Physical therapists seek to restore function, whether it is an adult to return to work, an athlete to return to his or her sport, or a senior adult to be able perform gardening for example. In outpatient therapy, our goal is to get to the source of the problem, attempt to solve the problem and get the patient independent in his or her home exercise program to prevent the injury from occurring again. We also restore, maintain, and promote overall fitness and health. PT’s 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, PT’s 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.
The following list contains some of the most common reasons to see a physical therapist and those conditions treated at AthletePlus.
- Back, Knee, Hip, Ankle/Foot, Neck, Elbow, Shoulder Pain
- Muscle Strains
- Carpal tunnel syndrome, hand/wrist problems
- Arthritis – Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Total Knee or Hip Surgery – PT after surgery
- Rehabilitation after a serious injury (eg, broken bones)
- Stroke Rehabilitation
- Vertigo/BPPM/Problems with balance
- Unexplained Joint and muscle pain (after proper testing with MD)
Physical therapists are experts in how the body functions and moves and are very cost effective. Early physical therapy intervention prevents more costly treatment later, can result in a faster recovery, and reduces costs associated with lost time from work. Patients pay less when they have direct access to physical therapy services without a doctor referral. However, there can be a temptation under managed care to terminate services prematurely. A study conducted to determine whether direct access to physical therapy services was cost-effective found that patients who went directly to a physical therapist had fewer episodes of care, and services were ultimately less costly.
