Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between physical therapy, chiropractic, and massage therapy?

Physical Therapy is a well-rounded service where chiropractic medicine and massage therapy tend to be more specific. Physical therapy seamlessly overlaps the use of spinal mobilizations with therapeutic exercise, soft tissue mobilization and massage to provide a holistic approach to create health. As physical therapists, we are trained in joint mobility assessment and joint mobilization techniques of the spine and extremities.   We may use spinal mobilization techniques similar to those chiropractors use with the exception of limiting use of high velocity thrust.  High velocity thrust can produce injury and we believe it should be used sparingly. 

Physical Therapists feel most neck and back injuries do not need to be “cracked” to get better.   We are trained in a variety of soft tissue techniques similar to those a massage therapist might use. The difference here would be physical therapists have a significantly greater amount of education in the anatomy of soft tissues (muscles, tendons, ligaments) than massage therapists do. While physical therapists can use methods in massage therapy to help restore health to patients, massage therapists are not licensed to use all practices used by physical therapists to enhance an individual’s well-being.

What makes us different from other physical therapy centers?

• Physical therapy and fitness services that are provided in the privacy and convenience of your home, place of work or hotel.  No commute required.
• Noticeable results that begin today with direct access to PT.  No waiting weeks or months for a healthcare provider appointment or for insurance approval.
• Highly skilled Doctors of Physical Therapy trained in the latest techniques.  No working with an unskilled rehab aide.
• One-on-one personalized sessions.
• Full 1-hour sessions. No “10 minutes only” with the therapist.
• Full transparency in our fees.  No surprise bills from your insurance company.
• Your goals = Our goals.   No “one size fits all” treatment.

What other fitness and wellness services do you provide?

Palmer Concierge Physical Therapy provides Medical Fitness sessions for clients that have recovered from injury and want guidance for the best, safest return to the gym or exercise program.  We offer hands on Stretch and Flexibility sessions that cater to clients requiring professional hands on work to improve stiffness, flexibility and overall well being.  We provide Athlete Performance sessions specifically designed for runners and golfers who want to improve their performance while minimizing injury risk.  

Why shouldn’t I just go through the local hospital system versus you? After all, they are bigger.

This is a great question! First of all, you can choose to attend physical therapy wherever you are most comfortable despite where your insurance company or doctor tells you to go.  At Palmer Concierge Physical Therapy, we believe in building long lasting relationships with our patients and our referring partners.  Your physical therapy experience will be unique and personalized to fit your specific needs and goals.  Your sessions will be planned and directed one on one with your physical therapist. In bigger hospital systems, it is most likely that your treating physical therapist will be working with 2-3 other patients at the same time as you.  In busy hospital systems, physical therapy “techs” or “aides” are commonly used to help you during your visit.  This means less individualized attention to you and your specific situation and you will most likely be in a crowded center with little privacy.  In our opinion, less personalized and focused care means more time in pain, more physical therapy visits to pay for and less time enjoying life.   

What areas of New York City,  Brooklyn, and the Hamptons do you travel to?

We travel to our client’s homes, places of work, hotels and their building gyms in Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Hamptons. We are here to help you so if you are not located in those areas, contact us so that we can discuss alternative solutions such as Virtual PT or Fitness sessions.

What should I wear?

You may wear comfortable clothes such as a t-shirt or long sleeve shirt, exercise pants or shorts, and sneakers.

Do I need any special equipment?

Our physical therapists will provide Thera-bands and sports-cords. We will teach you how to use items around your home and office to serve as the perfect exercise equipment.  When there is a gym located in your building, we will teach you how to use the gym equipment safely and effectively.

Does Palmer Concierge Physical Therapy accept insurance?

We offer a clear, upfront payment process.  Before starting your care, we are happy to verify your health insurance plan for Out of Network (OON) PT benefits. This will inform both you and us of the likelihood of reimbursement for our medically necessary PT care.  After each of your PT sessions, we will provide you with a detailed invoice and insurance “superbill” for you to submit to your insurance company when seeking reimbursement.  Fitness programs usually are not covered by insurance.

Payment is due at the time of service and can be conveniently made with a credit card or Federal Savings Accounts (FSA), or Health Savings Accounts (HSA). We are happy to discuss any of your payment questions or concerns before starting your care.

How do I know what my insurance benefits include?

As a courtesy, we will verify your health insurance plan for Out of Network (OON) PT benefits and reimbursement potential for your PT services.  We encourage our clients to contact their insurance company directly to discuss this matter.   

What are your payment options?

Payment for our services is due at the time of your appointment and can be conveniently made using a variety of methods, including Federal Savings Accounts (FSA), Health Savings Accounts (HSA) or credit cards. We are happy to discuss any of your payment and reimbursement questions or concerns before starting your care.

Do I have to see a physician first?

New York and New Jersey are states that provide direct access to physical therapy services. This eliminates having to wait for authorization from your insurance company or a prescription for your physician. Instead of wasting precious time waiting, you may begin treatment any time and be on your way to recovery.

