You might be a bit surprised to hear this, but here it is: Not all physical therapy is equal.
In fact, Empower PT + Pilates was founded in response to a lack of quality care in the industry.
As the trend in the traditional PT community went more toward cycling more and more patients through with little individualized care and attention, I decided there had to be a better way. Shocked to hear me say this?
Traditional PT looks a little something like this…
You’ll start with a brief warm-up on the bike, followed by ultrasound and stretching administered by the PT. Then, after a short session with the therapist, you’ll work with an aide on exercises while your therapist juggles multiple patients scheduled for the same time.
You’ll probably finish up your session with some ice or heat and get handed a sheet of cookie-cutter exercises.
Sound sadly familiar?
Here’s why this type of physical therapy is not very helpful and what your traditional PT is most likely not addressing…
(and WHY it matters to your health!)…
They are NOT focused on…
Finding the Root Cause
In traditional PT, treatment typically revolves around alleviating symptoms. However, these symptoms are merely indicators of underlying issues. Merely addressing symptoms without tackling the root cause leads to recurrent pain.
At Empower PT & Pilates we find the root cause of your problem and treat more than just the symptoms, ensuring long lasting results.
More Than Just “Passive” Treatments
Massage, ultrasound, laser, cupping, dry needling, scraping, taping… the list goes on. These are all ‘passive’ treatment methods.
They are all important tools that may give you symptom relief at the beginning of your treatment, but they are so often relied upon and used far too long into the whole treatment process.
It is incredibly important to go much further than hands-on techniques in order to truly achieve a lasting solution.
Treatment should include movement correction, muscle activation and stabilization, and postural correction. Without these, the dysfunctions that caused your tightness, discomfort, or pain in the first place will continue to come back.
Treating The Whole Body
We all know this children’s song…
“The foot bone’s connected to the leg bone; the leg bone’s connected to the knee bone…”
While this holds true, traditional PT often focuses solely on the symptomatic area. However, considering the body’s interconnectedness, it’s crucial to examine the entire body holistically. Your back pain might stem from issues in your hip, knee, or even ankle, highlighting the importance of a comprehensive approach.
If this is not addressed, you can be pretty sure that it’s only a matter of time before this problem comes back… or worse, causes another problem or pain point.
Ending Care When You Are Ready
In traditional PT, discharge often occurs once symptoms subside, typically due to insurance limitations. Unfortunately, insurance companies prioritize symptom relief over comprehensive recovery. This cycle can lead to recurring injuries, necessitating further care later on, potentially resulting in invasive procedures.
At Empower, we tailor your care plan to your specific needs, ensuring not just temporary relief but long-term strength and confidence to resume activities like biking, running, hiking, or skiing for years to come.
Providing One-on-One Care
Crowded clinic? Sharing your appointment time with three other patients?
This all-too-common problem with traditional PT often has to do with a problem within the insurance industry.
Because insurance reimbursements are so low, many Physical Therapists are forced to see two or three (or four) patients at a time, and often hand their patients over to PT Assistants for the majority of the time.
For true progress, consistency is key.
At Empower PT & Pilates, you will receive one-on-one, hour long care from only your skilled Physical Therapist. You and your body deserve our undivided attention, and that is exactly what we provide.
Don’t Make the Mistake of Thinking Traditional PT is “Cheaper”
Many people opt for insurance-covered therapy, assuming it’s the cheaper option. However, those $50-75+ copays can be just the start. With high deductible plans, you might receive unexpected bills later. You could end up nearly paying out of pocket, getting only brief PT sessions, and being charged for services you could’ve done at home.
And the worst part is, you still haven’t addressed the deeper underlying problems that are causing your pain in the first place.
So eventually you’ll need more PT, or you’ll assume PT “didn’t work” and you’ll try a million other things like chiropractic, massage, or acupuncture… all of which also only focus on more symptom relief.
And if you’re one of the unlucky ones that are told the only other thing that will help is surgery…$$$. In our humble opinion, this is costing you MUCH more in the long run!!
We prefer to help you take care of the problem correctly the first time around, saving you TONS of time, money, and frustration.
Clients frequently express frustration with traditional PT: sharing appointment time, receiving generic advice, and only getting symptom relief. They later realize it’s not actually cheaper and lacks holistic care.
Watch out for copays that can really add up over time and surprise bills that show up in the mail months later.
Most of all, here at Empower our one-on-one care goes above and beyond to make sure you don’t have to continue dealing with this problem next month, next year, or 10 years from now.
Our aim is to equip you with the tools to manage your condition independently and reclaim your active lifestyle. We ensure you receive the necessary resources to prevent recurring injuries. While there are many skilled PTs in traditional settings, their potential is hindered by restrictions.
At Empower, we strive to provide the optimal care environment, focusing on holistic, personalized treatment for lasting results.
If this is exactly what you are looking for, apply for a Free Discovery Visit and See Just How Different We Are!
Our Free Discovery Visit is a one-to-one consult where you’ll sit down with one of our practitioners and get all your questions answered while we help you figure out the best path to relief.
All you need to do is tell us a bit about what’s going on through this quick form and we will have a conversation about how we may be able to help.
See you soon,
Dr. Casey
Other Free Resources That Discuss The Importance Of Strengthening Your Core
Read our blog – How To Stop Peeing Every Time You Sneeze, Laugh, Or Jump!
Read our blog – What Causes Lower Back Pain In Females
Check us out on social media – Empower PT + Pilates Facebook / Empower PT + Pilates Instagram
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