Need Physical Therapy and Have Medicare? Read On…

physical therapy and medicare

Need Physical Therapy and you have Medicare? Here’s what you need to know.

Do I need a Doctor’s Prescription? 

No! Some people are surprised to learn that you can see a physical therapist without a doctor’s prescription. You can receive an evaluation, get additional information on what can help, and start treatment to see how you respond. You may even start to feel better after the first treatment, especially if it is a muscular injury. For example, let’s say that you were moving boxes over the weekend and now you have back pain. It is likely that you have a muscle strain that would respond very well to physical therapy treatment. By coming directly to physical therapy, you save a step and get on the road to recovery faster. Going to a physical therapist directly saves time and avoids having to make multiple appointments for the more simple injuries.

Will My Doctor Be Informed?

Yes. After you are evaluated, a plan is developed for how to treat your condition. This report can be sent to your family doctor or other health care provider of your choice so that they are aware of the situation. At that time, your doctor can also provide feedback as to whether you might need medication or additional testing.

Does Your Office Accept Medicare?

Yes! We are in network with Medicare and accept all of the Medicare supplement plans.

How Much Does Treatment Cost?

Medicare imposes a one-time deductible per calendar year for Medicare Part B. Patients are responsible for this deductible, which amounts to $240 for the year 2024. To initiate coverage, patients must cover medical expenses or doctor’s visits until they reach the $240 threshold at the beginning of the calendar year. Once the deductible is satisfied, it remains so for the entire calendar year. Some Medicare supplement plans cover this deductible, while others do not.

If your deductible has already been satisfied for the year, there is no cost for physical therapy treatment. Medicare covers 80% of charges, and the remaining 20% will be passed on to your supplemental insurance for payment.

Don’t Put It Off – See One of Our Physical Therapists in Lansdale Today!

Waiting can often make a small injury or issue much worse. Issues like back pain, knee arthritis, rotator cuff injuries, vertigo and more all respond very well to physical therapy treatment. Check HERE for a partial list of what conditions we can help with. Addressing a problem early can prevent it from getting worse and potentially help you to avoid a more painful or costly medical intervention later. Plus, physical therapy can be a more natural way to address pain, rather than masking it with medication.

What Makes North Penn Physical Therapy Different?

Our Private Rooms and One On One Service! Our office has private treatment rooms designed to make you feel comfortable so you achieve the best results.  Private rooms allow for a more relaxing, healing environment, where we can focus on treatment. Our therapists give one on one attention that helps you to make the most improvement in the shortest amount of time, and allows us to listen and focus on you.

We feel that North Penn Physical Therapy offers a unique advantage in this way. Private rooms and personalized, one-on-one sessions with our physical therapists distinguishes us from other providers. We create an environment tailored to focused and individualized care. North Penn Physical Therapy’s commitment to this high level of care positions us as a premier choice for those seeking an advanced and expedited path to recovery.

Check our reviews to see what other patients are saying.

Same-day/Next-Day Appointments are Available.

CLICK HERE to Request an Appointment, or Give Us a Call at (215) 872-7822 to Get Started

Looking for Sciatica Treatment in North Wales? Try Physical Therapy First.

looking sciatica treatment, north penn physical therapy

If you are looking for sciatica treatment in North Wales, why not try physical therapy first? It can provide natural pain relief without prescription medication, and the results are likely to be longer lasting. The information below will help you make a better decision regarding treatment options and help you to avoid unnecessary and expensive procedures.

What is Sciatica? Three Main Causes of Your Pain

Sciatica is a general term that describes pain that usually is felt in the lower back and radiates down into the buttock, thigh, and often the back of the leg. It’s called sciatica because the pain is in the same area that the sciatic nerve is located (i.e. originating in the lower back, running through the buttock, down the back of the thigh and leg).

Sciatica Isn’t Just a Pinched Nerve

Some experts more specifically define sciatica as a pinched nerve root in the lower back that causes shock-like or burning low back pain combined with pain through the buttocks and down one leg, occasionally reaching the foot.

