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On average, patients who use Zocdoc can search for a Physical Therapist in Houston, 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 Houston who accept your insurance and make an appointment online.
Zocdoc lets you search specifically for a Houston 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 Houston and book appointments instantly. You can search for Houston 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 Houston 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 Houston who match your preferences.
On Zocdoc, you can search specifically for Houston Physical Therapists with availability after 5 p.m.
You can use Zocdoc to find Physical Therapists in Houston 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 Houston 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 Houston 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 Houston. Many Physical Therapists offer appointments on Saturdays and Sundays.
Physical therapists use different physiotherapy techniques to help patients with physical problems resulting from an injury, disability, or health condition. The treatments can combine exercises, stretches, massage, hot and cold therapy, and more. The plan varies depending on every individual's needs and goals, such as reducing pain, improving range of motion, restoring physical function, increasing strength, regaining balance, avoiding surgery, and improving quality of life.
Physical therapists, also known as PT, diagnose and treat patients belonging to all age groups, ranging from newborns to older adults. They work in various healthcare settings, such as private practices, hospitals, long-term care facilities, nursing homes, sports and fitness centers, schools, workplaces, government agencies, and research centers. People also consult them to learn ways to become healthier and avoid future physical problems.
Aspiring physical therapists undergo extensive education and training before they start their careers. They begin with completing a four-year bachelor's program or a three-year undergraduate program, focusing on courses related to physical therapy. Then, they earn a three-year Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from an education program approved by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. After graduation, they can take a state licensure exam to practice medicine.
Some physical therapists complete residencies to gain practical experience and pursue fellowships to train further in a focused practice area. The American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties certifies various types of physical therapy specialties, such as:
A physical therapist can treat various health conditions by collaborating with other medical specialists. Your primary care doctor may recommend physical therapy treatment for the following conditions:
Physical therapy, physiotherapy, and kinesiotherapy all pertain to the same treatment focused on enhancing movement and overall confidence. In the United States, providers and patients commonly use "physical therapy" to describe the treatment, with "physical therapists" being the professionals administering it. The terms "physiotherapy" and "physiotherapists" are more prevalent outside the US, and some non-US individuals may refer to physical therapy as "kinesiotherapy."
Irrespective of the terminology used, the goal remains consistent—to improve mobility and functional abilities. Whether you seek physical therapy, physiotherapy, or kinesiotherapy, a skilled therapist will work with you to help you move better and regain confidence in your physical abilities. The focus on optimizing movement and promoting well-being makes these terms interchangeable and integral to rehabilitative and therapeutic practices worldwide.
Occupational and physical therapy aim to enhance body movement and safety, but their primary objectives set them apart.
Occupational therapy promotes independence and functionality in daily activities, enabling individuals to carry out essential tasks easily and confidently. Occupational therapy's term "occupation" encompasses all routine tasks, not solely work-related activities.
Occupational therapists assist in improving skills for tasks like computer use, grocery shopping, and dressing. Conversely, physical therapy focuses on addressing specific body areas to alleviate symptoms of health conditions, such as pain and stiffness, or to aid in post-injury or post-surgery rehabilitation.
While physical therapy targets specific bodily issues, occupational therapy is more concerned with empowering individuals to live as self-sufficient as possible by improving their ability to perform daily tasks effectively.
During your first appointment with the physical therapist, they will begin by diagnosing your condition. They can inquire about your medical history, your symptoms, their triggers, your situation's impact on everyday life, and your physical therapy goals. Additionally, they will perform a physical examination to evaluate muscle strength, flexibility, stamina, joint mobility, and range of motion. After understanding your condition, they will prepare a treatment plan specific to your goals.
While exercise and stretches are essential components of physical therapy, the physical therapist may also use other treatments such as massage, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, traction, joint mobilization, heat and cold therapy, light therapy, K-taping, and hydrotherapy. The number of sessions will depend on your condition, commitment to therapy, and how well your body responds to the treatment plan. Moreover, the physical therapist may recommend at-home exercises, therapies, and other self-management tips.
Physical conditions can take a toll on your everyday activities and make you overly dependent on people around you. They can impact different aspects of your life, including your personal, work, and social life. The loss of independence can instigate frustration, anger, sadness, and fatigue. You can benefit greatly from physical therapy sessions in such a situation.
Zocdoc can help you find a top physical therapist near you in Houston, Texas, within minutes. Log on to Zocdoc and enter information, such as the specialty you are looking for, your location, availability, and insurance details, to receive an extensive list of providers matching your preferences. You can use filters to streamline your results at this stage based on their gender, language, hospital affiliations, distance, and whether they treat children.
Zocdoc believes in transparency; all providers have profile pages with relevant details about their education and training, board certifications, professional memberships, awards, accreditations, etc. You can learn more about the expert's professional conduct through verified reviews from previous patients they have treated.
Although going for in-person physical therapist consultations is beneficial, some experts also offer video visits. Whenever you find a suitable physical therapist near you, you can instantly book your appointment via Zocdoc.
All bookings on Zocdoc are easy, secure, and free!
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2021, there were about 14,040 physical therapists in Texas, ranking the state third in the country compared to other US states in the employment of physical therapists.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released disability estimates across US states, including Texas. Based on that, in 2020, around 11.1% of adults had mobility disabilities. About 4.3% of the affected adults were aged 18-44 years, followed by approximately 15.1% between 45-64 years and nearly 25.3% aged 65+. It also showed that females (about 12.6%) were more likely to have some form of mobility disability than males (about 9.5%).
According to America's Health Rankings, around 21.3% of the adult population in Texas had some form of arthritis in 2021. About 24.9% of the affected population were females compared to 17.5% of males. Almost half of the people (nearly 45.8%) with arthritis were aged 65+, followed by about 29.5% aged 45-64 years and about 7.1% aged 18-44.
Cardiopulmonary diseases such as heart disease, stroke, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and asthma can limit physical function too. As per another America's Health Rankings report, in 2021, about 7.3% of adults in Texas reported some form of cardiovascular disease, including heart attack, angina, coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, and stroke. With about 7.4% men and 7.1% women, both genders were nearly equally affected. Cardiovascular disease was the most prevalent among the 65+ population, with around 20.8% of cases. About 8.2% of the affected adults were aged 45-64, and 1.7% were aged 18-44.
In the same year, Texas observed around 8.4% of adult asthma cases and about 6% of adults with COPD, emphysema, or chronic bronchitis. With 11.2% of the asthma cases being females, they were nearly twice as affected compared to about 5.5% of males. Concerning COPD, about 6.8% of the affected adults were females, and about 5.2% were males.
The College of St. Scholastica
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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.