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the questions our patients commonly ask. Common Administrative questions: 3. What is the cost of the initial evaluation? 4. What is the cost of a visit/treatment? 5. How long are the treatments? 6. What should I bring to treatment? 7. What should I wear to treatment? 8. Will I see the same therapist each treatment? 9. How many treatments will I need? 10. Do you accept checks/credit cards? 11. What is your cancellation policy? 12. Is it ok to be late for my appointment? 14. Do you work with other doctors? 15. Do I need a prescription for physical therapy? Common Clinical Questions: 2. How does the fascial system work? 3. What is Myofascial Release? 4. How do you get fascial restrictions? 5. How is MFR different than traditional physical therapy? 6. How long will it take until I feel better? 7. Will MFR treatment make me sore? 8. What if my symptoms get worse? 9. Does MFR work for any diagnosis? 10. Will I have homework to do? 11. Is there a lot of talking during treatment? 12. The day after my initial evaluation, if I have pain should I panic? Common Administrative questions: We are an out of network provider. This means that you will need to pay for your visit when you come in and have your insurance company reimburse you. For physical therapy we will take all your insurance information and print claims forms for you so all you need to do is put it in the mail! You may be able to find out in advance what the details of your insurance plan are if you call them and ask about your “out of network” benefits. Yes we do accept Medicare. Please have your birth date and medicare number ready when you call to make your first appointment, so we can check your benefits for you! An initial evaluation is a combination of comprehensive evaluation and LOTS of awesome treatment. This is a full two hours of one on one attention from your physical therapist! The fee is 350.00 dollars for this first visit. You will need a prescription for physical therapy. If you don’t have one for the first couple visits, that is fine but we suggest you get one as soon as possible. Definitely within one month or ten visits whichever comes first. A 45'-50' treatment is 250.00 dollars. We will have your insurance claim form ready for you when you are finished with treatment, and can also submit it for you electronically if you desire Treatments are 45 to 50 minutes long. This includes discussion, myofascial release and whatever other skilled treatment is indicated to help you reach your desired goals as well as exercise and/or progression of the home program. It would be beneficial to come about 5 minutes early to get yourself settled. In our office you also will not need to worry about signing in and waiting. Your appointment time is yours and is specifically set aside for you to have all of the time with the therapist at the time you requested. On your first visit make sure to bring your insurance card so we can make a copy of it. Also please bring your prescription for physical therapy if you have one. If you want to fill out the paperwork early and bring it with you, it is on our website. Because myofascial release should ideally be done on skin, it is preferred that you are comfortably undressed. A tank top and shorts are fine, while some people wear bathing suits. It all depends on how you will be comfortable, and may evolve with time. We supply shorts or gowns for those who need them. Here at WPT we have a “team policy. ”This means we will help you schedule your appointments at times that are convenient for you and at the recommended interval. We have 2 therapists currently, and we want you to meet each of them and see how each therapist has their own special way of treating you! Although all therapists are highly trained in the same consistent Barnes myofascial release approach and much more, each have their own unique style and we, as well as our colleague therapists around the country, have found that seeing more than one therapist will mean you progress faster. Everyone has a different diagnosis and will respond to treatment individually. There is no magic number of treatments. Also, age is not an issue, you are never too young or old to experience the benefits of MFR. That being said, in most instances you should be starting to see and feel progress towards your goals by the sixth visit at the latest. At your first visit the physical therapist will recommend how often you should come in order for you to meet your specific goals. Coming more often usually results in faster progress. Treatments are spaced further apart once you are maintaining and feeling a lot better. We accept cash, check and all major credit cards. Since your appointment time is a whole hour set aside specifically for you, we request that all patients extend a courteous 24-hour cancellation notice to change or cancel any appointment. If less than 24 hours notice is given, the full session fee may apply in a discretionary fashion. In Manhattan we request forty-eight hours notice. Your appointment time is reserved for you, so you do not sign in and you do not wait for it to be your turn. If you are late you will have less time to be treated by the therapist because there is another person with a reserved appointment after you. If you do think you will be a little late, please call us and let us know. The Midtown office is located 2 blocks from Grand Central Station on 41st street, also called Library way(south side #18) between 5th and Madison. Take the elevator to the 4th floor and walk down the hallway to the right, suite 406 at the end. Please do not hesitate to call if you are unsure. 646-205-9180 Yes we work with all physicians and are part of a holistic network of physicians in the surrounding area’s. No, not necessarily. Frequently Asked Clinical Questions Fascia (also called connective tissue) holds us all together and has
been virtually ignored in the past. Fascia is a multidimensional web-like
tissue that extends throughout the body. It is composed of two types of
fibers: The fascial system is made up of microtubules and marries all the other structures of the body, such as veins, nerves, other body systems (lymphatic system, endocrine system, etc.). It does not just exist in one place. It penetrates every cell from the brain to skin. Restrictions or adhesions affect the fascial system by binding it down, causing thickening, hardening and increased pressure. This may result in pain and other symptoms anywhere in the body. Working with the fascial system requires much experience and an extremely sensitive touch. Authenic Myofascial Release, (MFR) is a full body, hands on technique
that releases the fascial system. The myofascial release approach is an
intensive, generally mild and gentle form of stretching performed by qualified
therapists who have been highly trained. These techniques have profound
effects upon the body tissues. Because of its gentleness, many individuals
wonder how it could possibly work. Because the facial system is interconnected,
symptoms may appear in areas of the body one might assume are unrelated
to the actual restricted area. Myofascial restrictions do not show up
on any of the standard tests (x- rays, CAT scans, MRI’s etc.) so
these myofascial restrictions have been ignored or misdiagnosed. For example;
when scars harden in one area following injury, inflammation, disease,
surgery, etc. it can put tension on adjacent pain-sensitive structures
as well as on structures in far away areas. Some patients have bizarre
pain symptoms that appear to be unrelated to the original or primary complaint.
