Physical therapy
Comprehensive physical therapy to help you move and heal
Penn Medicine offers world-class rehabilitation services to people of all ages. We work with your doctor to create a physical therapy plan that addresses your needs, whether you’re here to recover from surgery, heal an injury, or manage a medical condition. If you’re getting PT for pain management, we have therapists certified in the McKenzie Method, a proven assessment that helps us determine which treatment options will provide the most effective results. The McKenzie Method may be helpful if you have pain in your back, neck, or extremities (like your shoulder, knee, or ankle), including pain related to arthritis, sciatica, and other conditions.
During your therapy sessions, we use the latest techniques and state-of-the-art equipment to help you get stronger and do the activities you love. We may also use advanced technology, like anti-gravity treadmills, aquatic therapy pools with underwater cameras and treadmills, specialized gait and balance systems, wearable robotic exoskeletons, or other innovative approaches. With compassionate care, we help improve your mobility, reduce pain, and restore your strength and function. Physical therapy may also help you take fewer medications, avoid surgery, and prevent future health issues.
Conveniently located near you, you can find our services within and near our Chester County Hospital, Doylestown Health, Lancaster General Health, and Princeton Health campuses in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Physical therapy care can also be accessed through our partner, GSPP Rehabilitation, in Philadelphia and surrounding areas, including Bucks County, Montgomery County, and southern New Jersey. Additional rehabilitation services are provided by our colleagues in physical medicine and rehabilitation, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. Because your success depends on you having an active role in your care, we support you through the process so that you have the confidence to live an active life.
Our specialized physical therapy services
We have a wide range of therapies that can address your specific needs. Some options, like aquatic therapy, reduce stress on the part of your body that’s injured while you safely perform exercises that increase your strength. Other therapies help improve your movement, balance, or brain function, and reduce pain and fatigue.
- Aquatic therapy
- Amputee care
- Balance and vestibular rehabilitation
- Blood flow restriction therapy
- Cancer rehabilitation
- Cognitive therapy
- Concussion therapy
- Chronic pain management
- Dance rehabilitation
- Fibromyalgia care
- Hand therapy
- Hemophilia management
- Industrial rehabilitation
- Low-level laser therapy (LLLT)
- LSVT BIG® and LSVT BIG for LIFE®
- Lymphedema management
- Neurorehabilitation, including brain tumor, headache, stroke, movement disorder, Parkinson’s disease, and TBI rehabilitation
- Osteoporosis rehabilitation
- Orthotics
- Orthopaedic and musculoskeletal rehabilitation
- Pelvic floor therapy, including perinatal rehabilitation and incontinence care
- Post-operative therapy
- Postural restoration (PRI)
- Spine rehabilitation
- Sports rehabilitation
- Temporomandibular disorder (TMJ) rehabilitation
Are you a candidate for physical therapy?
You may need physical therapy to help you recover from an injury you incur while playing a sport, working, or doing another activity. PT can also help promote your recovery if you’ve had a neurological condition, like a concussion, stroke, or Parkinson’s disease. Therapy may also be recommended after certain surgeries, to manage cancer treatment side effects, to build strength after an amputation, or for rehabilitation for many other medical issues. A referral from your doctor may be needed before you start physical therapy.
Choosing the right setting for your recovery goals
Physical therapy may be done while you’re a patient at one of our hospitals or in an outpatient setting. Therapy always begins with a thorough evaluation. Your therapist will ask about your symptoms and assess your strength, balance, and other concerns. You’ll also talk about your goals and whether other types of therapies, like occupational therapy or speech therapy, may be helpful.
Your care team may recommend inpatient physical therapy if you need intensive rehabilitation and 24-hour care. This may be needed after surgery or if you have a serious injury or condition that needs medical monitoring. You’ll have one-on-one sessions with a physical therapist for a few hours a day.
Your therapist will guide you through a customized plan of exercises, stretches, and other techniques, depending on your specific needs. You may work on standing up, walking, going up and down stairs, or other skills. As you meet your goals and regain function, your care team will create a plan for you to go home. You might continue physical therapy through outpatient appointments after you’re discharged from an inpatient program.
During outpatient physical therapy, you’ll meet with a therapist in a practice setting. You’ll be given a treatment plan with goals, like improving your strength, coordination, balance, range of motion, or pain management. During each session, your physical therapist will lead you through exercises and monitor your progress. You’ll also be taught how to do movements on your own at home. The number of sessions you have and how frequently they’re scheduled depends on your condition and the gains you make during therapy.
Compassionate, accessible care with Penn Medicine physical therapy
Penn Medicine and our physical therapy partner, GSPP Rehabilitation, have convenient locations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey so that you can find quality PT care near you.
Locations
Our hospitals, multispecialty medical centers, pharmacies, labs and more offer outstanding, personalized care for patients all across the region.
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Patient stories
A smooth ride to a new wheelchair
“Since I work at Penn Medicine, I believe in the mission: that Penn Medicine puts patients first and is comprised of people who truly care about their craft and the people they serve,” said Alex Gardner. “I was proven right by my personal experience at Good Shepherd Penn Partners.”
Compassionate physical therapy with cancer side effects
"It has been a great experience. I got to know all of the physical therapists. It is clear that they are very passionate about their job and care about each of their patients," said Laurie Geissel.