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Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs

ROI

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+ Do I need a membership to use ROI?

In a conventional sense, No! ROI does not require individuals to have a membership to utilize our products or services. ROI does offer various “memberships” which provide a discounted rate on our services. Contact us for more information on memberships.

+ Does ROI treat non-athletes?

At ROI, we believe if you have a body that YOU ARE AN ATHLETE! We take into consideration the different demands of your daily life, so we can tailor our treatment to best fit your lifestyle to achieve your goals.

+ What’s the difference between Physical Therapy & Strength and Conditioning?

In our integrated approach the physical therapist is responsible for a high-level analysis of the athlete’s movement skill, including identification of impairment and contributing factors. As healthcare professionals, the physical therapist must address the stage of tissue healing and implications for programming. The physical therapist works on a spectrum with strength & conditioning, and utilizing our integrated model allows for a seamless transition from physical therapy to performance training.

Strength and Conditioning specialists are experts in the progression of exercise for the purpose of improving athletic performance. They understand that in order to achieve physical adaptation, an athlete must be pushed to failure. Therefore, we must be able to safely explore the limits of an athlete (strength, endurance, mindset) in order to ensure that they evolve – this is our primary goal for every athlete. As a part of our integrated methodology the Strength and Conditioning specialist is responsible for addressing the strength, power, and endurance status of the athlete, through comprehensive programming.

+ What is ROI doing to keep their clients and staff safe during the COVID-19 pandemic?

ROI is taking advised safety measure recommendations from the CDC to ensure your safety, as well as our staff. All individuals will complete a COVID-19 screening assessment and a temperature check prior to entering our facility, and must be wearing a face mask. ROI has a strict sanitization policy in which all pieces of equipment will be cleaned immediately following use, and a weekly registered cleaning service on site to limit chances of exposure as much as possible. ROI also has its own HVAC unit, which circulates within our facility meaning there will be no cross contamination from other Crossover vendors.

Physical Therapy

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+ What injuries, body parts, and syndromes are treated at ROI?

All of them! Whether you have recently suffered an injury, experience pain due to a chronic condition, or simply want to move better, ROI’s diverse and experienced staff will help you achieve your individualized goals. ROI’s team has experience treating Olympic-level athletes, to grade school athletes, to recreational athletes, to non-athletes, so no matter what level you want to get back to… ROI can help you achieve your goals!

+ Are the PTs qualified to treat my condition?

ROI’s diverse team of Physical Therapists has a wide variety of experience and interests. Our team consists of former collegiate athletes, Strength & Conditioning coaches, athletic trainers. Our PT’s have continued to advance their knowledge through continuing education, such as sport residencies, manual therapy, USA weightlifting certifications, DNS, dry needling, postpartum correctives, CrossFit, ASTYM, and Kinesio Taping. If you would like to see our staff’s individual education and experience, please click here.

+ I’ve tried PT before and it didn’t work, how is ROI different?

Physical Therapists at ROI understand that human movement is a complex behavior within a specific context, and is influenced by social, environmental, and personal factors. As physical therapists, we have the capability and the responsibility to contribute to the benefit of each of these factors, in addition to movement. This biopsychosocial model is the basis for our integrated approach and the foundation of the ROI methodology. In our communication with athletes, we use outcome-oriented language instead of impairment-based labelling. Our goal is to prevent the athlete from developing fear-avoidance behaviors and restore optimal function. ROI redefines traditional physical therapy by integrating all of your PT, training, massage, and nutrition needs under one roof, optimizing your rehab and training capabilities. ROI is unlike any physical therapy facility in Central Texas, providing a unique one-on-one experience that is founded based on the idea of treating the WHOLE athlete. Our comprehensive, science-based methodology sets us apart from the traditional performance world. We focus on your individual sport rather than a generic program that doesn’t fit your athletic needs. ROI’s use of advanced technology to improve overall wellness and athletic performance makes it the only place for sports physical therapy in Central Texas.

+ Will I have to stop participating in my sport/exercise routine while I am getting treatment?

It depends. There are instances where complete cessation of an irritating/pain causing activity are necessary to allow for adequate healing and desensitization, such as immediately after surgery or during instances of intense pain. Even though our staff may modify your training or participation level so you are not in every drill, we will work with you to provide you with alternatives so you are able to stay in game shape and still be a part of the team.

+ What will a visit look like/entail?

