Physical Therapy
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
If you have been to a physical therapist in the state of Indiana, then you know you must first see a physician to get a referral for it. That will be true until July 1, 2013. Governor Pence has signed a law which allows patients direct access to physical therapy. So what does this mean for you? Direct access means you can walk into a physical therapy office when you have aches and pains without first seeing a physician. As a current student of physical therapy at the University of Indianapolis, this new change excites me for when I graduate.
Some of you may be asking, “Why would I need physical therapy?” Physical therapists are now educated at the doctoral level and are specialists in movement. They know how the body works and can treat muscle injuries as well as many other injuries. A common symptom physical therapists treat is back pain. Studies have shown that the sooner back pain is treated, the better the outcome. Direct access will allow you to make an appointment with a physical therapist sooner than you could when you first had to visit your physician.
So what’s the catch? Physical therapy is not a pill you take to fix your problems. The physical therapists are skilled at working with patients to help with their physical difficulties, but you must also do exercises on your own between visits. The goal of physical therapy is to give you tools to help you “fix” yourself when problems arise.
Physical therapists are also trained in wellness. For those of you looking to start exercising, you can go to a local gym and work with a personal trainer. If you want to try to prevent injury, a physical therapist is a good person to see once or twice to make sure you are using equipment appropriately. They can also give you a guide to progress your exercise. If you are injured when working out, a physical therapist is a great person to go see.
Having a physical therapist that you can trust is like having a family doctor. We are trained in muscle injuries, so when you have a problem, you should feel free to come see one of us.
Lindsay Houvener
Winona Lake, via email[[In-content Ad]]
Latest News
E-Editions
If you have been to a physical therapist in the state of Indiana, then you know you must first see a physician to get a referral for it. That will be true until July 1, 2013. Governor Pence has signed a law which allows patients direct access to physical therapy. So what does this mean for you? Direct access means you can walk into a physical therapy office when you have aches and pains without first seeing a physician. As a current student of physical therapy at the University of Indianapolis, this new change excites me for when I graduate.
Some of you may be asking, “Why would I need physical therapy?” Physical therapists are now educated at the doctoral level and are specialists in movement. They know how the body works and can treat muscle injuries as well as many other injuries. A common symptom physical therapists treat is back pain. Studies have shown that the sooner back pain is treated, the better the outcome. Direct access will allow you to make an appointment with a physical therapist sooner than you could when you first had to visit your physician.
So what’s the catch? Physical therapy is not a pill you take to fix your problems. The physical therapists are skilled at working with patients to help with their physical difficulties, but you must also do exercises on your own between visits. The goal of physical therapy is to give you tools to help you “fix” yourself when problems arise.
Physical therapists are also trained in wellness. For those of you looking to start exercising, you can go to a local gym and work with a personal trainer. If you want to try to prevent injury, a physical therapist is a good person to see once or twice to make sure you are using equipment appropriately. They can also give you a guide to progress your exercise. If you are injured when working out, a physical therapist is a great person to go see.
Having a physical therapist that you can trust is like having a family doctor. We are trained in muscle injuries, so when you have a problem, you should feel free to come see one of us.
Lindsay Houvener
Winona Lake, via email[[In-content Ad]]
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092