Your new patient paperwork will be emailed to you. This should be completed prior to your first visit. If you are unable to do so, please plan to arrive 15 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment time to complete it on the clinic’s tablet.

We will make a copy of your identification card, referral (if applicable), and insurance card (if applicable).

Your Physical Therapist will then call you back to begin your initial consultation where they will discuss:

• Your medical history
• Your primary concern for the visit
• Implications of how this is affecting your life (daily activities, functional and/or performance limitations)
• Your goals with Physical Therapy

Your Physical Therapist will then proceed with measurements which may include:

• Range of Motion (ROM) – The Physical Therapist will assess your active and passive ROM, which refers to the extent or limit to which a part of the body can be moved around a joint or a fixed point; the totality of movement a joint is capable of doing
• Manual Muscle Testing – A standardized set of assessments that measure muscle strength/function.
• Special Testing – Based on your primary concern and objective findings, your Physical Therapist will carefully selective a variety of special tests that will help rule in or out certain musculoskeletal problems which is useful in diagnosing orthopedic conditions and injuries.
• Neurological Screening – Your Physical Therapist may check to see how the nerves are communicating with the muscles, sensing touch, pain, vibration, or temperature.
• Palpation – It is necessary for your Physical Therapist to palpate to assess soft tissue mobility and integrity, joint accessory motion, and to appreciate areas of tenderness, edema, or inflammation.

Based on the gathered information, your Physical Therapist will develop a treatment plan.

Remember, Physical Therapy requires that you play and active rolein your recovery! While other treatments such as chiropractic, massage, and acupuncture may be beneficial, these are examples of passive treatments – that is, you are the recipient of a service. In order for you to be successful with Physical Therapy, it is essential that you commit to be a participant in your recovery!

Patients should wear comfortable clothing that allows easy movement. Loose-fitting attire and athletic shoes are typically recommended. Coming after work? Don’t worry. We have private changing areas!

Most sessions last 50-60 minutes.

Soft tissue mobilization, a treatment sometimes used in Physical Therapy, is often mistaken as massage. While there are some similarities between the two, soft tissue mobilization can facilitate movement and participation by temporarily reducing pain. Soft tissue mobilization will be applied as needed.

Not necessarily! MRIs can be helpful, but they can also be a barrier to recovery.

• MRIs typically require a physician referral and pre-approved authorization from insurance.
• MRIs are expensive. Depending on your insurance plan, MRIs can range in cost from $500-$2000.
• MRIs are a snapshot of a moment in time. A movement based assessment is more meaningful for those that suffer symptoms when they move, according to research.

At SAFE Physical Therapy, we believe movement is medicine. Your Physical Therapist will provide guidance on which activities or exercises are safe to continue and which ones may need modification or, in some cases, temporary cessation during your treatment. It’s important to communicate with your Physical Therapist about your regular activities to ensure the most effective treatment approach. 

Sometimes, a person just needs permission to move. Dealing with an injury has a huge psychological component. Often times, a person can be physically ready for a task but may still have fear to move.

It is our job to guide you out of that negative mental space by highlighting your capabilities and showing your how to move better with confidence – confidence comes from preparation.

Studies indicate that people who attended physician owned physical therapy practices required 39%-45% more visits than if they were to seek care from a Physical Therapist owned practice.1

1. Mitchell, J., Scott, E., Physician Ownership of Physical Therapy Services: Effects on Charges, Utilization, Profits, and Service Characteristics, Journal of the American Medical Association, 1992.

We are currently working with a limited number of insurances. Please call us at (858) 290-1068 to ask about your specific insurance plan.