What is a Physical Therapist?
Physical therapists are licensed healthcare professionals who are trained in evaluating and treating a variety of diagnoses resulting from injury, disease, muscle imbalance, or inactivity.
At RPI our physical therapists work with patients to help them regain strength and conditioning after muscle tears and strains, surgery, automobile accidents, work related illnesses, on the job injuries, and many other conditions. We are a team of highly trained professionals with expertise and experience in working with seniors, women’s health, sports injuries, wellness, conditioning, and rehabilitation.
Do I need a physician referral/prescription for physical and occupational therapy?
Physical therapy does require a written prescription from your physician. If you do not have a physician we will be more than happy to recommend one for you. Also, some insurance plans require a prior authorization from a physician, so please review your plan prior to scheduling an appointment.
Is physical and occupational therapy covered by insurance?
Health insurance typically covers most forms of physical therapy, though coverage varies with each plan. RPI is a provider for most health insurance companies, and our office staff will be happy to help you verify that your insurance covers your treatment.
What forms of payment do you accept?
RPI accepts cash, checks and most major credit cards
How should I prepare for my first physical therapy visit?
- Arrive 15 minutes early to complete insurance and registration paperwork.
- Wear comfortable, loose fitting clothing to allow for a range of body movement (shorts or sweats are suggested)
- Bring a list of your prescription and nonprescription medications.
- Bring the referral or prescription from your doctor
- Bring your insurance card.
- Expect the visit to take at least one hour.
What should I expect from my first physical and occupational therapy visit?
Once your paperwork is completed, a licensed physical therapist will ask about your medical history and then perform an assessment. Your therapist will guide you through a series of physical tests that are specific to your case to determine exactly what is causing your limitations. He or she will then formulate a plan of care that will be shared with you and sent to your referring doctor. Then we can get started.
Our first concern is pain relief, so that you can focus on your recovery through conditioning. Therefore, your therapist may start you off with manual therapy techniques to alleviate your discomfort. Once your pain has subsided, you’ll begin with an exercise program focusing on strength and flexibility.
Your therapist may then continue your course of treatment by providing you with training in specific exercises designed to restore your muscle function. You will receive a written home exercise program with specific instructions, including diagrams to guide you step by step. To speed your recovery, it is important that you carefully follow the home exercise instructions and do your exercises before your next visit.
What about subsequent visits?
After your initial visit, plan on spending a half hour to 45 minutes, depending on the course of treatment required for your particular needs. In general, we try to keep the number of visits required to a minimum by focusing on training you to properly perform your exercises and stretches at home.
What is your cancellation policy?
At RPI, we understand that life can be unpredictable, and we realize that we all live within certain time constraints. All we ask is that you give us 24 hours notice, so that we can give your time slot to someone on the waiting list, while giving them adequate time to adjust their schedule.
What types of diagnoses are commonly referred to you for treatment?
- Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Reconstruction
- Ankle Sprains and Strains
- Carpal Tunnel Pain
- Cervical/Lumbar Herniated Disc
- Cervical/Lumbar Strain
- Fibromyalgia
- Hip Bursitis
- Joint Arthritis
- Neuropathy
- Patellar Tendonitis
- Patellofemoral Pain
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Post Arthroscopic Knee Surgery
- Post Operative Bunionectomy
- Rotator Cuff Tendonitis
- Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction
- Shoulder Bursitis/Impingement
- Tennis Elbow
- Total Hip or Knee Replacement
- Urinary Incontinence
- Chronic Pain
- Sports Injuries
Where are you located?
RPI maintains two facilities in the St. Louis area:
Creve Coeur
Covenant House
#6 Millstone Campus Drive
St. Louis, MO 63146
Tel: (314)991-1978
Fax: (314)991-8714
Richmond Heights
1034 S. Brentwood Ste. 300
Richmond Heights, MO 63117
Tel: (314)644-1978
Fax: (314)644-5730
If you have legal questions regarding physical therapists in Missouri, you can find answers at the Missouri Advisory Commission of Missouri Physical Therapists.