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Paulseth & Associates Physical
Therapy :: Frequently Asked Questions
We have assembled a list of questions
frequently asked by our clients and
prospective clients. Click on the
questions below to view the answers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly do physical therapists do?
What should I expect?
Answer:
As physical therapists, we first perform
an evaluation, incorporating subjective
and objective information through
interview and physical assessment
techniques. We then make an assessment
as to the cause of symptoms, and form a
treatment plan utilizing our knowledge
of biomechanics, tissue healing,
exercise physiology, and a detailed
anatomical understanding of the
neuro-musculo-skeletal system.
This plan will often include joint and
soft tissue (muscle, fascia, nerve)
mobilization and manual movement
reeducation techniques, prescribing of
therapeutic exercise and utilizing
adjunctive modalities such as heat/ice,
ultrasound, or electrical stimulation.
During the treatment process, we are
able to decrease restrictions, weakness,
swelling and abnormal movement patterns
which lead to, and accompany, pain. We
then educate the patient and answer any
questions as to the cause of symptoms
and suggest self-care ideas with the
goal of breaking the cycle of
dysfunction to prevent future symptom
recurrence.
We are also a great intermediary between
you and your doctor. As the individuals
who spend the most time with you
therapeutically, we provide information
to your physician that is sometimes hard
for you to explain by yourself. We
create written reports and interact with
your doctor by phone when necessary,
communicating detailed information that
helps the medical team make the best
unified decisions for your health and
recovery.
We believe that you should also expect
to see, and be treated by, a registered
physical therapist (PT) each and every
visit to the clinic you choose. At our
clinic, we never delegate an entire
treatment to a physical therapist
assistant (PTA) or physical therapist
aide, as has become commonplace in many
treatment models. Whereas using an
assistant (PTA) for this purpose is
legal, and is surely cost effective for
the clinic, it is certainly not the
highest level of care available to you.
We have made a stand to continue a
treatment model that provides
significant, private access to a
registered physical therapist with
advanced training in orthopedic and
sports injuries. This allows you to ask
questions, and get thorough explanations
and quality hands-on treatment that we
believe is the best kind of care
available in our profession.
For more information, log onto
www.apta.org/consumer
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When should I see a physical therapist?
Answer:
Minor aches and pains tend to take care
of themselves with rest. But if you have
a symptom that recurs more than once,
and/or limits you from doing what you
enjoy or your daily activities, it's
time to see a physical therapist.
As the years go by, an accumulation of
small "incidents" can create a
significant problem For example, a
certain manner of walking due to a
"fallen arch" may produce back pain,
especially if the walking intensifies in
time and speed.
A physical therapist can help you
identify whether the pain, soreness
and/or stiffness requires treatment or
is something that will run its course
shortly.
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Why should I see a physical therapist
rather than self treat?
Answer:
A common mistake made when self treating
is to treat the symptom, rather than the
cause. This can lead to short term
benefits, rapid symptom recurrence and
the possibility of a chronic pain cycle.
Pain is a symptom, not the cause of the
problem, therefore knowing where you
hurt is not as useful as knowing what is
at the source of the problem. Often
times the cause of symptoms may be
remote from the location of pain, or may
be related to postural or movement
dysfunctions, commonly known as a
"compensation" or "substitution".
An analogy of treating the symptom,
versus the cause, in the field of
gardening is the process of weed
abatement. The novice gardener may try
to save time by mowing over the weeds
for a "quick fix", only to have the
weeds return with the next rains. The
skilled gardener knows the root (pun
intended) of the problem. He/she knows
that by eliminating the root, future
problems will be far less abundant.
A physical therapist is like the
experienced gardener. Due to his/her
knowledge of the neuro-musculo-skeletal
system, and experience treating
pathology, a therapist can help you find
the cause (or root) of your problem
based on factual evidence. Then a plan
is made as to the best way to promote
healing and prevent secondary
dysfunction from occurring. This plan is
then made clear to you, therefore
ultimately enabling you to self-treat
more effectively.
The goal of physical therapists, and
healthcare practitioners in general,
should always be to teach a patient how
to treat themselves in the most
effective manner. This can then lead to
a lasting solution, rather than ongoing
dependence on therapy.
