FAQs
Physical Therapy Frequently Asked Questions.
Everything You Need to Know Before Starting Physical Therapy
Choosing a physical therapy clinic is an important decision, and it’s natural to have questions. Whether you’re wondering if you need a referral, what your first visit will be like, how long recovery may take, or whether physical therapy can help your condition, we’re here to help.
Below you’ll find answers to many of the questions we hear most often from our patients. If you don’t see your question, please contact our office—we’re always happy to help.
Getting Started
Do I need a referral to begin physical therapy?
The cleanest and easiest way to begin physical therapy is with a referral from a physician. This may be your primary care doctor, surgeon, dentist, chiropractor, podiatrist, or other osteopath.
Direct access:
Maine is a ‘direct access’ state (hyperlink to pdf of APTA pdf ). This means that you may see a physical therapist without a referral. However, it is always best to check with your insurance company to ensure therapy will be covered. Most commercial insurances cover therapy without a referral. Some federally sponsored plans do not (i.e. Medicare and VA plans).
Direct access has some rules to it.
For instance, if you do not see improvement in your condition in 30 days, a referral to another provider is mandatory. If improvement is noted, but treatment is necessary beyond 120 days, you must see an ‘advanced provider’ (i.e. your primary care provider or a doctor).
How do I schedule an appointment?
Scheduling an appointment is easy. You may call or text (207) 213-6262. You may also email us with a request to schedule and our team will get in touch with you quickly (hyperlink to ‘contact us’ page). If you are an existing patient, you may call, text or schedule an appointment online using our electronic medical record (EMR) system portal: all you need is your email or phone number and your date of birth.
What should I expect during my first visit?
Your initial evaluation at Forza Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine lasts approximately one hour. Unlike many practices, we believe the first visit lays the foundation for your entire recovery and should be as thorough and comprehensive as possible.
During your evaluation, we will discuss your medical history, current symptoms, goals, lifestyle, and the activities that are most important to you. We will perform a detailed examination of the injured body part while also assessing the joints, muscles, and movement patterns above and below the area of pain. Because the body functions as an integrated system, identifying contributing factors often helps us treat the underlying cause of your symptoms—not just the symptoms themselves.
At the conclusion of your evaluation, we’ll explain our findings, answer your questions, and develop an individualized treatment plan that aligns with your goals. Whether that plan involves continued physical therapy, a home exercise program, post-operative rehabilitation, return-to-sport training, or recommendations for additional medical evaluation, your care is tailored specifically to you.
Simply put, your first visit defines your plan of care, and that plan is built around helping you return to the activities that matter most.
What should I wear?
- Shoulder: please wear a sleeveless shirt, like a tank top or sports top.
- Elbow or wrist, a short-sleeved shirt will work.
- Hip, knee, or ankle: please bring shorts to change into or wear them to your first visit.
- Trunk or spine: loose pants (like sweatpants) and a t-shirt work best. It helps if we can briefly see your back to look at the spine and posture.
- Neck: please wear a shirt that exposes the neck. Hoodies and turtlenecks make it difficult to assess.
About Treatment
How long will I need physical therapy?
The length of physical therapy depends on two primary factors: the severity of your injury and the level of activity you hope to return to. Some patients require only a single visit to develop an individualized home program, while others—particularly those recovering from surgery or returning to competitive athletics—may benefit from several months of rehabilitation. Typically, we see patients 1-2 times per week depending on the condition. In rare but special cases, we will see patients 3 or more times per week.
Below are some examples of what to expect:
- ACL surgery: 3-6 months, 2-3 times per week (formal rehabilitation commonly lasts 3–6 months, while return to unrestricted competitive sport often takes 9–12 months depending on the athlete and procedure)
- Meniscectomy surgery (meniscus trimming): 6-12 weeks
- Meniscus repair (or root repair) surgery: 8 weeks to 6 months
- Knee cartilage procedures (i.e. MACI procedure): 4-6 months
- Total knee replacement surgery: 6-12 weeks
- MCL tear (non-op): 6 weeks
- Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS): 6-8 weeks
- Rotator cuff repair: 3-6 months
- Reverse total shoulder replacement or anatomic shoulder replacement surgery: 6-12 weeks
- Low back pain: 6-12 weeks
- Neck pain with or without pain to the arm(s): 6-12 weeks
- Ankle surgery: 3-6 months
- Ankle sprain: 6 weeks
- Plantar fasciitis: 6-12 weeks
- Achilles tendonitis (tendinopathy): 6-8 weeks
- Total hip replacement surgery: 6 -8 weeks
- Hip arthroscopy: 6 weeks to 6 months
- Greater trochanteric pain syndrome (hip bursitis, lateral hip pain) 6-8 weeks
Will physical therapy hurt?
