PHYSICAL THERAPY : FAQ's

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1. How long can I expect to go to physical therapy before I can see results?
   Results vary with your condition, but in general you should see some improvement within two or three sessions.
   
   
2. How can physical therapy help to control my pain?
   Pain can be controlled by relaxation techniques, passive modalities such as ultrasound, heat, ice or electrical stimulation and by the right kind of exercise. The right type of exercise will depend on the condition being treated. Consultation with your physician and your physical therapist will provide the best answer to this question.
   
   
3. Can I refer myself to physical therapy?
   Yes, but you will be personally responsible for the cost of your physical therapy treatments. Since this may be financially difficult, most patients need a referral from their physician to receive assistance from insurance.
   
   
4. How much of the total cost of physical therapy will be covered by my insurance?
   Insurance coverage varies with each carrier, but common coverage allowances are:
   
   
   

   80% for Medicare patients.
   

   Full coverage for worker's compensation patients.    All treatment requires prior authorization from    worker's compensation.
   

   Other carriers may cover in full, but only for a limited    number of treatments.
   

   Some carriers limit the dollar amount that can be    spent by any given patient for physical therapy in    any given month or year. Read your policy to find out    what your insurance carrier allows.
   

   
   
5. If I have back pain should I see a medical doctor or should I go to a chiropractor?
   Physicians are able to offer a wide scope of services to the patient, such as MRI, CAT scan, nerve blocks, physical therapy and referrals to other specialists, if warranted. Professionals that practice independently may not offer all of the services that would be beneficial for optimum diagnosis and recovery.
   
   
6. I know that ultrasound is used to "see" unborn babies in pregnant women, but why does physical therapy use ultrasound?
   Diagnostic ultrasound provides images of soft tissue that may help to diagnose certain conditions. Therapeutic ultrasound produces heat deep in the tissue, producing more elasticity of tendons and ligaments and reducing point tenderness. Ultrasound is limited to a very localized area of treatment and is not used to treat an entire leg, for example.
   
   
7. If someone has a stroke, is it true that they will get better without physical therapy?
   Strokes are caused by a blockage of blood flow to a part of the brain. Sometimes the blockage can be for only a few seconds, a few hours or in some cases permanently. If the blood flow is stopped to any tissue in the body, that tissue dies. This is also true of brain tissue, muscle or other types of tissue throughout the body.
   
   Many stroke patients will recover spontaneously after suffering a stroke, but learning may be difficult for them because they must experiment on their own to reprogram their brains. A professional can facilitate learning so that less time is spent in recovery.
   
   
8. How can I tell if the exercise I have been given in physical therapy is helping, when I hurt after every session?
   If you are experiencing "pain" after every physical therapy session, it does not necessarily mean that you are performing the wrong exercise. In general, if you experience pain after a treatment session, but the pain is gone after about 12-18 hours, you are working out correctly. This is especially true for some orthopedic conditions. If you have had pain for more than three months and have not been exercising during that time because of the pain, your brain may register pain when it is only experiencing muscle fatigue or soreness. This is not to say that you may ignore the "pain," but that the pain may not be as dangerous as it seems.
   
   
9. What is the difference between physical therapy and chiropractors?
   Physical therapists work under the medical umbrella, seeing patients on the referral of a physician, but otherwise using many of the same techniques that chiropractors use, including joint mobilization and manipulation. Chiropractors usually work on their own, independent of the mainline medical field.
   
   
10. What is the difference between physical therapy and occupational therapy?
    Physical therapy is primarily concerned with large muscle groups, gross motor function and safety during transfers and ambulation, pain control and joint function.
    
    Occupational therapy is concerned with functional activities and the ability of the patient to accomplish these activities, such as hand function and after-surgery care of the hand.