Common Questions
1. My prescription is for another physical therapy clinic, can I still bring it to Denbigh PT?
Yes. Physical Therapy is a prescription service. You may take your prescription for physical therapy treatment to any physical therapist that accepts your insurance plan. The prescription means that your physician feels it will be in your best interest to receive treatment for your condition. Just as he or she would give you a prescription for a drug and you would have that prescription filled at any pharmacy of your choice, you may take your prescription for physical therapy treatment to any physical therapist that accepts your insurance. Of course, we suggest that you will be happiest bringing it to us.
2. How long does treatment for my condition take?
Physical therapy uses your own body's healing power to bring about physiological change. Typically, average people require between 4 and 6 weeks of physical therapy treatment for most conditions. Treatment usually consists of 45 - 90 minute sessions done 2 - 3 days per week. A home exercise program will help to speed your recovery. These are just averages, each person is unique.
3. How can I complete my treatment if I must go back to work?
Denbigh Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine has heard this question many times and we have answered it with extended office hours, lunchtime availability and Saturday appointments. We will work with your work schedule so that you can complete your treatment and also earn a living.
4. What can I do to help myself?
At your initial evaluation you will be given a detailed description of your illness or injury. By your third visit you will receive a home exercise and home treatment guide that you can use to help yourself as you recover. It is our goal to empower each patient to help themselves recover as quickly as possible.
5. What is a DPT? How is this different from other physical therapists?
A DPT is a physical therapist that has received a doctorate degree. According to the American Physical Therapy Association, all physical therapists are to be educated at the doctorate level by the year 2020. Currently physical therapists with bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and doctorate degrees are practicing in the same positions throughout the community.
In the late 80's most physical therapists received bachelors degrees upon graduating. These degrees often took around 5 years of study to complete. For this reason and because of advances in medical knowledge and increased autonomy in practice, physical therapists began to be awarded a Master's degree in physical therapy when graduating. (Often designated MPT or MSPT in a physical therapists credentials).
Average master's degrees require 30 - 40 credits of graduate work to complete. Typical physical therapy master's degrees were requiring 80 hours of graduate education.
Again, increases in knowledge and increased autonomy of physical therapists led to increases in educational requirements and in the late 1990's the first doctorate's in physical therapy were awarded.
Today, most degree programs in the United States offer the clinical doctorate degree (120 or more graduate credits) as the entry level degree for graduating physical therapists. The American Physical Therapy Association is strongly encouraging all physical therapists, whatever their experience level, to return to school and complete their doctorate.
Physical therapists are not medical doctors. They do not prescribe medications. Instead, they are musculoskeletal and exercise experts with a strong knowledge base in anatomy, physiology, kinesiology and various musculoskeletal disorders and the treatment of pain and movement dysfunction that often results from them. Physical therapists treat patients through the use of exercise, education and various modality and manual treatments.