Frequently Asked Questions

All physical therapy is provided in the patient's home for maximum convenience to postpartum parents and to allow for the most natural environment when working with you and your baby. Our first in home session will be a 60-minute assessment where I check your baby’s movement patterns, reflexes, muscle tone, coordination and motor milestones through gentle handling and observation, creating a customized plan to address your concerns and support their growth. If you have indicated concerns with breastfeeding/bottlefeeding we will also discuss your concerns in detail, gathering relevant information and observing a feeding session as well as gently assessing baby's oral motor structures and function. At the end of the evaluation we will make a plan to address your top concerns through parent education, exercises and individualized recommendations related to feeding which will include hands on exercises for you to do with your baby. We will practice together before ending the session.  

Physical therapy for your baby will consist of targeted, specific manual techniques depending on your baby's history and symptoms.  I will address areas of the body where baby is holding tension and guide their little body to release this tightness.  This may look like gentle range of motion, special "holds" around parts of the head or sacrum, gentle mobilization of joints such as the jaw, the neck, shoulders and hips, the rib cage and even the feet.  Everything I do will be done to baby's tolerance and you will always be able to let me know if you think baby needs a rest. Once baby has an opportunity to feel more comfortable and move into a more regulated state (parasympathetic nervous system) they are better able to "rest and digest" which frequently shows up as feeding longer at the breast or bottle, less popping on and off, improved deeper latch, swallowing and breathing with improved coordination, and being less anxious overall when feeding is introduced. We will also incorporate a home program with activities or exercises that you can do together throughout the week to continue to progress baby's skills. 

Yes!  Physical Therapy treatment has good evidence behind it for resolving Torticollis and Plagiocephaly. The trick is to get professional help from a PT early.  There is evidence that the earlier a baby with Torticollis starts PT, the earlier it will resolve and reduces the risk of further body asymmetry and altered movement patterns. Research says that babies who are referred to PT before they are 3 months old will have a 97% resolution of symptoms. ( This ) is a great guide to read about Torticollis and what to expect with Physical Therapy. 

During the evaluation we will identify your goals and what problems you are currently experiencing with your baby that we can help you solve.  Every baby presents differently and has a different birth history.  A baby with a more complex birth history and more complicated feeding issues will take more sessions to make progress than a baby with an uncomplicated birth history with mild torticollis who gets an early referral. Generally, you should notice progress within 2 weeks if not after even just the first week of participating in your home program consistently.  However 2 sessions is rarely enough for full resolution of the problem.  For a baby under 3 months with mild torticollis, 4 sessions may be enough with a follow up a couple months later. If the torticollis treatment is started after 6 months old, resolution is slower and will require PT most likely for 6-12 months due to other postural changes and altered movement patterns. With any condition, PT often starts out as a weekly session to identify and work on the immediate problems and teach parents handling skills and exercises.  After a few weekly sessions, we can then spread out treatments which gives your baby time to practice and make progress in between sessions. We will make an individualized plan for you and your child based on our evaluation findings, goals, and baby's tolerance and response to treatment. 

Parents know best!! If you have any concerns or your baby isn't meeting a milestone, reach out ... don't "wait and see." Physical Therapy is a great way to educate yourself on what YOU can do to help your child! 

Ladybug Physical Therapy, PLLC is an out-of-network provider for all insurance companies. We chose this model intentionally so we can provide you with one-on-one, personalized care tailored entirely to you and your child's needs, without the limitations often imposed by insurance companies.
While we do not bill insurance companies directly, we want to help you maximize your benefits. At your request, we will provide you with a Superbill. A Superbill is a detailed receipt that contains all the necessary medical codes, provider information, and treatment details. You can submit this document directly to your insurance company, and depending on your specific plan, they may reimburse you directly for a portion of your out-of-pocket costs.
We highly recommend checking your out-of-network physical therapy benefits before your first appointment so you know exactly what to expect. To make this easier for you, we can provide a helpful verification guide that walks you through the exact questions to ask your insurance representative. 

Yes! At the end of each month (or upon request), I can provide you with a superbill (a detailed medical receipt) with specific treatment codes that insurances recognize. You can submit this to your insurance company to seek out-of-network reimbursement. I highly recommend calling your insurance provider before we start therapy to ask about out-of-network pediatric physical therapy coverage so that you are well informed and can plan ahead. PT often starts out as a weekly session to identify and work on the immediate problems and teach parents handling skills and exercises.  Often we can start to spread out treatments which helps financially and gives your baby time to practice and make progress in between sessions. We will make an individualized plan for your child based on our evaluation findings, goals, and baby's tolerance and response to treatment.  We accept HSA cards as well. 

Yes. Pediatric physical therapy is a qualified medical expense. You can use your Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) card to pay for all sessions.