Arizona Multisports Physical Therapy

What is Physical Therapy?
What is a Physical Therapist?
What Conditions Are Commonly Treated By Physical Therapists?
What should I expect on my first visit?
What types of treatment may I receive?
How long will my visit last?
How is my progress measured?
How will you communicate with my physician?
Will I need follow-up or maintenance care?
What if I need to return to physical therapy?
When is the best time to start physical therapy?
Will my insurance cover physical therapy?
How do I arrange an appointment?
What should I wear?
What should I bring with me?
Why should I choose physical therapy?
What office policies should I be aware of?

What is Physical Therapy?
Physical Therapy is the use of various forms of exercise and manual, "hands-on" techniques, often in conjunction with physical modalities such as heat, ice, ultrasound, electrical stimulation and water, designed to reduce symptoms and restore normal function and activity.

The treatment programs utilized at AMPT Physical Therapy are designed, performed and supervised by licensed Physical Therapists. To become licensed, the Physical Therapist must have a minimum of a Bachelors degree in Physical Therapy and pass a national board exam.

Remember only a Licensed Physical Therapist can safely offer you "Physical Therapy" services.

What is a Physical Therapist?
Physical Therapists (PTs) are health care professionals who diagnose and treat individuals of all ages, from newborns to the very oldest, who have medical problems or other health-related conditions that limit their abilities to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives.
PTs examine each individual and develop a plan using treatment techniques to promote the ability to move, reduce pain, restore function, and prevent disability. In addition, PTs work with individuals to prevent the loss of mobility before it occurs by developing fitness- and wellness-oriented programs for healthier and more active lifestyles.

Physical therapists provide care for people in a variety of settings, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, home health agencies, schools, sports and fitness facilities, work settings, and nursing homes.

What Conditions Are Commonly Treated By Physical Therapists?
* Musculoskeletal Conditions
* Sprains and Strains
* Sport Injuries
* Pre and Post Orthopedic Surgery (i.e. Torn Ligaments)
* Degenerative Disk Disease
* Low Back Pain
* Neck Pain
* Whiplash
* Tendonitis
* Bursitis
* Tennis Elbow
* Carpel Tunnel
* Frozen Shoulder
* Rotator Cuff Injuries
* Overuse Injuries
* Post-fracture Weakness/Stiffness
* Arthritis
* Muscular Headaches
* Other Conditions (Burns, Wound Care, Lymphedema, CVA (Stroke), Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease Pregnancy Related Conditions)

What should I expect on my first visit?
On your first visit, your physical therapist will perform an evaluation including an extensive history, physical exam, objective testing and measuring. Following the evaluation, the physical therapist will determine a physical therapy diagnosis (different from the medical diagnosis) and a treatment plan. In conjunction with the patient, goals are set to address the deficits identified and ways to improve function.

What types of treatment may I receive?
The treatment you receive in physical therapy will depend upon what the physical therapist finds in the evaluation. Our treatment programs are mechanically oriented with a non-dependent therapeutic approach. We emphasisize mobilization, self-treatment, and therapeutic exercise to go right to the structure and resolve the problem.

How long will my visit last?
Treatment time will vary according to what the physical therapist finds in the evaluation. There is no specific time limit for physical therapy. Whatever is found to be appropriate during the evaluation will become part of the patient's program and the program will be updated as appropriate as the patient improves. In general, physical therapy treatments last 60-90 minutes.

How is my progress measured?
Your physical therapist will perform a meticulous evaluation, quantifying and qualifying deficits and problems during the evaluation. This allows comparison measurements during follow up re-evaluations. In general, patients are re-evaluated anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks. This is also based on the individual and the problem for which he/she is being treated. Additionally, the therapist always needs to be aware of follow-up visits with your physician as a re-evaluation will be performed and a copy will be faxed or hand carried to your physician.

How will you communicate with my physician?
The physical therapist will communicate with you physician most commonly by written report. The physical therapist will send a complete written report outlining the findings of their initial evaluation and their assessment of the problem with an outline of the general treatment plan. This will include the frequency with which they plan to see you. The physical therapist will continue to update your physician with written reports each time you are re-evaluated and most specifically prior to your return to the physician. It is very important that you let your therapist know if you have an appointment with your physician. Additionally, the therapist will, as he/she feels appropriate, contact the physician by phone if he/she has a specific concern or question. At the end of your treatment, the physical therapist will send a follow- up report to your physician with final information as to your status at the time of discharge from physical therapy.

Will I need follow-up or maintenance care?
Our goal at AMPT is to resolve your problem completely so that you don't require continual follow-up or maintenance care. There are some patients who do require follow-up care or re-assessment on a periodic basis. If this is needed, it will be discussed with you once you are in physical therapy or at discharge. If you do require additional care beyond the amount of visits authorize by your insurance company, then private pay treatment may be an option for you.

What if I need to return to physical therapy?
If a problem recurs, how/if you return to see us will depend on a number of factors. The best way for us to help you determine the next step is to call our office and ask to speak to your treating therapist.

When is the best time to start physical therapy?
In general starting physical therapy should be done as early as possible. Initiating physical therapy early on will reduce the overall treatment time that you will require by not allowing the problem to become chronic. If you are in pain and or you are in an acute state, your program will be modified according to your signs and symptoms. What is done for you in physical therapy depends on the clinical stage you are presently in, not just the diagnosis. Therefore, your care will be modified according to the signs and symptoms during the acute, subacute, and chronic phases of your problem.

Will my insurance cover physical therapy?
A wide variety of insurance plans exist in today's healthcare system. Although most insurance companies do cover physical therapy, what they cover specifically varies greatly. Please review our billing and insurance participation section on this web site, and if you have additional questions regarding your specific insurance, give us a call.

How do I arrange an appointment?
If your physician gives you a referral to physical therapy, simply call our office for an appointment. Our clinic hours and location are explained on the location pages of this website. Our office staff will get all the necessary information from you and assist you with an appointment.

What should I wear?
In general, wear comfortable clothing to physical therapy. If you are presenting with a problem of your cervical spine, upper back or shoulders, the therapist can provide you with a gown as needed to expose these areas for treatment. If you are coming for a lower extremity problem, shorts are important. You can bring whatever you like to wear with you if you need to change here.

What should I bring with me?
For your first visit you will need your insurance card, any paperwork that was sent to you that needed to be filled out. If you have any operative reports, MRI or X-ray results, you may bring those as well, but they are not necessary. Additionally, if you are utilizing any type of brace, splint, or crutches, those should come with you. You have the option to download the blank intake forms from this website and fill them out prior to your first visit. See patient intake forms section.

Why should I choose physical therapy?
In physical therapy, the goals should be to resolve your problem, not just temporarily relieve it. Although medication and other forms of treatment can be helpful in relieving symptoms, physical therapy produces a long term result. The physician may opt to utilize medication in conjunction with physical therapy depending on your diagnosis. Additionally, physical therapy unlike some other forms of treatment, is not designed to go on as a maintenance program. Because we look to resolution, maintenance is not generally necessary.

What office policies should I be aware of?
We ask that our patients:
Give 24 hours notice when possible for cancellations; the anwering machine is on 24 hours a day.
Call if you have a question or a concern or if you will be late. We will do our best to fit you in but need to know in advance for consideration of other patients.
Be on time.
Notify your physical therapist at least one week prior to returning to your physician. The therapist must have this date in order to properly schedule a re-evaluation for you to update your physician on your progress.
Schedule appointments in advance and have the proper number of visits scheduled. If you don't schedule your appointments in advance it will be more difficult to give you the times that you desire.