your health is our top priority

During your first visit you can expect the following:

• Arrive at your appointment with your patient forms completed (you can download it from our website)
• You will provide us with your prescription for physical therapy.
• We will copy your insurance card.
• You will be seen for the initial evaluation by the therapist.
• The therapist will discuss the following:
  1. Your medical history.
  2. Your current problems/complaints.
  3. Pain intensity, what aggravates and eases the problem.
  4. How this is impacting your daily activities or your functional limitations.
  5. Your goals with physical therapy.
  6. Medications, tests, and procedures related to your health.

• The therapist will then perform the objective evaluation which may include some of the following:
  1. Palpation – touching around the area of the pain/problem. This is done to check for the presence of tenderness, swelling, soft tissue integrity, tissue temperature, inflammation, etc.
  2. Range of Motion (ROM) – the therapist will move the joint(s) to check for the quality of movement and any restrictions.
  3. Muscle Testing – the therapist may check for strength and the quality of the muscle contraction. Pain and weakness may be noted. Often the muscle strength is graded. This is also part of a neurological screening.
  4. Neurological Screening – the therapist may check to see how the nerves are communicating with the muscles, sensing touch, pain, vibration, or temperature. Reflexes may be assessed as well.
  5. Special Tests – the therapist may perform special tests to confirm/rule out the presence of additional problems.
  6. Posture Assessment – the positions of joints relative to ideal and each other may be assessed.

The therapist will then formulate a list of problems you are having, and how to treat those problems. A plan is subsequently developed with the patient’s input. This includes how many times you should see the therapist per week, how many weeks you will need therapy, home programs, patient education, short-term/long-term goals, and what is expected after discharge from therapy. This plan is created with input from you, your therapist, and your doctor.

Make sure you bring your physical therapy referral (provided to you by your doctor) and your payment information. If your insurance is covering the cost of physical therapy, bring your insurance card. If you are covered by Workers’ Compensation, bring your claim number and your case manager’s contact information. If you are covered by auto insurance or an attorney lien, make sure you bring this information. 

Treatment sessions typically last 30 to 60 minutes per visit. 

This is highly variable. You may need one visit or you may need months of care. It depends on your diagnosis, the severity of your impairments, your past medical history, etc. You will be re-evaluated on a monthly basis and when you see your doctor, we will provide you with a progress report with our recommendations. 

In most cases, health insurance will cover your treatment. See below for a summary of insurances we accept and make sure you talk to our receptionist so we can help you clarify your insurance coverage. 

New Braunfels Sports and Spine Physical Therapy is an in-network, preferred provider for most major insurances and Medicare. We also accept Worker’s Compensation and personal injury claims. As a courtesy to our patients, we also verify insurance benefits and file insurance claims promptly on their behalf.

Insurances we are accept:

 AARP

Aetna

Allied benefit systems

Cigna American Specialty insurance

Assurant health

Blue Cross Blue Shield
Blue Cross Blue Shield Anthem

Care improvement Plus

Cigna     

First Health

Freedom Life ins

Geha 

Health First

Humana

Humana MCR

Integra BMS

K&K insurance

Liberty Mutual

Medi-share

Medicare

Meritain Health

Mutual of Omaha

PHCS

TML

Tricare

Tricare for Life

UHC

UHC one

USAA

WC Align network

WC Claims Management

WC Gallagher Basset

WC Liberty Mutual

WC Schlitterbahn

WC TASB

WC Texas Mutual 

WC York Risk

WC Zurich

For many patients, one of the primary objectives is pain relief. This is frequently accomplished with hands-on techniques, modalities such as ultrasound, electrical stimulation, and/or heat or cold therapy. Movement often provides pain relief as well. Your physical therapist will provide you with the appropriate exercises not only for pain relief but to recover range of motion, strength, and endurance. In some cases, physical therapy techniques can be painful. For example, recovering knee range of motion after total knee replacement or shoulder range of motion after shoulder surgery may be painful. Your physical therapist will utilize a variety of techniques to help maximize your treatment goals. It is important that you communicate the intensity, frequency, and duration of pain to your therapist. Without this information, it is difficult for the therapist to adjust your treatment plan.