Have a question about physical therapy? We’re here to help.
Clear answers to help you feel ready for physical therapy at Body Balance.
Everything you need to know before your first visit.
It’s easy, come in and see us. We will schedule a 10 minute appointment at no charge to you with one of our therapists so you can discuss whether physical therapy can help you.
It is easy, just call us or stop by to set up an appointment! If you have insurance that requires a doctor referral (many don’t), we will contact your doctor to help you get started.
No. Idaho is a “Direct Access” state, meaning you can schedule an appointment with Body Balance immediately without seeing a physician first. We can assess your injury and start treatment right away. If your specific insurance plan requires a referral, we will handle that coordination for you.
You can come see us. Ultimately the choice is yours to make. We will contact your doctor to coordinate care for you.
As a new patient, you will be asked to register and provide insurance and medical history information. Your first appointment will involve a detailed evaluation of your specific condition and a review of your history, occupation and hobbies. This helps us determine the best possible solution for your specific needs and design your treatment plan.
Depending on your condition, your therapist may ask you to change into a gown or shorts on your first appointment. Most patients feel comfortable wearing exercise clothing such as t-shirts, sweats or shorts during their treatment program.
Please contact your physical therapist as soon as you know you will not be able to attend a scheduled appointment. This will allow us to reschedule your appointment as quickly as possible to keep your recovery moving forward.
Yes. We will send your doctor the initial evaluation and progress notes along the way. We will also send your doctor a discharge summary when you complete physical therapy. If your doctor has an urgent need for your information, we will contact them by phone.
Learn how physical therapy works and what your care may involve.
Physical therapy is health care that focuses on improving the interaction of your muscles, bones, tendons, and nerves. This can include help with pain, balance, strength, movement, and endurance. Basically, if you have problems doing any activity, your physical therapist can help you improve your ability to do the things you want to do.
The goal of physical therapy is to reduce your pain. You may experience soreness from exercises, activities, and stretches. However, if you begin to experience significant pain, communicate that to your therapist so the activity can be modified to suit you.
All of them! Body Balance has treated people of all ages for a variety of reasons—from children recovering after accidents and high school athletes improving performance to parents returning to work and grandparents staying active with their families.
It depends on what you need and are trying to accomplish. Some problems can be overcome in one or two visits, while work hardening for workers’ compensation cases can take five times per week. Generally, most cases require 1–3 times per week for 2–6 weeks, with emphasis on teaching you what to do at home.
Physical therapy appointments are between 30 and 90 minutes. If you have time restrictions, let us know and we will work around your needs.
Physical therapy uses evidence-based treatments including therapeutic exercises, stretching, manual manipulations, and retraining muscles and nerves. Physical therapy usually entails a shorter, intense period of treatment that focuses on training the patient to maintain gains at home. Chiropractic care and physical therapy differ in their methods and ideology of treatment.
Answers to common financial and treatment questions.
Physical therapy is one of the great values in health care. A therapist bills by the hour using billing codes, and treatments usually last 30 to 60 minutes. For information about the cost of your initial evaluation and treatment, please contact our office directly. After your initial visit, you can work with your therapist to develop a plan that fits your physical and financial needs.
Most insurances do. You can bring your card in or call us and we can look up your insurance information to let you know the benefits your particular plan has for physical therapy. If your plan does not cover physical therapy, we have payment options so you can get the care you need.
Yes! Many of our patients do not have insurance. We can make your treatment plan fit both your physical needs and your budget, with payment plans that will work for you.
Yes. All of our physical therapists and occupational therapists are licensed by the state of Idaho. Many also have advanced certifications and specialize in areas such as orthopedics, sports therapy, manual therapy, pediatrics, and women’s health. You will not be treated by an unlicensed aide or tech at Body Balance.
Actually, no. Physical therapy can reduce pain, but it can also improve balance and walking ability, improve athletic performance, reduce injury risk, and improve quality of life regardless of age or injury status.
There are many things that can cause back pain. To identify the causes of your specific pain, your physical therapist will need to do an evaluation. A study in the July 2008 issue of Spine found that 92% of patients with low back pain were helped by physical therapy.
As is common when beginning any new physical activity program, you may have some mild soreness following the examination and initial treatment. Let us know how you felt afterward so we can treat you accordingly.
Our team is ready to help you understand your options and take the next step toward moving more and living more.