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From Your First Visit

We value transparency and communication. Especially when it comes to your care. If you have any questions before your appointment, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

We like to start with some good, old fashioned conversation – we want to get to know you, what motivates you, your performance/medical history, what impact this injury has had on your life. We will discuss all of your questions or concerns, and, most importantly, your goals during your first visit.

From There, for the Physical Therapy Track: Patients

We will segue into your evaluation in which your PT will gently move through diagnostics – keeping open dialogue the entire time so you understand what’s happening and why. If there are any services we can perform that day to relieve your pain and discomfort, such as dry needling or soft tissue mobilization, rest assured we will do so during that appointment. Your appointment will end with a unique, individualized plan of care. Once discharged from PT, maintenance appointments as needed may be suggested for a little WD40 to the joints to keep you Moving!!! Our goal, however is that we do do not want the patient to be  dependent on manual therapy, and we want you to learn strategies and tools to keep you moving without the need for physical therapy services. We want to give you autonomy and confidence in your body.

From there for the Fitness Track: Corrective Exercises Clients

We will segue into a quick screen, however we encourage you to have a physical therapy evolution first if you have any concerns or limitations.  While in the fitness track, no diagnostics will be performed.-- keeping open dialogue the entire time so you understand what's happening and why. If we feel PT services are needed we will refer you to PT, which does not need to be in house and we will be happy to supply names of other PT's in the area. Your appointment will end with a unique, individualized exercises program to keep you Moving!!!

 

The Fitness evaluation will assess for postpartum exercises programming, injury risk evaluation, sports enhancements, or post rehab fitness appropriateness.

What will your initial Corrective Exercise appointment and Postpartum Corrective Exercises appointment look like?

We work together to develop a tailored corrective exercise program that is virtual or in person. No more than 3 exercises are given at any one time and it is a great supplement to your current exercise plan. Modifications will be made to your existing program if needed.  Physical Therapy services are not provided and the physical therapist role is personal training. Minimal equipment is required and everything will be reproducible in your home or hotel room. Since these appointments are not physical therapy services we can work with individuals all over the country and are not bound by the PT license. For example, all physical therapy appointments done vurtualy need to be in the State of Maryland, since that is where our therapists hold their license.  Since the Corrective Exercise Appointments are considered personal training anyone in the United States can make a virtual appointment.

Scheduling Your First Appointment

All new clients and patients are required to speak with Dr. Ratz or the front office before their first appointment. We offer a Physical Therapy Track and a Fitness Track. Please note the Fitness track is not considered physical therapy services. Please use this form and do not disclose personal health information.

For Corrective Exercise Programing/Pilates/Wellness/Fitness/Injury Risk Reduction/ Sports Enhancement/ Post-Rehab Services: You will NOT be receiving medical treatment or Physical Therapy rehabilitation during your sessions. These services are typically not covered by your health insurance. If interested in Physical Therapy rehabilitation services or my screening indicates that you need services beyond the scope of Personal Training and Pilates for wellness, fitness, injury risk reduction, sports enhancement, or post rehab, Ingrid Ratz/ Form and Motion Physical Therapy, LLC will inform you of options for services, including options for referral to other facilities and providers.

What will your initial Physical Therapy Appointment look like?

    • During your physical Therapy session Dr. Ratz will perform a full musculoskeletal evaluation, at which point she will develop a treatment plan. The musculoskeletal system consists of all of the muscles and joints in the body and also includes the continuous, multidimensional connective tissue called fascia that covers and connects every cell of the body. Therefore injury, disease, and/or surgical intervention affecting one part of the musculoskeletal system, often directly or indirectly affects all other parts of the body. Frequently the painful area results from areas compensating for limitations in the body.
    • Dr. Ratz will identify the area of greatest restriction in the musculoskeletal system, to restore optimal function for your body. Treatment depends on the necessary sequencing of treatment required based on the full body screen. You are not just a back pain patient, or a shoulder patient. 
  • We will come up with a plan of care together that is realistic to help reach your goals. My goal is to educate and empower each patient to take back control of a body that can sometimes feel like it is betraying them, often leading the individual frustrated and confused as to how to move forward or how to stay active in a safe manner. This could be competing in a high-level activity or going for an evening stroll. Let me help you to stay active. 

Before Calling to Schedule:

  • If visiting for Physical Therapy
    * It is recommended but not required for those with a diagnosed disease or ailment requiring manual physical therapy to have a prescription from your physician 
    • Visit the Insurance and Payments section of our webpage for more information.  

  

  • If visiting for Fitness Goals
    • Treatment does not require a prescription
    • Not billable to insurance, however, HSA (flexible spending account are accepted

*Wellness and prevention are not covered by insurance and are not related to injury or ailments. This care does not require a prescription.

What you should do on the day of your visit:

  • Confirm that you have filled out and signed all the forms via the patient portal that you received via email. Appointments are scheduled back to back, therefore if you are more than 15 minutes late to your appointment you may be asked to reschedule at your own cost.  Due to COVID we have allotted extra time between appointments for cleaning.
  • Wear loose fitting clothing that will allow for a full range of motion and drink plenty of water before and after your appointment 
  • Drink PLENTY of water before and after your visit. This will assist with the removal of toxins that may be released from your tissues during treatment.
  • If you are not able to make this appointment, or an appointment in the future, please call us as soon as possible to reschedule. 24-hour notice is required for all cancelations.  We will however wave the first late cancelations fee, as we are all human and things come up that is out of our control. By the third late cancellation we will require payment in full.

What to Expect after Physical Therapy Treatment?

Each person is unique and responds differently to treatment. Some soreness may occur as the body adapts to the changes and increases mobility of the tissues. Additionally, this soreness may also be a result of increased circulation resulting in a detoxification process. Regardless of the result of the soreness, the discomfort usually resolves within 48 - 72 hours. Drinking plenty of water helps to decrease the soreness.

 

Usually the client notices change in flexibility and/or symptoms within the first 1 - 2 treatments. Duration of relief will normally increase as the number of tight areas decrease. Remember every client's treatment will be individualized to meet specific needs in response to treatment.