Starting physical therapy can feel like a big step — especially if you’ve never been before. This page covers what to expect at your first visit, how we work, and answers to the questions we hear most often. If you don’t see your question here, call us at (541) 385-3344 or send a message and we’ll get back to you quickly.
Navigating Your First Visit — Your Questions Answered
Your First Visit
Your first visit is an evaluation — a thorough conversation and physical assessment to understand what's going on, what's causing it, and what your goals are. Your therapist will review your history, watch how you move, test your strength and mobility, and give you a clear explanation of what they find. Most patients leave their first appointment with a diagnosis, a plan, and a much better understanding of their problem than they came in with.
At Focus, we believe a physical therapy diagnosis matters. We don't just treat symptoms — we identify the root cause so that your care is targeted and your results last.
Your initial evaluation is typically 60 minutes. Follow-up visits are usually 45–60 minutes depending on your treatment plan. We don't rush — you get the full attention of your therapist for the entire session.
- Your insurance card and a photo ID
- Any imaging reports or records from your doctor (X-rays, MRI results, surgical notes)
- A list of current medications if relevant to your condition
- Comfortable clothing that allows easy access to the area being treated — shorts for a knee or hip, a tank top for a shoulder
- If you're coming for a bike fit, bring your bike, cycling shoes, and your usual riding gear
- Completed patient intake forms — you can download these from our Patient Forms page ahead of time to save time at the front desk
In Oregon, you do not need a physician referral to begin physical therapy. You can call and schedule directly. Some insurance plans may require a referral for coverage purposes — we recommend calling your insurance company to confirm, or our front office team can help you check.
Yes, in most cases. After your evaluation, your therapist will typically begin treatment the same day if time allows and it's appropriate for your condition. You won't just be given a list of exercises and sent home — we get to work.
Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing. For lower body conditions (hip, knee, ankle, foot), athletic shorts or pants that can be rolled up work well. For upper body or spine issues, a loose shirt or tank top is ideal. If you're unsure, bring a change of clothes and we'll make it work.
Every visit at Focus Physical Therapy is one-on-one with the same licensed physical therapist for up to an hour. We don't use aides or technicians, and we don't believe in cookie-cutter treatment plans. Instead, we take the time to understand your goals, identify the root cause of your problem, and create a personalized plan to help you return to the activities you love. Our therapists bring advanced specialty training across orthopedics, sports medicine, spine rehabilitation, oncology rehabilitation, pelvic health, bike fitting, and running analysis—all while accepting most major insurance plans.
The short answer is that you probably can't avoid every ache, pain, or injury forever—and that's okay.
One of the biggest myths we see is the belief that staying active means finding the perfect exercise program or avoiding activities that might be risky. In reality, the people who remain active and independent for decades are usually the ones who continue doing the things they love, adapt when necessary, and address problems early before they become bigger limitations.
At Focus Physical Therapy, we work with active people of all ages—from runners, cyclists, skiers, and hikers to people who simply want to keep gardening, traveling, and enjoying life without being held back by pain. Our goal isn't just to treat injuries. It's to help you build the strength, balance, mobility, and confidence needed to keep doing the activities that make life meaningful.
Many people worry that a new ache means they're "wearing out" or that getting older inevitably means slowing down. The good news is that research—and our experience treating thousands of patients—shows otherwise. Strength, endurance, balance, and mobility can all improve well into your 50s, 60s, 70s, and beyond.
The key is having a plan that fits your body, your goals, and your lifestyle.
Whether you're trying to get back on the trail after an injury, stay strong enough to ski all winter, improve your balance, or simply keep up with your family, we're here to help you stay active for the long haul—not just recover from the problem that's bothering you today.
About Our Care
Yes — always. At Focus Physical Therapy, you work with the same therapist from your first evaluation through your last visit. Your therapist knows your history, tracks your progress, and adjusts your plan as you improve. You will never be handed off to an aide or assistant.
This is one of the things we feel most strongly about. Continuity of care isn't a luxury — it's how good physical therapy actually works.
A few things set us apart:
- One-on-one care, every visit — you always see your therapist, not a technician or aide
- Board-certified specialists — our therapists hold advanced certifications in orthopedics, sports, oncology, pelvic health, and strength and conditioning
- Olympic and elite sports medicine experience — founder Burke Selbst and team members have provided sports medicine care for Team USA athletes at the Paris Olympics, World Championships, Pan American Games, and the US Olympic & Paralympic Training Center as well as recreational and tactical athletes of all kinds.
- Bike fitting and running analysis — few PT clinics in Oregon offer the level of movement expertise we bring to cyclists and runners
- Serving Central Oregon since 2005 — more than two decades of experience treating active people in Bend
We treat everyone from post-surgical patients and oncology survivors to elite athletes and weekend warriors with the same level of attention and expertise.
A physical therapy diagnosis is more than identifying where it hurts. It's a clinical determination of what structure is involved, why it's not working properly, and what needs to happen for it to heal. A proper PT diagnosis guides every decision in your treatment — what exercises to prescribe, what manual therapy to use, how quickly to progress, and when you're truly ready to return to activity.
Many patients come to us having been told to "rest and see how it goes" or given generic exercises that haven't helped. A clear diagnosis changes that. It gives you a roadmap, and it gives us a target.
