Common Questions

Why can physical therapy be a good choice?

Many of our patients come to us after doing their own research, because they don’t want to keep taking pain meds, they don’t want to have a surgery, and other providers they have been referred to have been unable to resolve their pain any other way.

Our Physical Therapists are movement specialists who will assess your pain, evaluate your whole body, find and treat the root cause of your pain, instead of just treating the symptoms. The fact that you are reading this demonstrates that you want a better long-term solution than you have been able to find. It’s the reason we have been here for over 10 years now. Don’t keep living in pain - give us a call to discuss your needs at (919) 410-8840.

How do I get started with NCCPT?

When you call (919) 410-8840 or fill out our online appointment request form, we’ll get some basic information like your name, phone number, email address, and where you are experiencing pain.

The next step will be to complete new patient paperwork. You can either complete it in your patient portal (which we will send you a link to), download copies from our website and bring them to your first appointment, or come to your appointment 20 minutes early to complete the paperwork.

In order to confirm your insurance benefits before your first PT appointment, we will need you to submit that information via your patient portal, or call our office and provide it to us over the phone.

Are you accepting new patients?

YES! Many people come to us after living in pain that has kept them from doing things they love to do. You don’t have to keep living in pain and missing out on living the life you want to live.

Many people come to us after having seen many other health providers, chiropractors, primary care doctors, surgeons, even other physical therapists. We even had one patient whose doctor told him 10 years ago that there was no way to resolve his pain, he would just have to live with it. After 10 years, he decided to pursue physical therapy to resolve his pain. Though we were the fourth PT clinic he tried, we eliminated his pain after 5 visits. We can’t promise this for everyone, but it is a story we hear often from our patients.

Come in for a visit or contact us to get started.

Do I have to get a doctor referral to see a physical therapist?

For most insurances, except Medicare, you do not need a referral. We accept most insurances. Please give us a call at (919) 410-8840, and we can provide you with more insurance specifics over the phone. You may also request a free insurance verification via our online form request for a PT appointment.

Do you take my insurance?

Our network of insurance companies is one of the largest!

We will contact your insurance company in advance, give you in writing your responsibility before your first appointment, and only collect the amount your insurance company specifies for the services you receive.

To learn more and check if your insurance qualifies for physical therapy visits, call one of our insurance specialists at (919) 410-8840 or request a free insurance verification via our online form.

Why choose a small private PT practice like NCCPT?

As one of our former clients said- “Read the reviews, believe in the hype and you’ll still be impressed.” Check out our five star reviews. So many of our patients will tell you about our friendly, warm atmosphere, professional expertise, and how we've helped them relieve pain or reach big dreams.

Since 2010, your goal has been our goal. We focus on the QUALITY of your care, not the QUANTITY of the people we can see (which many of the chain PT locations prioritize). Some have said seeing us - "the local, family-owned guys" - is a lot like the difference between the service get at a locally-owned restaurant vs. McDonald’s.

We have the ability to see you within a week of your referral or request for services. Unlike the large hospitals, there is no reason to wait (in pain) for six weeks before you can make an appointment.

Consistency of care is important in speeding up recovery time. We can see you consistently without making you wait 2-4 weeks between visits so you can get back to living your life pain free, without pain meds. This is also something we have heard is a challenge with large hospital-based PT facilities.

I've already tried physical therapy and it didn't work. What would be different at NCCPT?

If you've tried other PT clinics and been disappointed or seen no results - unfortunately you're not alone. Part of the reason this can happen is that some clinics have expectations for their PTs that do not allow them to spend enough time with their patients to be as effective as they can.

Here's something to consider: the very same issue causing your pain may also cause your body to naturally adjust the way you do an exercise or a stretch meant to eliminate that pain. Doing the right exercise slightly the wrong way can inhibit your path to recovery. Since you may not even realize you are not doing the exercise the way your PT needs you to do it, DPT’s are trained to spot these “cheats” but they can only do so if they have the opportunity to watch you, make adjustments and teach you how to make sure you are doing the right exercise the right way. It takes this kind of attention to get the results you want, so you don’t end up have to keep taking pain meds or have an unnecessary surgery.

We do things differently when it comes to your care. We give our doctors the freedom, tools, and most importantly, the TIME to work with their patients as they see fit. Like us, many private practice PT clinics were started by PTs who wanted to treat their patients they way they wanted so they could keep making a difference in their patients lives. This is why we recommend you find a privately owned clinic.

