1.    Who is a good candidate for our care?

 

Short Answer: Any individual who has pain, or is unhappy with their current state of mobility, and has only gotten so far with previous treatment attempts

 

Long Answer: This list is by no means exhaustive but is included to share some common experiences of people we work with on a daily basis:

 

• Patients who have exhausted their insurance benefit but are not fully recovered

• People who are happy with their current course of physical therapy but feel the sessions are too short or are only focused on one body part

• People who have “tried everything” but still have pain or mobility deficits despite all their efforts

• People who are seeking treatment from LGBTQ+ allies who can provide comprehensive compassionate care while understanding and respecting gender identity

• People who are looking for maintenance massage to treat or prevent recurrent orthopedic issues, or for relaxation

• Individuals seeking prenatal or postpartum massage

• People who are seeking a routine full body “check-up” to identify possible risk factors for potential injury

• People who have high deductible plans that require high out of pocket payments for therapy sessions that are too short

• People who “tweaked” something or “slept wrong” and need treatment now, but whose insurance company requires a doctors referral to grant treatment which can take days to come through

• People who are looking for a safe, non-threatening space to address vulnerabilities within their physical bodies

• People with seasonal allergies seeking relief from sinus pressure due to backlog of fluid from inflammation and histamine response

• Patients who have undergone breast cancer treatment including but not limited to lumpectomy, mastectomy, radiation treatment etc. and are still experiencing breast and/or shoulder pain, swelling, and/or mobility restrictions and feel left behind in their recovery

• Patients who are experiencing post surgical swelling or lymphedema

• Patients with lymphedema who are not requiring Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT)

• People who are looking to begin exercising again after recovery from an injury but don’t know what movements are safe or appropriate

• People who notice asymmetries in power output, stability or functional mobility during recreational activities despite training to correct these asymmetries

 

 

2.    What should I wear to my appointment?

 

Well, it depends. Always wear or bring clothes that you are comfortable moving freely in that allows for easy access to the region focal to your pain or dysfunction. Exercise shorts and sports bras/tank tops tend to be most helpful. In some cases, such as with traditional massage or if you do not have clothing that allows appropriate access, we ask that you undress to your level of comfort and will utilize draping with sheets to expose necessary areas while maintaining your modesty. That being said, your comfort is most important and we can work around whatever level of clothing you are most comfortable in and still achieve effective results. We are still requiring masks at this time to protect against COVID-19 per current CDC guidelines for healthcare practitioners. We apologize for any inconvenience.

 

 

3.    Do I need a Doctor’s Referral to attend Physical Therapy?

 

No, you do not for a couple of reasons. Massachusetts is a Direct Access state which means that patients can be evaluated and treated by a Licensed Physical Therapist without need of a Referral or a Prescription from a Physician, Nurse Practitioner, Dentist, etc. Some insurances do require a Referral or Prescription to authorize payment, however we do not accept insurance so this requirement does not apply to our services. 

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 4.    Why don’t we accept insurance?

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Insurance companies limit how much they pay, dictate when they pay and what treatments they pay for. Oftentimes this can create lost time chasing down payment for sessions that occurred weeks to months ago, resulting in shorter treatment sessions, loss of revenue, and in some cases burnt out therapists. We have decided to focus all of our time and energy on the things that matter most: treating patients with interventions that we find to work best. We have chosen not to wrestle with insurance companies to justify why we should be paid for treatments that have already taken place. 

 

Does everything we’ve stated sound like what you’ve been looking for but are nervous about whether you can afford care? Ask about our sliding scale. 

 

 

5.    When is it a good time to utilize insurance for Physical Therapy?

 

If you have found an in-network therapist you trust who provides the results you are seeking, by all means please continue seeing them. For post operative patients, or those injuries that respond best from being seen 2-3x/week, you should absolutely utilize insurance in this case as seeing us instead would be very costly. We are strong believers that each individual practitioner is unique and offers their own skill set, and we encourage seeing anyone you have found to be the right fit for the right ailment.