For a physical therapy session, a thorough initial evaluation will be completed by one of our Physical Therapists, which will take approximately 60 minutes. An initial evaluation consists of an interview with the patient to understand what his/her complaints are and what goals they want to achieve, an examination by the physical therapist, and initial trial of treatments. After the evaluation, the PT will discuss with you his/her professional opinion for how many sessions to schedule per week for how many weeks you will need. For follow-up sessions, they will be one-on-one with your physical therapist and scheduled for 45-60 minutes.

+ Do I need a referral to begin physical therapy?

No! In accordance with Texas’ State Practice Act, an individual can see a Physical Therapist for 10 business days prior to needing a referral. If a Physical Therapist is residency or fellowship-trained, the individual needs a referral within 15 business days from the initial evaluation. If an athlete would like to continue with PT past the 10-15 business day window, a referral is required.

Potential referral sources in the state of Texas include physicians, dentists, chiropractors, podiatrists, physician assistants, and advanced nurse practitioners.

+ What do I need to bring to the appointment?

Please wear athletic attire (shirt, shorts, shoes, etc,) to allow for proper evaluation and assessment. If you were unable to complete the “Athlete Registration Forms” on Smartabase prior to your first appointment, please bring any paperwork you have from other providers to your first appointment.

Insurance

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+ Is insurance accepted at ROI?

ROI does not bill your insurance directly, however, we will provide you with all the necessary documentation to submit for reimbursement from your insurance company.  This means you will pay out-of-pocket for services at the time of your appointment and are able to seek reimbursement after your treatment. Insurance providers and plans have variability in regards to “out-of-network” coverage.  We recommend checking with your insurance provider to understand your “out-of-network” coverage benefits.

+ How do I submit as an out-of-network claim?

Most individuals can submit “self-claims” to their insurance provider as an out-of-network physical therapy service. ROI will provide you with the proper paperwork that includes receipts and treatment codes that you will send to your insurance company if you plan to submit for reimbursement. We highly recommend contacting your insurance provider prior to your initial visit to determine your out-of-network physical therapy coverage, and inquire on the insurance company’s process of submitting a claim as these vary from company to company. If you have further questions, please contact us.

Strength & Conditioning

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+ What will a visit look like/entail?

During the first few sessions for Strength & Conditioning, one of our Exercise Physiologist/Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist will take you through a battery of Key Performance Indicators, which are determined by your sport or your goals. Following the initial visits, our coaches will program specific exercises and sport and position-specific activities to help you improve your baseline measures and achieve your performance goals! At ROI, we do not prescribe “cookie cutter” programs. Each program will be unique to the individual, which will help you achieve your goals in an expedited manner.

+ What is Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) Training? And is it safe?

Blood Flow Restriction manipulates the body’s circulatory system and when combined with exercise, produces rapid gains in strength and fitness. Using lighter loads to induce the fatigue state results in less overall muscle damage, allowing increased rates of recovery, more efficient training sessions, and rapid gains in strength, hypertrophy, and fitness.

ROI is the only facility that is B-Strong BFR certified in Texas! This means our staff has gone through extensive training to keep our athletes as safe as possible when using B-Strong BFR bands. Complications while using BFR are extremely rare, and our staff will determine if it is an appropriate adjunct to training on an individual basis.

Recovery

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+ Do I need to schedule an appointment for recovery sessions?

Yes! In order to allot for individuals who want to use our recovery modalities and properly sanitize equipment, we require scheduling for recovery sessions.

+ What is Dry Needling?

Dry Needling is a comfortable and safe procedure that uses thin, filiform needles to desensitize painful areas in our muscles based on the physical therapist’s examination findings. This treatment is a great way to get muscles to relax quickly. Once those muscles have relaxed, people usually see an improvement in mobility and a decrease in pain which allows them to resume their normal, active lives sooner. The physical therapist will identify the involved tissue and he or she will insert one or more needles into that tissue. The therapist may “piston” the needle which is a technique of rapidly moving the needle in and out of the tender area. This may cause some mild muscle cramping and leave one feeling sore for a few hours like after a hard workout. Usually, the soreness associated with pistoning is far less than the pain associated with the actual tender area itself and many times, the patient will feel little to no discomfort at all.

+ What is Cupping?

Cupping uses negative pressure forces on suction cups to create lifting of the tissues. This creates space within the tissue layers for improved gliding and mobility. We have many layers to our skin, including fascia, that should move fluidly but due to injury, inflammation, and simply over time the tissues can become thickened and less mobile.  Decompression helps relax tissues, improve blood flow and nutrient exchange and create a change to the neuromuscular system which allows for temporary pain relief.