Typically, the answer is no. At times, however, we use pain provocation tests to induce pain to specific tissues so that we may assess what specific tissues were injured to tailor a treatment plan. Most patients present in physical therapy with pain. Therefore, our primary goal is to reduce pain, not induce pain. That said, the “no pain no gain” philosophy is not the key. At times, we may recommend treatments that are uncomfortable, such as dry needling, or specific exercises, such as eccentric loading, that are mildly painful. In these cases, we will be specific about the pain you will experience. We never intentionally induce pain without you knowing a treatment or test may hurt.
What is dry needling and do you offer it?
Yes. Dry needling is one of many treatment techniques we may incorporate into your rehabilitation program when it is appropriate for your condition and goals. Dirk and Cari are both certified in dry needling techniques.
Dry needling involves the use of a very thin, sterile needle inserted into muscles or connective tissue to help reduce pain, improve muscle function, and restore normal movement. Unlike injections, dry needling does not involve medication. Instead, it is used to address muscular trigger points, tissue irritation, and movement impairments that may be contributing to your symptoms.
At Forza Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine, dry needling is never used as a stand-alone treatment. Instead, it is combined with a comprehensive rehabilitation program that may include manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, movement retraining, patient education, and progressive strengthening.
While dry needling can be highly effective for certain conditions, it is not appropriate or necessary for everyone. During your evaluation, we’ll determine whether it may be a beneficial addition to your individualized treatment plan and discuss the potential benefits, risks, and expected outcomes with you.
Does dry needling hurt?
Most patients tolerate dry needling very well, but it is uncomfortable. Some areas of the body are more sensitive to needling techniques than others. Generally speaking, you will feel a brief pinch as the needle is inserted, followed by a muscle twitch or cramping sensation if a trigger point is stimulated. Some mild soreness afterward is common and typically resolves within 24 to 48 hours.
Your physical therapist will explain the procedure beforehand and ensure you’re comfortable throughout treatment. Dry needling is always optional, and we’ll discuss whether it’s appropriate for your condition before incorporating it into your plan of care.
Can physical therapy help me avoid surgery?
Yes. There are several high-quality studies that show physical therapy can be effective at restoring a person to their previous level of function in the presence of a tissue injury. These studies include injuries, such as meniscus tears, ACL injuries, rotator cuff tears, knee and hip osteoarthritis, herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, and many other injuries.
One of our goals is to help you make an informed decision. If conservative treatment is successful, surgery may not be necessary. If surgery ultimately becomes the best option, you’ll often enter surgery stronger, better educated, and better prepared for recovery.
Should I see if my pain goes away first?
If you’re searching the internet trying to figure out why something hurts, that’s usually a good indication it’s time to have it evaluated.
Many injuries improve with time, and a little reassurance is all that’s needed. Other conditions require physical therapy or referral to another healthcare provider to prevent symptoms from becoming more serious or prolonged.
If your pain is significantly limiting your ability to work, exercise, sleep, care for your family, or participate in activities you enjoy, we recommend being evaluated sooner rather than later. Early treatment often leads to faster recovery and helps prevent small problems from becoming larger ones.
Can I continue exercising while I’m in therapy?
In many cases, continuing to move is actually beneficial. We simply modify activity so that healing tissues are appropriately protected while the rest of your body continues to become stronger.
Is soreness after therapy normal?
Soreness after therapy can be normal, especially when new exercises are introduced, manual therapy is performed, or dry needling is performed. We dose our interventions so that excessive soreness does not occur. In cases where pain is high, such as right after surgery, or in cases with severe back pain, our main goal is to reduce pain. In this scenario, the interventions we utilize are meant to reduce pain and not increase it.
Why do you evaluate areas that don’t hurt?
Pain is not always caused by the structure that hurts.