Important: doctors have done research decades ago that demonstrated that more than just a pinched nerve can cause radiating pain into the buttock and thigh.

What You Need to Know – Don’t Insist on an MRI Right Away

Sciatica pain can be severe and disabling. Patients that experience sciatica pain understandably, want to know what’s causing the pain. Magnetic resonance imaging or MRI does an excellent job of taking pictures of the spine, but here’s what you need to know. MRI tests often show “false positives”.   This means that while the pictures of your lower back may reveal something that doesn’t look right, in many cases, it is NOT the cause of the pain. Consider the results of this scientific research report:

Imaging findings of spine degeneration are present in high proportions of asymptomatic individuals, increasing with age. Many imaging-based degenerative features are likely part of normal aging and unassociated with pain. These imaging findings must be interpreted in the context of the patient’s clinical condition.

Reference: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4464797/

This clinical research study is one of many research papers concluding an MRI shows a lot of age-related changes in the spine that are not likely to be the cause of your sciatica.

What to Do First – See One of Our Sciatica Pain Experts

If you are experiencing lower back pain with or without symptoms radiating down the back of your thigh, you should not immediately think that you have a serious diagnosis, no matter how bad the pain is. If you are looking for sciatica treatment in North Wales, you should try physical therapy first. Conservative, natural care should be done first, to avoid more invasive procedures. The advantages of seeing one of our physical therapy experts are as follows:

  • No waiting – In most cases, you can see us right away.
  • No side effects – In most cases, the treatment we provide has little to no side effects and can make you feel much better.
  • It’s more affordable – an average course of treatment cost much less than tests, injections, or surgery.
  • Seeing one of our physical therapists within 14 days means you’re not likely to need additional care, special tests, injections or surgery.
  • Seeing one of our physical therapists first means you are less likely to need addictive opioid drugs.

How Our Sciatica Specialists will Care for You

Each patient is different so here’s how our specialists will approach your sciatica treatment:

  • An in-depth initial evaluation where we ask you about your pain, medical history, and current condition.
  • A detailed physical exam looking at movement, strength, flexibility, of the spine & nerves.
  • A personalized plan of care to meet your goals.
  • Patient education – details of what we’ve found during the exam and how we will help you address these limitations.
  • Manual Therapy – hands-on techniques for pain relief and to restore mobility.
  • Neuromuscular Reeducation to address restrictions, weakness, and range of motion
  • A Home Program – we teach you what you can do to optimize healing at home as well.
  • Modalities – specific treatments to address your pain if needed.

Start with Natural, Hands-on Care, from Our Caring Team of Professionals. Physical therapist directed care is an effective treatment approach for sciatica. For more information, visit our contact page. We look forward to helping you.

Same-day/Next-Day Appointments are Available.

CLICK HERE to Request an Appointment, or Give Us a Call at (215) 872-7822 to Get Started

Looking for Low Back Pain treatment near Harleysville? Try Physical Therapy First.

Looking for low back pain treatment near Harleysville? Why not consider physical therapy first? It has been proven to reduce pain without the use of medication. The information below will help you learn about treatment options and avoid unnecessary and expensive healthcare interventions.

What Causes Low Back Pain?

Low back pain can have many sources. For example, sciatica refers to pain that travels from the low back down into the buttock, thigh, and/or back of the leg. It’s called sciatica because the pain is in the same area that the sciatic nerve is located. Spinal stenosis occurs when the openings between your vertebrae get smaller, usually due to aging, arthritis, or wear and tear of the spine. When the openings get too small, the nerves get pinched in this area. Low back pain can also come from sprains or strains of the muscles and ligaments in the back, or from other injuries. Because it can have multiple causes, low back pain treatment can be challenging. It is important to find a back treatment specialist that examines the possible causes and gives you a plan for how to fix it.

