FAQ

Scheduling an appointment at Unified Rehabilitation in Winter Garden, FL is easier than ever! Our scheduling is easy; we offer a convenient location and appointment times. We have morning and evening appointments available to meet the demands of your busy schedule.

Call us today at 407-614-8002 or click here to request an appointment.

Physical therapists primarily measure your impairments and your functional limitations.

Impairments include:

• Pain
• Weakness
• Loss of motion
• Paresthesias (numbness, tingling, pins, needles, etc.)

Functional limitations include:

• Lying
• Sleep
• Rolling over
• Getting up out of bed
• Sitting
• Moving from standing to sitting
• Moving from sitting to standing
• Standing
• Walking
• Level ground
• Stairs
• Uneven ground
• Running
• etc

Tracking your impairments and functional abilities gives physical therapists objective information to compare with initial measurements. In addition, your reports and personal experiences help to validate your improvements and clue your therapist to regressions and/or lack of progress.

The bottom line is that you should notice improvements in how you feel and function throughout therapy. If you are not following an anticipated path of progress, your therapist will reassess you. We’ll use the information to change your program or recommend further testing.

We understand that dealing with insurance can be complicated; therefore, Unified Rehabilitation would gladly assist you and answer your questions. It is essential to contact your insurance carrier to determine your coverage depending on your specific policy.

Visit our insurance plans page for additional information, and please do not hesitate to contact our Winter Garden, FL physical therapy office.

For your convenience, we provide a variety of payment alternatives.

Our clinic won’t turn a patient away for this reason!

If you do not have insurance, that’s okay. For patients who do not have insurance, we offer cash-based options due at the time of service.

Please get in touch with our Winter Garden, FL clinic and speak to our front desk about costs and setting up payment plans.

We ask all patients to bring a few things with them on their first visit to our office.

• Please go online and fill out our forms, print out the patient forms, complete them, and bring them with you for your initial evaluation.
• If you cannot do this or do not have access to a printer/computer, please allow extra time to fill these out upon arrival.
• Please arrive at least 15 minutes early to complete any remaining paperwork so that you can maximize your time in your evaluation.
  Please wear comfortable clothing that allows easy access to your problem areas.
• If you intend to use insurance, please bring your insurance information (we will make a copy of your card).
• Please bring any referrals, prescriptions, and test results from your referring physician, Nurse Practitioner, or physician assistant.
• Bring any case manager or insurance adjuster’s contact names, phone numbers, and claim numbers in case of an automobile accident or worker’s compensation claim.

Please have your prescription and insurance card available when you call our office at 407-614-8002. This will allow us to verify your insurance benefits and provide you with an estimate of coverage.

Our Winter Garden, FL physical therapy clinic takes pride in providing a positive, encouraging environment with well-trained, friendly staff. We are confident in our ability to assist you in achieving your goals.

Finding the right physical therapist that aligns with your needs is crucial in your recovery or rehabilitation process. Here are some steps you can take to find the right physical therapist:

• Get Recommendations: Start by asking someone you trust for a recommendation. Your primary care doctor or specialist will often know therapists with experience treating your specific condition. You should also ask friends, family, or coworkers if they have had a positive experience with a physical therapist.
  
• Look for Therapists with Specialization: Look for a physical therapist who has any additional certifications or specializations that relate to your specific condition (e.g., orthopedics, neurology, sports medicine, geriatrics, etc.).
  
• Research their Reputation: Look at online reviews and ratings on platforms like Healthgrades or Google Reviews. Find out how long they have practiced and what conditions they frequently handle.
  
• Check the Logistics: Make sure the therapist’s location and hours work with your schedule. If you have specific needs like wheelchair accessibility or other accommodations, confirm these details.
  
• Trust Your Instincts: After all your research and possibly an initial consultation, consider how comfortable you feel with the potential therapist. You should feel at ease and trust their ability to help you reach your health goals.

Remember, finding the right physical therapist can take some time and research, but your efforts will pay off when you find a professional you can trust to help guide your recovery or maintain your health!

