FAQ
We hope that these pre-answered questions are helpful, but we would also be happy to answer any more that you have. Please don't hesitate to call, chat, or email with us for more information! We are passionate about what we do and love to talk about it!
Absolutely! There is a lot that we can do by utilizing telehealth - therapy through a secure video call. All you need is a computer with a camera feature or a smartphone and internet!
Once we connect and have a thorough consultation and movement analysis, we will guide you through self-manual therapy (we teach you to mobilize your own muscles), stretching and strengthening exercises, and other treatments customized to your needs. All in your own home.
Please call with more questions or to set up an appointment!
Physical therapists serve in many different roles depending on if they work in a hospital, workspace, provide in-home services, or work in a clinic setting. At Bridgewrights, we primarily work in our clinic to help people manage pain and other dysfunctions or disabilities. These issues can range from sprained ankles to chronic back pain to headaches to tingles in your fingers or toes. We do this by assessing movement, strength, flexibility, joint restrictions, and neurological issues related to your dysfunction. Some physical therapists, like Dr. Megan, also help people with incontinence (involuntary loss of urine or stool). Not sure if PT is for you? Give us a call. We'll let you know if we can help or help refer you to someone who can.
Each appointment at Bridgewrights is about an hour, one-on-one with a doctor of physical therapy. During your first visit, we will ask you to tell us about your problem and what your goals are for physical therapy. Then, we will watch you move and test your strength, flexibility and soft tissue and joint restrictions to learn more about your problem. At the end of your first visit, you may have several customized exercises to help address your issue.
Each following session builds on the first session with progression of exercises and treatment. Frequency of appointments is dependent on your issue as well as your schedule.
The number of sessions needed is also variable. Some issues resolve within a few sessions and others take several months to fully resolve. We may be able to give you a better estimate of the time needed after your first session.
You’ll notice the difference right when you walk in the door at Bridgewrights. Rather than bright fluorescent lights, our clinic is decorated with soft lights and house plants. And you can help yourself to snacks and tea or water before the session.
During each visit, you are with a doctor of physical therapy for the full hour. At Bridgewrights, we don’t have techs or aides.
We also are very accommodating to your schedule and have some weekend and evening hours.
The right time to go to PT is different for everyone, but typically the earlier that someone comes into therapy, the faster and easier the recovery. However, no time is too late, either. If you've been having pain for months to years, it's likely not going to go away on its own and may get even worse over time. But if you come into therapy, it IS likely to go away. We help people heal all the time!
There is also this terrible belief that a sign of aging is pain. This does not have to be the case! (In fact, back pain is much more common in middle-aged people than in older adults!) Just because your mother or grandfather put up with pain as they got older, doesn't mean that you have to. Pain as we age is common, but NOT normal nor necessary. Physical therapy is very likely to help you no matter when you choose to come.
The amount of hands on therapy (or manual therapy) completely depends on the patient and the condition. Usually part of the session is hands on for everyone. (That is, if the sessions are in-person. If they are telehealth, and hands on treatment is needed, we have a few tricks up our sleeves!). Dr. Tolga and Dr. Megan have additional post-graduate training in manual therapy.
For full recovery the patient must be involved and motivated to heal, which usually requires at least some participation outside of the clinic. However, non-exercisers, don't despair! We will work with you to find a plan that works for you. Sometimes the most important participation outside of the clinic can be simple changes to posture and don't require that you find extra time, just that you do what you have to do a little differently. At Bridgewrights, we will listen to you because we will work with you as a team to help you heal, taking into account what's helped you in the past with our expertise.