Visit Coronado’s office of Water and Sports Physical Therapy to work with Emily Richard PT, DPT, Carol McClaugherty PTA (front right), and Megan Moynihan and Caroline Fregeau, both Exercise Specialists.
If you are a weekend athlete and often find yourself with aches and pains from your physical activity, Water and Sports Physical Therapy (WSPT) has some news for you! The state of California recently passed Law AB 1000, also called the Direct Access law. This law allows you, the patient, to seek the care of a physical therapist without obtaining a referral from your primary care doctor.
So, if you really enjoyed that tennis game with your buddies or surfing for the first time in a few years, but can’t seem to rotate that ache out of your shoulder, WSPT is the place to visit! Did you twist a knee playing ultimate Frisbee? Or wrench your ankle on a trail run? If you live in Coronado, you can access the services of WSPT at the Brian Bent Memorial Aquatic Center (BBMAC). The clinical director, Dr. Emily Richard, and her qualified staff are friendly, knowledgeable and close to home.
As the name suggests, WSPT’s specialty is using water therapy in combination with highly skilled, manual (or hands-on) therapy and injury specific land exercises. An appointment at WSPT will involve manual therapy with the physical therapist (PT) every time and then guided exercises, with an exercise specialist, whether land or water based.
Water and Sports Physical Therapy uses pool therapy, massage, land based stretching and strengthening and nutrition to help patients progress at a comfortable pace. WSPT also utilizes joint mobilization, posture re-education, myofacial decompression (a.k.a. “cupping”) and modalities like ultrasound, electrical stimulation, ice and heat as necessary. Why aquatic therapy? The pool offers patients who cannot exercise without pain an alternative. According to the WSPT website, “the pool alleviates pressure on joints and muscles and the resistance of the water, in effect, massages your muscles while you exercise.” Water therapy provides so many benefits to its participants like spinal decompression, swelling reduction due to the hydrostatic pressure of the water, decreased compression of arthritic joints, and pain free exercise.
The Coronado clinic is an enjoyable place to participate in rehabilitation of injury or engage in preventative care. The staff members quickly become familiar with their patients and make the environment conducive to success. Dr. Richard takes pride in educating not only her patients, but high school and college students who are interested in Physical Therapy careers. There are many repeat customers because they like the staff and the environment. The service is professional, yet comfortable and enjoyable. The staff members decorate the office for holidays and have motivational quotes on the ceiling to help patients find their groove. Patients often find they know others who are receiving care or they make new friends; there is always conversation at WSPT. Dr. Richard, having suffered a season ending knee injury as a senior in high school, has been through the pain and frustration of a traumatic injury. She and her staff can relate to the patients and are just nice people.
Another advantage of WSPT at the BBMAC is the proximity to Coronado High School. Students enrolled in the sports medicine class and advanced sports medicine class can get the required observational hours immediately adjacent to their school.
Physical therapy is an excellent resource for your health. Participation in an individualized program can help increase mobility and decrease pain. Whether you want to alleviate pain, are returning from surgery or trying to get back on the field, WSPT can design an individualized program for you. The physical therapist is always accessible and available at each appointment. They are even available by email.
If you prefer care off the island, WSPT has several other state of the art locations in places like Mission Beach, Scripps Ranch, La Jolla and Carmel Valley. If you have Medicare, you will still need to get a referral from your doctor. Some companies prefer and still require a referral anyway, so check with your provider. If you choose to use the services of WSPT, you will not need a referral and can be seen for 12 visits or forty five days (after which time a referral IS required for continued care). WSPT will call your insurance company for you to verify your benefits.
The new law only applies to those who have health insurance. It saves you the co-pay you might have for a visit to your primary doctor and saves you the time of visiting the doctor for a referral, waiting for the referral to get approved, scheduling the appointment and finally getting in to see a Physical Therapist. The absence of all the usual steps will save you time and start your healing process in a more timely manner.
Check out the WSPT website, call Coronado’s patient care coordinator at 619-459-4345 or call the main clinic line at 858-488-3597.
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Kellee Hearther
Staff Writer
eCoronado.com
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