What is Physical Therapy?
The health profession that utilizes the physical properties of heat, light, sound, electricity and massage to promote healing and restore function.  The Physical Therapist is the one on the medical team who is responsible to return those with injury or disease to the highest level of function possible.

What should I expect when referred to a Physical Therapist?
Your physician is responsible to assess your medical status.  Your therapist is responsible to assess your biomechanical and functional status.  To do so, expect your therapist to ask about the history of your complaint or to assess it by using various questionnaires.  The therapist will do a physical assessment, measuring your flexibility, strength, coordination and edurance.  Then the therapist will most likely make some assessment of functions, such as your ability to walk, climb, bend, remain seated, and also assess your posture.  With this information in hand, your therapist will design a treatment plan which will then be explained to you.

May I go to a Physical Therapist without first seeing my doctor?
In a number of states, the population does have direct access to a Physical Therapist; however, in the State of Texas, you must have a referral from a physician to receive treatment from a Physical Therapist.  You may have an examination by a therapist; however, without a referral, no treatment can be given.   If you'd like to treated at our office, simply print our referral form, and give it to your physician:   Adult's Referral Form  | Children's Referral Form.

What does it take to become a Physical Therapist?
To become a Physical Therapist, one must graduate from an approved school of Physical Therapy, successfully complete an internship, and then pass a State Board exam.  Initially, Physical Therapy was a Bachelor's Degree Program.  It has currently moved to a Master's Degree Program in virtually all of the schools and is in the process of moving to a Doctoral Degree Program.

What is Work Hardening?
Work Hardening is a multidisciplinary rehabilitation program that spans the gap between therapy and returning to work.  At the end of therapy, if a Functional Capacity Evaluation reveals that the patient is not capable of returning to the workplace yet, often Work Hardening or Work Conditioning will be prescribed.  The Work Hardening team must include a Physical Therapist, an Occupational Therapist and a Psychologist.  It is a very structured program that addresses work performance, flexibility, strength, and endurance.  The patient will be involved in education, exercises, and counseling.  The patient begins at 2 or 4 hours per day and progresses to 8 hours per day, in a combination education, exercise, work simulation program.  They are expected to clock in as they would on a job, and their physical capacity, as well as work performance, is supervised.

What is Work Conditioning?
Work Conditioning is very similar to Work Hardening, but it is not multidisciplinary and does not address the counseling/psychological issues that are often found in more serious injuries.

What is a Functional Pre-Employment Test?
This is a head-to-toe examination that assesses the client's ability to actually safely complete a certain task or set of tasks.  To do this exam, the examiner must have a copy of the client's prospective job description that includes weights to be lifted, approximate repetitions expected in a day, how high the lift will be, and how far loads will be carried, pushed, or pulled.  The client will be given a comprehensive health history questionnaire and must pass a blood pressure test prior to the exercise testing.  Joint range, muscle strength, and joint integrity will be noted, as well as posture.

Are your facilities handicap accessible?
Yes.  All of our facilities are handicap accessible.

How should I dress?
Exercise clothing (shorts and t-shirt) is fine.  Shorts are preferred if you have a lower extremity injury.  Changing facilities are available.

What is an Impairment Rating?
An impairment rating is conducted once the authorized treating physician has determined that the injured worker is at maximum medical improvement.