Premier Physical Therapy

Category: About Premier

Workers’ Compensation with Premier Physical Therapy

Premier Physical Therapy is privately owned and specializes in orthopedic, spine, hand therapy, and workers’ compensation. We pride ourselves on getting fast results and reducing time out of work. Our physical therapists and certified hand therapist are considered some of the most respected and experienced in the area.

After an employee gets injured and submits their claim at work, generally, they will see a healthcare provider, and if that healthcare provider directs them to physical therapy, this is where we can step in. Authorizations must be obtained for the patient to be seen and for them to pay the claims.

Some common workplace injuries can include strains/sprains, shoulder impingement, low back pain, overuse/repetitive injuries, fall or trip injuries, overexertion, and trauma that requires surgery. No matter what the injury is, our goal is to guide patients to healing so they can return to their prior functioning level.

Premier Work Solutions allows us to give case managers and healthcare providers one of the easiest reports to read. We provide documentation promptly, so the referral source/case manager can receive up-to-date information on their patient’s progress.

We offer functional capacity evaluations, physical therapy, hand therapy, and work conditioning/work hardening. We pride ourselves in getting results, ensuring patients have priority scheduling, reduced costs, prevent future work-related injuries, reduced lost time, and receive one-on-one care.

Premier Physical Therapy is in Southeast Missouri and currently has three convenient locations in Cape Girardeau, Jackson, and Advance, Missouri.

May 3, 2021
What is Physical Therapy?
Every day, we come across patients just like Matt – people who are surprised to learn exactly what it is we do at Premier Physical Therapy.

But it has dawned on us… many people don’t really understand it.

So, what is physical therapy?

It is a conservative approach to treating, healing and preventing injuries and disabilities to improve and maximize the quality of your life.

Some people mistakenly think you only need physical therapy after a severe injury or major medical procedure such as surgery. On the contrary, it can actually prevent injury and eliminate the need for surgery in some cases. In fact, nearly everyone can benefit from the positive effects of physical therapy at some point in their life.

Physical therapists work closely with physicians and medical providers to develop a program specific to your health goals. Whether it’s pain relief, increased mobility, regaining strength, or something else, physical therapy is a great tool to help you maximize your potential.

Pain is an especially important symptom to address with physical therapy. After all, pain is the body’s way of telling you something is wrong. Chronic pain can be a sign of a serious medical condition and shouldn’t be ignored. If pain is keeping you from doing the things you love, you may want to consider seeking treatment. Ask yourself these questions…

Do you experience pain during daily activities or discomfort while sleeping? Do you plan your day around what will cause your pain or discomfort? Do you have pain or an injury that other treatments have failed to help?

Physical Therapy can be used to treat a variety of conditions and injuries helping you get back to life.

At Premier, we commonly see patients for the following:
- Back and Neck Pain
- Knee Pain
- Sports Injuries
- Shoulder Pain
- Vertigo/Headaches
- Arthritis
- Ankle and Foot Pain
- Hand, Wrist & Elbow Injuries
- TMJ
- Pre & Post Surgical Cases
- Gait Abnormality
- Work-Related Injuries
If you answer “yes” to any of the following questions, it’s likely that we could help you:
- Do you experience pain during everyday activities such as house or yard work?
- Is the list of things you can’t do without experiencing pain or discomfort becoming longer than the list of things you can do?
- Do you agree that addressing a longtime issue or neglected injury could improve your quality of life?
- Do you have pain or an injury that other treatments have failed to resolve
When choosing a facility for physical therapy, remember that the choice is yours! Tell your healthcare provider that you want to go to Premier Physical Therapy! The next time someone asks you “What is physical therapy?” – you will have an answer for them.

Are you ready to see how much better physical therapy can make you feel?

Contact us today to schedule an appointment: 573-335-7868.
December 9, 2019
Announcing: The Premier Physical Therapy Patient Agreement

We know you are putting your trust in us when you come to Premier to help you with whatever it is that is keeping you from fully enjoying your life physically. We think that’s really awesome. In fact, we think it’s so awesome that you deserve something back. You deserve a promise of more than just an office where you come to get your therapy. You deserve a promise of more than just an average physical therapy experience.

That’s why we’ve put together The Premier Physical Therapy Patient Agreement.

Our promise to you…

We will ensure the scheduling and billing process is quick and easy.

The last thing you need when dealing with pain is a difficult scheduling process or unexpected insurance issues. We promise to take those potential problems off the table. We can often see patients as quickly as 1 business day. We’ll always check to see what your insurance covers and clearly communicate with you about that coverage.

You will receive a thorough examination, learn the cause of your condition, and receive
a personalized treatment plan.

