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On average, patients who use Zocdoc can search for a Physical Therapist in Boston, book an appointment, and see the Physical Therapist within 24 hours. Same-day appointments are often available, you can search for real-time availability of Physical Therapists in Boston who accept your insurance and make an appointment online.
Zocdoc lets you search specifically for a Boston Physical Therapist who takes your insurance. Just choose your carrier and plan from the drop-down menu at the top of the page. If you’re not sure which plan you have, you can use Zocdoc’s insurance checker to find out.
Zocdoc is a free online service that helps patients find Physical Therapists in Boston and book appointments instantly. You can search for Boston Physical Therapists by symptom or visit reason. Then, choose your insurance plan. Based on that information, you’ll see a list of providers who meet your search criteria, along with their available appointment slots.
When you search for Boston Physical Therapists on Zocdoc, you can filter your results by gender, in addition to other criteria. That way, you’ll only see Physical Therapists in Boston who match your preferences.
On Zocdoc, you can search specifically for Boston Physical Therapists with availability after 5 p.m.
You can use Zocdoc to find Physical Therapists in Boston who are highly rated by other patients. These ratings are based on verified reviews submitted by real patients. Every time a patient completes an appointment booked on Zocdoc, they’re invited to review their experience. Each review must comply with Zocdoc’s guidelines.
Physical Therapists in Boston on Zocdoc who see patients through online video visits will have a purple video icon on their profiles. You can also filter your search results to show only Physical Therapists who offer video visits.
Most insurers provide coverage for video visits at the same cost as in-person visits. You can search on Zocdoc specifically for Physical Therapists in Boston who accept your insurance for video visits by selecting your carrier and plan from the drop-down menu at the top of the page. We recommend you check with your insurance carrier directly to confirm your coverage and out of pocket costs for video visits.
Zocdoc lets you search specifically for a Physical Therapist who has appointments available before 10:00 am, or after 5:00 pm. Just choose the special hours filter at the top of our search page.
Zocdoc let's you see real-time availability for Physical Therapists in Boston. Many Physical Therapists offer appointments on Saturdays and Sundays.
As licensed healthcare providers, physical therapists treat and manage people with injuries, disabilities, and musculoskeletal disorders — arthritis, back pain, Parkinson's disease, fractures, ankle sprains, neck pain, sports injuries, knee problems, and osteoporosis. Physical therapists are not doctors (MDs); therefore, they cannot prescribe medication or perform surgery.
However, they can examine patients and create exercise regimes, rehabilitative programs, and recovery plans that help restore function and increase the strength of the body part affected by the illness or injury. In addition, they also provide preventive care to avoid future injury and help manage symptoms resulting from chronic or long-term conditions like heart disease and diabetes.
Physical therapists train for over three years to earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree by enrolling in an accredited education program and passing a state licensure examination. They learn anatomy, cellular histology, physiology, neuroscience, pharmacology, pathology, behavioral sciences, biomechanics, and kinesiology through DPT courses. After graduation and gaining clinical exposure, some specialize in musculoskeletal issues, cardiovascular systems, oncology, neurology, pediatrics, orthopedics, or sports. They also become board-certified clinical specialists by passing an American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties exam.
The American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) recognizes ten subspecialties that enable physical therapists to develop advanced knowledge and skills in specific practice areas. These subspecialties are as follows:
Cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapy: This branch focuses on managing patients with heart or lung conditions, such as heart attacks, heart surgeries, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and asthma. Therapists employ exercise and breathing techniques to enhance cardiovascular endurance, respiratory function, and overall functional abilities. Their expertise helps patients improve their quality of life, regain independence, and reduce the risk of future cardiac or pulmonary events.
Clinical electrophysiology physical therapy: Clinical electrophysiology therapists specialize in treating neuromuscular and musculoskeletal conditions using electrophysical agents like electrical stimulation, ultrasound, and biofeedback. These modalities improve muscle function, promote tissue healing, and effectively manage pain, aiding post-surgical and nerve injury rehabilitation.
Geriatric physical therapy: With a growing aging population, the demand for geriatric physical therapists is increasing. They address age-related conditions, mobility challenges, and balance issues in older adults. Customized exercise programs designed by these therapists aim to improve strength, flexibility, and coordination, reducing the risk of falls and maintaining independence in daily activities.
Neurologic physical therapy: Neurologic therapists focus on helping patients with neurological disorders or injuries, such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease. Targeted rehabilitation interventions restore movement, balance, and coordination while providing pain management and overall support to enhance the patient's quality of life.
Orthopedic physical therapy: Orthopedic therapists treat musculoskeletal injuries and conditions, including fractures, joint replacements, and sprains. Manual therapy and therapeutic exercises promote healing and improve mobility, ensuring evidence-based and effective care for musculoskeletal issues.
Pediatric physical therapy: Pediatric therapists address the unique needs of infants, toddlers, and adolescents with developmental, neurological, or musculoskeletal disorders. Early intervention and therapeutic support help children achieve developmental milestones, improve motor skills, and enhance their overall physical function.
Sports physical therapy: This specialty involves evaluating and treating athletes with sports-related injuries. Sports therapists play a critical role in rehabilitation, performance enhancement, and injury prevention for athletes of all levels, enabling a safe return to sports and peak performance.
Women's health physical therapy: Women's health therapists provide specialized care for musculoskeletal issues related to pregnancy, postpartum recovery, pelvic pain, and pelvic floor dysfunction. Their interventions help women regain strength and comfort, particularly after childbirth or surgery, contributing to improved overall well-being.
Oncology physical therapy: Oncology therapists specialize in caring for individuals diagnosed with cancer, addressing the physical side effects of cancer treatments, managing pain, and helping patients maintain or improve their functional abilities. This subspecialty enhances the quality of life for individuals undergoing cancer treatment.