Don’t Insist on an MRI Right Away

Low back pain can be severe and disabling. Patients that experience pain will understandably want to know what’s causing it. Magnetic resonance imaging or MRI does an excellent job of taking pictures of the spine, but here’s what you need to know. MRI tests often show “false positives”.   This means that while the pictures of your lower back may reveal something that doesn’t look right, in many cases, it is NOT the cause of the pain. Consider the results of this scientific research report:

Imaging findings of spine degeneration are present in high proportions of asymptomatic individuals, increasing with age. Many imaging-based degenerative features are likely part of normal aging and unassociated with pain. These imaging findings must be interpreted in the context of the patient’s clinical condition.

Reference: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4464797/

This clinical research study is one of many research papers concluding an MRI shows a lot of age-related changes in the spine that are not likely to be the cause of your back pain.

See One of Our Experts for Low Back Pain Treatment near Harleysville

If you are experiencing low back pain with or without symptoms radiating down the back of your thigh, it is likely nothing serious. Conservative, natural care is what you should try first. The advantages of seeing one of our physical therapy experts are as follows:

  • No waiting – In most cases, you can see us right away.
  • No side effects – In most cases, the treatment we provide has little to no side effects and can make you feel much better.
  • More affordable – an average course of treatment cost much less than tests, injections, or surgery.
  • Avoid other more painful procedures – you will be less likely to need additional care, special tests, injections or surgery.
  • Seeing one of our physical therapists first means you are less likely to need addictive opioid drugs.

How Our Back Pain Treatment Specialists will Care for You

Each patient is different so here’s how our specialists will approach your back pain:

  • An in-depth initial evaluation where we ask you about your pain, medical history, and current condition.
  • A detailed physical exam looking at movement, strength, flexibility, of the spine & nerves.
  • A personalized plan of care to meet your goals.
  • Patient education – details of what we’ve found during the exam and how we will help you address these limitations.
  • Manual Therapy – hands-on techniques for pain relief and to restore mobility.
  • Neuromuscular Reeducation to address restrictions, weakness, and range of motion
  • A Home Program – we teach you what you can do to optimize healing at home as well.
  • Modalities – specific treatments to address your pain if needed.

See One of Our Experienced Low Back Pain Treatment Professionals Right Away

Start with Natural, Hands-on Care, from Our Caring Team of Professionals. Physical therapist directed care is an effective treatment approach for back pain. For more information, visit our contact page. We look forward to helping you.

Same-day/Next-Day Appointments are Available.

CLICK HERE to Request an Appointment, or Give Us a Call at (215) 872-7822 to Get Started

The Secret To Staying Active For Your Grandkids…

North Penn Physical Therapy Lansdale can help you stay active for your grandkids

One of the biggest motivators is being able to keep up with your grandchildren. Is there a secret to staying active for your grandkids?

As you age, the best way to do this is to increase your strength and flexibility. But, how do you get started? Here are some factors to consider:

  1. Resistance Training: Resistance training is a great way to build strength and improve your overall fitness. Weights, resistance bands, and other equipment can help you reach your fitness goals. There are plenty of videos online that can help you get started.
  2. Flexibility Exercises: Flexibility exercises can help improve your range of motion and reduce joint pain. When you stretch properly, your flexibility improves and you can and reduce your risk of injury.
  3. Balance and Coordination Exercises: As we age, our balance and coordination can become compromised, making falls more likely. The Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation agrees that exercise is key, and gives a quick home test to check your balance. Exercises to help improve your balance and coordination can reduce your risk of falls and other injuries.

Still not sure where to start? Why not ask an expert? At North Penn Physical Therapy in Lansdale, we understand the unique needs of seniors who want to maintain an active lifestyle. We specialize in helping you improve your strength and flexibility to reduce joint pain and improve your overall fitness. Our team of expert physical therapists will work one on one with you to develop a personalized exercise plan tailored to your specific needs and goals. And since we accept most insurance plans, the cost to come in and learn a personalized program may be more affordable than you think.

We can help you achieve your health and fitness goals so that you can enjoy your time with your grandchildren to the fullest. Don’t let joint pain or limited mobility hold you back – contact us today to learn more about our physical therapy services and start your journey towards better health and fitness.

