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On average, patients who use Zocdoc can search for a Physical Therapist in Portland, 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 Portland who accept your insurance and make an appointment online.
Zocdoc lets you search specifically for a Portland 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 Portland and book appointments instantly. You can search for Portland 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 Portland 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 Portland who match your preferences.
On Zocdoc, you can search specifically for Portland Physical Therapists with availability after 5 p.m.
You can use Zocdoc to find Physical Therapists in Portland 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 Portland 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 Portland 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 Portland. Many Physical Therapists offer appointments on Saturdays and Sundays.
Physical therapists are medical professionals who treat mobility or pain issues in people of all ages, from infants to seniors. For example, you may have difficulty moving your arms or legs or have back pain due to a medical condition, injury, or surgery. A physical therapist would then recommend specific exercises, activities, or massages to eliminate or reduce these problems. Their efforts often help patients avoid surgery or medication and even prevent disabilities.
Physical therapists also help in preventive care, advising you on how to do physical activities such as work or sports without injuring yourself. They are often involved in rehabilitation and can help with problems caused by chronic conditions such as diabetes, cerebral palsy, obesity, arthritis, and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).
They may work in nursing homes, hospitals, outpatient clinics, schools, colleges, rehabilitation centers, corporate offices, patients' homes, or sports and fitness facilities. They also work closely with athletes on the field or provide individual attention in private clinics.
Aspiring physical therapists must graduate with a degree in science, recreation, fitness, or healthcare-related fields. After this, they must get a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from a three-year program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). They study pharmacology, kinesiology, pathology, behavioral sciences, neuroscience, and biomechanics during this program and attain supervised clinical experience.
About 20% of their curriculum involves clinical education, while 80% is classroom and lab study. Once they acquire the degree, physical therapists must apply for a state license to begin practice.
If they wish to specialize in a particular area, they can apply for a residency of about one year, where they receive in-depth training and delve deeper into the subject. Physical therapists who wish to specialize can also pursue a fellowship with the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education. They can also become board-certified by clearing a stringent examination conducted by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties and completing several clinical work hours. To maintain their certification and license, physical therapists must keep themselves updated on the latest developments in the field throughout their careers.
The different specialties in physical therapy include the following:
A primary care physician, surgeon, or healthcare worker may refer you to a physical therapist if needed. The physical therapist will review the referring physician's notes and talk to you to understand the problem. They may conduct a physical evaluation and ask you to stand, walk around, or perform an activity to check the range of movement. If there is pain, they will ask you to describe whether it is sharp, dull, or excruciating and study any available reports.
Once they diagnose the issue, the physical therapist will advise specific exercises or hands-on therapy to ease movement and pain. They may prescribe using wheelchairs, canes, walkers, or crutches to aid movement. You may have to revisit the physical therapist to monitor the progress and change the recommended exercises or therapy if needed.
Pediatric physical therapy is a specialization in rehabilitation that primarily focuses on improving mobility and functionality in babies and young children.
Pediatric physical therapists have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of early developmental milestones in children, such as sitting, crawling, and playing with toys. In some instances, injuries or medical issues can affect the child's ability to reach these milestones at the same time as others.
There are an array of reasons why a child may require physical therapy services. Some may be orthopedic, involving tight tendons or weak muscles, whereas some may be developmental or neurological. Common ailments requiring pediatric physical therapy include - autism, cerebral palsy, developmental delay, down syndrome, and muscular dystrophy. Any condition that affects your child's ability to move or develop may benefit from a pediatric physical therapist.
Physical and occupational therapy share many similarities but have distinct differences in their approach to a patient's rehabilitative care. One fundamental difference is that physical therapy improves patients' ability to move their bodies. In contrast, occupational therapy focuses on enhancing the patient's ability to perform activities in their day-to-day life. Besides, physical therapy's foundation is bodily rehabilitation, whereas occupational therapy is in mental healthcare and physical rehabilitation.
Occupational therapy heavily focuses on adapting, modifying, or changing the daily activities an individual is required to or wants to do. They might alter the activity, environment, or person's skills. At the person's skill level, an occupational therapist might help an individual improve their fine motor skills (small movements made with their upper body). These movements are necessary for daily activities such as picking up a toothbrush, brushing their teeth, using a phone, or driving.
For individuals with mental health-related issues, an occupational therapist might help by developing positive coping strategies that allow them to function better in their day-to-day lives.
Physical therapy sessions mainly involve a lot of training, workouts, and muscle-centric therapies; hence, you must wear comfortable clothing. Here are a few suggestions for dressing up for your physical therapy appointments.
Finding a skilled and reliable physical therapist in your neighborhood can be challenging. However, Zocdoc gives you a simple way to find the best physical therapists in Portland, Oregon, from your home, avoiding the inconveniences of traveling to a hospital or other healthcare facility.
Visit the Zocdoc website and enter your symptoms, preferred appointment date, and location to start a search. You will see a list of physical therapists sorted by gender, location, hospital affiliation, available time slots, and whether or not they treat children. Each specialist's unique profile details their educational background, medical training, certifications, awards, licensures, and accreditations. Additionally, to help you make an informed choice, you can access honest and verified patient reviews.
If you want to find a provider who accepts your insurance, add your insurance information (your insurance provider and plan) on the Zocdoc search. It will help you see providers who accept your plan. When searching for providers on the Zocdoc app, upload a photo of your insurance card (this option is unavailable for vision and dental plans), and we will scan and display your insurance plan. It will help you find accurate results of in-network physical therapists near you. Check out Zocdoc's patient help center for more information and solutions related to insurance.
Once you have picked the physical therapist best suited to your needs, Zocdoc will help you instantly book an in-person or virtual appointment based on the provider's availability.
All appointments on Zocdoc are easy, free, and secure.
Physical therapists can help one rectify mobility or pain issues due to various conditions. In Oregon, 28.2% of the adult population was diagnosed with arthritis in 2022, per America's Health Rankings. Arthritis can be a severe illness; a physical therapist can help ease the pain. Arthritis increased with age in Oregon, with 55.4% of those aged 65 and above diagnosed with the condition. The percentage was lower in those aged 45 to 64 (34.5%) and 18 to 44 (9.2%). Additionally, women (32.4%) were more prone to arthritis than men (24.0%).
Further, according to America's Health Rankings, about 10.3% of adults in Oregon were diagnosed with diabetes (excluding prediabetes and gestational diabetes) in 2022. Men (10.7%) were slightly more susceptible to the condition than women (10.0%). However, the incidence increased with age, with 18.7% of those above 65 diagnosed with diabetes. The incidence was lower in those aged 45 to 64 (14.8%) and 18 to 44 (2.7%).
Another report published by the same organization showed that about 9.7% of Oregon adults had cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in 2022, which included strokes, heart attacks, angina, myocardial infarction, and coronary heart disease. Men (12.5%) were more prone to CVD than women (7.0%) in the state.
Where obesity is concerned, America's Health Rankings report stated that in 2022, 30.9% of adults in Oregon were obese with a Body Mass Index of 30 or higher. Those aged 45 to 64 (37.7%) were more likely to be obese than those 65 and above (25.9%) and 18 to 44 (29.0%). Women (31.4%) had a higher incidence rate than men (30.5%).
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics[1]
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics[2]
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics[3]
American Physical Therapy Association
University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences
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.