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Medicare
Physical Therapy
Experienced, One-on-One Physical Therapy for
Medicare Patients
If you're looking for a physical therapist in Boulder who accepts Medicare, you may also be looking for something that can be harder to find: enough time with an experienced physical therapist to thoroughly evaluate your problem, explain what is going on, and provide individualized treatment.
At Colin O'Banion Physical Therapy, your care is one-on-one with a physical therapist with more than 20 years of clinical experience.
The quantity and quality of time you spend with your physical therapist matters. Quality cannot be rushed.
That combination of time and experience can be particularly valuable when you're dealing with a chronic, stubborn, recurring, or complicated problem.
Appointments allow time to evaluate how you move, understand the history of your problem, identify factors that may be contributing to it, explain my findings, provide hands-on care and other treatments when appropriate, and develop a practical plan for what you can do between visits.
Ready to get out of pain?
What Does One-on-One Physical Therapy Mean?
One-on-one care means I am not moving between multiple patients during your appointment or handing portions of your care off to aides or other staff members.
We have time to think.
That may sound simple, but it's important, especially when a problem has been present for months or years, involves several
areas of the body, or hasn't responded to previous treatment.
A typical visit may include:
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A detailed conversation about your symptoms, medical history, previous injuries, activities, and goals
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A physical and movement assessment
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An explanation of what I believe is contributing to the problem
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Hands-on treatment when appropriate
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Specific exercises to improve mobility, strength, balance, or movement
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Treatment modalities when clinically appropriate
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A practical home exercise program
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A discussion about what to do—and what not to worry about—between appointments
The goal is not simply to give you exercises or provide hands-on treatment.
The goal is to help you understand why you are having difficulty, what we can do about it, and how we can work together to improve it.
More Than 20 Years of Physical Therapy Experience
Experience becomes particularly valuable when a problem isn't straightforward.
After more than 20 years as a physical therapist, I have worked with a wide range of orthopedic, musculoskeletal, pain, mobility, and movement problems.
Over those years, experience develops into something more useful than simply having practiced for a long time. It builds pattern recognition, clinical reasoning, and the ability to more efficiently determine what matters, and what may not.
That can be especially important with chronic, stubborn, or recurring problems.
Many people who come to my practice aren't dealing with a brand-new problem.
They may have already tried physical therapy. They may have seen several providers. They may have an MRI showing arthritis or degeneration but aren't sure whether those findings actually explain their symptoms. Or they may simply feel that previous treatment never took enough time to figure out what was going on.
These situations require more than a standard protocol.
They require careful evaluation, clinical reasoning, experience, and sometimes a willingness to look beyond the most obvious painful area.
What If Physical Therapy Hasn't Worked Before?
Previous physical therapy that didn't solve your problem doesn't necessarily mean physical therapy can't help.
Sometimes the diagnosis was incomplete.
Sometimes treatment focused primarily on where it hurt rather than why that area was being overloaded.
Sometimes the exercises weren't progressed appropriately.
And sometimes there simply wasn't enough one-on-one time to investigate a complicated problem.
Accurate diagnosis and recognizing the underlying patterns contributing to your pain or functional limitations are critical to getting the outcomes you're seeking.
I frequently work with people who have persistent or recurring problems and want another perspective.
That doesn't mean every problem has a simple "root cause," and it doesn't mean every condition can be eliminated completely.
It does mean that we can take the time to look carefully at what is happening, identify the factors we can change, and develop a realistic plan to manage your symptoms and, when possible, eliminate them altogether.
Physical Therapy Should Start With Understanding the Problem
One of the most important things I can provide a patient isn't a particular exercise or treatment technique.
It's clarity about their issue or injury.
I want you to understand what I am finding during your evaluation, why I think it matters, and how it relates to the symptoms or limitations you're experiencing.
That means working to answer questions such as:
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What appears to be causing or contributing to your symptoms?
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Why might the problem keep coming back?
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What can physical therapy realistically help with?
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What can you do on your own?
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What is our plan?
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How will we know whether you're improving?
When you understand your condition and the reasoning behind your treatment, you can become an active participant in your recovery rather than simply receiving treatment.
Staying Active After 65: Physical Therapy for Boulder Adults
Getting older doesn't mean you should automatically accept losing the activities that matter to you.
Boulder is filled with people in their 60s, 70s, 80s, and beyond who want to remain active—walking, hiking, cycling, skiing, traveling, gardening, exercising, playing with grandchildren, or simply moving confidently through everyday life.
Physical therapy can help address problems that interfere with those activities, including:
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Back and neck pain
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Hip pain
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Knee pain
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Shoulder pain
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Arthritis-related mobility problems
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Balance difficulties
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Weakness or deconditioning
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Walking limitations
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Recovery after orthopedic surgery
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Joint replacement rehabilitation
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Tendon and muscle injuries
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Recurring injuries
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Chronic or persistent pain
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Difficulty returning to exercise or recreational activities
Treatment is based on your individual presentation rather than your age alone.
Being 65, 75, or 85 tells me very little about what you are capable of—or what you would like to get back to doing.
Your Treatment May Include:
Treatment is always tailored to your specific needs rather than following a standard protocol, but the main steps of my treatment protocol include:
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Evaluation - Every treatment begins with a comprehensive evaluation to determine what is truly causing your pain.
