Never done physical therapy? Here is the whole thing.
Most first-time patients are more nervous about the unknowns than the treatment. So here is every step, in order, with nothing left mysterious.
Request an appointment
Submit a request online or call the clinic. Tell us roughly what is going on and when you are available. We usually respond the same business day and can often offer an evaluation within the week. If you call after hours, leave a message and we will text or call you back the next business morning.
We verify your insurance
Before your first visit, our team contacts your insurer to check your physical therapy benefits: deductible status, copay or coinsurance, visit limits, and whether a referral or authorization is required. We explain what we find in plain language, so there are no billing surprises.
Complete your intake forms
You will receive a link to complete intake forms online before your visit: health history, current medications, and consent forms. It takes about ten minutes. Prefer paper? Arrive fifteen minutes early and we will handle it at the front desk.
The initial evaluation
A full hour, one-on-one with your physical therapist. It starts with your story: when the problem began, what makes it better or worse, and what it is keeping you from doing. Then a movement examination: watching how you move, testing strength and mobility, and carefully reproducing your symptoms to understand them.
Before you leave, your therapist explains what they found in plain language. Most patients begin treatment during this same visit.
Setting goals together
You and your therapist agree on goals written in your language: walk the dog two miles, return to Tuesday night volleyball, get through a shift without back pain. These goals, not a template, determine what your treatment looks like.
Your treatment plan and follow-up visits
Most patients attend one to two visits per week, typically 45 to 60 minutes each. Sessions combine hands-on treatment, targeted exercise, and coaching, and they evolve as you improve. Your plan includes an estimated timeline, updated as your response becomes clear.
Home exercises that fit your life
Between visits, you will have a short, specific home program: usually two to four exercises designed around your schedule and equipment. This is where much of your progress happens, so we keep it realistic rather than impressive.
Measuring progress
We re-test the measures that matter throughout your care: strength, range of motion, walking distance, pain with the specific tasks you care about. If something is not improving on schedule, we change the plan or bring your physician into the conversation.
Discharge and long-term prevention
When you have reached your goals, we do not just wave goodbye. You leave with a maintenance program, clear guidance on how to progress activity on your own, and an open door: if something flares later, you can come straight back to people who already know your history.