We don’t treat everyone who comes in the door with back pain the same because not all back pain is created equally. The same is true for every condition we treat. Your situation deserves attention and time to make sure you’re getting the appropriate treatment. We promise to never jump into a treatment program without a full understanding of what is going on with your specific situation. We’ll make sure that the treatment plan is created just for you and that you understand it.

You will be treated by a professional team who is knowledgeable, caring and strives to help you
achieve your specific goals.

Every physical therapy office is required by law to have licensed physical therapists. We require so much more of our therapists at Premier. We find therapists who truly care about helping people get better. We hire goal-oriented physical therapists and give them the same goals you have. We promise to continue to do this to help you and every other patient that comes through our door.

You will receive one-on-one care in a safe, friendly, healing environment while being
treated by a continually trained team.

One-on-one care is becoming increasingly rare in physical therapy clinics across the country, but it’s something we pride ourselves in. We strive to uphold this along with our great environment no matter which Premier location you’re in.

Our highly skilled team will adjust your plan to ensure you are progressing towards your goals.

You may have heard that “a plan is only as good as its execution.” At Premier, we believe this to be true, but we also believe in taking it a step further. We believe a plan is only as good as its ability to adapt to unforeseen obstacles. We promise to consistently monitor and be ready to make a change in your plan in order to get you to your goals more quickly.

You will receive tools to reach your maximum level of improvement and live a healthier lifestyle.

We believe our influence should be felt beyond the walls of our clinic, so we give our patients the tools and information they need to continue to improve at home and after discharge. While we love to see our former patients, we love to see them continue to feel better. So, we promise to give you every advantage we can to not only get you better but also to help you stay better.

You will be welcomed as a member of the Premier family.

The Premier family has been growing since we opened our doors. We truly care about everyone who comes into our clinics and strive to treat each one like we would our brothers or sisters. We promise to continue to foster a feeling of family, friendship, and community inside and outside our practices.

If you’re in pain, it’s time to take action and take us up on our promise. Call us at 573-335-7868 to schedule your appointment today!

October 16, 2019
Recognizing National Hand Therapy Week and A ‘Hands Down’ Great Employee

Hand Therapy might be more necessary than you realize. We don’t know about you, but we put our hands and wrists through an intense workout every single day. From lifting groceries to pushing baby strollers, opening tight jars, typing on keyboards, and many other regular day-to-day tasks, our hands take a beating whether we realize it or not.

This stress on our hands can take a painful toll. More than 54 million people have arthritis in the U.S. alone, and many of those suffer from arthritis in their hands. But whether it’s arthritis, carpal tunnel or an injury, hand therapy produces tremendous results by combining both occupational therapy and physical therapy.

Did you know there is a National Hand Therapy Week every year? Recognized the first full week of every June, National Hand Therapy Week was established by the American Society of Hand Therapists. Slated this year for June 3rd through 9th, National Hand Therapy Week serves to celebrate hand therapists around the country, raise awareness about hand and wrist injury prevention and educate the public about the benefits of hand therapy.

We’re celebrating this National Hand Therapy Week by thanking our very own Certified Hand Therapist here at Premier Physical Therapy, Donna Goodson, OTR/L, CHT. Thank a hand therapist you know and read on to learn a little more about Donna and how she joined the Premier Physical Therapy family!

Get to Know Donna Goodson, Premier Physical Therapy’s Certified Hand Therapist:

Why do you enjoy providing hand therapy at Premier? I have been a hand therapist for most of my therapy career and it is constantly changing. New treatment techniques, new surgery techniques, new conditions, and new orthotics continue to be discovered. So, that keeps it very interesting and constantly challenging!

I love knowing a lot about one thing so knowing about hand, wrist, and elbow conditions helps me to better understand any diagnosis that is referred to Premier Physical Therapy. I get to see a wide range of diagnosis from conservative treatment to post-surgical conditions from family doctors to surgeons. I like the variety. I love working one on one with my patients and I am able to do that here at Premier.

Lastly, I love working with the team approach here at Premier PT. The owner, Dennis Riney, PT is an awesome role model and doesn’t require any more from us than he does from himself and he is always pushing me! He is constantly encouraging us to do our best. He puts God and family first and that really shows here in this family-oriented environment. I also really enjoy working with the other team members here. Everyone is dedicated to providing the best care for anyone who walks through the door. We really care about helping people. We work together as a team to help out when needed. You can tell everyone enjoys working here. You can see and feel that when you walk in the clinic.

What is your advice for people considering seeking hand therapy? Don’t expect to get better without putting some hard work into your therapy. Make sure you follow the home program of exercises that are recommended! Ask questions! Coming to therapy 2 to 3 times a week doesn’t get done what needs to be done to get full recovery. Take therapy seriously, take ownership of your injury, set goals, talk with your therapist about your goals and make a plan to get where you want to be. You can control more than you think you can, and we are here to help! Having a “can-do” attitude goes a long long way!