It depends on your condition, how long it's been going on, and your goals. Some patients need 4–6 visits for a straightforward issue; others with complex or chronic conditions may benefit from longer care. Your therapist will give you an honest estimate after your evaluation and update it as you progress. We don't keep patients coming longer than they need to.
Yes. We offer telerehabilitation (telerehab) for patients who prefer remote visits or who are unable to come into the clinic. Telerehab works well for exercise progression, movement coaching, and follow-up visits. Ask our front office team whether telerehab is appropriate for your situation and if it will be covered by your insurance.
Insurance, Scheduling & Billing
We work with most major insurance plans. The best way to confirm your coverage is to call our front office at (541) 385-3344 — we're happy to verify your benefits before your first visit so there are no surprises. You can also review our Insurance & Billing page for more detail.
Call us at (541) 385-3344, email appointments@focusptbend.com, or use the Schedule an Appointment link on our website portal. Our front office team will match you with the right therapist for your condition and find a time that works for you.
We ask for at least 24 hours notice if you need to cancel or reschedule. This allows us to offer your slot to another patient who may be waiting. Please see our Cancellations page for full details.
Yes. We work with workers' compensation patients and are experienced with the documentation and communication requirements involved. Contact our front office to discuss your specific situation and coverage.
Yes. We provide comprehensive rehabilitation after motor vehicle accidents, including treatment for whiplash, soft tissue injuries, concussion-related symptoms, and chronic post-accident pain. We coordinate with insurance providers and, when needed, with legal teams. Call us to discuss your situation — we'll help you understand your options.
Our Specialties
Yes — sports rehabilitation is a core part of what we do, and our team brings a level of sports medicine experience that's rare for a clinic of any size.
Our therapists collectively hold advanced certifications in orthopedic and sports physical therapy and strength and conditioning. They've served military and tactical athletes, worked with post-surgical patients at every level of competition, and treated injuries across cycling, running, skiing, climbing, pickleball, soccer, swimming, and virtually every sport that matters in Central Oregon. Each therapist brings a distinct specialty — and together they cover more ground than most clinics twice our size.
Founder Burke Selbst adds a layer of experience that's unique in this region — he has provided sports medicine care for Team USA athletes at the Paris Olympics, World Championships, Pan American Games, and the US Olympic & Paralympic Training Center. That experience shapes how every clinician at Focus approaches sports rehabilitation.
We offer return-to-sport testing to ensure athletes are truly ready before going back — not just pain-free, but functionally prepared for the demands of their sport.
Yes. Our bike fitting service is one of the most comprehensive in Central Oregon. What makes it different is that it's performed by a physical therapist — meaning we don't just optimize your position for performance, we assess the biomechanical factors that contribute to pain, injury risk, and power loss. We work with road cyclists, mountain bikers, gravel riders, and triathletes.
Common issues we address in a bike fit include knee pain, neck and back pain, saddle discomfort, numb hands or feet, and power inefficiency. Learn more on our Bike Fitting page.
Yes. We offer video-based running gait analysis and injury-specific rehab for runners of all levels. Whether you're dealing with IT band syndrome, Achilles tendinopathy, plantar fasciitis, shin splints, runner's knee, or another running injury, we identify the movement patterns contributing to the problem and build a return-to-running plan around your specific goals.
Yes. Oncology rehabilitation is a specialty area at Focus Physical Therapy. We work with cancer patients and survivors managing fatigue, lymphedema, pain, peripheral neuropathy, and deconditioning — both during and after treatment. Our therapist coordinates with your oncology care team to ensure your physical therapy fits your overall treatment plan.
We treat this population with the sensitivity and expertise it requires. If you or a family member is navigating cancer treatment and would like to learn how PT can help, please reach out.
Yes. Our pelvic floor rehabilitation program addresses urinary incontinence, pelvic pain, pelvic organ prolapse, and pre- and postnatal concerns. Treatment is delivered by therapists with specialized training in a private, comfortable setting. If you have questions about whether pelvic floor PT is right for your situation, call us — these conversations are confidential and we're happy to help you determine if it's a good fit.
Yes — Burke Selbst is a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner (GCFP), one of relatively few in Oregon. The Feldenkrais Method is a gentle, movement-based approach that uses increased body awareness to reduce chronic pain, improve posture, and restore ease of movement. It works through slow, exploratory movements that help the nervous system find more efficient and comfortable ways of moving.
Feldenkrais is particularly effective for people with chronic pain, neurological conditions, complex movement problems, or those who haven't responded well to more conventional approaches. It is different from traditional PT exercises — and often surprisingly powerful for patients who felt stuck.
Yes. We offer one-on-one personal training led by a certified specialist. This is ideal for patients who have completed rehabilitation and want to continue building strength safely, for people who want to start an exercise program but have injuries or health concerns that make standard gym training feel risky, and for anyone who wants expert guidance on moving well and building durable fitness.
Still Have Questions?
We’re happy to talk through your situation before you schedule. Call us at (541) 385-3344 or email appointments@focusptbend.com — our team will help you figure out whether Focus is the right fit and which of our therapists is best matched to your needs.
Ready to get started? Schedule your first appointment online or call (541) 385-3344. We've been helping active people in Bend move better and feel stronger since 2005.
