Frequently asked questions.

Do I need a physician referral to start physical therapy?

No, you do not need a physician's referral or prescription to start physical therapy with us in South Dakota.

South Dakota is a "Direct Access" state, which means you have the right to seek an evaluation and treatment from a licensed physical therapist immediately.

The Cash-Based Advantage: Saving You Time and Money

Since we are a cash-based practice, choosing to see us directly offers two significant benefits:

Immediate Access to Care: You can bypass the need to schedule and pay for a doctor's visit just to get a referral. This saves you time and allows you to start your recovery sooner.
Cost Savings: You avoid the co-pay, deductible payment, or full cost of a separate physician's visit, which is especially beneficial if your insurance requires a large co-pay or you haven't met your deductible yet.

We are experts in evaluating and treating musculoskeletal pain. If your physical therapist determines that your condition requires a physician's attention or is outside the scope of physical therapy, we will promptly refer you to the appropriate medical provider.

What should I expect during my first physical therapy appointment?

Your first visit is called the Initial Evaluation, and it is focused on understanding your unique situation and beginning your personalized care. Since our practice is cash-based, your entire session is one-on-one with your Physical Therapist, ensuring maximum quality and attention.

The evaluation typically lasts up to 90 minutes and follows these key steps:

1. Comprehensive Patient Interview

Your Physical Therapist will sit down with you to get a detailed understanding of your history and goals. We will discuss:

Your Complaint: The exact location, type, and severity of your pain or issue.
Medical History: Any past injuries, surgeries, medications, or health conditions that might be contributing to the problem.
Your Goals: What you want to achieve. This could range from walking without pain to running a marathon or simply being able to lift your grandchild.
Lifestyle: Your occupation, hobbies, and typical daily activities.

2. Hands-On Physical Assessment

Next, your therapist will conduct a thorough physical exam to pinpoint the source of your issue. This may include:

Movement Screening: Observing how you perform basic actions like walking, squatting, or reaching.
Range of Motion (ROM) & Strength Testing: Measuring the flexibility of your joints and the strength of your muscles.
Postural Assessment: Evaluating your body alignment to identify imbalances.
Special Tests: Performing specific, hands-on tests designed to confirm a working diagnosis (e.g., ligament stability, nerve involvement).

3. Diagnosis and Treatment Plan

Based on all the information gathered, your therapist will:

Explain the Findings: Provide a clear, easy-to-understand explanation of your physical therapy diagnosis and what is causing your symptoms.
Set Goals: Collaborate with you to set measurable short-term and long-term goals for your recovery.
Begin Treatment: Your treatment begins on day one! This will typically include targeted manual therapy (hands-on treatment) and initial corrective exercises to get you started.
Home Program: You will leave with a simple, personalized Home Exercise Program (HEP) to perform until your next visit.

By the end of the first session, you will have a clear understanding of your issue, a personalized plan of action, and a schedule for your follow-up appointments.

What can I do prior to the session to prepare?

Preparing a few things before your first appointment will help us maximize your time with the therapist and ensure a comprehensive evaluation.

1. Wear the Right Clothing

Please wear loose, comfortable clothing that allows your physical therapist to easily access and assess the area being treated.

For Lower Body Issues (Hips, Knees, Ankles): Please wear or bring shorts.
For Upper Body Issues (Neck, Shoulders, Back): For women, a sports bra or tank top is highly recommended to allow for a better view and hands-on examination of the back and shoulder blades.

2. Prepare Your Notes and Questions

The initial exam involves a lot of questions. To avoid forgetting key details or questions you wanted to ask, we strongly recommend taking notes beforehand:

Document Your Issue: Write down the key facts about your pain:
- When and how did the problem start?
- What activities make the pain better or worse?
- How is the pain affecting your daily life and function?
List Your Questions: It’s common to forget important questions in the moment. Write down any questions you have about your condition, the treatment process, or expected outcomes.

3. Gather Relevant Information

If you have them, please bring copies of any relevant medical documents:

A list of your current medications and dosages.
Reports from any recent imaging (X-rays, MRIs, CT scans) or surgical procedures.

By following these simple steps, you will help us conduct a thorough exam and develop the most effective treatment plan right away.

How much does each session cost and how do I pay?

One of the key benefits of our cash-based model is complete price transparency and simplified billing, meaning you will never receive a surprise bill weeks or months after your appointment.

1. Session Rates & Pricing

We don't follow restrictive insurance rules, allowing us to provide longer (60-90 minutes), one-on-one sessions that often lead to faster, more effective results and fewer total visits.

For a full breakdown of our pricing, including Initial Evaluation costs, Follow-Up Sessions, and Discounted Package Plans, please visit our dedicated page.

