Physical Therapy

Alexander T. Augusta Military Medical Center's (ATAMMC) Physical Therapy Clinic provides compassionate, professional, effective neuro-musculoskeletal care which efficiently returns DOD healthcare beneficiaries to function while developing leaders, expert clinicians, and patient-centered staff.

Our team restores function and develops leaders. We focus on patients, professionalism and passion.

NOTE: Physical Therapy is currently referral-based ONLY. Patients must have a Physical Therapy referral from a credentialed provider which specifically identifies at least one patient-specific, and patient-important, functional goal which Physical Therapy can help them achieve. Active duty personnel may access same-day PT care via sick call on a space-available, need-dependent basis.

Services Offered

• Comprehensive musculoskeletal evaluation
• Home exercise program (HEP) prescriptions
• Video tele-health options
• Sports and orthopaedic post-operative rehabilitation
• Pelvic floor and vestibular rehabilitation
• In-clinic and virtual group exercise classes (e.g. upper and lower extremity, spine, and running)
• Therapeutic modalities (including aquatic therapy) as determined by a Doctor of Physical Therapy
• Inpatient Care

Physical Therapy includes the following (typically over 8-12 weeks):

• An individualized, movement-based evaluation, which identifies your current impairments and limitations, and results in a jointly-developed plan to achieve your specific functional goals.
• An individualized rehabilitation plan, based primarily on daily performance of 30-45 minutes of prescribed exercises, which will be performed on your own and possibly in-clinic; as an individual and/or in a group, with virtual and in-person options.
• Regular, outcomes-based re-evaluations which will help measure progress toward your functional goals, and generate discussion about any needed changes to your individualized rehabilitation plan.

Staff

• Professional, knowledgeable, and courteous front desk and administrative personnel
• Experienced Doctors of Physical Therapy (DPTs) with additional training and certification in various musculoskeletal conditions. DPTs can order imaging, prescribe some medications, and refer to non-conservative providers such as sports medicine and orthopaedics
• Long-serving Physical therapy Assistants (PTAs), who supervise and modify exercises and provide therapeutic modalities; their expertise and input is critical to the complete rehabilitation of musculoskeletal conditions

Expectations

• You will ALWAYS be treated professionally, with the utmost dignity and respect. Our staff expect the same and return. Any and all issues with your experience with us should be directed IMMEDIATELY to the clinic leadership whose names are behind the front desk.
• Please arrive to the clinic several minutes prior to your FIRST appointment time to complete important administrative tasks. The initial check-in process with MHS GENESIS will be longer. We may ask you to complete a survey, either online or paper-based, so we can know about:
  • Any changes to your health since your last visit to primary care 
  • Specific, accurate descriptions (type/length/time/intensity/effort) of important functional activities currently giving you difficulty
• For all your appointments, please wear athletic clothing which provide easy viewing of and movement of your area of concern (e.g. loose fitting shorts to examine the lower back, hip & knee, tank top for neck, shoulder and arm). We do have a changing area and lockers available for your convenience.
• At your first appointment, your DPT will ask you about and examine a single area of concern – the one most important to you. While you should absolutely bring any other areas of concern to your DPT's attention, please recognize additional appointments will be needed to fully examine them.
• Throughout your rehabilitation, you should expect to perform exercise for at least 30 minutes DAILY, perhaps spread throughout the day. You may also have the opportunity to attend 30-60 min individual or group classes (in-person or virtually) so our team of DPTs and PTAs can best assist you. 
• We recognize your unique circumstances may interfere or even prevent optimal rehabilitation. While we want to help you recover function, if your circumstances prevent regular attendance of rehabilitation sessions and/or performance of your exercises, we will recommend you discontinue PT and attempt treatment at another time. 
• Your consistent, regular performance of your prescribed exercises and movement should result in notable functional improvement over 8-12 weeks, and determines if you are progressing toward your specific functional goals. If you are not progressing, we will help you seek additional care to include imaging and referrals.
• The beneficial effects of movement and exercise can be enhanced with an increased focus on sleep, nutrition, and stress management. Ask us how!!!