Frequently Asked Questions
Anyone who want to maximize mobility, balance, and function after injury, surgery or disease process. The physical therapist can examine, treat and evaluate your need for physical therapy.
Orthopedic, joint and soft tissue disorders, post-surgical rehabilitation (e.g., ACL reconstruction, rotator cuff repair, discectomy, total knee replacement), sports injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome, repetitive strain disorders, back and neck pain, arthritis, joint replacement rehabilitation, vestibular insults, Parkinson's disease and much more.
A physician referral is not needed to start physical therapy. You may receive direct physical therapy treatment services for a period of up to 45 calendar days or 12 visits, whichever occurs first, after which time a physical therapist may continue providing you with physical therapy treatment services with a physician referral. Please read the Direct Access Disclosure Statement in the Intake Packet (PDF) for more details.
Most health insurance policies cover physical therapy. This will be explained in your policy. If you are still not sure, give us a call at 562.985.8286, and we can contact your insurance provider to determine your physical therapy coverage.
If you do not have insurance, we can treat you on a cash basis. Please call for rates. We accept cash, check, Visa, and Mastercard.
Yes.
Physical therapy treatment is provided by faculty within the Physical Therapy department. We also have one part time resident enrolled in advanced residency training at our clinic, and their practice will be mentored by an orthopedic clinical specialist and residency director Michael Miller, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT, CCI.
The current entry level education for physical therapists is the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. It is a three-year educational program beyond the bachelor’s degree designed to prepare graduates to be movement specialists able to treat a variety of disorders (musculoskeletal, neurological, integumentary and cardiopulmonary systems).
Your physical therapist will examine and evaluate you to determine the best treatment for you. Treatments may consist of manual therapy and therapeutic exercises to facilitate healing, prevent further injury and get you back to a pre-injury status.
Physical therapists are experts in movement dysfunction. They receive highly specialized education to address all musculoskeletal conditions and use evidence-based, highly effective treatments and interventions to achieve your goals.
Free patient parking is available in Lot E4. Click here for a map of the clinic and parking. You can also contact us at 562.985.8286 for assistance in locating the clinic and parking lot. Upon arriving for your appointment, park in Lot E4 in one of the spaces marked "LifeFit/PT@Beach Only. "Parking in a space marked "Employee Permit" will result in a citation ($48 fee) from Parking Enforcement, so please be careful!
Bring any completed forms that you downloaded from our website, list of medications, or any test results that you have, like an X-ray or MRI. If available, also bring your prescription/referral for physical therapy and insurance card.
You will be seen for an initial evaluation by the physical therapist. Before the evaluation you will complete the paperwork regarding your previous and current medical history. You will provide us with your prescription/referral for physical therapy (if available), insurance card (to check your physical therapy benefits), and pay any required co-pay as determined by your insurance company.
You should wear comfortable clothing, usually gym attire, so that the physical therapist can properly evaluate, assess and treat the involved area.
The initial evaluation will take approximately 1 hour. Physical therapy treatment sessions will range from 30-60 minutes in duration, depending on your needs.
Please call us at least 24 hours prior to your scheduled appointment time. Refer to our cancellation policy in the Intake Packet (PDF).
