FAQ

An ABC News/Stanford study revealed that pain is a serious problem in America. Whether chronic or recent, more than half of all Americans are suffering from pain. What most people don't know is that physical therapists are well equipped to treat pain and its source.

Physical therapists are experts at treating movement and neuro-musculoskeletal disorders. Pain often accompanies a movement disorder and physical therapists can help correct the disorder and relieve the pain.

Georgia state law allows the patient to receive a physical therapy evaluation without a referral from a doctor. If we determine that physical therapy is necessary, we will request a referral from your doctor before beginning treatment. If you are experiencing a condition, such as low back pain, and are considering physical therapy, call us at (678) 400-0300 to schedule a free consultation to see if physical therapy is needed.

We welcome referrals and scripts from your physician, nurse practitioner, osteopath, podiatrist or dentist. The script should indicate your diagnosis.

Please wear comfortable exercise attire, your doctor's referral (if you have one), results from X-rays or MRI and your insurance card.

Wear comfortable, fairly loose clothing. Often times, people change into more comfortable clothing upon arriving at our office. So, if need be, bring a change of clothes and you can get changed in our locker rooms before your appointment. Showers are also available if you plan to return to work following treatment.

When you arrive, we'll ask you to fill out a general health questionnaire and a medical history form. We then begin treatment with a thorough evaluation to identify the source of the problem. Our therapists will discuss:

Medical history
Current problems and complaints
Pain intensity and what aggravates and eases the problem
How the problem impacts your daily activities or limits your function
Your goals for physical therapy
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 to check for the presence of tenderness, swelling, soft tissue integrity, tissue temperature, inflammation, etc.
2. Range of Motion (ROM): moving the joint(s) to check for the quality of movement and any restrictions.
3. Muscle Testing: checking for strength and the quality of the muscle contraction, making note of any pain and weakness. Often the muscle strength is graded. This is also part of a neurological screening.
4. Neurological Screening: checking 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: confirm/rule out the presence of additional problems.
6. Posture Assessment: checking the positions of joints relative to each other and ideal biomechanics.

Based on the evaluation, the therapist will tailor a treatment program to address your problem(s), including exercises, hands-on manual therapy and a home exercise program.

All physical therapy treatments are carefully tailored to the individual needs of each patient. We communicate with your physician and employ a team-based approach to assist you in attaining your goals. Based on our initial evaluation and your physician's recommendations, we will establish a plan of care to meet your needs.

We have full time hours with some evening and Saturday appointments available.

Appointments are 45 minutes to an hour long.

North Point Physical Therapy strives to provide the highest quality patient care. With health care costs on the rise, we make every effort to maintain our standards of care. To honor this commitment, we do accept most insurance. As a courtesy, North Point Physical Therapy will file a client's claim with the insurance company. Once the client's deductible is satisfied they will be responsible to pay any co-payment amount at the time of the visit. The insurance company will be billed for the balance, and the client will be responsible for any uncovered amounts.

The amount of payment depends on your individual benefits, deductible and co-payment amount. In cases of private pay, payment is given following the service date or we can set up a payment plan.

North Point Physical Therapy accepts credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express), checks or cash. Co-payments are due at the time of treatment.

Some patients will need to continue with home exercises. Some may choose to continue with a personal training exercise program. Others will complete their rehabilitation and return to normal daily activities. It is important that you communicate your goals to your therapist, so he/she can develop a custom program for you.