• What will happen at my first visit?
• What do I need to bring to my first appointment?
• What should I wear?
• How long should I expect my visit to be?
• How many treatments will I need?
• Who pays for physical therapy?
• Who will treat me?
• Does Florida Fitness & Rehabilitation have specialties?
• Is physical therapy painful?
• Do you offer massages?
• Where can I go for physical therapy?
• Do I need a doctor’s referral?
   

What will happen at my first visit?

When you arrive for your first visit, please arrive 15 minutes early or come prepared with your paperwork completed. You can download the necessary forms from our website.

You will need to bring:

• Your prescription or referral for physical therapy

• Your insurance card(s)

• A government-issued identification card with photo

• A list of all current medications

During your evaluation, the therapist will ask a series of consultative questions.

Be prepared to talk about:

• Your current pain issue

• Pain intensity, including what intensifies the pain and relieves the pain

• How the pain is affecting your daily routine

• What your goals for physical therapy are

• Your medical history, including procedures related to your current pain issue

Your therapist will develop a plan of care that is individually suited to your rehabilitative needs.

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What do I need to bring to my first appointment?

Please bring the following items:

• Your referral for physical therapy
• A government-issued identification card with photo
• A list of all current medications

If you will be utilizing insurance to pay, please note that we will need the following:

• Health Insurance-  your insurance card(s)
• Auto Insurance- your claim number and case manager’s contact information; if litigation is pending, we will also need contact information for your lawyer
• Worker’s Compensation- your claim number and case manager’s contact information

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What should I wear?

Please wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothes that allow easy movement. Our therapists will need to reach your area of pain, so keep this in mind when selecting your attire.

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How long should I expect my visit to be?

Your initial evaluation should take one hour. For follow-up visits, expect to be treated for about 45 minutes. This may be customized after your plan of care is developed during the initial evaluation.

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How many treatments will I need?

Each injury and situation is different. After your initial evaluation, your therapist should be able to tell you the approximate duration of your treatment.

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Who pays for physical therapy?

Most health insurance plans have an allowance for physical therapy. Please check with your insurance plan to verify your physical therapy benefits.

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Who will treat me?

You will see a licensed physical therapist for your initial evaluation. He or she is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association and has obtained a masters or doctoral degree in physical therapy.

A Physical Therapy Assistant may also help with your treatment. PTAs are members of the American Physical Therapy Association and have obtained a collegiate degree in Physical Therapy.

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Does Florida Fitness & Rehabilitation have specialties?

Yes. We specialize in the following types of physical therapy:

• Orthopedic
• Manual
• Sports Rehabilitation
• Fitness & Wellness
• Lymphedema Rehabilitation
• Balance, Dizziness & Vertigo Rehabilitation
  
  Orthopedic – The most common ailments for physical therapy are orthopedic in nature, including arthritis, fractures, muscle sprains and strains, neck or back pain, or problems with the hip, knee, shoulder or elbow.
  
  Manual – Hands-on treatment where soft tissue techniques, joint mobility, manual traction, or lymphedema drainage is performed. Florida Fitness & Rehabilitation uses hands-on treatment according to each patient’s individual needs.
  
  Sports Rehabilitation – After injuries or surgeries, physical therapy helps with rehabilitation so that you are able to continue in your sport, whether it’s football, ice skating, or golf.
  
  Fitness & Wellness – Weight loss, exercise, or strengthening programs can be put together by your physical therapist.
  
  Lymphedema Rehabilitation – When the lymph system fails to filter and drain fluid from the body’s extremities, a condition called lymphedema occurs. Special positioning, massage, and bandage techniques help to remedy this condition.
  
  Balance, Dizziness & Vertigo – Sensory and balance centers of the brain and limbs are improved with strengthening, safety awareness, posture and balance exercises, walking exercises, and other techniques.

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Is physical therapy painful?

Physical therapy is all about pain relief. However, some techniques that are necessary for recovery may include short-term discomfort and/or soreness. It is important that you communicate with your therapist when something starts to hurt.

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Do you offer massages?

You may receive massage therapy as part of your treatment plan. However, this is a medically-necessary massage and therefore not the same type of massage you will find at a spa. We are happy to recommend a massage therapist if you are interested in further massage services.

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Where can I go for physical therapy?

Your doctor will write a referral for physical therapy that can be taken to any physical therapy clinic. Prior to your first visit, please verify that your clinic of choice accepts your insurance plan.

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Do I need a doctor’s referral?

The state of Florida allows Direct Access, meaning that you do not need a physician’s referral in order to obtain physical therapy services for thirty (30) days. Due to many different insurance guidelines, it is advisable to obtain one prior to your appointment to avoid complications with your insurance plan.

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