FAQ
- What does a physical therapist do? Physical therapists are specialized medical providers that are trained in evaluation and treatment of conditions, injuries and diseases of the musculo-skeletal and neurologic system. Physical therapists treat patients of all ages and ability levels. The physical therapists at Lone Peak Physical Therapy specialize in orthopedics and sports-medicine. This means they are highly trained to treat injuries to the bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
- Does physical therapy hurt? Physical therapy treatments are designed to restore normal function of the injured system. If a patient is recovering from a total knee replacement surgery, the therapist will need to stretch the patient’s knee in order to recover normalized range of motion. In some cases such stretching causes discomfort, but in other cases patients report that their physical therapy is nearly painless. Often our patients report that physical therapy treatments take away their pain and create a sense of increased well-being.
- Do I have to get a referral from a medical doctor to see a physical therapist? If you have any insurance other than Medicare or Medicaid, a physical therapist can see you directly without the need of referral from another provider. This means that any person (except those with the above listed insurances) can call directly to a Lone Peak Physical Therapy office to make an appointment to be seen for evaluation of an injury, condition or disease.
- How do I see a physical therapist if I have Medicare or Medicaid coverage? These insurance programs require that patients see a Medical Doctor (MD) for evaluation before starting their program of physical therapy. The best way to start treatment with a physical therapist if you have Medicare or Medicaid is to go to your primary care physician to obtain a referral BEFORE your first physical therapy appointment.
- Does Lone Peak Physical Therapy treat patients who are covered under Worker’s Compensation? Yes, all of our clinics are set up to provide services for individuals injured on the job. Your Worker’s Compensation Claim Number is required to start physical therapy.
- How do I get a Worker’s Compensation claim number? If you have been injured on the job, first follow your company’s injury reporting policies which usually involves reporting the incident and injury to a supervisor. In most cases, your employer will assist you in filling our the required paperwork to file your injury with Worker’s Compensation. Once a Worker’s Compensation claim is filed by your employer, you will receive an identification number (claim number) associated with your injury. Lone Peak Physical Therapy requires that injured workers have their claim number established before services will be rendered.
- Can I receive physical therapy treatment if I don’t have insurance? Yes. Lone Peak Physical Therapy works with many patients who don’t have insurance on a cash pay basis. We offer payment plans and are willing to work with patients in regard to their bill in order to ensure all patients have access to physical therapy care. If you don’t have insurance and have a question regarding the costs of physical therapy, please call our Billing Manager, Kristen Pelkey at 406.995.7525. Kristen handles billing questions on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
- What should I wear to physical therapy? Workout attire is a great choice, you therapist can more easily access the are that needs to be treated if you are wearing shorts or sweats. Ladies that are being treated for problems with the shoulder, upper back or neck may want to wear a workout bra or tank top.
- How long does physical therapy take? This question depends on the complexity of the injury or condition the therapist is treating. If a patient has a minor ankle sprain, his session may be a bit shorter than a patient that is just newly recovering from major surgery. Once the therapist evaluates your condition, we usually can usually give patients a fairly accurate estimate of how much time to budget into their day for physical therapy treatment.
