FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

GETTING STARTED

How do I know where to start?

You don’t have to figure that out on your own. Contact us or book a consult and we’ll hear your goals and challenges, conduct an assessment, and talk through options.

Do I need to know which service I need before I contact you?

No. Tell us what you’re experiencing, what you want to change, or what you want to be able to do. We can help you determine where to begin.

What kinds of needs do you work with?

Our work seeks to address the effects and functional consequences of pain, injury, immobility, and movement or structural compensation, along with conditioning and performance needs.

We’ve worked with clients experiencing or training around:

This is not an exhaustive list. We do not treat conditions themselves—we work within our professional scope to address their effects and functional consequences. If you’re not sure whether we can help, ask.

ABOUT THE CLINIC

What happens during a clinic session?

We begin with assessment. We look at joint mobility, soft-tissue function, and control, then combine what we observe with your history, symptoms, and goals to determine what work makes sense.

In the clinic, we use hands-on soft-tissue work, pressure, and guided movement to address areas of tension, restriction, and limited capacity. The work can be intense. You stay involved throughout.

The goal isn’t simply to feel better on the table. We want to help you understand what’s happening in your body, create more opportunity for movement, and build on that change over time.

Is the clinic the same as massage therapy?

Our clinic work includes hands-on soft-tissue work and pressure, but it is not simply a relaxation massage. Assessment guides the work, and treatment is combined with movement and education to address the specific limitations we observe.

Will treatment hurt?

Some hands-on work can be intense, particularly when working with restricted or sensitive tissues. You stay involved throughout the session, and the work is guided by your response and what we’re trying to accomplish.

What should I wear for a consult or clinic session?

Wear whatever you’re comfortable in. Many clients choose shorts, leggings, and a tank top or T-shirt so we can work with the tissues we need to access.

You’ll always remain clothed.

ABOUT COACHING

What is strength coaching?

Coaching is where we build capacity. We look at what your body can do now, where it needs more strength, mobility, control, or coordination, and what you want to be able to do next.

Training is specific to you. We use anatomy-informed movement, progressive loading, and strategies that develop the joints, tissues, and neurology underlying the movements you want to perform—from everyday life to high-level sport.

Is coaching personal training?

Coaching is individualized training, but we take a more specific approach to the body and the movements you want to develop. Assessment helps guide what we train and how we progress it.

Can I combine clinic and coaching?

Yes. Clinic and coaching can work together when hands-on treatment and progressive training are both useful. The combination depends on your goals, what we observe in assessment, and what you need to develop over time.

What should I wear for strength coaching?

Wear comfortable athletic clothing you can move freely in.

What should I wear for self-defense coaching?

Make sure your knees, elbows, and shoulders are protected to avoid mat burn from moving on mats.

ABOUT CLASSES

What are your group classes like?

Our group classes take principles from the clinic into the gym. They give you a place to practice what makes movement possible—strength, mobility, control, coordination, and practical skills—alongside other people.

Classes are designed to meet you where you are. You can work at your own level, modify when needed, and build familiarity with the work over time.

Do I need to be in good shape to attend a class?

No. Classes are designed to meet you where you are. You can work at your own level and modify when needed.

Can I join a class if I’ve never done this before?

Yes. You can join at any point. We provide enough context to participate whenever you can join us, and coming regularly gives you more opportunities to build familiarity with skills we may revisit and build on.

Do I have to attend every week?

No. Our classes are designed so you can join when you can. Each class has enough context to participate without having attended a previous session.

REFERRALS & INSURANCE

Do we handle physician referrals?

We work with clients who have been referred by local clinicians when the requested services are appropriate to our professional scope. We also have an established relationship with a local physician and other practitioners who refer clients directly to our practice by recommendation.

Do we fulfill physical therapy referrals?

No. We do not provide physical therapy services or fulfill referrals specifically written for physical therapy. You’ll need to see a licensed physical therapist for that referral.

That does not mean you can’t work with us. Many clients come before, during, or after physical therapy to continue developing strength, mobility, movement, tissue health, and physical capacity. Others work with us independently.

Do we bill insurance?

We do not bill insurance directly. Some clients use an HSA or FSA to pay for eligible services, and some submit receipts to their insurance provider for possible reimbursement.

We have seen insurance companies cover service fees or percentages of them. Coverage depends on your individual plan and provider requirements.

When requested, we can provide a receipt or service record documenting the date of service, session time, amount paid, and services provided within our professional scope.

We do not represent our services as physical therapy or document them as physical therapy services.

WORKING WITH OTHER PROVIDERS

Can I work with Excelsior while I’m seeing another healthcare professional?

Yes. Many people work with us before, during, or after physical therapy, or alongside other healthcare and training professionals.

We focus on the work within our own professional scope and can coordinate appropriately when useful.

Can I work with Excelsior after an injury or surgery?

We work with people at different stages of recovery, including clients rebuilding movement, strength, and physical capacity after injury or surgery.

Your individual circumstances and any relevant medical guidance help determine what work is appropriate.

What if I have a medical condition or diagnosis?

Having a diagnosis does not automatically mean you can or cannot work with us. What matters is what the condition means for your movement, capacity, goals, and the services that are appropriate within our professional scope.

If you’re unsure, contact us and we can talk through it.