I am nervous and skeptical that physical therapy can help me. What are the chances it will help me and my situation?

It is normal to feel nervous and skeptical about starting a new treatment or working with a new medical professional.  In our opinion, physical therapy has the opportunity to help many suffering in pain and injury without using medication or invasive surgery.  To answer your questions and concerns directly, we would encourage you to schedule a complimentary 30 minute virtual consultation with us. 

Can I talk to a physical therapist before I book just to confirm physical therapy is right for me? 

Certainly!  We encourage anyone suffering with pain or injury to schedule a complimentary 30 minute virtual consultation.  We will discuss your pain or injury, how your life has changed due to injury, and potential solutions that we may offer as your physical therapists.  We are happy to answer any and all of your questions and concerns. 

What happens during my sessions?

Your first session will be 60- 90 minutes. Our physical therapist will listen to your history and discuss your injury and fitness goals. We will perform a comprehensive physical therapy examination including assessment of your strength, range of motion, and palpation of the injury. We will discuss with you the findings of the exam, educate you about the cause of your pain, and the treatment options that we can provide to you. We will advise you as to the best course of treatment, but it is up to you to make the final decision. Following this discussion, our physical therapists will instruct you in a simple home exercise program to treat your pain. With your permission, we will perform light “hands on” manual therapy stretching to improve your stiff and painful body region. You will be advised how to use heat and ice to alleviate your pain. We will document our findings in your private medical record and with your permission, communicate these findings with your medical team.

What happens during my follow up sessions?

Each session will be tailored to your needs.  There is no “one size fits all” or “cookbook” approach as in generic physical therapy centers.  Education, exercise and “hands on” manual therapy are a part of all sessions.  As you improve, we will advance your program so that you continue to grow stronger and more confident on your way to meeting your goals.  If you have a “flare up” or “bad pain day”, then we will change your program to help you through your painful episode.   Our goal is for you to have a fun and enjoyable experience (even during a “bad pain day”)!   

How long does it usually take patients to start to feel better?

This is a great question!  To answer this question, you must first ask yourself: “How long have I been in pain? How long have I had this injury?”  Our body undergoes many significant physiological and psychological changes after an injury.  The longer we have pain and injury, the greater the negative changes that occur.  We believe in treating the root cause of our client’s pain and injury in order to have long-term, long-lasting relief.  Physical therapy is a process, and it very rarely takes one visit to make dramatic improvement.  Every patient and every injury is different, so time to feel better varies greatly.  We have high expectations for our clients so as your clinician we are looking for improvements within the first 2 weeks of working with us.    

What if I don’t want to make another appointment after coming to see you for my first visit?

This decision is completely up to you.  As clinicians, we will discuss the importance of scheduling and attending your follow up appointments so that you receive the appropriate care required to relieve your pain and help you return to your pre-injury life.   We will certainly follow up with you to understand why you would choose not to return to physical therapy.  As a small practice, we want to do everything within our authority to make you comfortable working with us.  The decision is always yours to make.  We are here to help you, but you have to be willing to partner with us to do so.    

What happens if I am not happy with your service?

That’s a great question!  We believe in open and honest communication with our patients and clients.  We strive to make each treatment session enjoyable and therapeutically beneficial.  At the end of each session, we want you to understand that what we did today will contribute to your overall recovery.  Upon “graduation” from physical therapy, we want our clients to honestly say to themselves and their doctor, “I feel great! I have my life back again.”  If our patients are not happy with our service, we will do everything to make things right.  

I have arthritis in my joints, will physical therapy help me?  

Yes, physical therapy is an excellent treatment for arthritic, painful, and stiff joints.  By learning and practicing the correct exercises, you may improve your pain and stiffness without the use of medications or surgery.  We commonly treat patients 40-90 years of age suffering from arthritis.   

Does physical therapy help with knee and hip replacements or help prevent them?

Yes, physical therapy can certainly help prevent knee, hip and shoulder joint replacements by learning and practicing light, corrective exercises.  Having improved joint range of motion, flexibility and strength can improve pain, ability to move, and perform life’s daily activities.  If you have a knee, hip or shoulder joint replacement then it is very important to restore your body to it’s full range of motion and strength so that your pain and ability to perform your daily activities without limitation.   

I injured myself while running the other day, how soon should I come to see you?

As physical therapists, we would encourage you to schedule a complimentary 30 minute virtual consultation.  We can discuss what happened during your run, details of your injury, and potential referral to a physician if necessary.  We will be happy to discuss your running related concerns and potential physical therapy solutions.

I like to run and golf but my pain is only present when I am doing these activities. Can physical therapy help with my pain during these activities?

Yes, physical therapy can improve your running pain and golfing pain.  With a thorough physical therapy exam, we will find the root cause of your running pain and golfing pain.  This is very important because we do not want your pain getting worse, forcing you to stop running and playing golf all together.  Once the root cause of your pain is identified, we will instruct you in the best corrective exercises to eliminate the cause of your pain.