What is Physical Therapy?

Physical therapy is a unique healing art and science that aims to rehabilitate and restore body structure and function to help people regain their quality of life. Injuries, traumas, surgeries, genetic defects, acquired deformities, metabolic dysfunction, and/or mental-emotional distress can cause alterations in the way the body moves and functions. Consequently, the body will learn to compensate, resulting in pain, dysfunction, and decreased health and well-being. This can eventually lead to a decrease in quality of life and prevent a person from enjoying the things they like to do, such as exercise, engage in sports or leisure activities, spend time with loved ones, work, travel on vacation, or just have fun.

What are the components of a physical therapy program?

Physical therapy usually includes the following components:

1. Initial Assessment- A physical therapist uses the initial assessment to gather subjective and objective information. The assessment process includes gathering a past medical history, identifying any present conditions or concerns, and utilizing objective hands-on techniques and visual observation skills to establish baseline data from which a plan of care can be established, goals set, and progress measured.

Assessment of the following may be performed:

* overall posture, alignment, and structural integrity of the body
* muscle tone, joint stability, and circulatory function
* range of motion and flexibility
* mucle strength and endurance
* level of cardiovascular fitness
* body mechanics for activities of daily living or sport performance
* locomotor skills: the quality of how you walk, move, and/or ambulate
* balance and agility
* body awareness
* sensation and neurological functioning
* cognitive functioning
* screening of bodily systems for potential dysfunction or disease
* body composition (height, weight, body fat vs. muscle mass)
* diet and lifestyle habits

*This list is not all-inclusive.

2. Comprehensive Plan of Care- Once an initial assessment has been completed, a comprehensive plan of care is then established. The plan of care should be customized to meet an individual's needs and goals.

A plan of care may include:

Hands-on Techniques: such as joint or soft tissue mobilization and stretching to help decrease pain, promote relaxation, improve circulation, restore posture, alignment, and muscle balance; improve muscle, organ, and nerve function, and help restore movement potential.

Therapeutic Exercises: such as flexibility and strength training, posture and body awareness training, balance training, gait (walking) training, endurance and cardiovascular fitness training, functional mobility training such as: bending, squatting and reaching, specific skill training such as: jumping, running, climbing, kicking, throwing, or other sport specific skills, or relaxation exercises to manage stress and pain.

Modalities: various modalities including heat, cold, traction, electrical stimulation, and biofeedback may be included in a rehab program to help manage pain, promote relaxation, improve circulation, improve body awareness, and restore function.

Education: includes educating and empowering a person so they can become an active participant in the rehabilitation process. This may include practical advice or helpful tips regarding: injury prevention, exercise safety, stress and pain management, diet and lifestyle changes, and providing resources that may help aid in the rehabilitation process.

3. Reassessment: The reassessment process is used to determine the level of progress that has been made in rehabilitation, whether any additional intervention techniques or strategies are needed, and when a person is ready to be discharged from a rehabilitation program to continue on their own.

What kinds of conditions can physical therapy help treat?

Physical therapy may be helpful for any of the following conditions:

• Chronic pain including: neck pain, back pain, extremity pain, headaches, myofascial pain, neuropathic pain, muscle spasms

• Athletic injuries including: ankle sprains, knee ligament tears, shoulder rotator cuff problems, neck and back strains, tennis elbow

• Overuse syndromes including: carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, bursitis, thoracic outlet syndrome, tendinitis

• Musculoskeletal problems including: poor posture, scoliosis, degenerative disc problems, arthritis, osteoporosis, muscle weakness and atrophy

• Neurological disorders such as: stroke, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, seizures

• Developmental Disorders such as: learning disabilities, ADD, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Developmental delay, Dyslexia

• Other health concerns: urinary incontinence, general deconditioning, sexual dysfunction, digestive problems, cardiopulmonary issues, diabetes, obesity, cancer, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue

*Note: This list is not meant to be all inclusive. If you don't see a specific condition here, please Contact Dr. SAM if you would like to know if physical therapy could help improve your quality of life.

How long do physical therapy sessions generally last?

Physical therapy sessions with Dr. SAM generally last 30-90 minutes depending on needs and goals. All participants receive one-on-one attention by Dr. SAM to ensure quality treatment is given and optimal results are achieved.

How is Dr. SAM's rehab approach truly unique?

Dr. SAM's unique approach is called: Raw-habilitation^TM, which encompasses utilizing nature's 'raw materials' to bring about optimal health and well-being of mind, body, and spirit. Dr. SAM's Chain-of-Health Method^TM is applied to find a person's weakest link(s) so that optimal results can be achieved in the fastest and safest manner possible. This approach has been used to successfully rehabilitate thousands of people of all ages from around the world. Participants not only become well, but are empowered to take charge of their health so that they can continue to live well. Some of Dr. SAM's testimonials can be found here>>>> Testimonials

Is physical therapy Covered By Insurance?

It depends on an individual's health insurance benefits. Dr. SAM doesn't file insurance claims, but will provide the necessary paper work so that an insurance claim can be filed by an individual for reimbursement purposes. Most insurance companies do not cover physical therapy services at 100%. This means you will have to pay at least part of the cost. Payment of services may be made with cash, check, pay-pal or credit card. Please Contact Dr. SAM for details regarding rates of physical therapy services.

If I don't have health insurance, can I still attend physical therapy?

Yes, you can pay for physical therapy services out of pocket. Again, payment of services may be made with cash, check, pay-pal or credit cards.

Do I need a referral to attend physical therapy?

The rules and laws governing the practice of physical therapy in the state of Georgia requires a referral to physical therapy be given by a primary care physician or other "practitioner of the healing arts" including: a medical doctor, chiropractor, dentist, podiatrist, or osteopath, to receive physical therapy treatment for an injury or illness. No referral is needed for the initial assessment. A referral is not needed if you are attending physical therapy for prevention, wellness, or fitness reasons.

How can I schedule an appointment for physical therapy?

Click here: Contact Dr. SAM

Click here for>>> Testimonials