 

North Penn Physical Therapy in Lansdale

Why Choose North Penn Physical Therapy in Lansdale?

Are you tired of overcrowded physical therapy offices? Are you getting the individual attention you need at each therapy visit so you can recover faster? Look no further than North Penn Physical Therapy in Lansdale, where our patients receive private, one-on-one treatment in quiet rooms. Our licensed therapists have over 25 years of experience and are dedicated to helping you reduce pain and get back to your daily activities as soon as possible.

At North Penn Physical Therapy, we believe that individual attention is key to a successful recovery. That’s why we offer private treatment rooms where you can receive personalized therapy without distractions. Our quiet setting will allow you to focus on your healing and improve your outcomes, all while saving time and money.

We take pride in our team of licensed therapists, each with over 25 years of experience in the field. Our therapists are passionate about helping patients achieve their goals and will work with you every step of the way to ensure a speedy recovery.

We’re proud to have received excellent Google reviews from our satisfied patients. See for yourself why North Penn Physical Therapy is the top choice for those seeking individual, private treatment.

Contact us today to schedule your appointment and start your journey to a pain-free life!

Find Relief with the Best Physical Therapy in Lansdale, PA

If you’re suffering from aches, pains, or injuries, the team at North Penn Physical Therapy in Lansdale, PA is here to help.

Find relief with the best physical therapy in Lansdale, PA. Our skilled therapists have years of experience helping patients recover and find relief from a variety of conditions, including back pain, neck pain, arthritis, and more.

Whether you’re an athlete looking to get back in the game or just trying to live a more active and pain-free life, our team is here to help you achieve your goals.

Why Choose North Penn Physical Therapy in Lansdale, PA?

At North Penn Physical Therapy, we pride ourselves on providing the best possible care to our patients. Here are just a few of the reasons why we stand out:

  • Private Facilities: Our office has private rooms to allow one on one treatment and consultation directly with a licensed therapist. This feature is unique to our practice and allows us to provide the best possible treatment. private rooms North Penn Physical Therapy Lansdale
  • Experience: Our therapists have decades of combined experience helping patients find relief from a wide range of conditions.
  • Personalized Care : No two patients are exactly alike, which is why we take the time to get to know you and your specific needs. We’ll create a customized treatment plan just for you, ensuring that you get the most effective care possible.
  • Convenience : Our Lansdale location is easily accessible and we offer flexible scheduling to fit your busy lifestyle.
  • Results : We have a long track record of helping our patients achieve their goals and live a more active, pain-free life.

Physical Therapy Services We Offer in Lansdale, PA:

Our team at North Penn Physical Therapy in Lansdale, PA offers a wide range of services to help our patients find relief and achieve their goals. Some of the services we offer include:

  • Manual therapy : Our therapists use their hands to apply specific techniques to help alleviate pain and improve mobility.
  • Exercise and rehab: We’ll work with you to develop a customized exercise program to help you strengthen and rehab your injury or condition.
  • Balance and vestibular therapy : If you’re suffering from dizziness or balance issues, our therapists can help you get back on your feet.
  • Post-surgical rehab : If you’re recovering from surgery, we can help you regain your strength and mobility.
  • And more!

Don’t let aches, pains, or injuries hold you back any longer. Contact the team at North Penn Physical Therapy in Lansdale, PA today. Schedule your appointment and start on the path to recovery and relief.

Looking for Foot Pain Treatment in Lansdale?

If you are looking for treatment for foot pain in Lansdale, the information below will help you make a better decision. As a result, you may be able to avoid unnecessary and expensive healthcare treatment.

What Are Some Causes of Foot Pain?

Plantar fasciitis, or an inflammation of the sole of the foot, is one potential cause of foot pain. The plantar fascia runs from your heel bone (calcaneus) down to your toes. Symptoms include sharp pain at the base of your heel that can radiate into the arch of your foot. Sometimes there’s noticeable swelling as well. Pain in the bottom of your foot when you first stand up out of bed in the morning is one of the most common symptoms.

