FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Discover How to Overcome Pain or Injury And Get Back To Doing The Things You Love – Before It Gets Any Worse!
PHYSICAL THERAPY
What areas of the body do you treat?
We treat all areas of the body that help you move! This includes common areas such as the neck, back, shoulder, hip, and knee, but also less common areas like the jaw (also known as the TMJ – temporomandibular joint, ribs, wrist, fingers, feet, ankle, and toes.
Does the therapy hurt?
That’s entirely up to you! Some of our clients prefer deep tissue work, and others prefer light pressure. We will discuss at the time of your visit what your preferences are, and we will constantly check in with you to make sure you’re feeling what you’re supposed to be feeling. Often times, deeper tissue work is uncomfortable, but can result in greater relief and better movement following the session. For your corrective exercises, sometimes it’s a little bit scary to be performing movements that have previously been very painful, but we’ll work with you to determine when a little bit of discomfort is okay, and when it’s not.
What does the initial visit involve?
The initial visit starts with a conversation with your therapist about what you’re looking for, whether it’s rehab, performance training, or wellness care. We’ll ask questions about whether or not you’re dealing with any pain and how it’s affecting your life and/or your training. You’ll go through a movement assessment that will test the strength and mobility of your muscles and joints to determine the root cause of your symptoms. Based on the results of the conversation and movement assessment, we will come up with a plan to get you moving more comfortably, which often includes hands-on work to decrease your pain and mobilize your joints/muscles. We then follow up your treatment with a few exercises that will help to reinforce the treatment and address the root cause of your pain.
What should I bring to a treatment session?
You should come dressed in athletic clothing that allows your physical therapist to assess and treat whatever area has been bothering you. For shoulder issues, this usually means a sleeveless shirt, and for hip or knee issues, this usually means athletic shorts. Depending on your case, you might also want to bring your training log, your training shoes, any braces that your normally use, and any equipment that you have questions about.
I have a child who needs therapy. Do you work with kids?
We do! We generally work with kids over 8 years old who are dealing with growing pains, musculoskeletal injuries or pains, muscle weakness, poor flexibility, or pain. We also help support kids through their activities (sports, music, performance) with therapy including injury screening, movement assessments, strengthening programs, injury prevention, and recovery sessions.
I just had surgery. Do you work with people after surgery?
We do work with post-operative clients! Physical therapy is important after surgery for reducing pain, decreasing swelling, and regaining range of motion after surgery. Your first few days or weeks after surgery will usually be pretty limited in terms of what kinds of activities/exercises you can do based on your surgeon’s restrictions, but many people come to us to find ways to maintain their fitness while they’re recovering or rehabilitating from a surgery. Other clients sometimes attend their insurance-based physical therapy two to three times per week for the basics (ROM, initial strengthening exercises), and transition over to us as they begin to return to higher level activities like sports or running.
I don’t have pain. Can I still come to Sports Performance for an assessment?
Yes. We do more than just addressing pain. If you’ve been struggling with any movement-related issue, we are happy to help out. Maybe you feel like your hamstrings or hips are always tight and you want to know why, maybe you’ve been missing lifts because your shoulder feels wobbly overhead, or you can’t get into a certain position that you need to during your daily activities. These are all problems that we can help you solve to keep you moving more easily. We are also able to help you “tune up” prior to a competition or recover more quickly after a competition/training session with some tissue work and cupping so that you’re feeling looser and ready to tackle whatever life gives you.
I live far away. Can I schedule a longer session than one hour?
Absolutely! We offer 90 minute sessions and 120 minutes sessions for anybody who would like to spend more time with us, whether that’s because you live far away, want to work for longer on one or multiple body parts, or want to spend extra time looking at your movements or programming.
Do I have to be an athlete to be treated at Sports Performance?
No, you don’t have to be an athlete! Our only requirements are that you care about getting better and you are open to incorporating simple movements or stretches into your weekly routine to help you feel better faster. The needs of an athlete and somebody who has never exercised before are similar, but differ in the degree of intensity, so we will meet you where you’re at to put together a plan that gets you back to doing whatever activity you’re passionate about.
Do you do cupping therapy and how long do the circle marks last?
We do offer cupping therapy as a part of our treatment sessions. Cupping is a great way to relieve sensations of pain and muscle tightness, and we might even make you perform movements with the cups on! Due to the suction of the cups, cupping usually leaves behind dark red or purple circles that can last anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks. Everybody heals from bruises a little bit differently, and the same goes for cupping circles.
I have an event (competition or race) coming up. How soon before or after the event should I get a therapy?
We generally recommend that if you’re coming in for a “pre-competition Tune Up,” that you schedule it between 3-5 days prior to your event. This ensures that your body has a chance to adjust to the improved mobility from the Tune Up before you perform a max effort event. If you’re coming in for a post-event recovery session, you’re welcome to come in as soon as you finish your event to help your muscles loosen up and recover.
I’ve had previous physical therapy at other locations. How can Sports Performance help me get out of pain?
