Question 1

What is physical therapy?

Accepted Answer

Physical therapy (or PT) is a healthcare service used to relieve pain, prevent injuries, and improve quality of life. The need for physical therapy is determined through medical history and physical examination. Treatment plans include manual therapy (such as massage), functional strength training, and exercise programs that help cardiovascular and pulmonary health.

Question 2

What does physical therapy do?

Accepted Answer

Physical therapy is meant to ease pain, prevent injury, and improve quality of life. Physical therapists individualize treatments based on the needs of the patient. __A patient may want or require physical therapy to help:__
- Ease or cure pain (such as back pain and neck pain)
- Improve balance
- Improve mobility
- Strengthen joints and/ or musculature
- Rehabilitation from musculoskeletal injury (such as sprains, soreness, ligament pain, and range of motion injuries)
- Physical rehabilitation after a stroke
- Manage incontinence
- Manage a chronic illness like arthritis, osteoporosis, or heart disease
- Manage pain and physical difficulty related to aging
- Manage women’s health issues related to the reproductive system, child-birth, post-partum, and pelvic floor dysfunction

Sesame offers high-quality, and affordable physical therapy services in . Connect with a physical therapist on Sesame for convenient, straightforward help crafting a treatment plan that works for you.

Question 3

What does a physical therapist do?

Accepted Answer

A physical therapist (or PT), is a healthcare professional with specialized orthopedic, musculoskeletal, and neurological training. A candidate for a doctoral degree in physical therapy must be a graduate of an accredited higher education institution that offers a Doctor of Physical Therapy (or DPT) degree. Physical therapist assistants (or PTAs) provide physical therapy services under the direction of a physical therapist. PTAs must graduate from a Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)-accredited educational program and pass a national exam to receive licensure. The American Physical Therapy Association (or APTA) is the professional organization that supports physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and physical therapy students. Sesame’s network of top-reviewed physical therapists makes finding a quality, fully licensed provider at an affordable price easier than ever.

Question 4

Can physical therapy be done at home or over video?

Accepted Answer

Physical therapy can be provided in a number of settings. Most clinicians on Sesame treat patients through outpatient clinics or private offices, but given the difficulty and health concerns some face going into a doctor’s office now, physical therapists on Sesame now offer video visits to help you diagnose and treat a range of conditions. __Who might need in-home care? __ Conditions that may require a patient to receive in-home physical therapy services include:
- Loss of functional mobility from surgery or serious injury
- Stroke
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Parkinson’s disease

Connect with a physical therapist on Sesame to help find a video or in-person treatment plan that works for you.

Question 5

How much does a physical therapy visit cost?

Accepted Answer

Physical therapy costs anywhere from $25 per session to $350 a session. Because Sesame doesn’t work with insurance companies, our clinicians can list prices up to 60% lower than you’d pay anywhere else. Physical therapy fees include assessment, the use of equipment, and modalities of treatment received. Fees may vary depending on whether a patient needs in-home or video services. Consult a physical therapist on Sesame today with any questions you may have about physical therapy services and find an affordable treatment plan that's convenient for you.

Question 6

Should I see a physical therapist even if I’m not injured?

Accepted Answer

Physical therapy isn't just for people with injuries. An individual may seek physical therapy services as a method of preventative medicine or general wellness care. While physical therapy may not be immediately necessary, seeking maintenance therapy can help:
- Improve posture
- Increase body awareness
- Correct muscle imbalance
- Ease muscle tightness or pain
- Improve range of motion
- Increase mobility
- Diaphragmatic breathing
- Preparation for an athletic activity

Sesame offers affordable physical therapy visits with quality physical therapists in . If you are experiencing chronic pain, or want to improve your general wellness, book a visit today and save up to 60% on top-rated care from accredited physical therapists. You pay an upfront cash-pay price without the surprise bills or overhead that drives up cost.

Question 7

Does physical therapy help aging?

Accepted Answer

While physical therapy can help your body feel better as you age, there's one kind of physical therapy specifically designed to combat the physical fatigues associated with aging: geriatric physical therapy. Geriatric physical therapy addresses a wide range of concerns and conditions related to aging, including complications from arthritis and osteoporosis. A geriatric physical therapist may help with physical fitness, mobility, and strength. __Some modalities of geriatric physical therapy treatment plans include: __
- Aquatic aerobics
- Yoga
- Bodyweight strength training
- Gait correction
- Electrical stimulation
- Deep and/or soft tissue massage

Question 8

How can physical therapy help with neurological injury or disease?