The Cash Advantage: Our transparent, upfront fees often save patients money compared to paying a high deductible or large co-pay at a traditional, insurance-based clinic where the final bill can be much higher than expected.

Compare & Save: The typical insurance-based clinic may bill over $250 for an evaluation and $150-$250 per 30 minute follow-up session (before your deductible is met). With our model, you know the exact price upfront and avoid unexpected bills.

2. Accepted Payment Methods

Payment is collected at the time of service, or upfront if purchasing a package. We accept all major forms of payment, including:

Cash, Check, and Credit/Debit Cards
Health Savings Account (HSA) Cards
Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Cards

3. Seeking Insurance Reimbursement

While we do not bill your insurance directly, we can provide you with a detailed invoice, known as a Superbill. This document contains all the necessary diagnostic and procedure codes (ICD-10 and CPT codes) that you can submit directly to your insurance company for potential reimbursement under your "out-of-network" physical therapy benefits.

We are happy to answer any questions you have about the Superbill process.

How long will I need physical therapy?

The short answer is: It depends entirely on you and your unique physiology. Because our care is one-on-one and tailored to your specific needs, we often get people better faster than traditional models.

The Timeline for Results

Many of our clients experience significant improvement in the first few visits for typical musculoskeletal issues. Our goal is to achieve meaningful progress quickly and empower you with the tools for long-term self-management.

The total number of required visits is primarily determined by three factors:

1. Nature of the Issue: Acute vs. Chronic

Acute Problems (New Injuries/Sudden Pain): These usually respond quickly to treatment. We focus on immediate pain relief and restoring foundational movement.
Chronic Problems (Long-Term Issues): These require more time to address underlying weaknesses, movement compensations, and long-standing tissue changes. Progress is steady but builds over a longer period.

2. Your Age and Underlying Health

Age is a significant factor in the speed of tissue healing and recovery:

Younger Clients: Typically require less visits due to faster healing times and fewer underlying health issues contributing to their problem.
Older Clients: May require a longer period of rehabilitation due to potential underlying factors like arthritis, bone density changes, or other comorbidities that influence the speed and complexity of recovery.

3. Your Commitment to the Process

What you do outside of the clinic matters just as much as your time with us. Consistent attendance (usually 1-2 times per week) and diligent follow-through on your Home Exercise Program (HEP) accelerates healing and shortens your overall treatment time.

We are committed to helping you reach your goals in the fewest number of visits possible without compromising the quality of your recovery.

What conditions does physical therapy treat?

Physical therapy is much more than just rehabilitation for injury or surgery—we are movement experts who treat a vast range of conditions and goals.

We specialize in diagnosing and treating pain and limitations throughout the entire body, including:

Acute and Chronic Pain: Low back pain, neck pain, sciatica, headaches, and joint stiffness.
Orthopedic Injuries: Sprains, strains, ligament tears (ACL, rotator cuff), and arthritis.
Post-Surgical Rehabilitation: Recovery after joint replacements, spinal surgery, or fracture repair.
Balance & Fall Prevention: Addressing dizziness, vertigo, and unsteadiness.

To see a detailed list of common issues we treat and how we can help you, please visit our services page.

What happens during a typical physical therapy session?

Unlike traditional clinics that may manage multiple patients at once, our sessions are 100% focused on you for the entire time.

A typical follow-up session is 60 minutes and is dedicated to hands-on care and guided therapeutic exercise, including:

Manual Therapy: Hands-on techniques like joint mobilization, soft tissue work, radial shockwave therapy or dry needling to relieve pain and restore mobility.
Corrective Exercise: Guided strengthening, flexibility, and stability exercises tailored to your needs.
Movement Education: Coaching on proper body mechanics, posture, and strategies to manage your condition at home and prevent future issues.

For a full breakdown of the techniques and specialized services we offer, please visit our Services.

Do I need to have pain to see a physical therapist?

Absolutely not! In fact, seeing a Physical Therapist before the pain starts is one of the smartest forms of healthcare investment.

We highly encourage seeking a movement evaluation for prevention and performance if you are experiencing:

Stiffness or Imbalance: Chronic tightness, poor posture, or a nagging "twinge" of discomfort.
Performance Plateaus: If you are an athlete (runner, weightlifter, golfer) looking to identify mechanical faults that limit performance or increase injury risk.
Proactive Wellness: If you simply want an expert assessment to ensure your body is moving efficiently to remain active and strong as you age.

What are your hours of operation and how do I schedule an appointment?

We operate strictly by appointment only to ensure every client receives dedicated, one-on-one attention with their Physical Therapist for the full session time. We do not have open walk-in hours.

Current Business Hours: