You do not need a referral or physician prescription to receive physical therapy services in Washington State. Washington is a direct access state (RCW 18.74), which allows you to be evaluated and treated by a licensed physical therapist without prior physician authorization.

If, during your evaluation, your condition falls outside the scope of physical therapy practice, you will be referred promptly to the most appropriate medical provider.

For post-operative care, your surgeon may provide a referral and a rehabilitation protocol, which we will incorporate into your plan of care.

Athlema Physical Therapy operates as an out-of-network provider with all insurance companies.

Payment is collected at the time of service. After each session, you may ask to receive a superbill that you may submit directly to your insurance provider for potential reimbursement. Reimbursement rates vary between plans and carriers. We recommend contacting your insurance provider to verify whether your plan includes out-of-network benefits.

Athlema Physical Therapy is not enrolled as a Medicare provider, and therefore cannot accept Medicare insurance plans.

If you are a Medicare Beneficiary, please contact us before making an appointment

Initial Evaluation: 75 minutes

Follow-Up Sessions: 60 minutes

Extended Sessions: 90 minutes (available upon request)

You will spend 100% of your appointment time with your physical therapist. In some cases, you may remain briefly after your session to complete prescribed exercises.

By clicking on the “make appointment button” you will be taken to the clinic’s online booking site (hosted by Jane App).

New clients will need to create an account with Jane App before being able to select an appointment times. Please follow the directions to create your account.

If you are a returning client, please log into your account to access the clinic’s working schedule to select the best time for your appointment.

Your initial evaluation involves movement assessments designed to gather meaningful clinical information. Some of these tests may temporarily reproduce or mildly aggravate your symptoms.

Certain manual therapy techniques (e.g., soft tissue mobilization or trigger point release) may cause temporary discomfort during treatment but are often followed by symptom relief. Occasional mild bruising may occur with deeper soft tissue techniques or cupping therapy.

Your comfort and safety are always prioritized, and treatment intensity is adjusted accordingly.

Please wear comfortable, preferably athletic clothing, that allows for unconstrained movement.

• Neck, shoulder, or arm treatment: Wear clothing that allows access to the shoulder blade and upper back.
  

• Lower back, hip, knee, ankle, or foot treatment: Please wear shorts. Leggings or tights are not recommended for lower body evaluations or during the treatment portion of the session.

Please bring appropriate and comfortable athletic clothing and shoes.

Please bring any relevant medical imaging reports (X-Ray, MRI, CT scan).

Please bring any post-operative rehabilitation protocols (if provided by the surgeon).

There is an option to pay for your session when making your reservation through the Jane App. Otherwise payment will be taken at the end of your session.

Payments that are accepted are:

• Checks (preferred method)

• Credit Cards

• Debit Cards

• HSA / FSA Cards

• Zelle (preferred method)

Your treatment frequency will be determined during your initial evaluation based on your condition, goals, and timeline.

Typical guidelines:

• Non-operative conditions: 1–2 sessions per week

• Post-operative rehabilitation: 2–3 sessions per week for the first 8–12 weeks, then 1–2 sessions per week as healing progresses

Most non-surgical rehabilitation plans range from 6–12 weeks, though timelines vary depending on injury severity and individual response to treatment.

In most cases, yes. Following your initial evaluation session, you will learn more about what activities or exercises should be temporarily modified to improve your healing. Complete rest is rarely required.

Early in rehabilitation, you will be given targeted stabilization exercises as part of your home program. As your condition improves, these exercises often transition into effective warm-up and injury-prevention strategies.

Your Home Exercise Plan (HEP) consists of individualized exercises prescribed after your evaluation. These exercises reinforce the work done during sessions and accelerate recovery.

As your strength, mobility, and control improve, your program will be progressed systematically to match your evolving capacity.

Each exercise prescribed will have specific directions and instructions for you as an individual. If you feel that you won’t be able to remember the instructions, we can record a video with your phone providing a visual reminder with the specific cues.

Because all appointments are reserved for a one-on-one session, we maintain a strict 24-hour cancellation policy.

• Appointments canceled with less than 24 hours notice will be charged the full session fee.
  

• If you pre-paid at booking and fail to attend, the session fee is forfeited.
  

• Cancellations made at least 24 hours in advance will not incur a fee.

Recovery timelines vary depending on your condition, previous medical history, and consistency with your program.

• Typical rehabilitation timelines for common orthopedic conditions are 6-12 weeks, where the majority of clients notice measurable improvements within the first 2-4 weeks.

• Post operative recovery timelines are determined by the surgical procedure and can vary between 3-9 months.

If you are experiencing a fever, flu-like symptoms or are suffering from a known contagious illness, please stay home and contact the clinic to reschedule your appointment. Your health and the health of others are a priority.

Insurance companies play a major role in how physical therapy is delivered. They not only reimburse clinics, but they also influence the actual treatment by limiting which body part can be addressed, how many visits are allowed, and whether continued care is approved (even when it may still be necessary). In many cases, services designed for injury prevention and return to sport training are not covered. 

In recent years, declining insurance reimbursement rates for physical therapy services have forced many in-network clinics to see multiple clients at once, which reduces the amount of dedicated time each patient spends with their therapist during their visit. 

At Athlema Physical Therapy, we’ve chosen to operate as an out-of-network (ONN) clinic so we can prioritize quality care over volume. You will receive 100% one-on-one care with your therapist always, there are no restrictions on what or how we treat, and no limits on the number of visits you can have. 

This model allows us to provide fully individualized and comprehensive care, whether you are recovering from an injury, or working towards injury prevention or towards higher performance. 

Athlema is a Greek word that translates to “sport”, “a contest” or “exercise.” It is derived from the ancient Greek word Athlos meaning a contest or a struggle. It is closely related to the modern Greek words for athlete or athletics.