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Targeted Exercise - I create a customized exercise plan with specific movements to improve strength, mobility, and flexibility, helping to reduce pressure on the sciatic nerve.
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Manual Therapy - Hands-on techniques are used to reduce muscle tension, relieve pressure on the nerve, and improve how your body moves.
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Advanced Technologies - When appropriate, I incorporate treatments such as electrical muscle stimulation (EMS), shockwave therapy, dry needling, and red light therapy to support healing and recovery.
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Activity Coaching - I guide you on how to adjust your daily activities and movement patterns to reduce irritation and prevent symptoms from returning.
A More Individualized Approach to Sciatica Treatment
With over 20 years of experience treating musculoskeletal conditions, I’ve worked with a wide range of patients dealing with sciatica, from more straightforward cases to those that have not improved with previous treatment.
Sciatica doesn’t come from the same source for everyone, which is why treatment needs to be specific to the individual.
I take the time to understand your full picture: how your symptoms started, how your body is moving, and what may be contributing to the irritation of the nerve. From there, treatment is tailored to address those specific factors rather than following a standard protocol.
This approach is especially important for people who have tried other treatments without lasting results, or who want to return to a higher level of activity without ongoing limitations.
Ready to Get Started?
If you’re dealing with ongoing sciatica and want a clear plan to address it, the first step is a thorough evaluation.
During your initial session, we’ll go through your history, assess how your body is moving, and begin identifying the factors contributing to your symptoms.
From there, I’ll outline a personalized plan to help you move forward with confidence and get back to the activities that are important to you.
FAQs About Sciatica
Who is the best professional to see for treating sciatica?
There are different types of professionals who treat sciatica, each with their own approach. Chiropractors focus on adjusting the spine, physiatrists may use injections or medications, and orthopedic surgeons might suggest surgery. If your goal is to resolve sciatica without relying on medication or surgery, working with a physical therapist who focuses on thorough evaluation and root cause treatment is often the most effective option. As a physical therapist with over extensive experience treating spine conditions, I offer a comprehensive approach to sciatica care. My treatment toolbox includes proven exercises, activity coaching, advanced technologies, and hands-on techniques similar to chiropractic adjustments. This combination, backed by a thorough evaluation and accurate diagnosis, allows me to effectively help you relieve sciatica pain and get back to your normal activities. The plan I develop is always tailored to your specific needs.
How long does it take sciatica to heal with physical therapy?
Recovery time depends on the underlying cause and how long symptoms have been present. Some cases improve quickly, while others require a longer, more structured approach. In my experience, once the true cause is identified and treated appropriately, most people begin to see meaningful improvement within the first few sessions It’s important to emphasize that not all physical therapy is the same. When dealing with a condition as complex as sciatica, you need to work with a skilled and experienced therapist to get the best results. On average, most cases take about 6-8 weeks to see significant improvement. This usually involves a combination of clinical visits, consistency with a home exercise program, and following advice on modifying activities and postures that might make your condition worse.
How do I stop unbearable sciatica pain?
Severe sciatica pain is often a sign that the nerve is highly irritated. While rest or temporary relief strategies may help short term, lasting relief comes from identifying and reducing the source of that irritation. Together, we’ll uncover the specifics of your unique case so I can provide the right solution. The first step is a thorough evaluation and accurate diagnosis. From there, we identify which postures and movements may be making your sciatica worse. In nearly every case, certain activities or positions are contributing to ongoing irritation and discomfort. Once we identify and adjust these triggers, you’ll often see meaningful improvement within days or weeks. From there, we focus on building strength, flexibility, and mobility where it’s needed most. To support your progress, I use advanced treatments, modern technology, and hands-on techniques in the clinic. I also teach you how to move and adjust daily activities so you can maintain progress and prevent the issue from returning.
Can Sciatica Be Treated Without Surgery?
Yes, sciatica can be treated effectively without surgery. The key is to avoid doing anything that might make the issue worse, like improper exercises or inadequate advice on how to adjust your activities. Many of my clients are surprised to discover that they’ve been unknowingly doing things that inflame their spine and nerves, continuing the cycle of sciatica pain. With the right evaluation and treatment plan, physical therapy can often help reduce pain, improve mobility, and prevent symptoms from returning.
Why Does My Sciatica Keep Coming Back?
Sciatica often returns when the underlying cause hasn’t been fully addressed. Many treatments focus on short-term symptom relief without identifying what’s actually driving the irritation. Without a clear diagnosis and a plan that addresses strength, mobility, and movement patterns, it’s common for symptoms to improve temporarily and then come back.
Why Choose Colin O’Banion Physical Therapy for Sciatica Treatment?
With over 20 years of experience as a Doctor of Physical Therapy, I specialize in treating sciatica without surgery. My one-on-one care means that your treatment is customized to your specific needs, helping you avoid surgery, medications, and injections whenever possible.
During my 17 years in fast-paced New York City clinics, including my own practice, I helped hundreds of patients find long-term relief and avoid surgery. Working in an environment where people rely heavily on walking gave me the perfect setting to refine my skills and develop the treatment approach I now use in Boulder, CO.