What are some common misconceptions about hand therapy? 1. That therapy always hurts! That it’s “no pain, no gain!” 2. That swelling is very bad and you must wait for the swelling to go away before doing any exercises. And why aren’t they correct? 1. To make changes with your body, you must stress it, do more than it is doing, but this doesn’t have to be extremely painful. I tell my patients doing nothing won’t make you better, but doing too much can also keep you from getting better. Find that middle ground, listen to your body, and challenge it little by little. That will make the most gains overall. 2. Swelling, otherwise known as edema, is a sign that your body is trying to make changes. Moving, performing exercises, stretching, and strengthening will help manage this edema. Now, if you have an infection, of course, edema is not good. But generally, working within your tolerance and managing the edema will help with your overall recovery. Talk to your therapist if you have concerns about your swelling.

Who is a perfect fit for hand therapy? Anyone with a finger, thumb, hand, wrist, forearm, or elbow pain, stiffness, or weakness resulting from an injury.

Why is Premier the best place to go for hand therapy? We have top-notch people working here at Premier! Our goal of getting you back to life is our number one priority. Our hands-on, one-on-one approach can’t be matched by any other clinic. Our dedication to keeping up with the latest treatment techniques while providing research-based approaches can’t be beaten! Come check us out!

Are you ready to make pain relief in your wrists and hands a priority?

Give us a call to set up an appointment at any of our three convenient locations today!

Cape Girardeau 573-335-7868 | Jackson 573-204-7868 | Advance 573-722-9999

June 6, 2019
What Makes Premier Stand Apart? It’s Our Patented 5-Star Plan

When it comes to choosing where to go for your physical therapy, what matters most to you and your family? Is it the location? A friendly staff? Or perhaps a specialized program? At Premier, we think all of those components are very important to consider. We also think that it’s essential to understand the way your physical therapy office and therapist approaches sustained pain relief. In other words, what’s the plan to help you? Because at the end of the day, that’s what physical therapy is all about.You’re one-of-a-kind. So is the Premier 5-Star Plan

Relieving your pain and getting you back to 100% is a personal experience. That’s why we created the 5-Star Plan, with a focus on YOU and YOUR situation. We don’t start therapy until we fully understand your unique needs and circumstances. With that knowledge, we can develop and put into action the right strategy and approach to relieve your pain, FOR GOOD!

The Premier 5-Star Plan

Step 1: Learning the Root Cause of Your Pain
After assigning you with a physical therapist that matches your unique needs and schedule, we’ll conduct a thorough examination and interview. Instead of rushing into treatment to cover up your pain, only to have it return days or weeks later, our goal is to give you a specific diagnosis. With this knowledge, we can create a personalized plan with a strategic treatment plan that leads to sustained relief.

Step 2: Receive Your Personal Treatment Plan
Once your physical therapist has completed the interview and examination process, you’ll be presented with a personalized plan. It will be unique to your condition, needs, abilities, goals, and your schedule. You’ll notice that your program is focused on monitoring progress, building strength, increasing flexibility and ultimately relieving your pain. Your physical therapist will go over the plan with you and ensure you’re comfortable with everything before moving forward. We believe that there is no such thing as a one-plan-fits-all program; therefore your plan is uniquely your own.

Step 3: Begin One-on-One Care
This is the exciting part of the program: It’s time for your physical therapist to put his or her plan for you into action! You’ll receive one-on-one instruction and attention from your physical therapist through every exercise and activity. He or she will be there to guide you and to answer any questions you may have. You may also receive some homework, like daily stretches, to ensure you stay on track.

Step 4: Track Your Progress. Adjust as Needed.
As you continue your 5-Star Plan, your physical therapist will take notes and conduct progress surveys to understand how you’re feeling, ensuring you’re on the road to recovery. For example, after a few weeks, if you’re still unable to reach a certain level of Range of Motion, your physical therapist may introduce a new exercise or extend your schedule. On the other hand, if you’re ahead of schedule, your physical therapist may shorten your schedule so you can get back to doing the things you love, sooner.

Step 5: Ensuring A Pain-Free Future
Once you’ve made it this far, our team will give you all the tools and know-how to remain pain-free for days, weeks, months, and perhaps years to come. Those tools include educational materials, home exercises, and nutritional guidance. Because sustainable relief and a happy, pain-free life for you is always our ultimate goal.

Ready to Start Your Own 5-Star Plan?
Tell your doctor that you want to go to Premier for your physical therapy. Or give us a call at 573-335-7868 and we can help. From there, we’ll setup a time to meet, listen and setup “Step 1” of your Premier 5-Star Plan!

January 7, 2019