Causes of plantar fasciitis include:

  • A rapid increase in physical activity
  • Repetitive motions like distance running
  • Limited flexibility of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles (your calf muscles),
  • Poor arch support and/or excessive foot pronation
  • Overweight patients are more likely to develop plantar fasciitis.

Other causes of foot pain include improper footwear, poor arch support and more. By receiving an evaluation to determine the source of pain, the right foot pain treatment can be determined.

What should I do if I have foot pain?

Don’t Insist on an X-ray Right Away

Over 2 million people experience foot pain each year.   It’s a common condition. In many cases, x-rays offer no additional information as to the cause of your pain. The first line of action should be conservative care.

Physical Therapy for Foot Pain Treatment has been clinically proven to help

 There are a variety of options for foot pain treatment. We are strong advocates for natural, conservative, hands-on treatment, and there is clinical research support our view:

 The guidelines present evidence that strongly suggests a combination of manual therapy and rehabilitative exercises to help patients with this foot condition. In a more recent study published in the February 2017 issue of JOSPT, researchers reviewed the records of people with plantar fasciitis who were sent to physical therapy. The results of this study support prior studies that show faster recovery time for those who receive evidence-based physical therapy for their foot pain treatment.

Reference: https://www.jospt.org/doi/full/10.2519/jospt.2017.0501

What to Do First – See One of Our Experts for Foot Pain Treatment in Lansdale

 If you are experiencing plantar fasciitis, or other types of foot pain, don’t wait to see if it gets better on its own. Seek treatment right away. Conservative, natural care – which is what we provide here at our practice – is what you should try first.

The advantages of seeing one of our physical therapy experts are as follows:

  • No waiting – In most cases, you can see us right away.
  • No side effects – In most cases, the treatment we provide has little to no side effects and can make you feel much better
  • It’s more affordable – the average course of treatment costs less than X-rays, injections and surgery.
  • Seeing one of our physical therapists within 14 days means you’re not likely to need additional care (X-rays, injections or surgery).
  • Seeing one of our physical therapists first means you are less likely to rely on opioid drugs, which may be addictive.

How Our Foot Pain Treatment Specialists will Care for You

The key to rapid and successful recovery is to see one of our plantar fasciitis specialists right away. We will perform a thorough initial evaluation, discuss your treatment goals, provide you with a custom treatment program, and schedule follow-up visits based on the agreed-upon plan of care.

Your treatment plan depends on what we learn during your initial evaluation. Here are some things it may include:

  • Modifications to your daily activities
  • Stretching
  • Avoiding aggravating activities
  • Over-the-counter orthoses
  • Hands-on soft tissue and mobilization techniques, and
  • A home program

Practical Advice

If you are experiencing foot pain, we can help.   We’ve successfully treated many without the use of addictive drugs, risky injections, expensive tests, or surgery.

Same-day/Next-Day Appointments are Available.

CLICK HERE to Request an Appointment, or Give Us a Call at (215) 872-7822 to Get Started

Improve Your Total Hip Replacement Recovery Outcome by Over 90%

Total Hip Replacement Recovery North Penn Physical Therapy Lansdale

Having total hip replacement surgery is a big decision. Usually by the time you need a new hip, you have lost a lot of mobility. The Arthritis Foundation reports that, following a total hip replacement surgery, “90%  of patients who had moderate pain before their first surgery reported mild or no pain after five years.” (https://www.arthritis.org/health-wellness/treatment/joint-surgery/after-surgery/hip-replacement-success-rates). Patients look forward to the possibility that having surgery can help them regain function. But, the steps you take in the weeks and months after surgery can determine whether you will have a successful total hip replacement recovery outcome.

Many surgeons do not recommend physical therapy after hip replacement. However, patient recoveries are not “one size fits all…”

People are more cost conscious than ever about health care. Medical providers are also under pressure to cut costs. Therefore, there is a growing trend for surgeons not to recommend physical therapy following a total hip replacement. For many patients, this will be fine. By walking as much as possible and trying to stay active after surgery, they should be able to return to most of their former activities. However, this is not true for everyone. For example, people who don’t have assistance at home might tend to be more sedentary following surgery. This would cause someone’s outcome to be less than optimal. Surprisingly, athletic people may also need guidance following surgery if they are trying to resume certain sports.