 

 

6.    What types of payment do you accept?

 

We accept cash, check, Health Savings Account (HSA), Flex Spending Account (FSA), and all major credit cards as payment. Please note that cash and check are the preferred methods of payment to avoid costly surcharges incurred with credit card payments.

 

 

7.    What is your Scheduling Procedure?

 

• First, please register into our scheduling and documentation system using the following link: https://pteverywhere.com/PtE/s/keepitmovingpt/register

• Once registered, please add a card to the payment tab on your profile. While we do prefer payment in the form of cash or check if possible, we require a card on file in order to hold your appointment reservation, and in the event of a no-show, or late cancellation within 24 hours per our cancellation policy below. Thank you for understanding.

• Once a card is added, you are added to the schedule for our agreed upon appointment time if still available

• You will then receive an email prompting you to complete our Health History Form

 

 

8.    What is your No Show/Cancellation Policy?

 

Due to our limited availability, we ask that you notify us at least 24 hours prior to your appointment time if you need to cancel. This allows us to offer time to others who are in need of treatment. We will obtain your credit card information prior to booking your first appointment and will adhere to the following fee schedule for

 

No Shows/Cancellations within 24 hours:

First Offense: 100% charge, waived in the event of extreme circumstances

Second Offense: 100% charge

Third Offense: 100% charge and discontinuation of service

Thank you for understanding

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9.    What is Dry Needling?

Dry needling is the practice of inserting a solid monofilament needle into a Myofascial trigger point to allow it to release. A trigger point is an area of muscle tissue that is stuck in a contracted state. This sustained contraction prevents oxygen from entering the muscle tissue, and causes a buildup of chemical compounds that create an acidic environment in the muscle. This combination of lack of oxygen (ischemia) and acidic environment disrupts the muscle’s ability to relax and contract as intended and renders this area of muscle tissue dysfunctional. The presence of multiple trigger points prevents a muscle from relaxing when it should, and producing necessary amount of force when it should. The needle provides a “reset” to the trigger point by allowing it to relax, receive oxygen, and contract. It also creates a controlled inflammatory process to the intended area so that the body treats it like a new injury and sends healing properties on a microscopic level. 

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10.    Is Dry Needling the same as Acupuncture?

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The short answer: No.

The longer answer: While dry needling utilizes a similar tool to acupuncture, the intention of this specific modality is to release Myofascial Trigger Points within muscle tissue, whereas acupuncture is based on Eastern medical traditions that restores energy flow that travels in pathways called meridians that exist between organs. In our practice, we use the needles as an extension of our hands to release Myofascial trigger points that we cannot reach with our hands alone. 

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11.    Is Dry Needling safe?

 

Like any medical procedure, there are possible complications. While these complications are uncommon, they do sometimes occur and must be considered prior to giving consent to the procedure. Your physical therapist has undergone extensive training in the safe application of Dry Needling in order to avoid these complications. Although extremely rare (less than 0.01% of treatments), possible serious complications requiring medical attention include Pneumothorax (collapsed lung), and Epidural Hematoma (bleeding in the spinal canal). More common side effects that are not a cause for concern include drowsiness, fatigue, and autonomic responses such as short term changes in blood pressure, heart rate, flushing of the face or increased respiratory rate. 

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12.    Does Dry Needling hurt?

 

When a needle is inserted in the correct location, I may briefly reproduce a muscular ache or a twitching response, which usually indicates that the technique will be effective in reducing your symptom(s). Needles can be removed immediately upon your request. You may experience a muscular ache for 2-7 days following treatment, similar to the ache after exercise, followed by an improvement in your overall symptoms.

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13.    Can I book a session for Dry Needling alone?

 

Dry Needling is a service provided by a licensed Physical Therapist, and thus this treatment modality must be applied as a component of a comprehensive Physical Therapy Plan of Care. Thus, you must be evaluated by a Doctor of Physical Therapy prior to receiving Dry Needling Treatment. As with other PT treatment modalities, Dry Needling is most effective when combined with other interventions such as neuromuscular reeducation, and performance of corrective exercise addressing the root cause of the issue.