Physical therapy is a conservative, non-invasive form of treatment that addresses conditions that cause pain and affect a patient's ability to perform normal daily tasks or participate in recreational or sports activities. This includes acute conditions such as back pain, sprains, strains and fractures, as well as chronic conditions such as arthritis or tendinitis. In addition, patients often undergo physical therapy after joint replacements and reconstructive surgery.

Physical therapy services may only be delivered by licensed physical therapists and licensed physical therapist assistants. Physical therapists (PTs) must graduate from an accredited physical therapy program which typically involves 2-3 years of post-baccalaureate study, then pass a national examination and be licensed in the state in which they practice. Physical therapy assistants (PTAs) participate in a 2 year college program, then also sit for a national examination and apply for licensure. PTAs can only practice under the supervision of a licensed PT and do not evaluate or design treatment programs. Visit www.apta.org for more information.

Although many states allow you to access physical therapy treatment directly, such as you would from a physician, dentist or chiropractor, Missouri is not one of these direct access states. In Missouri, you must have a prescription from a physician to receive treatment from a physical therapist. In many cases, patients visit their primary physician or an orthopedic specialist regarding an injury or painful condition and their physician may recommend physical therapy treatment. In other cases, patients who are familiar with physical therapy may initiate treatment by requesting a physical therapy prescription from their doctor. In either case, a prescription for physical therapy is very much like that for medication in that you may have it filled wherever you like. Your physician may recommend a facility with which he or she is familiar, but if you know of a facility that is more convenient or where you or a friend or family member had a good experience, you may be seen there instead.

Contact us today to learn more or to schedule a consultation.