These bizarre symptoms can now often be understood in relationship to
our understanding the fascial system. Through (1) trauma, (2) repetitive motion or (3) poor postures over
time (sitting all day), (4) surgery, and scar tissue - restrictions can
form in the fascial system. These restrictions can exert force of up to
2000 pounds per
Authentic MFR at Wholistic Physical Therapy is not forceful. It is a whole body approach tailored to each individual. The body is allowed to release, not forced to release. This does not mean that the releases will not be painful. Many times during a release pain and/or many other sensations will be felt. This is described as your fascial voice. WPT MFR treatments are minimum one hour with your therapist working with you, one on one, on your body’s restrictions. Some traditional settings feel like a production line, and are not very private. WPT MFR is all encompassing ie.: mind, body and spirit. The fascial system stores memory from physical, mental, and emotional traumas. In traditional therapy, scheduled time with each patient is dictated
by the insurance carriers. Individual treatment is not the norm and it
is not uncommon to have three or four patients per hour per therapist
and most times you are performing your exercise program independently.
Modalities have their purpose but should remain an adjunct to the therapy
process to enhance healing, not become the therapy process. In traditional
physical therapy settings there is sometimes overuse of modalities like
ultrasound and electrical stimulation which have no effect on the cause
of the symptoms which is actually ischemic pressure from myofascial restrictions. Each person will heal and progress as individuals. Some patients have
relief after their first treatment and others do not. This is highly individual
based on diagnosis, chronicity of symptoms, motivation to heal, personal
belief system of health and healing, and cultural beliefs can all effect
outcomes. Rome was not built in one day and it was not destroyed overnight.
Similarly chronic health problems will not turn around overnight. Usually you will feel great after your myofascial release sessions,
especially early on in treatment. But, there may be times when your body
will respond to treatment with soreness. Once the fascial system has been
affected, increased circulation enters the area through blood flow, carrying
oxygen and nutrients critical to the healing process, as well as pushing
out the stagnated blood and build up of lactic acid. Remember our bodies
are fluid filled and require movement of fluid in our systems to function
in harmony, and maintain This is what we refer to as a “healing crisis”. It can happen
because your awareness has increased and you actually feel how much pain
is really there. Most of us have tuned our pain out, and now you are fully
feeling it. This increase in signs and symptoms is your body’s way
of bringing your awareness into what you are dealing with everyday, but
you “tune out” and don’t allow yourself to feel. Another
reason is that you are getting into the deeper layers of the restrictions.
The deeper you go into the restrictions, the closer you get to sensitive
areas and as you go into the deeper layers the symptoms intensify and
emotions may surface. There will be ups and downs which is normal. The
body is not linear. Always remember JFB-MFR is not injurious. Myofascial restrictions can create the symptoms of every diagnosis there
is. At times well-meaning clinicians and patients, get caught up in the
”diagnosis”. Remember most diagnosis are just naming of symptoms.
It is a Yes. You will be given an appropriate individualized self treatment and home exercise program. Your evaluating therapist will make the decision initially regarding what will benefit you best to begin your healing journey. Then as you progress your home program may change or be expanded upon to meet your current needs. We encourage you to share changes you have observed in your function between treatments at the beginning of each session. Then to benefit from the MFR process we encourage you to quiet your mind and relax your body so authentic healing can occur.
No. What you are experiencing is what is referred to as a “healing
crisis”. It can happen because your awareness has increased and
you actually feel how much pain is really there. Most of us have tuned
our pain out, and now you are fully feeling it. This increase in signs
and symptoms is your body’s way of bringing your awareness into
what you are dealing with everyday, but you “tune out” and
don’t allow yourself to feel. Another reason is that you are getting
into the deeper layers of the restrictions. The deeper you go into the
restrictions, the closer you get to sensitive areas and as you go into
the deeper layers the symptoms intensify and emotions may surface. There
will be ups and downs which is normal. The body is not linear. Always
remember MFR is not injurious. It is safe to say: Thanks to MFR - there is hope for you to feel better! What we treat :: Services
offered Wholistic Physical Therapy |
