Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Physiotherapist?
A physiotherapist, similar to a physical therapist, works with patients to help them manage pain, balance, mobility, and motor function. They work with patients to develop customized programs designed to restore their functional ability and movement. They are trained to help patients at all stages of life — from infant to old age — whose function and movement are impacted by: disease, health conditions, injury, aging, disorders, and weight issues. Physiotherapists achieve this by using a variety of methods including: manual therapy, corrective exercises, myofascial release, instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization and cupping, manipulation of joints, coaching lifestyle activities like walking and postural movements, and stretching muscles. They take a holistic (whole-body) approach, addressing not only the physical aspects of your well-being, but also your emotional, psychological, and social well-being. They work at all stages of healthcare, including prevention, education, intervention, rehabilitation, and treatment. The goal of a physiotherapist is to improve your quality of life.
What is Corrective Exercise?
Corrective exercise is a technique that leverages an understanding of anatomy, kinesiology, and biomechanics to address and fix movement compensations and muscle imbalances to improve the overall quality of movement during workouts and in everyday life. It is used to help assess and determine the root cause of imbalances and faulty movement patterns that lead to issues with posture, balance, and total body coordination. Once the issue(s) are identified, a Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES) can then develop an exercise routine that addresses the problem through foam rolling, stretching, and total body exercises. By addressing a client’s functional movement and the issues impeding it, especially at their feet, knees, and hips, it helps reduce the stress put on their body. By properly aligning the body, corrective exercises help it to handle the load that everyday movement puts on it and helps reduce the risk of future injury. Thanks to these strategies, clients will be able to move better, which will open up a variety of new exercises and activities that they enjoy and may not have been able to do otherwise.
What is Soft Tissue Therapy?
Soft tissue therapy is a treatment and/or alleviation of musculoskeletal pain, sporting and non-sporting injuries, chronic and acute tension, as well as improving body flexibility, strength and wellness. All this has the additional benefit of improving your mental well-being too. Soft tissues include: all levels of muscle (from superficial to deep), tendons, ligaments, fascia, skin, fibrous tissues, nerves and blood vessels. Soft tissue therapy helps with: plantar fasciitis, headaches, upper back pain and tension, postural issues associated with desk-based occupations, shoulder protraction (slouching), tennis elbow, neck pain and stiffness, lower back pain, postoperative rehabilitation, and arthritis. There are various techniques used in soft tissue therapy such as: soft tissue release, post isometric relaxation, myofascial release, and trigger point therapy.
What is an Integrated Evaluation?
An integrated evaluation is an in-depth analysis of both static alignment and dynamic movement patterns. One of the most crucial pieces of information needed before designing a comprehensive program is to assess how a patient’s body prefers to move, and evaluate if there are any compensations due to muscle imbalances or previous injury. The evaluation includes an interview to uncover any medical conditions or areas of concern, a postural assessment which observes the five kinetic checkpoints to determine passive imbalances, a transition test to evaluate patient’s control of movement and ability, and dynamic evaluations to better recognize regions requiring higher levels of control, coordination, and stability. Movement assessments provide a wide range of data that is required to build an individualized program as compensations might be a lack of strength and coordination instead of overactive or underactive muscles. At F.I.T. Health & Wellness, patient care is our priority. Consequently, to have safe, effective, and productive therapies, the integrated evaluation provides the necessary information to design and implement a competent program to meet the individual needs, goals, and abilities of our patients.
Do I need a physician's referral for your services?
In Florida, you do not need a referral for rehabilitative therapy due to direct access laws. However, a rehabilitation specialist shall refer the patient to or consult with a practitioner of record if the patient’s condition is found to be outside the scope of the therapy and shall have a practitioner of record review and sign the plan for continued therapy.
Do you accept health insurance?
When we decided to create F.I.T. Health & Wellness we had one goal in mind— to provide the best possible care to our patients. We did not want to only spend 10-15 minutes with each of our patients and then move onto the next person, leaving our patients with aides to instruct or supervise them in their exercises. Currently, based upon current insurance company reimbursement issues, the only way to accomplish this was to not accept insurance. We realize that this may be of concern or even puzzling to some but we hope that with further investigation, you will realize this will actually save you time and money. The current trend in health insurance is toward higher patient co-pays and large deductibles. As a result, patients are paying for the majority of their care out of their pocket, but not getting the best value for their dollar. At F.I.T. Health & Wellness we only see one patient per hour and will spend the entire hour with that patient. Our experience has shown this leads to a faster recovery, with fewer visits necessary per week, and less visits per condition. Patients who would traditionally receive therapy 3-4 times per week, can reduce the weekly sessions to 1-2 times per week and achieve better results. Additionally, with the elimination of overhead costs, our services are a fraction of the typical cost for rehabilitative therapy and our patients out of pocket costs are very similar to co-pays at a conventional therapy clinic. The most rewarding thing about providing rehabilitation services is getting results for our patients. We are very proud of the standards we have set, and hope you will see the benefit as well.
Are you insured?
FIT Health & Wellness carries a General Liability Policy in the amount of $1 million/$2 million aggregate and Professional General Liability.
How much do your services cost?
The primary objective at F.I.T. Health & Wellness is to promote healthy aging and improve our patient’s quality of life. We take pride in making all of our therapies individualized to meet the needs, goals, and abilities for each unique patient. Accordingly, our rates are determined by the various therapies required in assisting our patients to meet their goals. For training rates, click HERE. For therapy rates, click HERE.