Questions, answered honestly.

No. As a cash-based practice, I do not require a physician referral. You can book an evaluation directly. If you have imaging (X-ray, MRI) from a physician visit, please bring it or share it ahead of your appointment — it's helpful context, but not required to get started.

No. Innovative Physical Therapy is a cash-based, direct-pay practice — no insurance billing on my end. But there are still options. FSA and HSA funds can typically be used directly. If you have out-of-network benefits, you may be able to self-submit for reimbursement; I provide a superbill to make that straightforward. I can answer pricing questions before you book — just reach out.

Current pricing is listed in the Jane App booking system. If you'd like to know before booking, reach out directly and I'll share current rates. I aim to be transparent about pricing — no hidden fees or surprise charges.

16930 W Catawba Ave, Suite 101, Cornelius, NC 28031. Virtual consultations are available for athletes who cannot travel in-person. Virtual visits work well for second opinions, return-to-sport planning, and follow-up visits.

Initial evaluations are 60 minutes. That's enough time to take a full history, complete a physical exam, watch you move in your relevant events, and build the beginnings of a plan — all in the same visit. Follow-up appointments are typically 45–60 minutes depending on what we're working on.

Wear what you're comfortable in. Many athletes choose a training leotard or leggings, which allow for more precise biomechanical testing. If you have any imaging reports (X-ray, MRI), bring those or email them ahead. It's also helpful to bring videos of gymnastics movements — especially any that are painful or that you're concerned about. And if you've seen another provider for this injury, a brief summary of what was found and tried is helpful — but not required.

Coaches are welcome to attend or join by phone for part of the visit — particularly the plan discussion. With the athlete's consent, I'll share the modification summary and return-to-sport plan directly with the coach after the evaluation. Many coaches prefer a brief follow-up call rather than attending in person.

Ready means: the tissue has healed, the athlete has demonstrated adequate strength and load tolerance, they can perform the specific demands of their event without compensating, and they feel confident doing so. "Pain-free" is necessary but not sufficient. We use objective criteria — strength tests, landing mechanics, skill progressions — not just symptom reports.

Almost always, yes — in some capacity. The goal is to keep athletes in the gym and training as much as the injury safely allows, while protecting the injured structure. Complete rest is rarely the answer. What changes is the type of training, the volume, and the surface — not whether training happens at all.

Then we build toward that as a goal — with an honest conversation about what's realistic and what risks that timeline introduces. Competition timing matters. I factor it in. But I also won't tell you an athlete is safe to compete if the criteria haven't been met. Competing before tissue is ready is the most common cause of re-injury in gymnastics.

Yes — and it's an important part of the return-to-sport process. Psychological readiness matters as much as physical readiness. I assess and address this directly as part of the RTS progression. Skill regressions, graduated reintroduction, and time on the task in a controlled environment help rebuild confidence alongside physical capacity.