Ankle & Foot Injuries Specialist

Ankle & Foot Injuries Q&A

What foot and ankle injuries can physical therapy address?

Because it helps strengthen and stabilize the entire foot and ankle structure, physical therapy is an essential part of the recovery process for many injuries, including:

sprains
fractures
bunion surgery recovery
arthritis
recovery from other types of surgery including ankle surgery

Physical therapy can also help prevent future injury by helping you learn new ways to move that reduce the stress and strain on your feet and ankles.

How does Dr. Imelda Tan, PT, DPT, CES help people with foot and ankle injuries?

The feet contain one-fourth of all the bones in the body – 52 all together – as well as more than 100 muscles, ligaments and tendons, and considering the weight the bear and work they do all day long, it's not difficult to understand why they're subject to a wide array of injuries. Imelda begins by evaluating the source of foot and ankle pain, reviewing symptoms and treatments, and learning about each patient's individual lifestyle and habits so she can develop a plan of stretching, strengthening and range of motion exercises to help restore your foot and ankle to health and wellness. Each course of treatment is designed to support the physical activities and lifestyle needs of the individual patient for more successful outcomes and greater patient satisfaction.

What can I do to prevent foot and ankle injuries?

Wearing the proper footwear is essential to protect your feet and ankles from strains and trauma that can result in soft tissue injury and fractures. Imelda can also teach you how to perform simple exercises at home to keep your feet as flexible as possible so they're able to adapt to changes in force that can occur in a wide array of activities.

Insurance & Direct Access

Physical Therapy is a medical expense covered by most major insurance plans. In order for therapy to be reimbursed by insurance, a doctor's prescription is usually required. However current trends in Physical Therapy now allow therapists practicing in New York State to evaluate and treat patients without an MD referral or prescription. This is called Direct Access. You are entitled to a 30-day treatment period or 10 visits, whichever occurs first. This is an advantage for patients who wanted to get immediate care without making an appointment with the doctor. After performing the evaluation, your Physical Therapist will communicate with your primary care physician regarding medical findings as necessary. If further treatment is needed, then a referral from the physician is required.

Most insurances pay for treatment under Direct Access. Our Insurance experts will verify coverage prior to your first physical therapy appointment. If your insurance plan doesn't pay for Direct Access, we can assist you in getting a Physical Therapy prescription/referral or you can payout of your pocket for a discounted fee in order to receive treatment.