Masefield & Cavallaro Physical Therapy, PC - Physical Therapy Care FAQs

Physical therapy can address a wide range of issues including back and neck pain, joint injuries, arthritis, post-surgical recovery, muscle strains, ligament injuries, and mobility limitations.

In many cases, you can begin physical therapy without a referral, though this may depend on your insurance plan. It’s always a good idea to check your coverage beforehand.

Your first session includes a comprehensive evaluation where your therapist assesses your movement, strength, and pain levels. Based on this, a personalized treatment plan is created to match your goals.

Most sessions typically last between 45 minutes to an hour, depending on your treatment needs and plan of care.

The number of sessions varies depending on your condition, severity, and goals. Some patients improve within a few visits, while others may require a longer course of care.

Some discomfort can occur, especially when working through injured areas, but therapy should not be excessively painful. Your therapist will adjust treatments to keep you safe and comfortable.

Treatment may include guided exercises, manual therapy, stretching, mobility work, posture correction, and education to help prevent future injuries.

In many cases, yes. Physical therapy can strengthen muscles, improve joint function, and reduce pain enough to delay or even eliminate the need for surgery.

Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing that allows easy movement and access to the area being treated (e.g., shorts for knee issues, a tank top for shoulder concerns).

Yes, home exercises are an important part of your recovery. They help reinforce progress between sessions and speed up results.

Some patients notice improvements within a few sessions, while others may take a few weeks depending on the condition and consistency with treatment.

We treat sprains, strains, ligament tears (including ACL injuries), tendonitis, muscle pulls, fractures, dislocations, and overuse injuries such as runner’s knee or shoulder impingement.

It’s best to begin as soon as it is safe to do so. Early intervention can reduce stiffness, prevent further injury, and speed up overall recovery.

Yes, the primary goal is to safely return you to your sport at your pre-injury level—or better—by restoring strength, mobility, balance, and coordination.

Sports rehab is more performance-focused. It not only addresses healing but also improves agility, strength, endurance, and sport-specific movement patterns.

Sessions may include manual therapy, strengthening exercises, balance and coordination training, flexibility work, and sport-specific drills.

Recovery time varies depending on the injury severity, sport demands, and individual healing. Minor injuries may take weeks, while more complex injuries may take several months.

The program is designed to maintain as much conditioning as possible while protecting the injured area. We often incorporate safe cross-training methods.

Yes, a key part of rehab is identifying movement imbalances and correcting them to reduce the risk of reinjury.

Not always. In many cases, modified or low-impact activity is encouraged while the injured area heals.

Common causes include jaw misalignment, teeth grinding (bruxism), stress-related muscle tension, arthritis, injury to the jaw, or poor posture affecting neck and jaw alignment.

Symptoms may include jaw pain, tightness, clicking or popping sounds, difficulty opening or closing the mouth, ear pain, headaches, and facial discomfort.

Physical therapy helps by improving jaw alignment, reducing muscle tension, restoring normal movement, and addressing contributing factors like posture and neck stiffness.

Treatment may include manual therapy, gentle jaw mobilization, stretching exercises, posture correction, relaxation techniques, and education on habits that may worsen symptoms.

Most treatments are gentle and designed to reduce pain, not increase it. Some mild discomfort may occur as tight muscles are worked on, but it is carefully controlled.

Many patients notice improvement within a few weeks, though more chronic or severe cases may take longer to fully resolve.

Some mild cases may improve over time, but many people benefit significantly from treatment to prevent symptoms from becoming chronic or worsening.

Yes, stress can increase jaw clenching and teeth grinding, which often worsens symptoms. Relaxation strategies are often part of treatment.

In some cases, yes. Collaboration between physical therapy and dental care can be helpful, especially if teeth alignment or bite issues contribute to symptoms.