The Future of Physical Therapy is Right Here, Right Now

What does the physical therapy office of tomorrow look like?

Well, you can find it today in a new physical therapy clinic in Tampa, Florida. Introducing Competitive Edge Performance where “The Future is Right Here, Right Now.”

Though it opened for business on March 1, 2021, Competitive Edge Performance’s latest location was actually born nearly 15 years ago in the human performance lab of Jason Waz, founder of NeuPTtech. As the technology has caught up with Waz’s vision, CEP has continued to adapt and grow based on the promise of providing next generation therapy to its patients. 

Now, Jason and his team at CEP continue to let science and research steer the direction of his clinics and, as the future of the physical therapy profession has evolved considerably since 2006, Jason is still surprised to see clinics operating without the best practices and equipment available. 

“We pride ourselves in being leaders in the clinical testing and development of physical therapy devices and techniques that will help provide the best outcomes for patients while promoting the field of physical therapy for the next generation,” said Waz. “Our newest location is a testament to this mission, and my vision is to bring this to the forefront for new and expanding clinics to help practice owners all over the country achieve these results.”

How Do You Create the Physical Therapy Practice of the Future?

According to Waz, the Physical Therapy Practice of the Future is made up of a blend of traditional values, hard work and patient care mixed into the latest in innovative physical therapy technology and research.

For it to make a difference, it must encompass all aspects of physical therapy service from the roles of the owner, clinician, front desk, etc. to the actual patient care, including injury rehabilitation, injury prevention, optimal health and wellness, promotion of lifelong movement for the patient population, etc. 

“We’ve been in world-class sports performance facilities that focus on research and development of athletes. As we reviewed what was working and what wasn’t – we started mapping out what can translate well into the physical therapy arena”.

From there, the CEP and NeuPTtech teams went to work developing and testing new equipment and protocols for their new facilities with a focus on utilizing innovation and technology to deliver the same benefits found in professional sports facilities to the average physical therapy clinic of less than 2000 square feet. 

“After we knew what the Physical Therapy Practice of the Future should look like – we set out bringing it to life. I’m happy to say we’ve now officially launched our flagship location in Tampa, Florida that will serve as the model for the future of physical therapy clinics all over the world.”

From the design of the environment to the focus on seamless operations and quality customer service to the commitment to positive patient outcomes – this is what the future of Physical Therapy looks like:

What Technology is Utilized in the Physical Therapy Practice of the Future?

Here are just a few ways that Competitive Edge Performance is utilizing innovation and technology to deliver positive patient outcomes. With each piece of physical therapy equipment, the goal for this futuristic model for physical therapy practices across the country is simple:

Promote a happier, healthier community that is not hindered by illness or pain. 

But Waz wants to be clear: “Equipment is critical, but it’s the sum of the whole system and the people operating it – not just a single device or technique – that makes this clinic model special.” 

NEUBIE

CEP’s arsenal of technology is anchored by the use of the NEUBIE pulsed direct current treatment, which has led to previously unseen positive care outcomes in addressing long-standing dysfunctions and decreasing chronic pain among our patient population.

By impacting the body at the neurological level, the NEUBIE can change the inputs the body is receiving regarding pain and muscle function, thereby “re-educate” the dysfunctional patterns that lead to chronic injury. Patients experience phenomenal success with this technology and typically end up becoming practice evangelists for the e-stim device, bringing even more referrals into the clinic.  

PEMF

The clinic of the future now offers the best in pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) technology, powered by Pulse Centers. This device directs pulsed energy waves toward damaged or injured areas of a patient’s body. Environmental exposure to damaging frequencies (cellular signaling, Wi-Fi, microwaves, etc), stress, and lack of restorative rest translates to a sub-optimal state of wellness.

Through PEMF therapy, the cells of the body are “recharged”, making it easier for the body to restore its health status. This modality decreases the nervous system “fight or flight” response, enhances restorative rest capacity, and increases energy stores at the cellular level.

HRV

CEP has integrated heart rate variability (HRV) technology to achieve a baseline of a client’s physical state. This non-invasive, 5-minute procedure paints a picture of the body’s wellness and recovery capacity by gaining feedback from electrical activity of the heart. Through analysis of this critical information, physical therapists can develop individualized plans to improve health status and increase functional capacity during fitness activities.

In addition to assessing wellness in the general population, HRV diagnostics has also been utilized to demonstrate positive outcomes of physical therapy interventions in patients recovering from injuries when re-scanned throughout the course of treatment.

MSKUS

CEP is proud to be on the leading front for incorporation of musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSKUS) in a physical therapy practice, allowing a non-invasive and cost-effective means to evaluate joints, muscles, and ligaments. MSKUS offers real-time imaging, examining structures both at rest and in motion.

By imaging the movement of musculoskeletal components, MSKUS provides differentiated results compared to basic X-ray or static MRI scans. The addition of MSKUS to the line-up of services expands a physical therapy clinic’s ability to save their patients time and money while utilizing next generation technology to achieve results. 

AERUS Beyond

Beyond treatment-centered technology, CEP has considered every detail regarding patient comfort, satisfaction and safety and invested in the best environmental technology on the market for physical therapy clinics. The Aerus Beyond air purification system kills contaminants on hard surfaces and in the air.

The ActivePure Technology is an advancement on HEPA filtration since air doesn’t need to pass through a filter to be cleaned and eliminate microbes. Instead, it uses an ionization process to modify the hydrogen particles in the air to destroy up to 99.9% of contaminants in the air and on hard surfaces. Most importantly, independent laboratory testing indicates the same 99.9% effectiveness on live SARS-CoV-2 virus, providing peace of mind during the current pandemic climate. This Beyond technology assures a safe, healthy clinic experience for patients.

Sharing the Future of Physical Therapy Blueprint with Practices Everywhere

Beyond infrastructure and treatments, Waz also has his eye on which payment method owners should be targeting. Private pay or cash-based practice models help PT owners focus on the right treatment for their patients and less on pleasing the third-party insurance and Medicare payers who often serve up more restrictions than solutions. 

“The cash-based physical therapy business model allows for a patient-first approach to physical therapy,” said Waz. “It helps patients reach their goals faster, and it improves the practice’s bottom line. It’s a win-win. For the money, value and return on a cash-based model service, I always recommend purchasing the NEUBIE e-stim device – it’s the biggest practice differentiator and cash-based service a physical therapy owner can bring into their clinic.”

But Waz’s vision of bringing emerging technology to the forefront of physical therapy is much bigger than just the NEUBIE – rather, he considers the NEUBIE an anchor for a private practice in the same way that WIFI serves as the anchor for bringing patrons into Starbucks.

“I’ve seen a lot of practitioners consider the NEUBIE something of a gateway treatment in terms of it being their first step outside of traditional physical therapy equipment and technology,” said Waz. “Once they see the results it delivers for patients after just the first visit – they want to know what other tech is out there so they can 10x their ROI and eventually build an entire technology-based wing for their clinic.”

As a clinician and a technology distributor who has been operating for almost 20 years, Jason Waz is certainly in a prime position to help new and existing physical therapy owners bring the layout, equipment and training into their practice and take them and their patients into the future.

To discuss your current or future practice environment or learn more about the equipment and services mentioned above, contact Jason Waz at support@neupttech.com or contact NeuPTtech to request a free practice assessment.