+ Why is a traditional dry sauna superior to other saunas?

Following a training session, an athlete may use the dry sauna to gain the physiological benefits of heat acclimation via hyperthermic conditioning. Heat stress via sauna use elicits hormetic responses driven by molecular mechanisms that protect the body from damage, similar to those elicited by moderate-to-vigorous-intensity exercise. The benefit of the dry sauna is the temperature (194 F*) that produces the physiological benefits: the hyperthermic adaptations in the body (brain/kidneys/liver) cause these hormonal reactions in which the kidneys are the primary source of waste removal.

+ What does your Mindfulness Room do?

The purpose of the mindfulness room is to initiate recovery by bringing the athlete back into a relaxed parasympathetic state. To do this, we utilize changes in light wavelengths, aromatherapy, HRV tracking and breathing practice (inner balance) while in a zero gravity chair. The mindfulness room is generally used after a session or at the very end of a recovery session.

Massage ⓘThis is not medical information and is presented for informational purposes only. For particular conditions, please consult with your medical practitioner or doctor. If you have questions you don’t see answered here, please contact us. We’ll be happy to help.

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+ What types of massage are offered at ROI?

At ROI we offer Sports Massage as well as Therapeutic massage & Sweedish/relaxation massage. We often combine several of these techniques to create a massage that targets your specific needs.

+ I just need to “decompress” after a stressful week, so I don’t want a deep massage. Do you provide that?

Yes, by all means. At ROI you get the massage that you ask for. Not only do we provide the various forms of Sports Massage, we also are fluent in Swedish, relaxation, therapeutic and deep tissue massage.

+ Can you explain the different types of massage offered?

Sports Massage: Sports Massage is a style of bodywork that addresses the particular needs of athletes. Sports Massage is a special form of massage and is typically used before, during, and after athletic events, as well as off-season, pre-season and post-season massage

Sweedish Massage/Relaxation massage: Swedish Massage is a manual therapy that emphasizes long strokes, kneading and friction motions to encourage proper circulation. The technique involves rubbing muscles together in the same direction as the flow of blood to the heart. Swedish massage works to improve circulation, relieve muscle tension, stretch tight ligaments and reduce emotional stress.

Therapeutic Massage: Therapeutic massage is intended to affect certain areas whereas a relaxation massage generally covers most areas of the body. Many therapists use specific neural muscular therapy and connective tissue release techniques during a therapeutic massage.

Deep Tissue Massage: Deep tissue massage is a massage technique that’s mainly used to treat musculoskeletal issues, such as strains and sports injuries. It involves applying sustained pressure using slow, deep strokes to target the inner layers of your muscles and connective tissues. This helps to break up scar tissue that forms following an injury and reduce tension in muscle and tissue.

+ What exactly is Sports Massage?

Sports Massage is a style of bodywork that addresses the particular needs of athletes. Sports Massage is a special form of massage and is typically used before, during, and after athletic events, as well as off-season, pre-season and post-season massage. The purpose of the sports massage is to prepare the athlete for peak performance, to drain away fatigue, to relieve swelling, to reduce muscle tension, to promote flexibility and to prevent injuries. Sports Massage utilizes a mixture of techniques ranging from Swedish, Deep Tissue, Neuromuscular Therapy, Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Manipulation, Myofascial Release, and Facilitated Stretching, and Pin and Stretch. The final ingredient is a therapist that understands the demands that your sport has on your body, and how to address those demands with Sports Massage.

+ What are the benefits of Sports Massage for an athlete?

Some of the most exciting benefits of Sports Massage are: enhanced athletic performance, faster workout recovery, fewer injuries and faster recovery from injury, restored flexibility and range of motion, removal of lactic acid buildup, extending the overall life of your athletic career, reducing feelings of stress, and maintaining the body in better condition.

+ Will Sports Massage help my injury?

Yes. Sports massage is proven to reduce recovery time, sometimes dramatically, by shortening the time it takes for injuries to heal, and makes the after effects “better”. Sports Massage helps to reduce swelling and edema associated with soft tissue injuries. After a serious injury, Sports Massage helps form strong pliable scar tissue and avoiding the usual random stiff scar tissue, so that range of motion and tissue extensibility are maintained. A short list of benefits are:

  • Shortens the time it takes for an injury to heal.
  • Helps to reduce swelling and edema.
  • Helps to form soft, pliable scar tissue.
  • Maintains or increases range of motion.
  • Eliminates splinting in associated muscle tissue.
  • Locates and deactivates “trigger points” that form as a result of the original trauma.
  • Helps get the athlete back into training sooner with less chance of reinjury.
+ How often should I get a massage?

