Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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Why did my doctor refer me to physical therapy?
PT is usually prescribed if you have pain or mobility issues that involve your muscles, spine, or joints. You might also be recovering from an injury, or preparing for / recouping after joint or spine surgery. Maybe you are having balance problems or trouble walking. Physical therapy can help with all these issues and more.
What do physical therapists do?
Physical therapists are experts at treating movement and musculoskeletal disorders. Pain often accompanies a movement dysfunction, and physical therapists can help correct the problem and relieve the pain. They specialize in movement and function, and helping you strengthen or regain these abilities. Through manual therapy and specifically targeted exercises, they reduce pain, build strength, and improve range of motion.
What this means to you specifically will be different for each person, for example: you can hike with your dog without knee pain, you can golf without shoulder pain, you can sleep through the night without being awakened by pain, you can walk without dizziness or fear of falling. These are just a few examples of how physical therapy can improve quality of life.
Who will see me?
Your therapist, throughout the course of your treatment, will always be Paul Kane. Experience has shown that you receive better consistency of care – and have a better outcome of treatment - if you see the same therapist every time.
Is physical therapy painful?
Most of the time, pain relief is one of the primary objectives of treatment. Generally speaking, you should leave the office feeling better than when you came in. If you DO experience pain, be sure to let Paul know. We may need to adjust your therapy and reduce or change the exercises that you’re doing.
Therapy can be painful if you are recovering from a joint replacement or other surgery, but it’s important to keep the joint mobile during the healing process. Regaining strength and range of motion after surgery isn’t easy. That’s why your doctor is sending you to PT, because those things are our specialty!
How long will the appointments last, and how many treatments will I need?
Your first appointment is a detailed evaluation, and takes an hour. (For more info about what to expect on your first visit, click here.) During that first appointment, you and Paul will discuss your treatment plan, and also review what your doctor has recommended. Most subsequent visits are also an hour.
What type of treatment will I receive? Is it like getting a massage?
There are many different types of therapy methods. They include hot or cold therapy, joint mobilization, soft tissue mobilization, stretching, isometrics, and various other range of motion or strengthening exercises. Physical therapy does often include therapeutic massage, but it’s not the same as a massage you’d get at a spa. It is focused on a specific area, and used to reduce swelling, relax a tight or spasming muscle, or to relieve pain.
What happens after my physical therapy is over?
Depending on your issue, you may be given a routine of exercises to do at home. Sometimes people need to continue these exercises after treatment, either for a prescribed amount of time, or ongoing in order to prevent the problem from returning. Once you feel good again, you will want to stay that way!
What if my pain comes back?
Once you’ve become a part of our clinic family, we are always here for you. If pain returns (and it sometimes does, depending on your issue), then call us. We may suggest you come back to see us, return to your doctor, or simply modify your daily activities or exercise routine. The thing to remember is not to suffer alone. If you’re hurting, call us.