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Should I seek physical therapy
before/after orthopedic surgery?
Answer:
We have found that pre-surgical physical
therapy promotes and fosters a more
effective and rapid recovery
post-operatively.
After surgery, physical therapists are
experts at expediting healing and return
to activity. They can also prevent
secondary dysfunction, which is common
due to compensatory movements and
postures that occur due to pain and
swelling. It is also comforting for you
to have access to an experienced medical
professional to ask your questions and
concerns regarding your recovery as they
arise.
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Do I need a prescription from my doctor?
Answer:
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Will I be told to stop working out if I
have an injury?
Answer:
We have been very successful in
returning athletes to pain free activity
while continuing to participate in your
sport/workout. Of course this depends on
the type of injury you have. For
instance, distance runners who are
experiencing a painful and relatively
debilitating lateral knee condition
called "illiotibial band syndrome" can
be taped in a way that alleviates the
pain (the quick fix) so that they can
continue their training. Meanwhile we
institute an individualized
strengthening/stretching regimen, and if
necessary fabricate orthotics, which in
time corrects the underlying mechanical
dysfunction, (the lasting fix)
ultimately allowing the runner to train
without tape, and without pain, never
actually having to stop their training
during the recovery.
If need be, a physical therapist can
help you to effectively modify your
exercise program to accommodate a bad
back, ankle problem or other malady so
that you can achieve the full benefits
of exercise with less of the negatives.
The use of individualized cross-training
during care for the involved area can be
extremely beneficial.
You will be advised to stop if we feel
that you are in imminent danger of
further injuring yourself or if healing
will not occur otherwise. However, our
goal is to return you to, or beyond,
your prior level of function/performance
as quickly as possible.
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Will I see a physical therapist each
visit?
Answer:
We believe that you should expect to
see, and be treated by, a registered
physical therapist (PT) each and every
visit to the clinic you choose. At our
clinic, we never delegate an entire
treatment to a physical therapist
assistant (PTA) or physical therapist
aide, as has become commonplace in many
treatment models. Whereas using an
assistant (PTA) for this purpose is
legal, and is surely cost effective for
the clinic, it is certainly not the
highest level of care available to you.
We have made a stand to continue a
treatment model that provides
significant, private access to a
registered physical therapist with
advanced training in orthopedic and
sports injuries. This allows you to ask
questions, and get thorough explanations
and quality hands-on treatment that we
believe is the best kind of care
available in our profession.
Back to top
I have pain over the outside portion of
my elbow. Is this "tennis elbow"?
What if i dont play tennis?
Answer:
Lateral (outer) elbow pain over or near
the bony protuberance is frequently
labeled "tennis elbow" and may be
diagnosed as lateral epicondylitis. This
condition, when associated with tennis
may be due to poor backhand technique,
improperly strung tennis racket, and/or
excessive playing time or frequency.
However, this condition may also occur
following a blunt traumatic injury to
this area of the elbow, improper weight
training/lifting technique, or any
repetitive over use of the wrist and
hand muscles on a daily basis. An
example of an overuse type of activity
might be the use of a computer at the
office for several hours and then again
on the computer at home the same day.
It is important to note that "tennis
elbow" or lateral epicondylitis, is
frequently the cause of lateral elbow
pain, but this is not always the case.
Thorough examination and differential
diagnosing is imperative to rule out
other possibilities, e.g., localized
entrapment of a nerve at or near the
elbow, or referral from nerve entrapment
at the neck.
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What insurances do you accept?
Answer:
We accept a wide variety of insurance
plans. Please visit our
insurance page
for a full list of insurances accepted.
You may also be covered by your auto
insurance provider if you have been in
an auto accident.
If we are not
listed in your insurance company's
provider book does not mean we do not
accept your insurance. Please call or
contact us to find out whether you are
eligible for coverage, and if so, what
your co-payment and/or deductible will
be.
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There are so many physical therapy
providers, why Paulseth & Associates?
Answer:
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What
are your hours?
Answer:
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Is there
parking?
Answer:
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Do you provide transportation?
Answer:
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Do
you take credit cards?
Answer:
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What is my co-payment?
Answer:
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How much will my treatment cost?
Answer:
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How many therapists are there in the
clinic?
Answer:
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