In most cases, no. Most states allows for "Direct Access," meaning you can come directly to a physical therapist for an evaluation and treatment without seeing a doctor first. This gets you on the road to recovery faster. However, if you are using insurance there are some specific plans that do have requirements regarding signatures or referrals. If your insurance has specific requirements, we will let you know before your first visit.  (Medicare does NOT require a referral to get started with therapy).

During your first visit, you'll undergo a comprehensive evaluation. We'll discuss your medical history, assess your current condition, and perform a physical examination. This helps us understand your specific needs and goals. Based on this information, we'll develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to your unique situation. You'll also have the opportunity to ask any questions and discuss any concerns you might have about your treatment.

Yes. When appropriate, we use manual therapy techniques like joint mobilization, soft-tissue work, dry needling, and directional loading strategies. These help decrease pain quickly so you can move more easily and progress into strengthening.

In many cases, yes. Most pain improves with the right combination of movement correction, strength training, and hands-on care. We’ll also tell you honestly if imaging or a surgical consult is appropriate.

Yes. One of our main goals is education. You’ll understand exactly what is causing your pain, why it’s happening, and how to fix it. Knowing the root cause reduces fear and speeds up recovery.

If pain limits your workouts, daily activities, sleep, or quality of life—even slightly—PT is the right next step. A short evaluation can determine exactly what’s going on and what your fastest path forward looks like.

Running pain can come from joint irritation, tendon overload (like Achilles or patellar tendinopathy), poor running mechanics, hip or ankle stiffness, improper footwear, muscle imbalance, or training errors such as increasing mileage too quickly. A physical therapist’s job is to identify your specific driver so treatment can be targeted and effective.

Running pain is more serious if you experience sharp pain that alters your stride, swelling that doesn’t go away, numbness or tingling, sudden weakness, clicking/locking, or pain that worsens significantly during or after your runs. Early evaluation prevents chronic injuries and helps you return to running safely.

Complete rest often slows progress. Most running injuries improve faster with guided, modified activity rather than total time off. A physical therapist will show you which running variations, drills, and strength work are safe—and which stresses you should avoid temporarily.

Yes. Chronic running pain often persists because underlying issues—strength imbalance, gait mechanics, hip/ankle mobility deficits, or poor load tolerance—were never corrected. Physical therapy addresses these root causes so even long-standing running pain can improve.

Absolutely. Many running-related issues involve nerve irritation, glute weakness, or altered gait mechanics. Physical therapy restores mobility, improves force absorption, optimizes running technique, and reduces irritation so your symptoms calm down quickly.

Ignoring running pain often leads to worsening tendon or joint irritation, recurring flare-ups, decreased mileage tolerance, and compensations that create new injuries. Early treatment restores healthy mechanics and helps you return to pain-free running sooner.