Frequently Asked Questions
Integrative means “to make into a whole by bringing all parts together.” At IPT, our therapist examines your entire body to see how each part is influencing and affecting the other parts. In this way, IPT looks at the big picture and gets to the source of the problem while alleviating symptoms.
Specifically, IPT focuses on functional movement strategies. This is looking at how the entire body works three-dimensionally in relationship to gravity, momentum, and weight. In other words, how your body moves in everyday activities. IPT will treat your body as the complex system that it is while making it simple to understand and giving you effective tools for success.
Integrative PT is not just a traditional outpatient physical therapy clinic with all the modalities, equipment, and resources known to the physical therapy profession. IPT also includes an emphasis on skilled manual therapy and utilizes advanced training to offer its clients the most comprehensive personal health programs.
This means you get hands-on treatments that include techniques like deep tissue massage, joint mobilizations, trigger point release, myofascial release, Counterstrain technique, acupressure, stretching, soft tissue mobilizations, muscle energy techniques, and much – much more to align bones, release spasms, loosen muscles, decrease pain and improve your function.
IPT is one of the only physical therapy clinics that offer up to 45 minutes of one on one, individualized, physical therapy sessions AND takes almost all insurances. Many clinics today double book patients and juggle 3, even 4 patients at one time. Not IPT!
IPT recognizes that each person is unique and has their own pattern of movement, body alignment, and postural habits and that all this takes time to properly diagnose and treat. So, IPT gives you longer, one on one sessions.
IPT will also create for you an entire body re-aligning and strengthening the home exercise program. This program can feel good and be easy & gentle, or more advanced for athletes and sports enhancement.
You will learn positions, posture, and exercises that actually enable you to get out of pain and improve your life!
If you think you tried physical therapy before, so you know what it can do, then think again. IPT is different. IPT will bring to you the powerful combination of hands-on techniques with specialized exercise programs and extensive education.
IPT uniquely combines Pilates, yoga, applied functional science, Egoscue method, McKenzie technique, personal strength training with physical therapy exercises to create the perfect rehabilitation program for YOUR SPECIFIC BODY and needs!
IPT recruits the best physical therapists and employs the most highly qualified and skilled professionals in their field. Our therapists are both trained in-house and sent to intensive continuing education programs. Each of our therapists has innovative knowledge in manual therapy techniques and works one-on-one with each patient to make sure that the goals of their treatment plan are met. Treatment begins with the therapist taking a thorough history to determine the root cause of pain. Each patient is then given a meaningful assessment and receives a comprehensive and personalized treatment program.
In today’s health care climate not everyone takes the time or supportive training to provide such a skilled approach. At IPT you will NOT be left alone in a gym or left on a hot pack, you WILL however have unprecedented one on one HANDS-ON care and a very individualized rehabilitation & exercise program. And all this is covered by your health insurance.
An initial evaluation will be performed by a Physical Therapist and lasts approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour. This assessment will include a thorough review of your medical history leading up to the injury. The therapist will then assess your posture, joint mobility, range of motion, movement patterns, muscle strength, flexibility, and soft tissue integrity. After your evaluation is completed, some portion of the treatment plan will be started on your first visit. There is always ample time to answer any questions you may have regarding your condition. At the end of your visit, you will be asked to schedule follow-up appointments based on your needs and availability.
IPT has extensive experience in the treatment of chronic pain. This includes fibromyalgia, arthritis, degenerative disease, and the like. We do this by a multi-dimensional approach that includes discussion and education on lifestyle, diet, exercise, stress modifications, proper breathing, sleep aides, posture, body mechanics, ergonomics, stretches, positional relief, home support devices, supplements, and more. In addition to the time we take to attentively listen and to educate our patients, we also spend extensive time providing soft tissue relief through massage, deep tissue work (as tolerated), Myofascial release, Muscle energy techniques, acupressure, craniosacral, and other healing touch techniques. Once tissue and joint congestion have been eliminated then the patient’s ability to move, strengthen and tolerate the right exercises is possible. Through a combined comprehensive approach patients of IPT find a new life possible and a beginning of a possible end to their pain!
IPT hails the athlete and is dedicated to optimizing performance! IPT provides its athletes with a thorough biomechanical evaluation that is both static and dynamic. That means we look at the sport requirements of the muscles, joints, and their dynamic interplay in the movement sequence relating to each aspect of the sport. Each therapist working at IPT has spent time personally in athletics and has continuing education in the treatment of sport-related injuries.
Our treatments are fun, dynamic, and effective. IPT will get the athlete back into action!
Unfortunately, IPT is bound legally to require whatever copay is indicated on your insurance card. However, because we appreciate the burden of increasing health care expenses, we offer extreme use-value. That is we make it worth every penny! Unlike the 15 minute session overlaps at other clinics, we offer uninterrupted 30 &45 minutes one on one treatments with sessions often lasting up to an hour.
