Walking speed as predictor of health

Walking speed is a key indicator of overall health and mobility. It is a useful measure like blood pressure for predicting well-being and based on the score provides insight into treatment strategies. Normal walking speed for a health adult is 1.2-1.4m/s or 2.7-3.1mph.

Walking speed reflects both functional and physiological changes, is a discriminating factor in determining potential for rehabilitation, and aids in prediction of falls and fear of falling. Furthermore, progression of WS has been linked to clinical meaningful changes in quality of life and in home and community walking behavior. Walking speed is one standardized measure that can be quickly and easily incorporated into the PT examination/evaluation process.

Physical therapists, as specialists in movement and function, can use WS as a practical and informative functional sixth “vital sign” for all patients; examining walking speed in the same way that we routinely monitor blood pressure, pulse, respiration, temperature, and pain.

Fritz S, Lusardi M. White paper: walking speed: the sixth vital sign. Geriatric Assessment Tool KIt. https://geriatrictoolkit.missouri.edu. Published 2009. Accessed September 13, 2025.

How physical therapy can help hip osteoarthritis

Hip osteoarthritis or hip OA as I will call it, is a degenerative condition of the hip which causes pain and decreased mobility secondary to tightening of the hip joint capsule and wearing of the cartilage between your thigh bone and pelvis. I recently saw a patient diagnosed with hip OA and she was prescribed Meloxicam and physical therapy by her doctor. When we were talking during her evaluation, she said she wasn’t sure why she needed physical therapy or what it could do for her because she knew she couldn’t “cure” her arthritis and she said the Meloxicam was working great and her pain was gone. I explained to her that while it’s true we couldn’t “cure” her arthritis, that I could give her tools to improve her mobility and decrease pain without having to rely on longterm use of anti-inflammatories. Our bodies are great at compensating or finding the path of least resistance, so for example, if you have tightness in your hip, your body while seek to find movement elsewhere in order to compensate, which often in the case of decreased hip mobility could also lead to low back problems. I was able to give her a few stretches she could perform at home in order to maintain what she does in the clinic in between her physical therapy sessions.

As a physical therapist, I can help give you the tools to decrease pain, improve mobility and range of motion if you are struggling with hip osteoarthritis so that you don’t have to rely on medication or avoid the activities you enjoy doing. Please call or text today for your initial evaluation and I’ll be happy to meet your and see how I can help!

Jeff

(737)334-9310

jeff@physioxpt.com

insurance vs cash pay physical therapy: which is right for you?

There is a recent trend in physical therapy moving away from billing insurance and going toward a cash pay model either as a clinic or solo practitioner. I hope to explain the pros and cons of each to help you make the best decision for you and your healthcare.

The gist of it is, based on my experience and observations, is that insurance reimbursement for physical therapy services has been declining over the last handful of years. So basically a physical therapy clinic who is in network with a particular insurance plan has their reimbursement rates determined based on their contractural agreement and it has been doing down and not up over the years. For example, lets say you see a physical therapist for a visit and they bill your insurance for the visit $200 but based on agreement of being an in-network provider they only pay the clinic $90 for this visit. Now there are other factors that determine the rate and that is just an example of how it works. But in order for clinics to keep the lights on and pay their overhead they have had to adapt and one of the ways they do that is by increasing the patient volume because even though reimbursement is going down overhead expenses like employee salaries and benefits and rent go up! So for you that means you likely be treated at the same time as another patient or the therapist will treat you for a little bit before passing you off to a “tech” or an “aide” who will take you through the rest of your treatment. This leaves the therapist feeling rushed, less time to listen and adapt the treatment based on how things are going for you. Also, using insurance for physical therapy sometimes has restrictions: some plans only allow a certain number of visits or billed dollar amounts, or lets say you have shoulder and knee pain but you can’t be seen in the same visit for both areas so you have different appointments for each body part. Also, because they clinic is trying to maximize their reimbursement, not necessarly out of greed, but just to stay afloat, you generally have hour long appointments doing exercises you can someitmes do at home. Also, consider the cost factor: let’s say you have a copay of $25, and you are seen the typical 2x/week for 6-8 weeks, you could still end up paying $300-$400 out of pocket, and then consider what you time is worth - having to go before or after work or during your lunch hour to be seen.

The alternative is a cash based model where you pay the physical therapist directly- like you would a massage therapist, personal trainer, or chiropractor. The upfront cost is clear and no surprise bills. And with this model you don’t have the restrictions of insurance or being over treated with not bad, but unnecessary exercises just to fill an hour, there is more flexibility in creating your plan of care. Plus the goal is to treat you as efficiently as possible, so you are not taking an hour 2x a week to go to therapy, instead you can learn the exercises and do them at home with check ins as needed to modify or adapt your program based on your needs. It’s like if you go to an MD for a prescription for meds, you don’t go multiple times a week for them to watch you take it. With physical therapy, exercise is our medicine, so sometimes all you need is one visit to learn what you have to do and then you go home and do it. Also, at least at my clinic, you not only get one on one care but it is in a private room without having to worry about bumping into other people in a busy treatment room or waiting for a table. Also, if you have a high deductible plan you can use your FSA or HSA for payment.

I understand the feeling that if you have insurance you want to use it and paying out of pocket for physical therapy isn’t for everyone but if you value great care, and want to take a proactive approach to your care and maximize your time, cash based physical therapy may be a great option for you.

Jeff

(737) 334-9310

jeff@physioxpt.com

Benefits of daily stretching

We all live busy lives and if you’re anything like me it’s easy to feel overwhelmed with to-do lists like planning what’s for dinner, walking the dog, getting the kids to school, and my absolute favorite - the never ending loading and unloading of the dishwasher!

And in addition to all that, trying to eat well and stay healthy by getting in some form of exercise. As a physical therapist, I see clients every day who benefit and feel better getting some intentional movement in whether for improved strength, mobility or just moving with more ease. I know for me it’s easy to get distracted by the doldrums of daily routine and can be hard to squeeze in more than a dog walk as my exercise for the day. What I’ve found helpful for me is just doing some light stretching throughout the day and how it makes me feel looser afterward - if I’m at my standing desk at work I’ll do a couple quad stretches, at home while cooking dinner I’ll stretch my hamstrings putting my leg on my kid’s counter kitchen tower, I like to them of them as little stretch “snacks” I fit in during the day that only take a couple mintues and don’t have to be a dedicated “workout” time where I have to be in my workout clothes or wear myself out to feel a benefit and I feel better after. I also recently read an article about the benefits of zone 0 training (link below) basically describing the benefit of consistent low level activity throughout the day and it’s health benefits instead of the pressure of fitting in an intense workout during the day.

In addition to light stretch “snacks” throughout the day, assisted stretching where a partner helps move your body through it’s ROM to facilitate a stretch is a helpful tool to increase ROM and relieve muscle tension for low back, hips, knees, or shoulders. If you live in the Lakeway, Bee Cave, Steiner Ranch area and need a quick stretch break after sitting in carline taking your kids to school, work from home and need a quick stretch break or need an early morning stretch to start your day, I happily offer assisted stretching to help you move and feel better throughout the day. Please reach out via text, email or phone if you’d like to schedule an initial visit. Thanks!

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/aug/10/the-zone-zero-secret-how-ultra-low-stress-exercise-can-change-your-life

Jeff

(737) 334-9310

jeff@physioxpt.com