That depends on several factors such as training volume and intensity, whether or not you have chronic pain or acute injury, and other factors. For some athletes, a weekly massage gives huge results. Other athletes only get an occasional Sports Massage if they’re in pain. The best way to reduce the effects of hard training is with regular Sports Massage. We suggest you try a series Sports Massages to see how you feel when the positive effects accumulate. Then you’ll be able to decide how often you need a Sports Massage. However, it is a fact that even getting massaged once a month regularly has long lasting positive impact.

+ Will one single Sports Massage “fix” my problems?

Sometimes yes. If you have a tight painful neck and shoulder complex you can expect to come away from a Sports Massage experiencing a lot of relief, at least for a while. But it probably took you months or years to get that way. It’s not reasonable to expect permanent relief from an hour session of Sports Massage. The effects of Sports Massage are very much like the effects of athletic training. Your first bike ride won’t turn you into a Tour de France Champion, but a consistent training program will turn you into a competitive cyclist. Consistent Sports Massage can offer very positive results to chronic issues and painful conditions. The therapists at ROI are experienced with the issues seen in modern sports and athletics. We will be able to assess your issues and help you design a program to help you overcome them in the shortest possible time.

+ Is a massage painful?

No, not usually. If your therapist is mindful and experienced, they will work up to your individual capacity for pressure. For example, if you’ve just ran a marathon, they know you can’t take a lot of pressure on your legs. If they see you wincing or resisting their strokes, they know to back off. But sometimes individuals develop knots, contractures, or trigger points that require stronger bodywork and may cause discomfort. If this is the case, the therapist and client communicate about pain levels, working together to make the session as productive as possible, as pain free as can be. But all of this aside, a typical massage is a pleasurable experience, not a painful one.

+ I have a big race tomorrow. Can I get a Sports Massage?

Yes! There are different kinds of Sports Massages. Make sure to communicate with your therapist and inform them of your event. If your big race or game is within 42 hours, you will receive Pre-race massage rather than Deep work. Deep work is reserved for conditions and issues that call for it. It’s typical to be sore for several days (up to 42 hours) after a Deep Sports Massage.  A pre-event Sports Massage would be the right choice before a race. Pre-event Sports Massage boosts circulation and flexibility. It leaves muscles relaxed but ready for action. Pre-event massage can help prevent muscle and tendon injuries and improve performance. While Post-event massage is given after your event and will flush out lactic acid, reduce muscle soreness and promote faster healing.

+ Are there times that I shouldn’t get a Sports Massage?

Yes. Contraindications are conditions when you should not be massaged. The most common condition among athletes is that of an acute injury or inflammation. Usually, the first 72 hours after an injury is the acute stage. After the swelling and pain begin to diminish, massage is recommended. A partial list of contraindications are: fever, vascular conditions, severe heart disease, contagious skin conditions, inflammation, abrasions, cuts, hematomas, cancer, neuritis, recent surgery, infectious diseases, diabetes with vascular dysfunction, fractures, and acute injury. There are too many possible conditions to list here so it is your responsibility to alert the therapist of any medical condition or injury before a massage begins. Some conditions are localized so massage may take place except in the affected area. Always consult with your doctor prior to starting any new program after an injury or surgery.

Nutrition

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+ What does an initial consult entail?

The initial consultation is approximately 60 minutes. This is the time when we will discuss clients nutrition goals, eating styles and medical history. During the first visit our priority is to provide you with realistic goals to better provide appropriate education and individualized meal plans. Together we will discuss the need for any follow up visits.

+ Are follow up visits needed?

Follow up visits range between 30-40 minutes in length. During these visits we are able to check in and look at progress of nutrition goals that were set and if necessary further customize and change the nutrition plant to best to fit your lifestyle.

Technology

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+ What is Smartabase?

Smartabase is an athlete management system and electronic medical record system that is used by many professional and collegiate athletic programs. At ROI, we use Smartabase to monitor load and recovery so we are able to properly progress our athletes in their training regimens and reduce injury risk. It also allows us to seamlessly communicate between our PT and S&C staff, which enables us to optimize rehabilitation and performance training!