variety of techniques to reduce positional faults, decompress the spine, and improve joint health and mobility. Although there are subtle differences, both can help you achieve your goals of living a pain-free life.
English and Spanish. Because we offer a text message service to our business line, we have the ability to communicate via text for scheduling, insurance verification, and treatment plans for languages other than English.
Schedule an Appointment
Schedule a 45-minute one on one session with one of our Doctors of Physical Therapy and get started on your path to recovery.