In fact, people often find us because they are so tired of living in pain that they are convinced there must be a better solution (even if they've tried PT elsewhere). The fact that you are reading this demonstrates that we might be exactly what you have been looking for. If you're ready to try again, visit us and see the difference for yourself. We'd gladly spend the time you need to reach your PT goals.

I can take pain meds and my pain goes away (and it's cheaper than PT)... so when should I consider PT?

Here's a good analogy to consider when it comes to pain medication.

Think about your pain like a tire that's low on air. If you can fill the tire up once with air and the problem goes away, you probably don't need to do anything else. If you can take OTC meds for a short while and your pain doesn't return, you may not need PT.

If the tire keeps going flat, would you keep filling it up with air? Filling the tire with air every day may fix the symptom, but it doesn't resolve the problem. Not fixing the problem could also lead to bigger, more expensive problem when the tire blows out while driving down the road at 70 mph!

Continuously filling your tire up with air doesn't fix the tire any more than continuously taking pain meds is going to fix your pain. If you want to fix your pain once and for all, and potentially avoid blowing out a knee or causing another bigger issue, PT is a relatively inexpensive option you may want to consider. If you have questions about it - we can answer them. Reach us at 919-410-8840.

How much will PT cost?

The short answer is it depends. We take most insurances, and in those cases, your insurance company and the plan you have determines your out of pocket costs.

Most people think the cost per visit is what they want to know. We believe you really want to know the total cost of resolving your pain so you can get back to living the life you want to live. We DO NOT add on extra Facility Fees! Some facility fees in local hospitals are more than an entire PT visit.

Resolving the root cause of your pain may be more expensive than constantly taking pain meds but it is less expensive than a surgery or blowing out your knee. Pain meds aren't going to fix pain symptoms that keep coming back any more than filling a tire with air every day is going to fix a tire with a small hole.

Ignoring your pain by masking it with pain meds can lead to other more expensive solutions such as opioid addiction, a surgery to repair a torn muscle or a herniated disc.

If you find you keep taking meds, physical therapy could be the answer that keeps you from more expensive solutions. You may want to ask; how much are the alternatives to physical therapy? Do I want to get back to living the life I want to live, do the things pain is keeping me from being able to do? We can help you answer these questions and more.

My doctor says I need a surgery. If PT could resolve my pain, why wouldn't he refer me to physical therapy instead?

If you need a surgery to resolve your pain, you want to see a great surgeon. If you would like to pursue a less invasive solution to your problem, it may be worthwhile to invest an hour with someone who specializes in resolving pain without surgical procedures. Many of the best surgeons often refer their patients to #TryPTFirst. We have helped countless people avoid surgeries they thought were inevitable!

What kind of training does a Physical Therapist have?

A physical therapist spends 7 years in college to earn a doctorates degree in physical therapy. The last three years are spent entirely on learning the mechanics of how all the muscles, ligaments, tendons, and joints work together in the human body, where different pain symptoms originate when they aren't working together in harmony, and what methods to implement to alleviate those pains. Oftentimes, the root cause of your pain is not where you feel the pain.

How much time will a PT spend with me?

Physical Therapists are known to be a medical professional who will spend a significant amount of time to diagnose the root cause of your pain. And unlike many of the chain PT clinics, we are deeply committed to ensure your PT can spend the quality time you need for proper evaluation and subsequent treatment.

On average, it takes 40-60 minutes on your first visit for your PT to gather enough data to begin identifying what impairment may be causing the symptoms you are feeling.

Are you hiring? I'd love to join the team!

We are always looking for dynamic people to join our team at NC Center for Physical Therapy. Please visit our Staff Page to learn more about our current team.

If you are interested in becoming a permanent member of our team, feel free to email your resume a completed employment application form to our Chief Financial Officer at jeff@nccenterforpt.com.

➤ Download Job Application

Do you accept DPT students, undergrads, or volunteers who want to learn about PT?

Absolutely! Please contact us for more information at undergradstudents@nccenterforpt.com.

Undergrads & Students

Undergrad students from UNC, NC State, NCCU and Georgia State earning their degree in exercise science, athletic training or other medical related fields have completed affiliations in our office to meet educational requirements.

If you would like us to consider you for this opportunity, please send us your school’s required paperwork and complete the Undergrad Interest form (Internship application 2019/2020) and email it to undergradstudents@nccenterforpt.com

Volunteers

In addition, we have welcomed volunteers, including athletic trainers, dental hygienists, nurses, and others who may be considering physical therapy as a profession in their future.

If you need volunteer hours in order to apply to PT school or are seriously wondering if PT is the field for you, complete the Volunteer Interest form and email it to undergradstudents@nccenterforpt.com.