Yes and no!

This may be a bit confusing, but in most cases, the word “diagnosis” is exclusively for a physician. Although not everyone in healthcare knows this, for legal reasons, an official diagnosis comes from a physician.

That being said, physical therapists are often used to confirm or deny a diagnosis. As the physical therapy profession has grown, so has the respect and responsibility within the healthcare systems. So, technically speaking, a physical therapist will conduct an “assessment” of your situation to clarify your specific situation, and physical therapists are particularly skilled at getting to the root “cause” of your condition.

When you come for your initial session at Unified Rehabilitation, your physical therapist will do a thorough evaluation that consists of a detailed history and a comprehensive physical examination. This first assessment establishes the severity of your injury or illness. It also helps establish the source of your symptoms and the factors contributing to your condition.

Physical therapists routinely collaborate with physicians to provide confirmation or potential contradictions to a diagnosis to ensure that your diagnosis is correct and your treatment plan is appropriate.

Loose-fitting clothes that are comfortable to move in and provide easy access to the area of your symptoms. We also advise you to wear comfortable shoes or sneakers.

We will begin with a comprehensive evaluation at your first visit and your follow-up visits usually last for 40 minutes.

Your specific needs will determine the number of visits and the duration of your plan of care. As you and your therapist have discussed, we recommend attending more frequently in the early stages of your therapy to ensure you progress.

You’ll generally see your therapist twice or even three times a week at first, with fewer weekly visits and greater space between meetings as you progress through treatment.

We believe in individualized treatment regimens for every patient at Unified Rehabilitation. When you come to our clinic, we will put you through a series of tests to determine the source of your injury or functional difficulties.

Your physical therapist may inquire about your medical history and request that you do particular movements or tests so they can observe the quality of your movement patterns and identify any problems firsthand.

Your therapist will then create a treatment plan that is unique to you. Such methods include manual therapy and therapeutic exercises to improve strength and mobility.

You certainly can!

Physical therapists are highly skilled at assessing the whole person. This means we look to identify all the factors related to your condition. We understand the interconnectedness of the body and how a problem in one area may be the symptom pointing to the source of the problem in an entirely different location.

We are also skilled at identifying whether or not you are dealing with “a” problem or multiple issues impacting you and your function.

Everyone can benefit from physical therapy, but that doesn’t necessarily mean physical therapy alone is all you need. We believe in collaborating with other healthcare professionals and working with you while working with another practitioner to help you get the results you deserve.

We can discuss your options and help you decide if physical therapy is right for you. Contact us today to learn how PT can help you and make an appointment with one of our dedicated staff members.

Physical therapy is meant to alleviate pain rather than exacerbate it. However, your pain levels may fluctuate. Our therapists will clearly define what “normal” pain is and what is not normal. Some situations require exercises or other therapeutic actions that may elicit a pain response to facilitate improvements in your overall condition.

As a result of using weakened or recuperating muscles, you may suffer some momentary discomfort. Or for some, restoring the range of motion after surgery can be painful due to the nature of the condition. Unfortunately, it may be critical to your recovery to experience a temporary increase in your pain.

Although it may sound inappropriate, there are times when the increased pain early on can prevent more severe pain in the future.

Rest assured that we will do whatever we can to minimize your pain and avoid increasing it during your time in physical therapy. Communication with our therapist will help to reduce any discomfort you may feel during your physical therapy treatments.

We want you to be pain-free and return to normal activities as soon as possible. We will do what we can to prepare you for any discomfort you may experience.

Physical therapists are highly trained professionals who specialize in treating musculoskeletal conditions. Physical therapists are part of a healthcare team that routinely collaborates with physicians, surgeons, and other medical practitioners.

We also often collaborate with other healthcare professionals like chiropractors, massage therapists, and acupuncturists to ensure your treatment plan is as effective and efficient as possible.

Physical therapists are movement experts with advanced training and education in musculoskeletal disorders and diseases. In addition, physical therapists often take a hands-on approach to pain relief and function restoration.