The body functions as one integrated system, and limitations in one area often affect movement somewhere else. For example, weakness around the hip may contribute to knee pain, limited ankle mobility may affect running mechanics, and dysfunction in the neck or upper back can contribute to shoulder pain.
Rather than focusing only on the painful area, we evaluate the body as a whole to identify the underlying factors contributing to your symptoms. This comprehensive approach allows us to develop treatment plans that address the root cause of your problem rather than simply treating the symptoms.
How do you know what treatment is right for me?
The selection of treatments is based on several factors. One, is tissue irritability. If your injury is acute, we administer interventions to reduce pain and swelling. If tissue irritability is low, we may choose interventions that load tissue more. Another factor is what you are hoping to achieve in therapy. For example, if your goal is to hike Mt. Katahdin, we will tailor our interventions to achieve this goal. The other factor is recommending what works. We use research (evidence) to guide our practice. For example, treatments for low back pain are based on clinical practice guidelines and other supporting research to ensure you get better. Lastly, we collaborate with your referring provider and other specialists. Sometimes, physical therapy is the first and most practical form of treatment for a condition, such as low back pain. It is also the most conservative. If your back pain does not improve, or we find red flags, we ensure you are referred to the right specialty for further care.
Sports Medicine
Do you treat athletes?
Yes! We treat all sorts of athletes. Whether you’re a professional athlete, high school competitor, recreational runner, tactical athlete, or weekend warrior, if you’re passionate about your sport, we’re your pit crew.
What is return-to-sport testing?
Return to sport testing incorporates taking an athlete through a regimen of tests that expose the athlete to provocative challenges that may be experienced in their sport. For example, we utilize a battery of tests for the lower extremity that have been validated and rigorously researched to test patients recovering from ACL surgery. Passing these tests is correlated with lower re-injury risk. They also give the athlete a greater sense of confidence in returning to their sport. We don’t simply clear athletes because enough time has passed, we show them when they are ready.
Do you offer performance training?
Yes, we do. Once you successfully complete your rehabilitation, you may continue training and advance your training goals and performance with supervised performance training sessions. Our goal is not simply returning you to your previous level of performance—but helping you exceed it whenever possible.
Can physical therapy improve athletic performance?
Of course! Whether you are recovering from your injury or participating in performance training, keying into movement patterns, optimizing muscle performance, and fine tuning your skill are the things that will get you back better than you expected.
Working with my Physician
Will my therapist communicate with my physician or surgeon?
Communication is one of the cornerstones of excellent patient care. We believe the best outcomes occur when physical therapists, surgeons, primary care providers, and other healthcare professionals work together as a team. At Forza Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine, we have close relationships with most sports medicine and orthopedic groups in the state of Maine, and even in the United States. We send every referring provider our complete initial examination findings and routinely update them on your progress. If a problem arises, we reach out to your provider formulate a plan to get you back on track.
What happens if my therapist thinks I need additional testing?
This is not uncommon. As mentioned earlier, physical therapy is often the first, and most conservative, measure to take after an injury. If progress isn’t being made, or you would benefit from further testing or the next level of interventions, we make suggestions to your provider and collaborate to update your treatment plan so that you receive the most effective care in a timely manner.
How do you know what my surgeon wants after surgery?
In addition to maintaining surgeon-specific rehabilitation protocols, our clinicians regularly communicate with orthopedic surgeons and have observed numerous orthopedic procedures to better understand surgical techniques, tissue healing, and post-operative precautions. This experience allows us to better educate patients, coordinate rehabilitation with the surgical team, and ensure treatment remains aligned with your surgeon’s expectations throughout your recovery.
Insurance and Billing
Do you accept insurance?
Yes. We are contracted with nearly all major insurance companies. We also accept Medicare, MaineCare, Workman’s Compensation, VA, and other federal programs.
If I don’t have insurance, can I pay out of pocket?
Yes. We offer self-pay rates that are competitive with the rate the major insurance companies reimburse us for physical therapy visits. An initial evaluation is $150, and follow-up visits are $100. If your follow up care extends beyond 4 visits, we will discount the initial evaluation to $100.
What is a copay versus a coinsurance cost?
