Answers hub
Physical therapy answers
One page per question, with the short answer first. Written for people in Carmel and the north side of Indianapolis who are deciding whether physical therapy is the right next step.
Getting started
- Do I need a referral for physical therapy in Indiana?Do you need a referral for physical therapy in Indiana? No, not for the first 42 days. See what the law allows, when a referral is required and why.
- What should I wear to physical therapy?What should you wear to physical therapy? Comfortable athletic clothes that expose the area being treated, plus shoes you really use. What to bring, too.
- When should I see a physical therapist?When should you see a physical therapist? When pain lasts over a week or two, limits sleep, work or sport, keeps returning, or after a fall or surgery.
- How does therapist matching work?How does therapist matching work? A two-minute questionnaire, a matching team of people, a proposed therapist in Carmel and a call from that office to book.
Treatment
- How often should I go to physical therapy?How often should you go to physical therapy? Most people start at 1 to 3 visits a week and taper as the home program takes over. Here is what decides it.
- Does physical therapy hurt?Does physical therapy hurt? It should not be an ordeal. Mild soreness that settles within about a day is normal; sharp or lingering pain means adjust.
Recovery
- How long does physical therapy take?How long does physical therapy take? A few weeks for a simple strain, 6 to 12 weeks for many tendon and back problems, and months after major surgery.
- Can physical therapy help me avoid surgery?Can physical therapy help you avoid surgery? Sometimes. For many meniscus, rotator cuff, disc and knee arthritis problems, exercise-based care comes first.
Comparisons
- Physical therapy vs chiropractor: which should I see?Physical therapy vs chiropractor: both treat back, neck and joint pain. See how training, methods and goals differ, and how to choose for your problem.
- Physical therapist vs personal trainer: what is the difference?Physical therapist vs personal trainer: a therapist is a licensed clinician who treats injury and pain; a trainer builds fitness in healthy, cleared clients.
Hub reviewed By the Monon Therapy Collective editorial team
Two-minute assessment
Not sure which therapist is right for you?
Answer a few questions about what hurts, how long it has been going on and what you want to get back to. Our matching team reads every answer and proposes a licensed physical therapist in the network whose focus, schedule and coverage fit. Two minutes, no obligation.
- No referral needed to start in Indiana (first 42 days)
- We check which therapists work with your plan before you book
- One-on-one care in a private suite at Carmel City Center
Carmel City Center · Carmel, Indiana
Start with a conversation
Tell us what hurts and what you want to get back to. We will tell you honestly whether a therapist in the network is likely a good fit for what you describe, and match you with an independent, licensed therapist who is. Only that therapist can assess what will help.
885 Monon Green Blvd, Suite 120, Carmel, IN 46032 · Monday to Friday 5 AM to 9 PM · Saturday and Sunday 7 AM to 4 PM