One of the primary goals of physical therapy is to restore pain-free mobility and function while preventing pain and injury from recurring. Our physical therapists assess your movement patterns, determine the source of your pain, and work with you to manage or eliminate it.

While each patient’s condition and pain are unique, our physical therapist at Unified Rehabilitation will use various targeted manual therapy techniques, exercises, modalities, and other strategies to relieve pain and restore function quickly.

You should see a noticeable improvement in your discomfort and overall function as you go through your rehabilitation activities.

An effective way to measure your improvement and progress is to keep track of your pain, mobility, and functional abilities. Tracking your impairments and functional abilities gives physical therapists objective information to compare with initial measurements. In addition, your personal reports and experiences help to validate your improvements and clue your therapist to regressions and/or lack of progress.

The bottom line is that you should notice improvements in how you feel and function throughout therapy. If you are not following an anticipated path of progress, your therapist will reassess the situation. Based on the results of this reassessment, your therapists will recommend further testing or a change in approach to your treatments.

Although there are typical stages of healing, the reality is that everyone is different, and so is their ability to heal.

At Unified Rehabilitation, you will have a personalized treatment plan created based on your individual needs and goals. Throughout your recovery process, our team will provide constant feedback and allow refinement of your program to ensure it provides optimal results.

The most common reasons for delayed recovery are trying to do too much too soon or not doing enough. Finding the balance is where physical therapists thrive. We use concrete physiological benchmarks and your individual treatment response to refine your program and maximize your results in the shortest time possible.

If you have any questions or concerns about the length of your treatment plan, feel free to ask your physical therapist. We are here to help you by providing clarity throughout this process. We will keep you updated on your progress throughout each session.

Physical therapists are trained to treat all types of musculoskeletal conditions. Most physical therapy clinics are geared towards specific subcategories of physical therapy.

You can be confident that our well-trained therapists will assess and treat your condition. For example, pediatric physical therapists often work exclusively with younger patients. Orthopedic outpatient physical therapists will work with all age categories and conditions.

If we feel another therapist or healthcare provider would better serve you, we’ll suggest people we know and trust.

Our physical therapists have received extensive education in anatomy, physiology, kinesiology (the study of joint movement), neurology, and many other medical sciences. Our physical therapists are all state-licensed and have graduated from accredited physical therapy programs.

You can rest assured that you are in capable hands!

Because each patient’s diagnosis is unique, our therapist will work with you and any other medical or healthcare practitioner to ensure you get the best possible results.

Our goal is to identify all the factors contributing to your condition. We will conduct a comprehensive evaluation and thorough history to gather this information and then design a treatment plan for you.

For some people, relief is felt on day one; for others, there is a journey to relief filled with ups and downs. It is easier to know who you will be once we meet with you and examine your situation.

Our team is highly trained and skilled at treating musculoskeletal pain and injuries. We will provide guidelines to help you understand your condition and what to expect from therapy. These guidelines will include the likely duration of your situation and expected progress broken down into realistic timetables.

Our team is here to support you and answer your questions throughout the process!

Absolutely!

Once you have finished your therapy sessions, you can continue to see your physical therapist. There are several different ways to do this, for example:

• Your therapist will see you review and progress your at-home therapy program.
• You can schedule a re-evaluation after a month to ensure you are still doing well and modify your home program as needed.
• You can arrange to see your therapist regularly (i.e., every six months) for a consultation to assess your progress, ensure you are not regressing, and deal with anything new that may have started.

We can also arrange to meet you at your gym to work with you on determining what equipment and exercises would benefit your continued recovery

If you cannot make it to your appointment due to illness or another emergency, our clinic requests that you call us at least 24 hours before your scheduled appointment time to let us know.

Any missed appointments that have not been rescheduled at least 24 hours in advance will result in a non-refundable charge of $50 dollars.

If you have been exposed to the COVID-19 virus or are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, please reschedule your appointment with our front desk so that we can maintain a safe, healthy environment for our patients and employees.