Physical Therapy helps restore functional mobility while reducing pain through individualized exercise programs, hands on techniques, patient education on proper body mechanics, postural & ergonomic assessment, and use of modalities including traction, electrical stimulation, ultrasound, laser, heat, and ice. Each patient is evaluated by highly educated, licensed Physical Therapists (PTs) to determine the best treatment plan. Patients will learn lifelong health benefits in injury prevention and management of chronic conditions, decreasing the need for surgical intervention and dependence on medication.
PT stands for “Physical Therapist.” DPT stands for “Doctor of Physical Therapy.” Due to changes in education requirements for Physical Therapists over the past 25 years, your PT might have a Bachelors, Masters, or Doctorate Degree in Physical Therapy. However, all PTs on staff adhere to the highest standards of continued education and clinical practice and either have a Doctorate degree, additional advanced certification/degree or 8+ years of clinical practice or more.
At IPT, continuity of care is imperative. As a result, we try to keep each patient with the same PT every session. However, it is sometimes difficult to maintain the same therapist with a rigid personal/work schedule. As a result, we recommend occasionally switching PTs if needed to maintain your PT-prescribed frequency (2x/week, 1x/week, etc.).
At each session, most patients will work with both their primary treating clinician (Physical Therapist) and a Rehab Technician. The Physical Therapist will typically perform a combination of manual therapy (hands-on treatment), specific exercise/training, and educate the patient on his/her condition if clinically indicated. The Rehab Technician will typically take individuals through remaining exercises prescribed by the PT as well as setting up any prescribed modalities (electrical stimulation, hot pack, etc.). Most of our rehab technicians have Bachelor’s Degrees in Kinesiology, Exercise Performance, or related fields and are preparing to pursue their Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. All IPT therapy technicians receive significant on-job training from both their overseeing PT and IPT corporate. In total, all techs receive significantly more training than requisite State of California PT Board standards and as a result are able to maintain continuity of care as part of the PT/Technician treatment team.
All 50 states now allow patients to be seen by Physical Therapists via direct access- without a referral from a licensed physician. However, some insurances require that you get authorization prior to your physical therapy visit. Please call your insurance prior to making an appointment to determine the process they require. IPT typically recommends getting a referral regardless of insurance requirements to support documentation of medical necessity so you are less likely to have to pay out of pocket if your insurance deems care to be “no longer medically necessary.”
Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs), Medicare, Workers Compensation, Liens, and select Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs- will be referred by your medical group).
Yes, the physician gives you only recommendations. You have the legal right to choose any Physical Therapy clinic.
Completed paperwork (see patient forms)- filling out forms in advance will expedite your visit process
Insurance Card(s)
Picture ID
Referral/Prescription
Any imaging reports (MRI, CT scan, X-ray)
Your Physical Therapist (PT) will bring you into a private room to perform a thorough examination that can last anywhere from 45-60 minutes. During this time the PT will ask for a history of your current condition and any pre-existing issues. Then the PT will perform an examination to determine if you have any strength, range of motion, flexibility, joint, or soft tissue deficits. During and/or after the completion of the exam, your PT discusses their findings and how it impacts your daily life and determines the best individualized treatment plan. You may experience a brief increase in pain after evaluation due to the significant motion requirements of PT diagnostic testing.
Please wear unrestricted clothing that can be easily accessible to the PT while maintaining modesty. Athletic attire (shoes, shorts/leggings/sweats, shirt/sweatshirt) is much appreciated.
Visit quantity is dependent on your diagnosis (more visits generally required if you have had surgery), comorbidities, and compliance with your home exercise program. Our goal is to get you healthier and help you achieve your goals as soon as possible. Ultimately, your visit frequency is determined by your PT’s clinical recommendations in conjunction with your personal wants and needs. We recommend around 2 visits per week to start for general orthopedic conditions (low back pain, neck pain, etc.).
Yes, IPT utilizes all electronic charting consistent with HIPAA standards. As a result, you are easily able to change to a different PT should your scheduling or location needs change. Our priority is for all patients to be satisfied with their experience so we are happy to accommodate changes in primary PT as well.
IPT will give you a customized exercise routine and hands on care so you can become more functional in every aspect of your life. Any recent injury or chronic issues can take a toll on a person’s emotional wellbeing. IPT staff works hard to maintain a compassionate, fun, and engaging environment to help you along the way. Whether you just had surgery or are managing a chronic condition, our goal is to help you achieve your best function.
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