No. All 50 states have granted physical therapists direct access to patients, meaning that the therapist is able to evaluate and treat the patient for up to one month without needing a referral from a doctor. This is greatly beneficial for the patient who no longer has to wait to schedule a doctors appointment and then be told to go start therapy. In most cases, the patient has to wait several weeks while their pain or symptoms worsen when they could have just seen a PT first.

Immobilization is quickly becoming a very archaic way of treating injuries. Prolonged bed rest or lack of movement leads to disuse muscle atrophy, degenerative changes in tendons and ligaments, and shrinking of the joint capsule (i.e. frozen shoulder). Many patients have chronic pain for many months and do not move the affected limb only to see the pain progressively worsen. Human beings heal through movement and movement is truly the best medicine.

There is an appropriate time frame when rest and immobilization are needed to allow the tissue to heal, but this is best left for a medical professional to decide.

Working with you and your doctor, we can discuss your options and help determine if physical therapy would be right for you. Talk to your doctor or call us to set up a consultation.

Every physical therapy program in the US is a postgraduate program that grants a doctorate in physical therapy. This means that the therapist will have the medical knowledge to evaluate, screen and treat patients. Depending on the therapist’s differential diagnosis during the evaluation, they are able to identify if the root cause of the issue is musculoskeletal or not. If the diagnosis is out of the scope of physical therapy or a medical emergency they can always refer out to a physician.

At Fox Physical Therapy, we pride ourselves in our application of manual therapy techniques. Manual therapy is the hands-on techniques such as soft tissue mobilization and joint mobilization/ manipulation that are geared at improving a specific impairment. Soft tissue mobilization entails Graston technique, active release technique, trigger point release, cupping, deep tissue massage, etc. The goal is to breakdown myofascial restrictions and scar tissue that develops after surgery, immobilization, faulty exercise technique, and asymmetries/ muscle imbalances. Joint mobilization/ manipulation is a skilled passive movement of the articular surfaces of a joint geared towards reducing pain and/ or improving range of motion depending on the technique and grade of force used. All of these manual therapy techniques work at the neurological level as the muscles release mechanoreceptors that reduce perception of pain and improve range of motion. Always the end goal of manual therapy should be an immediate objective change in symptoms, which is then further reinforced with appropriate therapeutic exercise.

At Fox Physical Therapy, we pride ourselves in our application of manual therapy techniques. Manual therapy is the hands-on techniques such as soft tissue mobilization and joint mobilization/ manipulation that are geared at improving a specific impairment. Soft tissue mobilization entails Graston technique, active release technique, trigger point release, cupping, deep tissue massage, etc. The goal is to breakdown myofascial restrictions and scar tissue that develops after surgery, immobilization, faulty exercise technique, and asymmetries/ muscle imbalances. Joint mobilization/ manipulation is a skilled passive movement of the articular surfaces of a joint geared towards reducing pain and/ or improving range of motion depending on the technique and grade of force used. All of these manual therapy techniques work at the neurological level as the muscles release mechanoreceptors that reduce perception of pain and improve range of motion. Always the end goal of manual therapy should be an immediate objective change in symptoms, which is then further reinforced with appropriate therapeutic exercise.

Each patient’s diagnosis is different, Fox Physical Therapy and you physician can develop a plan of care that is right for you. Your plan of care and number of visits will be determined during your first visit.