What is physical therapy?

Physical therapy has one main goal: to restore pain-free mobility and function and to prevent the injury or pain from recurring. At ProTailored Physical Therapy, we use manual therapy, the hands-on approach to relieving pain and restoring function. Physical therapists are movement that can evaluate your movement patterns, identify the cause of your pain, and work to eliminate it.

While every patient’s condition and pain is unique, our physical therapist will use a variety of gentle hands-on techniques, exercises, and equipment to relieve pain quickly and restore your function to optimum levels.

How do I find a physical therapist?

As a patient you have the right to receive physical therapy at any place you choose. At ProTailored Physical Therapy, you will receive the highest quality care while achieving the results you need.

We pride ourselves on providing a positive, encouraging environment with well-trained, friendly staff.  We are confident in our ability to help you reach your goals and live a pain-free life.

Will physical therapy benefit me?

Working with you and your doctor, we can discuss your options and help determine if physical therapy will be the right choice for you. Call us today to discuss your current condition or request an appointment now.

Does physical therapy hurt?

Physical therapy is meant to relieve pain, not cause pain. As you progress through your treatment plan and restore your mobility, pain levels, at times can fluctuate. You might experience some temporary soreness from using muscles that are strengthening or recovering. Good communication with your therapist will help eliminate discomfort. Our goal is for you to quickly find relief and get back to your normal activities.

Are your physical therapists trained to treat my condition?

Physical therapists are movement experts and have years of university level training in anatomy, physiology, kinesiology (study of joint movement), neurology, and many of the other medical sciences.

Our physical therapists have graduated from accredited physical therapy programs and are state licensed. Rest assured, your therapist is well trained to evaluate and treat your condition.

I want to schedule an appointment – how do I do that?

Our scheduling is easy and we offer a convenient location and appointment times for you. Call us today or request an appointment.

What should I wear to my sessions?

Ever been to the gym? Well, for your physical therapy treatments, you should dress as if you were going to a gym to work out. Your clothes should be loose fitting, giving us the ability to expose the area that we will be evaluating and treating. For example, if you have a knee problem, it is best to wear shorts, not pants or jeans. For a shoulder problem, a tank top is a good choice, and for low back problems, wear a loose fitting shirt and pants so we can perform a thorough examination.

How long will each of my sessions last?

Treatment sessions will last approximately 30-60 minutes and are based on insurance policies.

How many treatments will I need before I feel better?

Until we evaluate your unique condition, we are unable to determine how long it will take your body to recover. Your physical therapist will develop a plan of care that is just right for you and the number of treatments will be determined during your first visit and explained to you by our physical therapist.

Who pays for physical therapy?

If you have health insurance, in most cases your physical therapy will be covered.  ProTailored Physical Therapy will be happy to assist in contacting your insurance company and determining your coverage based on your individual policy.

For more information, visit our insurance plan page and please do not hesitate to contact our Fort Wayne, IN physical therapy office. We do offer different payment options for your convenience, in case you do not have health insurance or do not want to go through your insurance.

I don’t have insurance – what do I do?

If you do not have insurance, or do not wish to use your insurance benefits for your therapy, please give us a call to discuss other payment options.

What payment methods do you accept?

We accept cash, check, debit card, and credit card. We are happy to discuss payment plan options as well. It is our policy that payment is made at the time of service.

How should I prepare for my initial appointment?

Please have your prescription and insurance card available when you call if you were referred and plan to use your insurance to pay for treatment. We will help verify your insurance benefits and provide you with an estimate of coverage.

To bring on your first visit:

  • A prescription (if needed) for physical therapy from your referring physician, ARNP, or PA.
  • Insurance information (we will make a copy of your card).
  • Print out the patient forms, fill them out, and bring them with you.
  • In case of an automobile accident or worker’s compensation claim, also bring any case manager or insurance adjuster contact names, phone numbers, and claim number.
  • Please arrive 15 minutes early to complete any remaining paperwork, so you can maximize your time in your evaluation.
  • Please wear comfortable clothing that allows easy access to your problem areas.
Can I continue sessions even after I feel better?

Yes, once you have completed your therapy sessions, your therapist will review your continuing home program and determine what exercises would be helpful in your continued recovery.

Why Do I Have Piriformis Syndrome?

Piriformis Syndrome can be caused by a number of different reasons. Causes can range from excessive sitting to the other extreme of overusing the piriformis muscle with long-distance walking or running. The result is the same though; the piriformis irritates the underlying sciatic nerve. This irritated nerve can cause pain, numbness, and tingling sensation in the back, buttock, hip, or leg.

I’ve recently taken up running or another athletic activity and now have piriformis syndrome. Should I just push through the pain?

No. Pushing through the pain can lead to increased symptoms and a prolonging of the time it takes to recover from a flare-up. Although it is great that you’ve decided to become more active, your body needs a little bit of time to physically progress with your aspirations. Easing into an activity and gradually increasing the intensity helps your body acclimate to the new demands placed on it. A proper warm-up and stretching are also key to prevent flare-ups.

I think I have piriformis syndrome, but my thigh/calf/foot also hurts. Do I have something else wrong with me?

Because the sciatic nerve is being irritated in piriformis syndrome, anything the sciatic nerve innervates in the leg can also feel painful. Physical therapists are trained to tease out if any other pain you are feeling in your leg is due to piriformis syndrome or if there is another factor at play that is contributing to your symptoms. Other factors can include a compensation of how you walk due to pain, other tight muscles in the hips and legs, or other medical diagnoses.

Can piriformis syndrome cause back pain?

