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Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about physical therapy, our treatments, or what to expect during your visit? Our FAQ page provides answers to common questions about appointments, payment options, treatment, and getting started with care at Nashville Physical Therapy and Performance. If you don’t see your question answered, our team is happy to help.
New Patient FAQ
Great question — and the short answer is: there is no difference.
“Physical therapy” and “physiotherapy” are two terms used to describe the exact same profession. The term physiotherapy is more commonly used internationally (Europe, Canada, Australia), while physical therapy is the term most often used in the United States.
Both refer to licensed healthcare professionals trained to evaluate, diagnose, and treat pain, injury, movement problems, and performance limitations through exercise, hands-on treatment, education, and movement-based care.
So whether you searched for a physiotherapist in Nashville or a physical therapist in Nashville, you’re in the right place.
At Nashville Physical Therapy & Performance, our Doctors of Physical Therapy provide one-on-one, whole-person care designed to help you move better, feel better, and stay active for life — no matter which term you use to find us.
We make it easy! You can:
Click any “Schedule Appointment” button on our site
Email us at info@nashvillept.com
Call or text us at 615-428-9213
Or fill out the Contact Form and we’ll be in touch
Come dressed to move! We recommend:
Workout clothes or anything that allows free movement
Supportive shoes (especially if you're a runner—bring your running shoes!)
Any braces, orthotics, or gear related to your issue
No. Nashville Physical Therapy & Performance is a direct-access practice - you can schedule without a physician referral. Tennessee law allows patients to see a physical therapist directly for evaluation and treatment.
It depends on your body, your goals, and how early you come in. Many people see results in 4–6 sessions when they start early. We focus on quality over quantity, so you’ll likely need fewer visits compared to traditional PT.
Initial Evaluation: About 60 minutes
Follow-Up Visits: 45–60 minutes
Wellness Assessments:
30 minutes (Upper or Lower Body Only)
60 minutes (Total Body Wellness Assessment)
We are a cash-based, out-of-network practice. We do not bill insurance directly. This allows us to provide 100% one-on-one care without insurance restrictions on visit length, treatment type, or number of sessions. We can provide a superbill for you to submit to your insurance for potential reimbursement.
Cash-pay physical therapy means every session is one-on-one with your Doctor of Physical Therapy for the full visit — no techs, no shared appointments, no insurance-driven limits on what can be treated. Treatment is driven entirely by your goals and clinical need, not a billing code.
Absolutely. Physical therapy is a qualified medical expense, and we accept both HSA and FSA cards.
Not necessarily—and often it ends up being less expensive in the long run.
Here’s why:
Our model is focused on empowering you to manage your condition on your own
We typically see patients once per week for 3–6 weeks
Traditional PT clinics often require 3 visits per week for 4–6 weeks, with less one-on-one time
If you haven’t met your deductible, you’re likely paying out-of-pocket anyway at in-network clinics
With us, every session is 100% with your physical therapist, which means fewer visits, faster progress, and more time back for you.
What forms of payment do you accept?
Payment is due at the time of your visit. We accept:
HSA and FSA cards
Debit or credit cards
Cash
Can I use my HSA or FSA card?
Yes! Physical therapy and wellness services are considered qualified medical expenses.
What’s the difference between a wellness assessment and a physical therapy visit?
Great question—here’s the breakdown:
Wellness Assessments are for prevention. They’re ideal if you’re not in pain but want to stay that way. We look for movement inefficiencies, muscle imbalances, or range of motion limitations that could lead to future injuries—and we give you tools to address them now.
Physical Therapy Visits are for injuries, pain, or ongoing symptoms. These sessions go beyond just exercise and may include hands-on manual therapy, dry needling, taping, and in-depth education tailored to your current condition.
If you’re unsure where you fall, we’re happy to help you decide. Just reach out!
Yes, we offer dry needling as one of many tools we use to help you move and feel better—but it’s just one piece of a much bigger puzzle.
Dry needling involves inserting a very thin, sterile needle into tight muscles or trigger points to help release tension, improve mobility, and reduce pain. It’s commonly used to address musculoskeletal issues like neck and back pain, headaches, tendon problems, or athletic injuries.
At Nashville Physical Therapy & Performance, dry needling is part of a comprehensive treatment plan—not a stand-alone fix. We use it when appropriate, alongside movement-based therapy, strength work, and patient education to get to the root cause of your issue and help you stay better—not just feel better temporarily.
Because dry needling is a skilled intervention, you must first be evaluated by one of our physical therapists to determine if it’s safe and appropriate for you. If it is, we’ll explain exactly how it fits into your plan of care.
Do you offer pelvic floor or pelvic health services?
Yes—we offer pelvic floor therapy at our East and West Nashville clinics. You can book your session by clicking the “Schedule Appointment” button on our website.
What types of pelvic floor issues do you treat?
Our pelvic floor physical therapists work with people experiencing:
Urinary leakage (stress incontinence)
Urgency and frequency
Pelvic or abdominal pain
Constipation
Pain with sex
Postpartum issues like diastasis recti, unresolved low back or hip pain, and core weakness in active individuals
Do you see men with pelvic floor concerns?
Absolutely. Aly Beck, in our West Nashville clinic, treats men with symptoms including:
Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CPPS)
Chronic prostatitis
Perineal, rectal, testicular, or penile pain
These issues often affect bladder, bowel, and sexual function, and PT can help.
Pelvic floor physical therapy treats conditions including urinary leakage, pelvic pain, painful intercourse, pelvic organ prolapse, postpartum recovery, and bowel dysfunction. It is appropriate for people at any life stage, not only postpartum.
Can I contact you between sessions if I have questions?
Yes—and we want you to! You can:
Email us directly
Send a secure message through the patient portal in the scheduling app
We’re here to support your progress every step of the way.
Do you offer a referral discount if I send a friend or family member?
Yes! Word-of-mouth referrals are our favorite kind.
When you refer someone:
They get $25 off their visit
You get $25 off your next visit too!
Win-win.
We have three Nashville locations: East Nashville at 801 Woodland St, West Nashville (The Nations) at 803 51st Ave N, and South Nashville at 15115 Old Hickory Blvd Suite C.
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