Remember, IPT was created because Kimberly (therapist and owner) was disappointed with the quality of some physical therapy being offered and the “production line PT”. IPT was created to provide an exceptional service that would make a difference in health care and people’s lives.
Yes! You are a consumer and full participant in the decisions pertaining to your health care and well-being. You always have the right to choose where you go to physical therapy even if you have another clinics script or letterhead. Just call or tell your doctor you would like to go to Integrative Physical Therapy. They can even fax us a new script at any time to (518) 373-7967
Manual therapy is a term that represents many different hands-on therapy techniques. These techniques include but are not limited to deep tissue mobilization, massage, myofascial release, muscle energy techniques, strain-counter strain techniques, positional release, Joint mobilization techniques, visceral manipulation, stretching, trigger point release, acupressure, and more.
These hands-on techniques are designed to improve or normalize movement patterns through the reduction of soft tissue pain and restrictions. Specifically, how each of these techniques work varies and is specific to the targeted tissue and if we are increasing mobility, changing length or position, releasing spasms, elongating tissues, balancing joint and muscular forces, or altering neuro-muscular feedback.
General to most manual therapy is the benefit of increased tissue oxygenation, enhanced circulation, reduced spasm, metabolite (waste products) reduction, enhanced energy flow, improved flexibility, detoxification, pain reduction, and endocrine influence – releasing the body’s natural anti-depressants.
IPT’s manual therapy is also intended and effective in supporting relaxation and balance/enhancement to the autonomic nervous system.
There is even more to it than that, but we will spare you the technical details (for now).
The frequency of treatment varies per diagnosis, however, a general script and recommendation are 2-4x a week. With our extensive time allotment per treatment often we can accomplish a lot in 2 treatments a week. Physical therapy sessions typically last an hour. Treatment plans usually are from 6-12 weeks with periodic re-evaluations and regular follow-up visits with your doctor.
Do I need a prescription for physical therapy?
Thanks to recent direct access legislation passed in New York, we can treat you immediately without a prescription or referral from a physician. You are entitled to 10 visits or a 30-day period of treatment, whichever occurs first. If further treatment is needed, then a referral from a physician is necessary. Also, some insurance companies may require a prescription for reimbursement of services. When we verify your insurance coverage, we will check with your provider to find out if a prescription is necessary and let you know.
Depending on the type of treatment you have been referred for, your regular appointments will last from 45 to 60 minutes.
Yes! IPT offers many suggestions effective in the resolution of insomnia and sleep problems. Our manual therapy techniques, gentle exercise programs in combination with lifestyle suggestions often improve sleep drastically. When sleep is deeper and longer, studies show a change in pain thresholds and tissue metabolism. This also helps those who suffer from fibromyalgia and chronic pain. For more details on IPT and fibromyalgia see question #2 and check out our Fibromyalgia newsletter.
Remember that IPT understands it is often difficult and painful to exercise when one is experiencing a flare-up with fibromyalgia. Therefore, we focus on pain reduction and appropriate mobility that supports the gradual evolution to pain-free movement and conditioning.
Yes. Many clients have reported an increase in their energy level and even clarity and focus. It is amazing what decreased pain, toxicity, and improved circulation, mobility, and strength can do!
Yes! Massage, in its different forms, is a fundamental aspect of our treatment approach when it is necessary for the management of pain and injury. Our hands-on emphasis is specific to the needs of each individual, their diagnosis, and overall picture. IPT was created to honor the healing power of skilled touch.
IPT provides specific individualized home exercise programs that require only what you have in your home and occasionally resistance bands. These specifically designed programs are developed after an extensive postural, mobility, strength, and functional biomechanical evaluation. Exercise programs are gradually progressed as indicated by the healing tissues and joints. They supply pain relief, rehabilitation, and overall conditioning. These unique home exercise programs include but are not limited to Yoga stretches, Pilates, Core stabilization/strengthening, McKenzie extension protocols, Egoscue technique implementation, William flexion exercises, weight strengthening, theraball & theraband exercise programs, and comprehensive flexibility programs. These individualized programs come by way of many years of expertise in the field and they work!
IPT praises your efforts and dedication to fitness. We believe cardiovascular training and strength training are indispensable for good health. We highly support your fitness club memberships. IPT compliments your training by offering thorough evaluations followed up by specific equipment recommendations and program suggestions.
If you have or had an injury, IPT will show you how to safely use equipment and properly train without further injury. It is our experience (from belonging to gyms ourselves) that many people are lifting weights, using equipment and training with poor mechanics, loading weight-bearing joints improperly, and causing muscular imbalances that lead to injury. Let IPT help you train at a gym or fitness club safely, wisely, and with enhanced success!