Physical Therapy treatments are most effective when taken on schedule over a relatively short period of time.  It is essential for you to attend at your scheduled times.  Missing treatments lessens the benefit of your therapy and can slow your improvement.  Please attend appointments when scheduled.  When you must miss a treatment, please call in and reschedule prior to your scheduled appointment, so the continuity of your treatments is maintained.  Thank you for your cooperation. 

During the course of your physical therapy care at Elkhorn Physical Therapy you will probably receive one or more of the following treatments.  This short list may help explain the type and purpose of the treatments you may experience.  If you should have further questions, please ask your physical therapist.

Heat speeds soft-tissue repair and cell metabolism, increases blood flow, and makes connective tissue more elastic.  Heat also decreases gamma fiber activity, reduces muscle spindle excitability, and decreases muscle tension

This is high frequency sound waves (1 million cycles/second) that are applied directly to the injured body part either under water or through transmission gel.  It has deeper, more local effects than hot packs.  These effects include reduction of nerve irritability (thus pain relief), improvement of deep circulation, decrease in inflammation and softens and shapes scar tissue.  Very useful for joint, muscle and open wound healing.

Either gel or ice packs placed in contact with the body or ice rubbed directly on the body part.  Cold reduces swelling, bleeding, and inflammation by constricting blood vessels, slowing cell metabolism, and inhibiting the inflammatory response.  Pain is decreased by the effect of cold on nerve fibers, and perhaps by the inhibition of sensory input.  Cold reduces muscle spindle activity and decreases sensitivity to stretching

These are electrical currents, of low safe intensities, that are used to achieve some of the following effects – to block or relieve pain, to relieve or fatigue muscle spasm, to retrain weak or paralyzed muscle and to stimulate healing and decrease swelling.  These are not harmful but may occasionally tingle or sting.  Your therapist will adjust for your comfort. 

Strengthening, flexibility, endurance and postural exercises are done to improve your ability to move in a safe pain free manner and to protect your muscles and joints.  Your therapist will give you instructions.  To be effective you must exercise with the frequency and technique that the therapist has taught you.  Proceed slowly, breathe regularly and rest adequately (several seconds between repetitions).  Over time your body will become conditioned to the exercise.  If any exercises should cause you pain, stop it and speak with your therapist before resuming that exercise. 

These and other treatments are used to reduce/correct symptoms of injury or illness and to prepare you for exercises or walking activities that will allow a safe pain free return to your everyday activities.  Please ask your therapist if you have any questions.

Elkhorn Physical Therapy will bill your motor vehicle insurance company, if you are involved in an accident.  If med-pay is available we will draw payment from that source.  If med-pay is not available or if it has been exhausted, we will file your claim with your health insurance carrier(s) and any reimbursement from the responsible party will occur between that party and your health insurance company.  If no health insurance benefits are available, you, the patient, will be responsible for making at least a partial payment for services at the time they are rendered.  (Payment Plans are available.)  In this case, you will be provided with receipts for payment and any reimbursement from the responsible party will be made to you.

As most motor vehicle accidents are not settled in a timely manner, Elkhorn Physical Therapy, takes this course of action to insure reimbursement for services provided.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us, ask our front office personnel, or ask your therapist.