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Frequently Asked Questions

We often receive a number of questions regarding Physical Therapy. Whether you've had a traumatic or overuse injury, undergone orthopedic surgery or just want to enhance your performance, physical therapy may be for you. PAPT treats individuals from all walks of life and of all fitness levels not just performers.Since performers require the best care all our patients benefit from the expertice and professionalism of our therapists. Most services require a doctor's prescription, but some do not. Explore the tabs below to view our most commonly asked questions. Please consult your physician for further care.

What do I need for the 1st day?

To expedite the process of your first visit, please take the time to download and complete the checklist and intake forms, which are found on the New Patient page. Please also bring your Insurance card, prescription, referral, or C2 form (worker's comp) as appropriate. You should plan on at least 60 minutes for your first visit.

You should also bring appropriate clothing to your initial visit and follow up visits that allow the therapist sufficient access to the affected body part (i.e., shorts for lower extremity injuries; a tank top for back, neck and upper extremity injuries).

Do I need PT after a traumatic or overuse injury?
Yes. Whether you fell and sprained your ankle, tore a hamstring during a grand battement, or have developed tendinitis from repeating the same movements over and over again, physical therapy is imperative to a fast and full recovery. After obtaining a prescription from your doctor, physical therapy can help your rehabilitation dramatically no matter what your injury is. We can assist in decreasing swelling and pain, tissue healing, strengthening, stretching, postural re-education and movement re-education to return to your prior level of activity.
Do I need PT after surgery?
Yes. Any surgical procedure, no matter how mild, places significant stress on the body. A comprehensive PT program is essential and is almost always prescribed by your doctor.
Do I need PT for minor aches and pains?
Possibly. Most performers accept the fact that the physical demands of their art may cause pain from time to time. However, "working through the pain" is often not the best choice, especially if your aches and pains are long lasting or are increasing in intensity. What one perceives as minor could in fact be, or turn into, a serious injury requiring medical attention. A doctor can determine if an injury exists and the extent of that injury, and then prescribe PT when appropriate. Physical therapy can be beneficial for any injury by reducing recovery time while preventing a reoccurrence of the injury.
Do I need PT even if I am not currently injured?
Maybe. Our prevention programs are designed to help reduce your chances of sustaining an injury. PT preventative services do not require a doctor's prescription. We can assess such areas as strength, flexibility, joint mobility and balance to determine areas of strength and areas that may benefit from physical training. From our assessment, a comprehensive exercise program can be developed to help optimize your potential, enhance your performance, and make you a more balanced performer who is less likely to be injured.
What do I need to bring the first day of physical therapy?
a. Your insurance information or your C2 form if it is worker’s compensation
b. A prescription from the doctor if you have one
c. Reports from diagnostic tests (ex. MRI report)
d. Any braces or assertive devices you are using
e. Appropriate clothing (see below)
What should I wear to physical therapy?
Wear clothing that allows us access to your injured body part and freedom of movement. We do not provide clothing.
What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept cash, check and credit cards.
Is the co-pay or co-insurance a one-time fee?
No. Dictated by your insurance plan, you will pay a co-pay or co-insurance prior to each visit.
Who is responsible for paying late fees when applicable?
You are responsible for paying any late fees. Your insurance will not cover this cost.
Do you treat only performing artists?
No. We treat patients with any orthopedic injury.
Will my insurance cover Pilates?
Maybe. Based on your diagnosis and presentation, you may be a candidate for Medical Pilates, our Pilates rehabilitation program. Even when appropriate, it is never a substitute for physical therapy and cannot be utilized exclusively.
Can I come to physical therapy without a doctor’s prescription?
Maybe:

a. Under the Direct Access laws in New York, patients can receive physical therapy for 10 visits or 30 days, whichever comes first, before a prescription is required.
b. However, most insurance companies require a prescription in order to pay for the session, so in most cases, you will need a prescription.
c. The exception is for the first visit only; a prescription is suggested but not required.
Does my prescription last forever?
No.

a. The doctor typically writes a frequency and duration on the prescription, for example 3x/wk for 4 wks. If no frequency or duration is written, the prescription is automatically 2x/wk for 4 wks.
b. The prescription expires based on the time frame from the first use, not the frequency.
c. Prescriptions cannot be open ended, but some prescriptions will say 12 visits, which will not expire until all 12 visits are used; this is the preferred method.
d. With Medicare, prescriptions automatically expire 30 days from the issue date.
Do I need a prescription if my insurance says I don’t need one?
Not for the first 10 visits or 30 days, whichever comes first. After that time frame, you will need a prescription according to New York law.
What is the difference between a referral and a prescription?
a. Both are issued by your referring doctor, however, they serve separate purposes.
b. A prescription tells the physical therapist what the injury is and how to treat it; most insurance companies require a prescription immediately and New York law requires a prescription after 10 visits or 30 days, whichever comes first.
c. With a referral, the doctor requests that the insurance company pay for physical therapy services. It gives us access to your insurance company; however, not all insurance plans require a referral.
What is the difference between a prescription and authorization?
a. A prescription comes from the doctor and tells the physical therapist what the injury is and how to treat it; most insurance companies require a prescription.
b. Authorization comes from the insurance company, dictating the number of visits allowed within a certain time frame. Your insurance will not cover a session without authorization.
c. You must have BOTH an up-to-date prescription and authorization to be seen for physical therapy.
Why do I need authorization if I have a prescription from the doctor?
The prescription tells the physical therapist what the injury is and how to treat it; however, the insurance company will not cover the treatment without first providing authorization.
Why do I need a prescription if I have authorization from the insurance company?
Regardless of authorized visits from your insurance company, you will need an up-to-date prescription. New York law requires that you have a prescription after the first 10 visits or 30 days, whichever comes first; however, most insurance companies require a prescription for the full duration of treatment.
Why can’t I be seen as many times as my doctor prescribes?
Unfortunately, the number of visits authorized by your insurance company dictates how many times you can come under its coverage. The insurance company will take into consideration the recommendation of the doctor and physical therapist but will ultimately decide how many visits to authorize, regardless of what the prescription says.
What special tests do you do?
We do a number of special tests including:

the VAS test.