Frequently Asked Questions
What is physical therapy?
The profession of Physical Therapy is devoted to working with patients to rehabilitate and prevent movement dysfunction or disability caused by illness, injury, or other causes. In addition, licensed therapists work with patients to relieve pain, promote healing, and restore functional abilities, to enable them to adjust to any temporary or permanent physical changes.
Who is qualified to provide physical therapy?
Physical therapists are the only professionals who provide physical therapy evaluations and interventions. New York requires physical therapists to be licensed by the state.
Physical therapist assistants provide physical therapy intervention under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist. New York requires physical therapist assistants to be registered by the state.
Who Benefits from physical therapy?
Physical therapy can benefit people of all ages.
Our services are tailored for those who are experiencing difficulty due to:
- Amputations
- Arthritis
- Cancer
- Fractures
- Joint replacements or surgery
- Muscle or joint sprains or strains
- Neurological conditions
- Parkinson’s disease
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Stroke or head injury
- Sports injuries
- Work-related injuries
- Wounds or burns
What does Physical Therapy involve?
Assessment: Your care begins with an in-depth assessment of your condition. Your licensed physical therapist then develops a customized treatment program that is directed toward making meaningful, practical and sustained changes in your ability to function. Goals for therapy are developed with you and are focused on maximizing functional independence, preventing further movement/function problems, and maintaining health.
Treatment Program: To assist you in achieving your individual goals, we offer a wide variety of skilled physical therapy interventions including:
Therapeutic exercise: stabilization and flexibility exercises and a full range of exercise equipment.
Functional training (mobility skills required for independence in everyday living )
Education (understanding your condition, treatment, and self-care)
Prescription and application of devices and equipment to aid or support functional mobility.
Other interventions may be used to improve motion, promote healing, and reduce pain:
- Manual therapy
- Electrotherapy
- Ultrasound
- Heat and cold modalities
- Traction
Do I need to see a physician prior to seeing a PT?
New York State recently enacted a “Direct Access” law, which enable you to contact and be seen for evaluation and treatment by a licensed physical therapist for up to 30 days, before requiring a physician referral. For more information see the Direct Access Link on our homepage.
What do you need to know about insurance?
Most forms of physical therapy treatment are covered by insurance, but coverage varies with each plan (see our Health Ins link page).
We recommend that prior to your first appointment you check the following:
- Contact your insurance representative
- Notify them of your current diagnosis – the reason you require physical therapy
- Confirm your insurance reimbursement for physical therapy services
- Identify any insurance requirements or limitations, such as pre-authorizations or choice of providers.
Some plans require ongoing pre-authorization of care and others may offer a limited number of visits per condition, per year, or per lifetime. If this is your case, please discuss this with your therapist to ensure that your resources are used in a way that will best meet your needs. If it appears that your available insurance benefit will not cover the needed therapy, your therapist will discuss options that are available to you.
Why choose SPTA for your therapy needs?
- Continuity of Care – At SPTA, you are not “shuffled” from therapist to therapist with each visit. We make every effort to schedule your care with your original therapy team.
- Customer Satisfaction – comments from our clients regarding our staff include: “…positive and upbeat and pass that attitude on to the patients” “.. you feel like an individual, not just another patient” “they do a wonderful job and are always caring and professional…you do not find this very often.”
- Positive Outcomes – We have a high success rate in helping clients achieve their goals
- Continuum of Care – We offer services to match your needs and progress you safely and effectively through your recovery process