Physical therapy, often abbreviated as PT, is a branch of healthcare aimed at promoting, restoring, and maintaining physical function and mobility. It encompasses a wide range of treatments and interventions designed to address injuries, disabilities, chronic conditions, and movement impairments. Physical therapists, also known as PTs, are licensed healthcare professionals who specialize in delivering personalized care to individuals of all ages.

Starting physical therapy can feel like a big step, but at Tualatin Valley Physical Therapy, we’re here to make it smooth, informative, and empowering. Whether you’re recovering from an injury, managing chronic pain, or trying to regain function after surgery, your first visit sets the tone for your recovery journey.

Here’s what you can expect when you come in for your initial appointment:

Navigating the complexities of the US healthcare system, especially the convoluted world of health insurance, can be frustrating and time-consuming. With countless insurance providers and plans, each with their own rules and restrictions, patients and providers are often caught in a web of administrative tasks. Despite the hundreds of billions of dollars spent annually on these administrative costs, patients are frequently left to decipher their own benefits, adding to the confusion and burden.

In a world of quick fixes and instant gratification, it’s easy to feel frustrated when recovery doesn’t happen overnight. But when it comes to physical therapy, patience isn’t just a virtue, it’s a crucial part of the process. Whether you’re recovering from surgery, healing a chronic injury, or working through everyday aches and pains, the road to recovery is rarely linear. There are good days and bad days, breakthroughs and setbacks. But the key to lasting results? Consistency and patience.

Recovering from an injury isn’t just about healing, it's about rebuilding strength, mobility, and confidence in a way that sets you up for long-term success. One of the most effective ways to stay focused and motivated during rehabilitation is by setting SMART goals. At Tualatin Valley Physical Therapy, we help our patients use this powerful method to take ownership of their recovery and achieve meaningful, lasting results

Recovering from an injury or surgery can feel like a long, uncertain journey. However, understanding key rehabilitation milestones can help reassure and motivate you along the way. Research shows that setting and tracking progress markers improves patient engagement and leads to better outcomes.¹ At Tualatin Valley Physical Therapy, we focus on measurable recovery signs to ensure you're on the right path.

At Tualatin Valley Physical Therapy, we often hear from patients who are unsure about the difference between simply managing pain and truly getting back to their best. Today, we’ll break down two key approaches in physical therapy (symptom management and functional recovery) and explain why our focus on long-term gains and real functionality sets us apart.

Running is one of the easiest and most popular ways to exercise. All you really need is a pair of shoes and a place to run, whether it’s on a road, a trail, or a treadmill. But have you ever wondered if the way you run could be causing you pain or even lead to injury? At Tualatin Valley Physical Therapy, we offer running analyses to help you improve your form and run with less discomfort.

Recovering from ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) and meniscus injuries can be a challenging journey, but with the right approach, you can return to your activities stronger than ever. Physical therapy plays a critical role in the recovery process, and there are also steps you can take independently to aid your rehabilitation. At Tualatin Valley Physical Therapy, we specialize in personalized care that supports you every step of the way. Here's how you can recover faster and stronger.

Lower back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek medical care, yet many find themselves facing a maze of treatment options, from surgery to medications, that may not address the root of the problem. Fortunately, a growing body of academic research supports conservative care methods that focus on active self-management, physical therapy, and lifestyle modifications as safe and effective alternatives.

Running is one of the most accessible and rewarding forms of exercise, but it also places repetitive stress on your joints, muscles, and connective tissues. Whether you’re training for your first 5K or a seasoned marathoner, physical therapy (PT) can play a crucial role in keeping you injury-free, improving performance, and extending your running career.

If you're an athlete, CrossFitter, runner, martial artist, or just someone who loves to move, you've probably faced the question: “Should I push through this pain?” It's a common dilemma, and as a physical therapist, I hear it almost every day.

The answer isn’t always black and white. Pain is complex, and not all pain means damage. In some cases, continuing to train is perfectly safe and even beneficial. In others, pushing through pain can prolong or worsen an injury.

Chances are, you’ve heard of carpal tunnel syndrome, or maybe you’re experiencing it yourself. That familiar tingling or numbness in your fingers, the wrist pain that flares up at the keyboard, or the hand that suddenly feels weak and clumsy? That’s not something to brush off. It could be carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), and if left untreated, it can lead to chronic discomfort or even long-term nerve damage.

The good news? You can often manage and recover from carpal tunnel syndrome without surgery, and physical therapy plays a major role.

Orthopedic physical therapy (PT) might sound like something only athletes or post-surgical patients need, but the truth is that almost everyone can benefit from it at some point in their lives.

If you’ve ever dealt with joint pain, muscle strains, limited mobility, or injuries from daily life, workouts, or accidents, then orthopedic PT is designed for you.

Let’s break down what orthopedic physical therapy actually is, what conditions it treats, and when you should consider seeing a PT.

No two bodies are the same and neither are injuries. Yet too often, injury recovery is treated like a “one-size-fits-all” process: generic rest, generic stretches, and a handout full of exercises that may or may not apply to your situation.

At Tualatin Valley Physical Therapy, we take a different approach: every injury recovery plan is individually tailored to the person in front of us. Why? Because a plan that’s not personalized won’t give you the best chance at healing fully or staying injury-free long term.

Let’s explore why tailoring your recovery plan matters and how a personalized approach leads to better outcomes.