Never been to physical therapy before?

That’s ok! Not everyone has experienced physical therapy before, and even for those who have, not every experience is the same. In this post, we’ll tell you what to expect, and answer some common questions from patients. We’ll also share some common misconceptions or myths about physical therapy.

How to Get Started

MYTH #1: You must see a doctor before you ever see a physical therapist.

FALSE. Colorado is a direct access state, meaning that you can be assessed and treated by a licensed physical therapist without a referral from a physician.

Research has shown that going directly to your physical therapist is a safe and effective method of getting treatment. Now, that being said, your insurance company may require a physician’s referral in order to provide reimbursement, especially if you have something like Medicare. Make sure that you know the requirements for you specific plan and insurance company, since this will help you start on the right track. At Back in Step Physical Therapy, we operate as a cash-pay business, with the exception of worker’s compensation. Because of this, you would only need a physician’s referral if you were going to try getting reimbursed by your insurance company. Please see more about this here.

How to Find a Physical Therapist

Some of the best ways to find out about a great physical therapist is by word of mouth. Of course, you can always ask your doctor for a recommendation, search online, or check out sources like the American Physical Therapy Association’s website for information as well.

Do I Need Imaging Before Starting Therapy?

MYTH #2: You need to get some imaging, like an xray, MRI, or CAT/CT scan before starting physical therapy.

FACT: X-rays and MRIs are tools to help give your physician or therapist an idea of what’s going on, but never actually tell them exactly what to do. Most often, whatever imaging we do receive does not change our treatment, because we have many ways to test for the same information, just from hands-on assessments.

Preparing for Your First Appointment

At Back in Step Physical Therapy, we provide you with important paperwork before your first appointment, to give you plenty of time to fill everything out. We then ask that you bring that paperwork with you for your physical therapist to review. Please make sure that you wear comfortable clothing that you can move in for each appointment. This makes it easier for your therapist to access treatment areas and complete tests, as well as make sure that you can comfortably do exercises without being restricted by your clothing.

What Happens During My First Appointment?

• We will ask you questions about your current concerns to help us get to the root of your problem. It is helpful if you have already thought about how long you’ve had your symptoms, what activities seem problematic versus helpful to your symptoms, etc. The more information that you are able to provide will be good for your therapist to know.

• Expect some hands-on testing by your therapist, to help determine how well you’re moving, what level of strength you have, and what might be some specific things contributing to your concerns.

• You will be provided with treatment, such as soft tissue work, specific treatments to joints, muscles, etc. with the goal of helping you move better, or feel less pain, for example.

• You will also be provided with a home exercise program, complete with handouts. We strive to individualize your plan, and then work with you to make it manageable to do on your own at home.

How Long Will I Be In Physical Therapy?

Your therapist will work with you to establish a plan for your time with physical therapy. We will create goals with you, based off of what you want to achieve. Your therapist will then help determine a realistic timeline to achieve your goals, and will work with you to make it fit your lifestyle.

What Else Should I Know?

It’s great if you have questions for your therapist. Why are you doing certain exercises? Why are they using a certain treatment or certain pieces of equipment? What can you do at home? Any and all questions are welcome, and will help you not only have a better understanding of your treatment, but also helps you to achieve the best outcomes in the best way for you!