Physical Therapy Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs
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What is Physical Therapy (PT)?
It's the art and science of physical care and rehabilitation. Physical therapists are primary health care professionals who diagnose and treat individuals of all ages who have medical problems or other health-related conditions, illnesses, or injuries that limit their abilities to move and perform functional activities as well as they would like in their daily lives.
What does the Physical Therapist do?
Physical therapists examine each individual and develop a plan using treatment techniques to promote the ability to move, reduce pain, restore function, and prevent disability. In addition, Pots work with individuals to prevent the loss of mobility before it occurs by developing fitness and wellness-oriented programs for healthier and more active lifestyles.
When should I see a Physical Therapist?
If you have pain that interferes with your daily, normal tasks and your ability to function. If you have loss of strength, range of motion, balance, endurance associated with injury, surgery, or disuse. If you have pain or discomfort from an accident, sports injury, or just nagging pain.
What is Occupational Therapy (OT)?
Occupational therapy promotes health by enabling people to perform meaningful and purposeful lives. OT's use careful analysis of physical, environmental, psychosocial, mental, spiritual, political and cultural factors to identify barriers to your occupation.
What is Pain Management?
Considering the different causes and types of pain, as well as its nature and intensity, management can require an interdisciplinary approach. Through physical therapy, an individual learns beneficial exercises for reducing stress, strengthening muscles, and staying fit. The team at Mercy Outpatient Rehab will work with you to relieve your pain.
Do I need a referral/prescription to see a therapist?
Some insurance companies may require for you to see your primary care doctor first. Please feel free to call our office and we will help answer your referral and insurance questions.
I have a referral/prescription for physical therapy, but it is for a different physical therapy clinic. Can I still come to Mercy Outpatient Rehab Clinic instead?
YES! You have the choice to go to any physical therapy clinic you choose, provided it is covered by your insurance. We accept many different types of insurance and are adding new ones constantly.
How do I know that my insurance will cover my visits?
You can call your insurance, or you can call us. Our office will verify all insurance benefits for you and provide you with a detailed assessment of your coverage BEFORE you come in for treatment.
Glossary of Medical Terms
Amputation Rehabilitation
Prosthetic management and rehabilitation therapy is available after amputation of an upper and or lower limb.
Chronic and Acute Injuries
Excellent results from a variety of new techniques used to treat chronic pain due to arthritis or injuries resulted from slip and fall, auto accident, and headache to name just a few.
Disability Conditions
Treatment for stroke victims, amputation, Parkinson disease, or any Physical ailments that hamper an individual functional ADLs.
Electromyography/EMG Biofeedback
This technique is designed to eliminate muscle spasm from acute injuries. It is an excellent tool to strengthen and retrain muscle for their respective activity. Research has proven the use of EMG biofeedback to be beneficial to stroke victims with improved brain plasticity thereby reducing paralysis to affected limbs.
Functional Capacity Evaluation
This is a special evaluation designed to determine the level of physical capacity of an injured worker to resume his or her prior work duty.
Geriatric Rehabilitation
Fall prevention program, treatment for chronic and acute pain due to arthritis, treatment for joints replacement, pain management, and mobility training.
Industrial Rehabilitation
This is a preventive program to assess employers or employees risk of injury while at work. The program helps by evaluating work sites environment, educates employers and employees in high risk, and provides treatment to injured workers.
Laser Therapy
Function and use of laser technique is to treat acute and chronic pain disorder resulted from muscles strain and sprain, inflammation of joints. This combination along with lumbar decompression techniques and natural injection help people recover from nagging pain of arthritis, auto accident injuries, neck/lumbar herniated disc and/or s/p operation of joints and muscles in days not weeks and months.
Motor Vehicle Accident Injuries
Bodily injuries resulted from a car accident. Treatment is designed to prevent permanent disability. Complete recovery and body function after completing program.
Pain Management
Using various treatment techniques, we can help patients live with less, be more functional, and allow the body to heal over time. Not all pain are the same and some pain are considered chronic which is why we look for ways to help you minimize or manage the pain for best possible outcome.
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Provision of physical and occupational therapy treatment to people who suffer from physical ailments, s/p operation, back, neck, shoulders, knees pain, amputation rehab and lymphedema management.
Sport and Recreation injuries
High tech treatments are available to help individuals recovered from sports or recreational injuries.
Women's health
Treatment for urinary incontinence due to weak bladder and pelvic floor dysfunction.
Worker’s compensation
Program is to treat people who get injured at work with the goal to return the injured employees to his or her maximum functionality and to be able to return to work.
Hands On Therapy
With quick and accurate responses to your injuries and pain, we will help you rehabilitate more efficiently. Every patient is treated individually for maximum therapy results.
Friendly support
Our therapy staff are here to ensure that you're comfortable and improving with each visit. We'll gladly answer your questions about your treatment and anything else that you may need.
Improved Health
We are goal oriented with all of our patients and celebrate improvement milestones. We want to see you back to optimal health and living as pain free as possible.
Let Us Help Your Patients with Outpatient OT and PT
Improve Mobility and Motion:
Motion is very important to your patients' quality of life. An occupational therapist or physical therapist can greatly improve a patient's ability to walk, complete simple activities such as emptying the dishwasher, putting on clothes, or performing their job. Physical therapists also help prevent injuries and promote a healthy lifestyle by improving strength, flexibility, balance, and coordination.
Provide a Conservative Option to Surgery:
Although surgery can be the best course of treatment for certain diagnoses, there is evidence which indicates that physical therapists can offer an alternative. Considering conservative options to surgery is an important factor of good care. Physical therapy is one of these options for many individuals!
When there is a need for surgery, a PT can enhance the outcome both before and after surgery. Also, for those individuals whose health conditions prevent surgery from being an option, a PT can be invaluable in helping them improve or maintain the quality of their lives.
Manage Pain Effectively Without Long-Term Use of Medication
A PT can help patients control pain, often reducing the need for long-term use of medications. Studies reveal that individuals who receive physical therapy or occupational therapy experience greater improvement in function with less pain. We understand that medication is an essential component in the management of many acute and chronic conditions. As a full-service PT practice, we provide an alternative to the long-term use of medications for the management of pain and certain other health conditions.
Complete Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy & Pain Management
- Acute Care
- Accident Rehab
- Pre & Post Operative Services
- Orthopedics Therapy & Rehab
- Sports Rehabilitation
- Pain Management
- Neurologic physical therapy
- Oncologic physical therapy
- Cardiovascular & pulmonary rehab
- Women's Health
- Traumatic Rehabilitation
How Referrals Work
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- Clear communication - Script or prescription from your doctor (some insurances don't require this step)
- Before We Speak, We Listen - Before starting treatments we need to understand lifestyle and symptoms
- Evaluation - Seeking great treatment requires us understanding more
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- Treatment - We educate all patients on what will help them on the road to recovery
- Progress sent to doctor - As your healthcare partner we send recommendations and progress
- Follow up - Additional follow-up may be needed on a case by case basis