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Bridging the Knowledge Gap


Our mission at Bridge2PT is to provide a revolutionary Physical Therapy experience for both our patients and our practitioners. We want this to feel like nothing you've ever experienced in Physical Therapy before. In order to provide this superior experience, we feel it is our responsibility to help educate our communities about the benefits of mobile, one-on-one care with a Doctor of Physical Therapy that is truly focused on your healing journey. We intend to use this blog, Bridging the Knowledge Gap, to deliver the information we feel will help you make the decision that mobile Physical Therapy with Bridge2PT is right for you

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Do You Take My Insurance? Why Your Health Insurance Isn't Helping


One of the most common questions patients have when talking about starting a course of care with a new physical therapist is, “do you take my insurance?” When selecting a physical therapy provider, the status of the provider as an “in-network” versus “out-of-network” provider can also affect how your insurance will play a role in payment for services. While at first glance it can seem like an out-of-network provider will come at an additional cost, that turns out not to be the case for most patients. Here are some of the main points to consider when selecting your Physical Therapist... Read More

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The Power of Our Words - Degenerative Disc Disease

July 18, 20241 min read

When I talk to my patients about their diagnoses, imaging results, and symptoms, I try my best to always remember how powerful my choice of words can be. There are times when I make a mistake in how I talk about a symptom, a diagnosis, or a procedure my patient has had or plans to have. Almost immediately, I have seen the negative effects this has on a patient’s beliefs, attitude toward their rehab and potential for improvement, and my ability to form a therapeutic alliance with them moving forward. One diagnosis in particular that can have this effect on patients is “degenerative disc disease.”

The American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists (AAOMPT) recently came out with a position statement (found here) that opposes the use of “Degenerative Disc Disease” as a diagnostic term for the cause of neck and back pain. They state that the changes denoted by this term are often related to normal age-related changes in the size and shape of the vertebral discs. Labeling these changes as a “disease” can and does sometimes lead to unnecessary and invasive treatments including opioids, injections, and surgical procedures. They also state that patients respond to this label by “avoiding beneficial physical activity for fear that exercise and movement will worsen their condition, possibly leading to chronic pain.”

Physical Therapists play a key role in the management of spinal pain, and can help decrease opioid prescriptions and unnecessary procedures. We can help patients to improve, manage, and learn about their neck and back pain before it becomes chronic. Let’s be part of the solution and think about the power of our words when talking to our patients about their diagnoses and symptoms.

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