How long do I need to see a PT?

It is always good to have an idea of the overall picture before diving into a new endeavor. You probably want to know how many hours it will take to get to your destination before starting your road trip. You need to know all the different appliances, electric, plumbing, and surfaces that are involved before starting your kitchen renovation project. You likely want to plan how long you think you will be living in a certain area before signing an apartment lease. Well, the same goes for health care commitments.

So how long will you have to come to physical therapy? The short, but unhelpful, answer is: it depends. Each person is different, every condition is unique, and each physical therapist may give you a different answer. Clinics that are driven by insurance reimbursement tend to have patients come in more frequently and for a longer duration of care. This is for several reasons: patients don’t get much one-on-one time with their provider, so recovery can take longer, and these clinics want to keep you coming in so they can continue to collect payments from your insurance company. Insurance companies are reimbursing at lower and lower rates as the years go on, making it difficult for clinics to maintain revenue. Many insurance-based clinics will have you come in 2-3 times per week for 6-8 weeks, or longer. So, conservatively, you will likely be seen for at least 12 visits, and often for up to 24 visits over several months. Some clinics even want you to come year round!

Since Moms in Motion PT is a cash-based practice, we are able to see patients for full hour, one-on-one sessions where you are with the physical therapist for the duration of the treatment session. Although the treatment duration can still vary based on individual characteristics, how long the condition has persisted, and treatment response, you will most likely come less often and for a shorter duration of time with Moms in Motion. With dedicated one-on-one treatment times, you can expect to come for at least 3 appointments, an average of 6-12, and occasionally 15-20 appointments. We typically see patients once a week. There are no guarantees as to exactly how long it will take your body to heal; this is only a rough estimate based on past experience. However, soft tissues generally take between 6-8 weeks to heal, so a typical bout of physical therapy will last at least this long.

It is important to see the overall picture so you know what to expect when starting a physical therapy program, but it is even more important to know your goals. These goals will help guide you and your physical therapist to know what you want to achieve, and what types of activities we should be doing in therapy sessions to help you achieve those goals! Another reason doing physical therapy at Moms in Motion PT can be beneficial is the ability to treat for as long as you and your provider decide is best for you. Insurance companies will not pay for certain activities if they are not considered rehab. So if you are achieving a certain level of activity, insurance companies often decide you are “good enough” and will no longer pay for your care. At Moms in Motion, we will never cut you off from care if you still need or want it. If you can run 5 miles but you want to be able to run 7, we will keep working with you until you reach your goals!