Physical therapy or physiotherapy (often abbreviated to PT) is a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialty that remediates impairments and promotes mobility, function, and quality of life through examination, diagnosis, prognosis, physical intervention, prevention, and health promotion.

It is key for your physical therapist to be able to identify the triggers that are causing your impairment(s) in order to relieve your symptoms. It is also key for your physical therapist to assess functional activities in order to identify necessary corrections and to implement preventative measures for wellness.

It depends on the individual. Contributing factors can include: patient’s diagnosis, severity of symptoms, and the state of injury.

Post-operative status will be dependent on the referring physician's protocols, compliance with PT sessions, as prescribed, compliance with home exercise program, etc.

On average treatment lasts 4-5 sessions.

I have worked closely with UCLA and UCSF’s Orofacial Dept and practitioners, and was an Assistant Clinical Professor at UCSF Center for Orofacial Pain.

It is important to have a proper program designed for your diagnosis. There are few practitioners that are well versed in TMJ care, and treatment by an untrained TMJ provider can make TMJ pain/issues worse.

A trained TMJ physical therapist will work closely with your dental and healthcare providers. With proper therapy, you will be able regain proper range of motion, engage in proper muscle activation, decrease pain in orofacial musculature, and decrease headaches that may stem from orofacial musculature. In addition to treatment sessions, a trained TMJ physical therapist will work with you to develop a home program of proper jaw/neck care specific to your diagnosis.

There should be notable improvements after a few sessions when patients are consistent with appointments and specialized home exercise/care programs from your physical therapist.

What is Dry Needling?

Dry needling is a scientifically-supported physical therapy method that employs a thin, sterile needle to address pain and movement impairments. This technique targets specific points within the body to alleviate discomfort and enhance muscular function.

It is a specialized treatment option for pain relief and improved muscle movement. The needle penetrates the skin and stimulates underlying myofascial trigger points and muscular and connective tissues. The needle allows a physical therapist to target tissues they are not as accessible to reach with their hands. It can help with chronic or new pain, and can be beneficial for athletes or people recovering from injuries or surgery.

Dry needling helps to decrease pain and stiffness and improve mobility and performance. It is typically combined with other physical therapy exercises and techniques.

What to expect:

During your dry needling procedure, a physical therapist will insert the needle through the skin to target specific tissues and pain points. The length of the needle will depend on the area of your body that is being dry needled. Most patients feel little or no pain as the needle is inserted. 

Dry needling takes as little as 15-20 minutes during the treatment session, and there is a low risk of infection. After the procedure, patients typically experience pain relief and improved movement lasting from a few hours to several weeks. This positive impact is amplified when combined with a carefully selected exercise/home care program.

While the side effects from dry needling are usually minor, patients can experience:

• Bruising at the dry needling site

• Fatigue or lack of energy

• Soreness for 24-36 hrs

Once the procedure is complete, your physical therapist will work to create an individualized plan that uses the benefits of dry needling along with other treatment techniques.

Orthopedic PTs and Pelvic floor PTs differ in their training and areas of expertise. Orthopedic PT’s typically do not treat the pelvic floor. Pelvic floor therapists are specifically trained to treat the pelvic floor, but may not be as well versed in orthopedics.

It is important for a pelvic floor therapist to have strong background in orthopedics, as there is a strong connection between musculoskeletal issues in different areas of the body and the pelvic floor. Pelvic floor pain or tension, at times, may be a reactor to a primary driver/primary issue of the body. Pain at the site may not be coming from the painful area it may be referred from another area.

We are a fee-for-service clinic, meaning that we collect payment at the time of service (credit card, flexible savings accounts (FSA) and health savings account (HSA) cards).

After each session we will email an itemized bill (superbill) to patients who are interested in reimbursement from their insurances. Patients will then independently submit to their insurance companies, usually via email or insurance patient portal.

Patients have reported PPO plans have reimbursed ~70% of each session, and services are eligible for reimbursement via an FSA plan.

Yes, Telehealth sessions are available for patients in CA and WA. Although it is advised to have your first session in the clinic in order to provide a physical and manual assessment.

No, men are welcome at JQPT for evaluation and treatment.

Yes, it is important to have the same consistent quality of care at each session.

Yes, there is close communication with your health providers to make sure that everyone is involved and on the same page with your plan of care.

Yes, gift certificate values are applied against any JQPT services. These are great for baby showers, and a perfect way to treat new and expectant mothers. Wellness sessions would help with any symptoms and/or help safely guide patients through pregnancy as well as the postpartum period to help safely and effectively return to exercise and activities they love.

Gift certificates can be used for evaluation and treatment/wellness sessions.