At Sports Performance, you can often be seen the same day of your call without waiting for a physician’s referral. You will be provided with an hour long one-on-one assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation plan that is tailored to your individual needs, especially if you have more than one body part that you’d like to address. We will keep you involved in your activity with modifications, rather than telling you “if it hurts, rest, and stop doing it.” We are also able to offer in-house massage therapy and fitness training as an adjunct to your physical therapy care. We’re here to get you out of pain, prevent future injury, and improve your fitness!
What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept cash, checks, credit cards, debit cards, health savings accounts (HSA) and flexible spending accounts (FSA). HSA and FSA payments can only be applied to Physical Therapy or Massage Therapy depending on your HSA/FSA provider, and cannot be applied to Performance Training. We recommend verifying details of your HSA/FSA account with your provider prior to your visit. Payment is due at the time of service.
How much does it cost?
Pricing will vary depending on the level of experience you’d like to have. A Client Care Specialist can help you decide which option works best for you. Call (619) 397-1391 for more details on pricing options.
MASSAGE THERAPY
Is the massage performed in a private room?
Yes, the room is private. Any family members or friends you’d like to be present may be present.
Do I need to fully undress?
You may undress to whatever your personal comfort level is. Your therapist can discuss your treatment and may recommend what to wear for the best experience, but your comfort always comes first. If you decide to undress, rest assured that by law, all private body areas will remain covered at all times during your therapy.
Do you do sports massage?
Yes, we sports massage, as well as a large variety of other massage techniques.
What is the difference between a sports massage and relaxing massage?
Sports massage is a type of massage that can be relaxing but usually is geared more toward relieving muscle pain that comes from sports or exercise. It is intended to help free the body from restriction in movement. It is usually more vigorous than relaxing, but it is completely customized to your comfort.
Does the massage hurt?
Relieving muscle tension can be painful at times. All our massages are customized for your own goals. If you prefer less discomfort, your therapist will absolutely tailor the treatment to meet the goals that you have. Even if those goals change as your therapy is happening.
I have an event (competition or race) coming up. How soon before or after the event should I get a massage?
Typically, you will want to have massage about 48-72 hours prior to your event. The massage will be customized to you. It will depend on if you are accustomed to regular body work or if this is your first session, and how much time before your event.
Can massage help with stress relief?
Stress relief is one of the best reasons for having massage. It is proven to reduce stress and to relax your nervous system at a cellular level, lasting much longer than just the day you receive the massage.
How often should I get a massage?
Having a massage and discussing your goals for how your own body feels, is the best way to determine how often you should have a massage. Regular massage can help you achieve many goals you may have. These would include weight training, fitness, mobility, health, and of course, feeling really great!
What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept cash, checks, credit cards, debit cards, health savings accounts (HSA) and flexible spending accounts (FSA). HSA and FSA payments can only be applied to Physical Therapy or Massage Therapy depending on your HSA/FSA provider, and cannot be applied to Performance Training. We recommend verifying details of your HSA/FSA account with your provider prior to your visit. Payment is due at the time of service.
How much does it cost?
Pricing will vary depending on the level of experience you’d like to have. A Client Care Specialist can help you decide which option works best for you. Call (619) 397-1391 for more details on pricing options.
FITNESS & PERFORMANCE TRAINING
What should I bring to the session?
Wear athletic attire and footwear so that you can comfortably and freely move around. A water bottle is also recommended. An extra change of clothing, post-workout snacks (i.e. protein bar, protein shake, etc) depends on individual preference.
How hard are the workouts?
The intensity of the workouts vary depending on the daily purpose/focus of training. Some training sessions may include high-intensity intervals, while other sessions may be lower-intensity and more aerobic in nature. The key is to ensure that the intensity is dosed appropriately to make a physiological change, while ensuring that you are able to recover and are prepared for daily life as well as the next training session.
Can I bring a friend and do group training?
Absolutely! We offer semi-private (2 people) or small group (3-5 people) training to help you, your friend and family achieve better health. Our group training rates are available HERE.
Do you offer performance training for kids?
Yes! Our performance training for kids is based on creating body awareness and control as a foundation. Some elements that are included in this foundation are landing mechanics, movement in multiple directions, as well as strengthening their ability to push, pull, hinge, squat, lunge, and carry (a relatively heavy) load. This foundation of movement and strength will help to gain confidence in meeting the demands of their sport.
How often should I plan on training at Sports Performance?
Training can be performed up to 3-4 times per week, but the frequency of training may vary depending on individual needs. The number of training sessions may be influenced by season (off-, pre-, or in-season), number of practices/games/competitions, injury or rehabilitation stage, etc.
How is Performance Training different from personal training?
The goal of personal training is to help people attain general health/fitness goals. Our goal at Sports Performance is to apply strength and conditioning principles to improve athletic performance and decrease the potential of injury.
What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept cash, checks, credit cards, debit cards, health savings accounts (HSA) and flexible spending accounts (FSA). HSA and FSA payments can only be applied to Physical Therapy or Massage Therapy depending on your HSA/FSA provider, and cannot be applied to Performance Training. We recommend verifying details of your HSA/FSA account with your provider prior to your visit. Payment is due at the time of service.
How much does it cost?
Pricing will vary depending on the level of experience you’d like to have. A Client Care Specialist can help you decide which option works best for you. Call (619) 397-1391 for more details on pricing options.