These are costs that are your responsibility as defined by your insurance policy. A copay is a set cost you will have to pay for each visit. These range from $15-50 per visits depending on your insurance plan. A co-insurance fee is a percentage of your reimbursed rate per session. For example, if your co-insurance rate is 20% and your insurance company pays us $100 for a visit, you will be responsible for $20 of that visit. Unfortunately, we will not know what the exact cost of the visit will be until your insurance company processes your PT bill. We will provide you with an estimate of this cost at the time of your initial evaluation.
What is the difference between a deductible and out-of-pocket maximum?
A deductible is the amount you must pay for healthcare services out of pocket before your insurance starts sharing costs. An out-of-pocket maximum is the absolute limit you will pay in a year for covered, in-network medical care; after this, your insurance covers 100% of costs.
About Forza
What makes Forza different?
Forza Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine was founded on the belief that exceptional outcomes require exceptional care. Our practice combines evidence-based rehabilitation, orthopedic and sports medicine expertise, individualized one-on-one treatment, continuity of care, and close collaboration with physicians to provide an exceptional patient experience. Forza was founded on principles and values that were developed over decades of experience, working with elite orthopedic groups, publishing research, and working with patients and athletes of all levels and complexities. It’s not surprising that within just 2 years of opening, Forza was voted the best physical therapy practice in Kennebec County in two separate surveys. We take our profession seriously and put patient care at the forefront of our mission, not profits. We built Forza to be the kind of clinic we would want our own family members, friends, teammates, and neighbors to receive care from. Every decision we make is guided by that philosophy
Will I see the same therapist?
Yes—whenever possible.
At Forza Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine, we believe continuity of care is one of the most important factors in achieving exceptional outcomes. Whenever scheduling allows, patients continue working with the physical therapist who performed their initial evaluation.
As your therapist gets to know your injury, your goals, your progress, and how you respond to treatment, each visit builds upon the last. Rather than repeating your story to multiple providers, you develop a relationship with one clinician who guides your recovery from your first visit through discharge.
We believe this approach leads to better communication, greater efficiency, and ultimately better outcomes.
Why is patient education such an important part of treatment?
Understanding your injury and how it heals is the cornerstone of your success. It gives you peace of mind and confidence while you’re healing and working toward returning to the activities you enjoy. For example, if you understand the phases of frozen shoulder and how to manage them, going through the process is much easier. If you know that a rotator cuff repair needs several months to anchor into the bone before it can be loaded, you accept patience. If you understand that your tissue will not fail when you load it with heavier weight, you are reassured and confident. These are only a few examples of how patient education empowers you to excel in your rehabilitation. We believe educated patients make better decisions, participate more confidently in rehabilitation, and achieve better long-term outcomes.
General Questions
When should I start physical therapy after an injury?
Physical therapy can start immediately after an injury. In most cases, your provider will recommend physical therapy after an injury, but in most cases, we can manage an injury from Day 1 to graduation day confidently and successfully.
Can I get a second opinion before surgery?
Of course. In fact, most surgeons welcome it. Your care and your health are your assets. It is your right to seek out as much information you can regarding them.
Is physical therapy worth trying before surgery?
There are several injuries that can be rehabilitated without surgery, though not all. If you are questioning if physical therapy can help before considering a surgery, please reach out to us.
What if I’ve already had physical therapy somewhere else?
This is actually quite common, and it doesn’t necessarily mean physical therapy won’t work for you.
Our first goal is to understand what you’ve already tried. We’ll review your previous treatment, discuss what helped, what didn’t, and determine whether your condition has changed since your last course of therapy. We then perform our own comprehensive evaluation and develop a treatment plan based on your current symptoms, goals, and examination findings.
Sometimes a different approach, a more specific diagnosis, progression of exercises, or a renewed focus on patient education can make all the difference. Other times, your condition may have progressed to the point where additional testing, injections, or consultation with another healthcare provider is appropriate. If that’s the case, we’ll work closely with your healthcare team to help guide you to the next step.
We believe every patient deserves a fresh evaluation and an open mind. Thinking outside the box isn’t just our hobby—it’s part of our commitment to helping you find the most effective path forward.
Still Have Questions?
Every patient is different, and we understand that you may have questions specific to your condition or recovery. If you don’t see your question answered here, please contact our office. We’d be happy to discuss your situation and help you determine whether physical therapy is right for you.
Our goal isn’t simply to answer your questions—it’s to help you understand your injury, your recovery, and the role physical therapy plays in helping you return to the activities that matter most.
