FAQ | Engage Physical Therapy

WHAT DO YOU TYPICALLY TREAT?

I treat a wide variety of orthopedic injuries. The most common ones I see are overuse injuries including knee/patellofemoral pain, back pain, IT band syndrome, shoulder/elbow pain, tendonitis (patellar, Achilles, posterior tibialis, peroneal), muscle strains, ligament sprains, plantar fasciitis, and piriformis syndrome. I also do post-operative rehabilitation for orthopedic surgeries. If you have a less common diagnosis, feel free to contact me to see if it is something I have experience with. If not, I will help you find a provider that will better suit your needs.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PHYSICAL THERAPY AND A WELLNESS CONSULTATION?

Physical Therapy is typically for rehabilitation of an injury, while a Wellness Consultation is more appropriate for a non-injured runner or athlete, or someone who has had an injury in the past but is not currently injured. Though pain management is usually the main goal for the injured athlete, the treatment sessions are essentially the same.

HOW MUCH DOES A SESSION COST?

All clients receive a 1-hour initial evaluation for $120. An evaluation with a running analysis is 90 minutes and is $150. Any subsequent treatment sessions are $100 for an hour session. All payments are due at the time of service.

WHY DON’T YOU TAKE INSURANCE?

There are several reasons why I don’t take insurance—first of all, a clinician/PT practice has to go through a lengthy process to become an in-network provider for each insurance company it wants to accept. And there are a TON of insurance companies. Second, I don’t want to go through the hassle of verifying your insurance benefits because I would rather spend my time treating you than spending hours on the phone with your insurance company. In addition, most of the patients who end up coming to me have high deductibles and high co-pays for Physical Therapy and would have to pay between $50-$75 per session anyway, which does not end up saving you much money. But I would say the biggest reason why I don’t take insurance is because I don’t want the insurance company to be the one to decide how much and what kind of treatment you need. That should be determined by the clinician (me) and the one receiving the care (you).

SHOULD I SEE A PHYSICIAN FIRST?

It depends on what you are comfortable with. If your pain is in a muscle or joint and can be associated with a specific movement or activity, you could benefit from going directly to PT. If your pain is excruciating, has no apparent cause, and/or is severely limiting your ability to perform normal daily tasks, it is advised that you see a physician first. Any condition that is not appropriate for Physical Therapy will be referred to the appropriate provider.

HOW MANY SESSIONS DO I NEED TO GO TO?

After your initial evaluation, I will make a recommendation based on your goals and current status, but it is really up to you. Typical Physical Therapy practices want to see their patients 2-3x/week for at least 4-6 weeks. I feel like this is unrealistic and unnecessary. Because paying out-of-pocket is expensive and your time is valuable, I promise to provide quality treatment that will help you get better faster and work within your budget.

DO YOU ONLY WORK WITH RUNNERS?

No! Running is my specialty, but I have experience and enjoy working with athletes from a wide range of sports and ability levels. If you are motivated to work hard, get out of pain, and learn how to take better care of your body, then I am the Physical Therapist for you!

WHY SHOULD I CHOOSE ENGAGE?

I am passionate about what I do and confident that you will feel and perform better after working with me. As an experienced Physical Therapist, I am a movement specialist. I provide a full-body evaluation of flexibility and strength to discover your greatest limitations and analyze functional movements to improve your biomechanics and make you more efficient. Many other therapists and trainers can help you reach your goals, but my focus is on creating a routine that promotes healthy movement and prevents injury so you can be healthy and active (and running!) for the rest of your life!

DO I NEED A REFERRAL TO COME SEE YOU?

No. In the state of Georgia, you can see a Physical Therapist without a physician referral for 21 days or 8 visits (whichever comes first). You will need a referral after that point if you want to continue treatment for the same injury.