Wound management physical therapy: Wound management therapists focus on assessing and treating various types of wounds, especially those related to compromised circulation, diabetes, or traumatic injuries. Their expertise expedites wound healing, reduces infection risk, and prevents further complications, ensuring the well-being of patients.
Although physical therapy and chiropractic care require similar educational qualifications and have an identical scope of work — treating musculoskeletal conditions and using non-drug therapeutic techniques; their approach to treating a patient may differ slightly.
While physical therapy focuses on improving the entire body's mobility by recommending rehabilitative exercises and wellness techniques, chiropractic care involves adjusting to realign body parts with restricted motion due to injury or a degenerative disorder.
Chiropractors often focus on the treatment of the lower back and neck. On the other hand, a physical therapist can help patients recover more quickly from surgery by helping them with daily tasks like walking and climbing stairs and treating various other conditions.
You may find more similarities between the two professions than differences. So, while choosing between the two, you can consult your primary care physician, who may suggest a physical therapist near you or a chiropractor based on your ailment and its symptoms.
Physical therapists and occupational therapists are two types of healthcare professionals who assist individuals with improving their body's mobility. The primary difference between them is the type of therapy they provide.
Physical therapists typically treat a specific location or part of the body. An occupational therapist will help you overcome mental and social obstacles while strengthening or healing your physical body. You may simultaneously consult a physical and occupational therapist to manage distinct symptoms or aid your rehabilitation.
For example, if you suffered a spinal injury, physical therapy would help you restore the capacity to move your spine in all six directions while also relieving discomfort. Occupational therapy would assist you in resuming your everyday tasks, such as dressing yourself, cooking a meal, driving, and other activities.
Physical therapists may provide various treatment options depending on the severity of your condition. Most physical therapy treatments aim to improve the patient's quality of life by increasing the range of motion of an injured body part or one affected by a disorder. Hence, physical therapists may use a combination of two or more treatment methods. Some options include:
Your first appointment will include a brief examination to help your P.T. determine what impairments you may have. This will help them create the best treatment strategy for your specific condition. When planning to visit a physical therapist for the first time, list the most important details related to your problem. Writing things down reduces the likelihood of forgetting or missing essential information you must communicate.
You can expect your P.T. to ask the following questions:
Bring a list of your medications, as some of them may cause cold sensitivity, heat sensitivity, or photosensitivity, which could affect your therapy. You will also need to inform your P.T. about any chronic health concerns, surgeries, or procedures you have had.
Pain from overuse, sickness, or untreated injuries often leads to long-term impairment. Hence, you should consult a physical therapist for muscle pain, poor posture, difficulty walking, climbing stairs, or keeping balance. However, finding an experienced physical therapist in Boston can be time-consuming and challenging, but not anymore.
Zocdoc provides a simple way of finding qualified healthcare professionals from your home within just a few minutes. Visit the Zocdoc website and enter your condition or symptom, location, and the date you wish to see a physical therapist in the search bar.
Once done, a list of top-rated physical therapists will appear that you can further narrow down based on gender, time, hospital affiliation, languages spoken, distance, and whether a provider treats children. Additionally, to only see in-network providers, enter your insurance carrier and plan in the search bar from the drop-down menu.
While you can add medical, dental, and vision insurance plans to your Zocdoc account, you can only search for and schedule an appointment with one insurance plan at a time. In case you have multiple plans, you can mention your secondary insurance plan and carrier in your notes for the provider in the last step of the booking process. If your provider uses Zocdoc’s intake forms, you can add details about your secondary insurance while filling out your forms online. For more insurance-related queries, check Zocdoc's patient help center.
Moreover, Zocdoc lists each healthcare provider's educational background, medical training, clinical experience, certifications, licenses, awards, accreditations, etc., on the doctor profiles to assist you in making the right decision. You can also read through honest and verified patient reviews. After finding a good physical therapist near you, book an in-person or virtual appointment— 24 hours in advance, on the same day, after 5 pm, or even on the weekends, depending on the chosen provider's availability.
All bookings on Zocdoc are fast, free, and secure!
According to the 2021 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Massachusetts employs nearly 7,420 physical therapists, significantly higher than neighboring states — New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. The Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH, metropolitan area employs the fifth-highest number of physical therapists (about 5,700) in the United States.
Data collated by an indicator report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2015-2020) shows that almost 21% of adults over 18 years in Massachusetts have arthritis. Of the total population, more females (about 23%) were diagnosed with arthritis than males (about 18.9%). Other illnesses, including diabetes, obesity, and heart disease, have also been linked to arthritis. In Massachusetts, approximately 27.5% of adults over 18 years with arthritis are obese. An estimated 27.5% have diabetes, and about 37.8% have heart disease.
Based on a recent (2015-2020) indicator report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2015, roughly 47.2% of adults in Massachusetts reported activity limitations, and around 25.8% suffered from severe joint pain due to doctor-diagnosed arthritis. In 2019, almost 35.1% of adults aged 18-64 faced work limitations due to arthritis. Overall, 23.7% of Massachusetts adults with arthritis performed little to no physical activity in 2020. It is also worth noting that only 15.5% of adults with arthritis took a class to learn how to manage arthritis symptoms.
The 2020 (CDC) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report estimates that nearly 9% of adults living in Massachusetts have mobility issues, i.e., they face severe difficulty walking and climbing stairs. Almost 6% cannot live independently and find it difficult to run errands alone, like visiting a doctor's office. Approximately 3% find caring for themselves at home challenging, i.e., they cannot bathe or dress. Adults in Massachusetts with disabilities are also more likely to suffer depression, obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
American Physical Therapy Association[1]
American Physical Therapy Association[2]
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[1]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[2]
The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 immediately.