Patients
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Common Misunderstandings about Physical Therapy
By Dr. Frank J. Scerbo, PT, DPT, MS, CSCS. //
I’ve noticed over the years that, until they contact us, many patients have misconceptions about some aspects of physical therapy. Since these common misunderstandings might lead people to rule out even considering physical therapy based on wrong information, I’d like to take a few minutes to clear up some of the issues that people often worry about:
Before I can see a physical therapist, I’ll need to get a referral from my doctor.
A referral will not be required to start your Physical Therapy care. You can have your injury or chronic pain evaluated and treated immediately by our qualified staff at Scerbo Physical Therapy & Sports Rehabilitation.
I’ve heard that Physical Therapy treatments are too painful.
Patients who have undergone physical therapy treatments are overwhelmingly positive about the fact that they reduce pain in both the short and long run. Our NJ Gold Coast PT therapies aim to help you find relief from pain, improve mobility and overall functional ability, and get you back to the life you love.
I can get physical therapy from any health care professional.
Physical therapy can only be performed by a licensed physical therapist. We are physical therapy specialists; this is the health field we have been educated in and trained for. Moreover, our Scerbo PT facility has the latest cutting-edge resources that allow us to serve the long-term goals for all patients during rehabilitation.
Physical therapy is only for injuries, as from sports or accidents.
While it’s true that we treat musculoskeletal injuries of all kinds, the applications of physical therapy also extend to a wide spectrum of needs. At Scerbo, we stay up with exciting breakthroughs in treatments that help our patients with pre-and-post surgery strengthening and rehabilitation, balance assessment and conditioning, sports rehab and performance training, and acute and chronic pain from arthritis and other disorders.
Surgery is probably my only option.
The good news is, in many cases, physical therapy can provide an alternative to surgery in treating a wide range of conditions—from rotator cuff tears and degenerative disk disease, to meniscal tears and some forms of knee osteoarthritis. We invite you to consult with us at Scerbo before you decide to undergo surgery. And if it turns out that surgery is in your future, we can help you be better prepared for recovery through our program of “prehabilitation.”
At Scerbo PT, our qualified and experienced physical therapists are here to help our patients reduce their pain, regain mobility and function, improve athletic performance and overall health – but we can’t help if you don’t take the first step! Don’t let misconceptions about physical therapy stand in your way.
Contact us at our Edgewater office at (201) 941-2240 for a physical evaluation with our clinical director Frank J. Scerbo, PT, DPT, MS, CSCS.
