Physical Therapy
Choosing the right PT is challenging
Just like every profession that exists, there are good physical therapists, and there are not-so-good ones. Here are some things to keep in mind when looking for a physical therapist:
1. QUALITY experience – an individual who takes pride in quality work, not just how long they have been practicing
2. Communication – an individual who hears your story and can make things make sense to anyone
3. Plans for you, not them – it’s easy to have cookie-cutter programs, but you want a program tailored to you
4. Admits what they don’t know – no PT knows everything, and they probably are less willing to continue learning if they claim to
5. Works with your goals – someone who doesn’t just tell you to “stop”, and works with you to “modify” so you can keep going
My Philosophy:
I seek to understand you and your story, providing guidance and direction as we establish meaningful goals and a clear path to reach them. Through open, clear communication, we build a strong relationship founded on mutual trust. I focus on being specific and intentional, ensuring every step we take maximizes progress without wasted time or effort.
I will challenge you; you will challenge me; and we will both become better for it.
I’m glad you asked! Yes, but it’s unusual (I like unusual, it’s not a bad thing).
Typically here is how it goes: 1) find a clinic thats close to you or you heard about, 2) look up the clinic and see if they list their PTs, 3) find a PT that may fit what you are looking for, 4) call to make an appointment with the requested PT, 5) see that PT or someone who is more available.
Here is what you can do: step 1 – 3 from above, 4) call the clinic to set up a time to talk to that PT to discuss their experience with your injury/condition, 5) work with that PT or find someone else and start again!
Be persistent, ask questions, and interview for a PT that is a good fit for you!
The first visit is what we call an initial evaluation (IE). During the IE we will chat for about 20 minutes so we can get to know each other, and you can tell me the story about what brings you to physical therapy. We discuss your history (relavent and other medical history), goals, and my initial hypothesis before going into the physical exam. After we chat, I’ll take you through some movements, if it’s appropriate with your injury/condition, because the way you move will tell me a story and guide my exam. I’ll do some physical tests to determine what is going on and what we can do to get you moving in a good direction. We will collaborate on a plan of care (i.e. how often we will meet, what the treatments consist of, activities to work on…) before wrapping up. There are many ways to get on the road to recovery, and I mix evidence, my experience, and your preferences to make the recepie for you.
That depends on a few things:
1. If you will work on your own, or if you need someone to guide you through.
2. Finances can be a bother, so that is always a consideration. I can be flexible if coming to see me is what I recommend.
3. What specific interventions we’re working on, and what you have access to
Some other things too, but if you are going to work at it on your own and just need some direction we can meet 1-2x/month. If you need a bit more hands on work and guidence, we can do 1x/week.
We can track your progress in a number of ways! One way is to have a list a few activities you’re havign trouble with, and every few weeks checking back in and seeing if those activities are improving. Another option is to track your range of motion, flexibility, force production, and movement through objective measurements. I typically use a mix of you telling me how you’re doing functionally and satifaction wise, and tests that I can perform to track progress.
Unfortunately I do not take insurance operating as an independent PT here in Long Beach; I operate direct to consumer which means it is out of pocket to work with me. I charge $120 for initial evaluations, and $70, which is less than PTs who work in clinics; this is because clinics have to pay the front desk, aides, and be profitable to stay open, but I am a solo act.
Understanding this is a barrier, I am happy to work with you to find a PT who takes your insurance so you can get care that is feasible for your life. I am also willing to lower my prices for special circumstances, so please let me know if finances are a barrier and we can figure out a good option.