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Do stay hydrated. Drink even when you are not feeling thirsty.
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Do stretch often.
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Do follow the RICE method (rest, ice, compression, elevation) if you sustain an injury that is not a medical emergency (i.e. ankle sprain).
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Do schedule an appointment with a physical therapist within 30 days if you get a prescription for physical therapy.
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Do stop whatever you are doing if you start to feel pain.
Don’t play through an injury that is painful, results in a decrease in range of motion or causes limping.
- American Physical Therapy Association
- Kentucky Physical Therapy Association
- American Occupational Therapy Association
- National Lymphedema Network
- American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
- American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
- National Stroke Association
- American Parkinson Disease Association
- National Parkinson Disease Foundation
- Amputee Coalition of America
- American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
- Arthritis Foundation
- National Multiple Sclerosis Society
- American Heart Association
Will my insurance cover physical therapy?
- An occupational therapist’s goal is to help a patient gain as much independence as possible in daily activities such as washing, eating, food preparation, working, hobbies, etc. There are numerous reasons why these activities may be difficult. For example, a patient may not be able to eat due to limited arm or hand mobility. In this situation, treatment could start with exercises to help improve hand and arm movements. If a patient cannot achieve the movement required, the occupational therapist will work to adapt the activity, for example, by giving the patient the correct specialist cutlery or a special plate. The occupational therapist knows how to adapt the activity and the environment to meet the needs and abilities of each individual patient. Treatment provided by an occupational therapist is activity based. An occupational therapist uses a task as a means of improving a patient’s skill. A physical therapist will provide patients with exercises as they may have a more in-depth knowledge of the muscular skeletal system. Occupational therapists are experts in task analysis and work on how to enable someone to do things for themselves, rather than requiring assistance. These two disciplines frequently work closely together with the same patient.
What will therapy cost me?
- You will have an opportunity to pay any co-pay, co-insurance or deductible at the time of treatment. If you’re having difficulty making your payment, one of our insurance counselors will work with you regarding financial arrangements.
How many visits per week will I need to come and how long will the visits last?
- Your initial evaluation will usually last 45-60 minutes. At that time you and your therapist will determine the appropriate frequency to provide the best results for your diagnosis. Follow-up visits usually last 30-45 minutes and most patients do well with 2-3 visits a week. However, we will work within your personal and/or insurance constraints as needed.
What do I need to wear?
- Please wear comfortable clothing (i.e. t-shirt or comfortable cotton shirt that will allow movement of your arms and torso; sweat pants or elastic waist pants that will allow movement of your legs; and sensible footwear such as tennis shoes or flat leather lace up shoes). Please keep in mind the therapist may need to visually inspect a particular body part or perform specific tests, so we may need to expose that body part during assessment.