Yes. A tight piriformis muscle can cause an over-strain of other muscles in the pelvis and low back. The pelvis and back muscles depend on one another for optimal movement. When one muscle is tight, injured, or weak, other muscles often have to take up the workload to compensate and become aggravated in the process. This can lead to pain in other areas such as the low back.

What can physical therapists do to help relieve the symptoms of piriformis syndrome?

Therapists at ProTailored Physical Therapy will evaluate and implement a custom plan to address the underlying issues related to your piriformis syndrome. Treatment approaches may include stretching, strengthening, techniques to allow the sciatic nerve to glide more easily, modalities, and posture correction. Therapists will also educate you on proper warm-up and stretching techniques to prevent a recurrence of the syndrome.

What is the outcome for people who have piriformis syndrome?

Most people who have piriformis syndrome will recover. What can vary is how long you deal with piriformis syndrome. Seeking help from a physical therapist can greatly increase your recovery time and decrease the intensity of symptoms. Additionally, slight modifications of activities may be necessary in order to prevent a recurrence of symptoms.

Common Questions Regarding Sports Rehabilitation

How can sports rehabilitation help my athlete ?

We all have areas where we can improve our move. Here at ProTailored Physical therapy we will work with any athlete at any level to help them identify and work to improve areas specific to them and meet them at their level. We can also help identify where they may be at most risk for injuries and help them create a program to avoid those injuries.

Why is injury prevention important?

Injuries can slow progress and impede athletes from participating in what they love most. Some athletes have had to stop training, or quit their sport due to injuries that are so severe they can not perform at the same level. Some injuries can require surgery that keeps them away for 6 months or longer. Preventing this time away and costly surgery is important to keep an athlete on track and in their training program.

Are all training programs and rehabilitation the same?

No, every person is just as unique and different as the activities they participate in! Their rehabilitation program will be just as unique as they are. The physical therapists at ProTailored take the time to work with and evaluate each person as an individual to create a program and training plan that is specific to each individual in each situation.

How do I know someone at ProTailored can help?

Many of the therapists at ProTailored participated in and loved the sports and activities you do. To name a few:

Dr. Kirsten Allman- Retired Ballerina, ballroom dance, dance instructor

Dr. Mitchell Hall - college baseball, high school basketball

Dr. Zach Schmucker- high school football, and lacrosse

Dr. Matt Paul - high school tennis

Dr. Emily Ladd- High school basketball, volleyball, softball and track, college basketball

Dr. Katlin Couchman- High school Swim

While many of our therapists participated in and loved the sports and activities you do, ALL of us would love to help you fine tune your movement and get you back to what you love to do no matter what that is!

What will sports rehabilitation look like?

This will depend on what specifically would be best for you. Our Therapists can help with:

  • Muscle imbalance
  • Balance training
  • Jumping
  • Turning
  • Cutting
  • Strength
  • Mobility
  • Flexibility
  • Power
  • Speed
  • pre-class/sport warm-up
  • Preplanned and unplanned safe movements
  • Progression of training and when/how to challenge different issues to include the above listed items
  • And much more!

When should I seek therapy?

If you ever felt like you were at risk for or had a previous injury or had a coach/teacher tell you you need work in a specific area listed in the question above. Another time to consider is if you feel like you're struggling to reach the next level of your sport/activity and feel like you can not figure out what is holding you back physically. You can always call in and speak to a therapist at ProTailored and find out if therapy is appropriate for you!

Do you have a sport or activity that we can help with ?

If you have any questions regarding sports rehabilitation and/or would like to start treatment – give ProTailored Physical Therapy a call today at (260) 739-0300!

Common Questions Regarding Work Injuries

How can physical therapy help my work injury?

Our physical therapists are specialized in analyzing injuries. Whether it be an overuse injury or an acute injury, our physical/occupational therapists will take a detailed look to help identify the source of your symptoms. They will then develop an individualized plan to help increase your range of motion, strength, mobility, while decreasing pain. They can help with recommendations of ways to adapt your work environment to decrease pain while at work.

How can I help my overuse injury?

Overuse injuries happen with repetitive movements (commonly at work). Our physical/occupational therapists will help to reduce your symptoms during the healing process. Our physical/occupational therapists are also specialized in ergonomics and can help prevent future overuse injuries by helping improve your form to decrease stress on your body while at work.

Why should I go to physical therapy for my work injury?

A physical therapist will do a thorough physical exam of your balance and gait to find weakness or restrictions in movement or systems that may be related to your difficulty. They will then come up with an individualized plan to address your specific restrictions or limitations.

What will a session of physical therapy following a work injury look like?

Our physical therapists will work with you based on your specific needs. They will help to address pain, limitations in motion, or any strength deficits you may have. At our clinic, you will receive one on one care from only a physical therapist, no assistants or aides. Your treatment may consist of manual therapy, cupping, scraping/IASTM, dry needling, therapeutic exercises, etc.

Will workman’s comp cover my physical therapy?

Our clinic is in network with multiple workman’s comp companies! If your injury is being covered by workman’s comp, we will work directly with them for your coverage. If you have any specific questions, you can reach out to our clinic at any time!

Can I work on improving my work injury at home?

When you schedule a visit with us, our therapists work with you to develop a personalized home exercise program consisting of therapeutic exercises to target your specific needs!

Do you have a work injury?

If you have any questions regarding work injuries and/or would like to start treatment – give ProTailored Physical Therapy a call today at (260) 739-0300!

Do You Treat Kids?

We treat patients of all ages with a variety of different conditions. Please call our office at (260) 739-0300 with any specific questions.