Physical therapy questions, answered

Most commercial insurance patients don't need a referral — Mississippi is a direct access state. Medicare does not require a referral to start physical therapy; it requires your plan of care to be certified by a physician or qualified provider within 30 days of your evaluation, which we help coordinate. Call GT Physical Therapy at 228-471-5047 and we'll verify your benefits and help coordinate any referrals needed.

Your first visit is a full evaluation — usually 45–60 minutes. Dr. Austin Baskin will review your history, test your movement and strength, identify the root cause of your problem, and build a personalized treatment plan with you. You leave knowing exactly what's going on and what the plan is to fix it. You see Dr. Baskin at every visit.

Most patients start at 2–3 visits per week, then taper down as they improve. The exact frequency depends on your condition and schedule. You'll also get a home exercise program to keep making progress between visits. We work around your life — not the other way around.

Many patients notice meaningful improvement within the first few weeks, but it varies. A typical course of PT is 6–12 weeks depending on the condition. Acute injuries respond faster. Chronic problems — pain that's been around for months or years — take longer but still respond well to the right plan. We set clear goals at your first visit so you always know where you stand.

Dr. Austin Baskin, PT, DPT, CSCS, Cert DN treats you every visit. No 10-minute treatment sessions followed by heat packs. At GT PT, your evaluation and treatment are hands-on, specific to your problem, and built around getting you results as fast as possible. Located at 1408 Ingalls Ave, Pascagoula, MS. Call 228-471-5047.

Low back pain has many causes — muscle strain, disc problems (herniation, degeneration), facet joint irritation, nerve compression (sciatica), and poor movement patterns. The good news: most low back pain is not dangerous, and the vast majority of cases improve significantly with physical therapy. Imaging (MRI, X-ray) often shows changes that look scary but aren't the actual cause of your pain — a good PT evaluates how you move, not just your images.

Stay active. Complete bed rest is one of the worst things for low back pain. Movement keeps discs nourished, reduces muscle spasm, and speeds recovery. You may need to modify what you do — avoid things that sharply increase pain — but keeping your body moving is almost always the right call. Physical therapy teaches you exactly how to move safely during recovery.

Yes — often. Research consistently shows that physical therapy is as effective as surgery for many common back conditions including disc herniations and spinal stenosis. Spine surgery guidelines typically recommend 6–12 weeks of PT before surgery is considered. At GT Physical Therapy, we've helped many patients avoid surgery entirely by addressing the movement problems driving their pain.

PT won't change what the disc looks like on an MRI, but it can often relieve your pain. Most herniated discs — even severe ones — improve significantly with the right PT program. The goal is to reduce nerve irritation, restore normal movement, and build the strength and resilience to prevent recurrence. The majority of patients with disc herniations avoid surgery when they commit to PT.

Sciatica is nerve pain that starts in the lower back and shoots down the leg — often into the buttock, thigh, or all the way to the foot. It's typically caused by a disc herniation or tight muscles (like the piriformis) compressing the sciatic nerve. Physical therapy is one of the most effective treatments for sciatica. The right exercises and manual therapy can take pressure off the nerve and relieve the pain, often without surgery or long-term medication.

Go to a doctor or the ER first if you have back pain with: loss of bladder or bowel control, sudden severe leg weakness, pain after major trauma, or unexplained weight loss. Otherwise, physical therapy is often the best first stop. Research shows patients who go to PT first have better outcomes and lower costs than those who start with imaging or specialist visits.

Dry needling uses thin, solid needles to release tight, painful muscle knots (trigger points). When the needle hits a trigger point, you may feel a brief muscle twitch or deep ache — most patients rate it a 3–5 out of 10, followed by significant relief. Dr. Baskin holds a post-graduate Cert DN certification and combines dry needling with electrical stimulation for better results.

No. Same type of needle, different philosophy. Acupuncture is rooted in traditional Chinese medicine and targets energy meridians. Dry needling is based on western anatomy and neuroscience — it targets specific muscle trigger points and fascial restrictions. Physical therapists use dry needling as one tool in a broader movement-based treatment plan.

Physical therapy treats a wide range of conditions including: low back pain, neck pain, sciatica, herniated discs, knee pain (arthritis, meniscus tears, ACL injuries), shoulder pain (rotator cuff, impingement), hip pain, post-surgical rehab, sports injuries, TMJ/jaw pain, headaches, balance problems, and workers' comp injuries. Unsure if PT is right for you? Call 228-471-5047 — happy to talk through it.

Yes. Physical therapy is one of the most effective long-term treatments for arthritis, including osteoarthritis of the knee, hip, and spine. Exercise and movement are proven to reduce arthritis pain, maintain joint health, and delay or prevent joint replacement. At GT PT, we design programs that work with your arthritis — keeping you active and independent.

Physical therapists focus on restoring movement, strength, and function through exercise, manual therapy, and patient education — the goal is long-term independence. Chiropractors primarily use spinal manipulation. Dr. Austin Baskin holds a Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT) and is trained to treat the full body, address root causes, and get you moving well on your own.

Yes — and you should. PT is designed for people in pain. Some discomfort during treatment is normal, but treatment should never make your pain significantly worse. A good PT knows how to work within your limits while still making progress. Waiting until the pain goes away on its own often allows problems to become chronic and harder to treat.

Most insurance plans cover PT, including Medicare, BlueCross BlueShield, United Healthcare, Cigna, Aetna, and Workers' Compensation. GT Physical Therapy verifies your benefits before your first visit so you know your out-of-pocket cost up front. Self-pay options are also available. Call 228-471-5047 to check your coverage.

Yes. GT Physical Therapy is a Medicare-participating provider. Medicare Part B covers outpatient PT at 80% after your deductible. A supplemental plan often covers the remaining 20%. Medicare does not require a referral to start physical therapy; it requires your plan of care to be certified by a physician or qualified provider within 30 days of your evaluation, which we help coordinate. We're happy to help coordinate that with your doctor — call us at 228-471-5047.