Physical therapy Can Help Your Total Hip Replacement Recovery Outcome Be More Successful

Physical therapy can help to:

  • Normalize your gait
  • Restore joint strength and mobility
  • Strengthen muscles surrounding the hip
  • Eliminate joint stiffness
  • Improve balance
  • Rebuild muscle strength for sports

Following surgery, there is a window of time where your recovery is optimal. If you don’t move and strengthen in the right ways, there is a possibility that scar tissue will develop. This will make it harder to recover fully. Your movement can be restricted, and your muscles will not gain the strength that your new joint needs.

Scheduling a Physical Therapy Assessment Can Help

After you have your surgery, if you do not feel that you are recovering the way that you would like, a physical therapy evaluation can help. Your progress to date will be measured, and your therapist can help to determine if you are on the right track, or if there are potential problems that you should address before they interfere with your recovery. Most insurance plans cover evaluations for minimal or no cost, so it is worthwhile to check and make sure that you are heading in the right direction.

Contact Us Today if you are interested in scheduling an evaluation – (215) 872-7822

 

Physical Therapy during COVID-19

Here Are Some Considerations for Physical Therapy During COVID-19

Staying safe at home, but still need physical therapy? This can pose a significant problem. Here are some considerations for physical therapy during COVID-19, as well as the things that North Penn Physical Therapy is doing to address them.physical therapy during covid-19

Social Distancing

Social distancing means that you are not going anywhere that you might encounter a crowd of people. For physical therapy, this means trying to sequester patients in private rooms, or keeping them in separate areas of the facility when they come in for their appointments. North Penn Physical Therapy has been conducting treatment in private rooms long before COVID-19 became an issue. Now, it is of further benefit in order to minimize patients’ contact with each other.

Social distancing has also come to mean maintaining a space between you and other people. Currently the recommendation is a 6 ft distance. While it is possible to keep this distance between patients, some therapy involves closer contact between the therapist and the patient. In this case, we rely on screening, both for the therapist and the patient’s safety. If either person does not feel well, has a temperature, or thinks they have been in contact with someone who may have recently been exposed to COVID-19, they should not attend therapy. This includes both staff and patients.

Private Treatment Rooms

Private Rooms mean fewer germs. Therapy facilities that are inside of gyms, or look like wide open spaces with mat tables may not be the best place to receive therapy at this time. If you need physical therapy treatment, it would appear that you would be  safer in a private room in order to minimize the spread of potential virus germs.

Scheduling for Privacy

Scheduling of physical therapy sessions plays a role in are scheduled will also play a role in how much privacy you will have at a therapy office, as well as how much exposure to potential germs. Ask questions about whether the office is considering spacing out therapy visits to minimize exposure to other patients.

Standard Precautions

Hand washing, cleaning of all surfaces before and after each patient, and the availability of hand sanitizer stations are cleanliness standards. Most health care facilities regularly practice these, and they are more important than ever. When considering making a physical therapy appointment, you may want to ask to see the facility first. This may help ease your concerns about what precautions are being taken, and allow you to see where your treatment will take place. For information about the recommended workplace precautions for COVID-19, click here.

Telemedicine

Not all physical therapy issues can be addressed with telemedicine, but depending on your issue, it can be beneficial. If you have pain, or if an old injury flares up, it might help to get advice. More people are exercising at home right now. These people may occasionally need guidance about home exercises, and whether they are doing more harm than good. A video conference with a member of our qualified staff can be valuable in this instance. If you need more information on this service, feel free to contact us.

Hopefully this article has addressed your concerns regarding physical therapy during the COVID-19 epidemic. If you have additional questions or need more information, we are here to help. Send us an email at northpennpt@outlook.com, or call us at (215) 872-7822.