Orthopedic physical therapy · Upstate and Western New York
Orthopedic physical therapy in Upstate and Western New York, by video.
Back, neck, hip, knee, shoulder, and foot pain, and rehab after surgery. One-on-one video visits with a Doctor of Physical Therapy, scheduled around work and family, anywhere in Upstate and Western New York.
- Aetna in-network; private pay with superbills for other plans
- No referral needed for the first 10 visits or 30 days
- Usually seen within a week
Orthopedic
What this is, and who it is for.
Most orthopedic physical therapy is movement: assessing how a person bends, squats, reaches, and walks, finding what is irritated and what is not doing its share, and progressing exercise week by week. Hands-on techniques help some people feel better for a few hours; the exercise program is what changes the next six months. That is why video visits work for the majority of back, neck, hip, knee, shoulder, and foot problems and for rehab after many surgeries.
Video visits also solve the reason people quit physical therapy: three clinic trips a week do not fit around a job, a commute, and children. A 45-minute visit from the living room, with a program the patient can do in the same room, is a plan people actually finish.
Upstate New York is bigger than most states and has a handful of pelvic health physical therapists, nearly all in Rochester, Buffalo, and Syracuse. For the Southern Tier, the North Country, and the Finger Lakes, a video visit is often the only practical way to see one.
What we treat
Conditions we see in Upstate and Western New York
Each condition has its own page with what it is, what the evaluation looks at, and how the program is built.
Spine
- Low back pain
- Low back pain is the most common reason adults see a physical therapist, and for the large majority it is a movement problem, not a...
- Sciatica
- Sciatica is pain that travels from the back or buttock down the leg along the sciatic nerve. Most cases settle with the right movement...
- Neck pain and headaches
- Neck pain is nearly as common as back pain, and most of it is driven by hours of screen time, a stiff upper back, and weak deep neck...
Hip and knee
- Hip pain
- Hip pain is usually blamed on the joint, but the most common causes are tendons and muscles on the outside of the hip, and those respond...
- Knee pain
- Knee pain is rarely just about the knee. How the hip and foot control the leg decides how the knee is loaded, and that is what physical...
- Rehab after knee or hip surgery
- After a joint replacement or ACL reconstruction, the rehab is what decides the result. Video visits make it possible to do that rehab...
Shoulder, foot and ankle
- Shoulder pain
- Rotator cuff pain, impingement, and frozen shoulder are the three most common shoulder problems, and for all three progressive exercise...
- Foot and ankle pain
- Heel pain in the morning, an Achilles that complains at the start of every run, and an ankle that keeps rolling are all loading...
Coverage in New York
Insurance and pricing
Bring your plan name to the discovery call and we confirm your physical therapy benefit before the first visit.
Aetna
In-network with Aetna in New York. Most Aetna plans cover physical therapy with a copay or coinsurance; we confirm yours before the first visit.
Private pay
Available for any other plan. We provide a superbill you can submit to your insurer for out-of-network reimbursement. HSA and FSA cards accepted. Rates are quoted on the free discovery call.
Referrals
New York allows you to start physical therapy without a referral for up to 10 visits or 30 days, whichever comes first. If care continues beyond that, we help you get a referral from your physician.
Central New York, the Finger Lakes, Western New York, the Southern Tier, and the North Country, including Fort Drum families, are seen by video.
How it works
How a virtual visit works
During the evaluation, Dr. Shalem watches how the patient moves on camera, tests strength and range of motion with guided self-tests, and builds a program from what she sees. Follow-ups adjust the program, correct form, and progress the load. If something needs hands-on care or imaging, she says so and helps arrange it locally.
Discovery call
15 minutes, free, by phoneA short call to hear what is going on, explain how visits work, and check insurance or pricing. No pressure to book.
Evaluation
60 minutes, by videoDr. Shalem takes a full history, watches how you move and breathe, and guides the self-assessments she needs to build a plan.
Your plan
Same visitYou leave the evaluation with a plain-language explanation and a short home program, usually a few minutes a day.
Follow-ups
45 minutes, every 1 to 2 weeksProgress checks, program updates, and techniques you can do yourself, for as long as they are useful.
For a video visit you will need
- A phone, tablet, or laptop with a camera
- A private room
- A mat or towel
- About an hour
Questions
Orthopedic questions in Upstate and Western New York
Can physical therapy really be done over video?
For most orthopedic problems, yes. The evaluation uses guided movement tests on camera, and treatment is a progressive exercise program with coaching on form. Research on telehealth physical therapy for back pain and after knee replacement shows outcomes comparable to in-person care for many patients.
What if I need hands-on treatment?
Dr. Shalem will say so. Some conditions benefit from in-person manual therapy or need imaging first, and in those cases she helps the patient find local care rather than continuing by video.
What equipment do I need?
A phone, tablet, or laptop with a camera, enough floor space to lie down, and a towel or mat. Resistance bands or light weights help later, and we suggest inexpensive options.
How long does a plan take?
Most orthopedic plans run four to ten visits over six to twelve weeks, with a home program between visits. Post-surgical rehab follows the surgeon's protocol and runs longer.
Do I need a referral for physical therapy in New York?
New York allows you to start physical therapy without a referral for up to 10 visits or 30 days, whichever comes first. If care continues beyond that, we help you get a referral from your physician.
What insurance do you take in New York?
Aetna: In-network with Aetna in New York. Most Aetna plans cover physical therapy with a copay or coinsurance; we confirm yours before the first visit. Private pay: Available for any other plan. We provide a superbill you can submit to your insurer for out-of-network reimbursement. HSA and FSA cards accepted. Rates are quoted on the free discovery call.
Your physical therapist
Dr. Elana Shalem, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy, University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, Miami. Licensed in New York.
Dr. Shalem treats pelvic health for women and men, from pregnancy and postpartum recovery to bladder, bowel, and pelvic pain conditions and recovery after prostate or pelvic surgery, and general orthopedic conditions of the back, neck, hips, knees, shoulders, and feet. Visits are one-on-one and unhurried, and she explains what she is seeing in plain language.
More about Dr. ShalemPrefer to write? Send a message.
Questions about insurance, pricing, or whether physical therapy is the right next step? We reply within one business day.
Start with a free 15-minute call.
Tell us what is going on, hear how Dr. Shalem would approach it, and decide from there.