✔ Backed by: American Physical Therapy Association · Medicare · MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine. Each fact links to its source, and the full list is at the bottom of this post.
October is National Physical Therapy Month. The American Physical Therapy Association uses the month to raise awareness of how physical therapy can help people at every age stay strong, move well, and stay active [1]. The month has been celebrated since 1992 [1].
Maybe your knee aches every time you climb the stairs. Maybe you are home after a hospital stay and feel weaker than before. Maybe you have had a fall, or you are afraid of having one. Therapy may help. But getting started can feel confusing. Who do you call? Do you need a doctor’s note? What will it cost? This post walks through a simple path, one step at a time.
Step 1: Know what physical therapy is for
Physical therapy is one part of a bigger kind of care called rehabilitation. MedlinePlus describes rehabilitation as care that helps people get back, keep, or improve the abilities they need for daily life. Those abilities may have been lost because of an illness, an injury, or a medical treatment [4]. Within that, this kind of therapy focuses on strength, mobility, and fitness [4].
Medicare describes outpatient physical therapy in a helpful way. It can help you get movement back after an injury, illness, or surgery. It can also help you keep the function you have, or slow a decline [2]. That last part matters. You do not have to be “getting better” for therapy to have value. Holding steady can be a real win.
You also do not need to be an athlete. Many people use physical therapy to walk more safely, get in and out of a chair, or climb stairs. Others want to get back to everyday tasks like carrying groceries or playing with grandchildren. MedlinePlus notes that rehab can happen in a provider’s office, a hospital, an inpatient rehab center, or at home [4].
Step 2: Find out if you need a referral
Here is something many people do not know. All 50 states, plus Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands, allow some form of “direct access” [3]. That means you may be able to see a physical therapist without a referral first. But the rules and limits are different in each place [3].
Your health plan may also have its own rules, separate from state law. Some plans may want a referral or prior approval before they will pay. So the best move is to check before you book. Call the member services number on your insurance card. You can say: “I’d like to start physical therapy. Does my plan need a referral or prior approval? Which clinics near me are in network? How many visits are covered, and what will I pay for each one?” Write down the answers, plus the name of the person you spoke with and the date.
Step 3: Understand Medicare Part B basics
If you have Original Medicare, Part B covers outpatient physical therapy when it is medically necessary. Your doctor or another provider, such as a nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or physician assistant, must certify that you need it [2]. After you meet the Part B deductible, you usually pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount [2].
Medicare also says there is no limit on how much it pays for medically necessary outpatient therapy in a calendar year [2]. Your actual cost may depend on other insurance you have, what the provider charges, whether they accept assignment, and the type of facility [2].
One more tip from Medicare: a provider may suggest services that Medicare does not cover, or more often than Medicare covers. If that happens, ask why the service is needed and what Medicare will pay for [2]. If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, call the plan to check its rules, since they may differ.
Tru-Tips: Before your first visit, write down three everyday things that are hard right now, in your own words. For example: “I can’t get up from the couch without pushing hard,” or “I hold the railing tight on the stairs.” Clear, real-life goals help your therapist build a plan that fits your life.
Step 4: Make your first visit count
The first visit is often a chance for the therapist to learn about you. Bring your list of what is hard to do. Be as specific as you can. “My knee hurts” is a start, but “I can’t carry groceries up my three front steps” tells a much clearer story. Also bring your medicine list and any recent hospital papers or test results.
MedlinePlus explains that rehab works best as a team effort. Your providers work with you to figure out your needs and goals and build a plan [4]. You are part of that team. A family member or friend can come too, especially if they will help you practice at home. Here are a few good questions to ask:
- “What are the goals of my plan of care?”
- “How often will I come, and for how long?”
- “What should I practice at home, and how often?”
- “What should I do if an exercise causes pain?”
Do not worry about asking “silly” questions. Your therapist would much rather explain something twice than have you guess.
Step 5: Keep going, and speak up
Home practice is often a big part of the plan. The time between visits is where much of the progress can happen. Write down your exercises, or ask for a printed copy or pictures. Some people find it helps to tie the exercises to a daily habit, like doing them right after morning coffee.
If something is not working, say so. Maybe an exercise hurts in a way that worries you. Maybe the visits are hard to get to, or the costs are adding up. Tell your therapist and your care team. You can say: “I want to keep going, but the copays are getting hard. Are there other options?” They may be able to change the plan, adjust the schedule, or point you to other help.
Let’s talk about it
Have you or a loved one tried physical therapy? What helped you stick with your home exercises? Share your tips in the comments so others feel more ready to take that first step.
One Tru Step: Call the number on your insurance card this week and ask one question: “Do I need a referral to see a physical therapist, and which clinics near me are in network?”
Sources and further reading
- American Physical Therapy Association. National Physical Therapy Month: October.
- Medicare.gov. Physical therapy coverage.
- American Physical Therapy Association. Direct access by state.
- MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine. Rehabilitation.
Sources checked October 15, 2026. General education; individual care and coverage questions require an appropriate professional.
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