Accepted Answer

Neurological physical therapists offer specialized analysis and treatment for patients experiencing difficulty with movement from injury or disease of the nervous system. __Examples of these conditions include: __
- Stroke
- Spinal cord injury
- Cerebral Palsy
- Parkinson’s disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Brain trauma
- Guillain-Barre syndrome

__Rehabilitation practices for those undergoing neurological physical therapy care include: __
- Mobility and range of motion exercises
- Bladder and/or bowel retraining
- Gait correction
- Strengthening exercises
- Speech therapy
- Postural realignment
- Core stabilization
- Activities of Daily Living (ADL) performance
- Cardiovascular endurance
- Improvement of motor control

Question 9

What is a sports medicine specialist?

Accepted Answer

A sports medicine specialist is a medical doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating sports-related injuries.

Sports medicine specialists don't just provide quality care for professional athletes, they can also help with injury treatment and pain management for patients with active lifestyles. A sports medicine specialist (or sports medicine physician) is board-certified in orthopedic care, family medicine (primary care), or internal medicine, with additional training in pain management and injury prevention. To earn qualification to practice sports medicine healthcare, these doctors must go through a Sports Medicine program and pass the Sports Medicine national exam.

Sports medicine specialists may be hired as team physicians for professional, college, or high school athletic departments. Many specialists may also have an outpatient practice at a medical center or hospital.

Question 10

What does a sports medicine specialist treat?

Accepted Answer

Sports medicine specialists treat a wide range of musculoskeletal injuries. While a sports medicine specialist cannot operate on injuries like an orthopedic surgeon, they can assist with pain management and injury prevention related to physical activities. Some common conditions that sports medicine services can treat include: - Sprains/ ligament damage
- Joint pain
- Rotator cuff pain
- ACL tightness/ pain
- Soft tissue injuries

A sports medicine specialist can perform X-rays and prescribe medication, along with other treatment options, to help recover from injury and prevent further pain.

Question 11

What is the difference between a chiropractor, physical therapist, and sports medicine specialist?

Accepted Answer

Good question! It can be a little confusing. Even though these health care providers treat many of the same symptoms, there are some distinct differences between these fields in training and practice. Sports medicine specialists, physical therapists, and chiropractors all help patients with pain management and injury prevention. In many cases, these providers will work together as a health care team to perform non-surgical treatment for musculoskeletal conditions. While these care providers work toward similar goals, there are key differences in how these specialists approach treatment. ## Sports medicine specialists Sports medicine specialists treat athletes and patients with active lifestyles. Their principal focus is treating and preventing injuries related to physical activity. A Doctor of Sports Medicine has specific training and expertise based in exercise mechanics - particularly when it comes to running or competitive sports - and builds treatment plans for patients that alleviate symptoms and chart their return to competition. Sports medicine specialists often work for organizations such as professional sports clubs and schools or may practice in an outpatient clinic. Sports medicine specialists may have training in orthopedic surgery, but most help patients range-of-motion problems and physical rehab rather than conduct operations. Some common sports-related conditions a sports medicine specialist can treat include:
- Sprains
- Rotator cuff injuries
- Muscle strain
- Joint pain

## Physical therapists/ physiotherapists Physical therapists help patients of all ages and physical abilities to help manage pain and increase mobility. Regardless of your level of physical activity, physical therapists can help your range of motion while providing exercises and stretches to strengthen and lengthen muscles and joints in the body. Physical therapists will usually practice in an outpatient clinic, or patients' homes. While sports medicine specialists focus their practice on injuries related to physical activity, the goal of physical therapy is to help improve quality of life through therapeutic methods and physical rehabilitation. Unlike sports medicine specialists, physical therapists are not medical doctors (physicians), even if they are a Doctor of Physical Therapy. Physical therapists can help treat conditions related to:
- Limited movement (such as after an accident)
- Persistent pain
- Strength and conditioning
- Rehab from neurological issues (such as Parkinson's disease, stroke, and arthritis)

## Chiropractors Chiropractors help patients relieve pain related to the musculoskeletal system (joints, bones, muscles, etc...) Chiropractors will perform manual therapy or massage therapy to help align the spinal column and restore range of motion to joints. They work with patients of all ages and physical abilities while treating a wide range of conditions, not just those related to physical activity. Chiropractors are not medical doctors (physicians) but must obtain a license to practice. Chiropractors can help treat conditions related to:
- Neck pain
- Headaches
- Back pain
- Limited movement

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