Frequently Asked Questions

Sports physical therapy focuses on injuries and movement problems in athletes and active people. It covers recovery after an injury or surgery, getting you back to your sport safely, and reducing the chance of re-injury. The goal is to get you back to doing what you love, stronger.

At DC Physical Therapy, care is led by Dr. Daniel Choi, PT, DPT, OCS, SCS, FAAOMPT, who is board-certified by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties in both orthopedic and sports physical therapy.

No. California allows direct access, so you can start physical therapy without a referral. By state law, a physical therapist can treat you for up to 12 visits or 45 calendar days, whichever comes first. After that, a physician or podiatrist needs to examine you in person and sign off on your plan of care.

If you plan to submit your visits to your insurance for out-of-network reimbursement, check whether your plan requires a referral. If you need to see a doctor, I can coordinate with your physician or refer you to an orthopedic or sports medicine specialist.

No. I work with athletes at every level, from youth to professional, and also with active individuals such as weekend warriors, runners, post-surgery patients, and anyone who wants to move and feel better in the activities that matter to them.

I specialize in orthopedic and sports injuries, including:

• Post-surgical rehab: ACL, MCL, LCL and PCL reconstruction, meniscus repair, rotator cuff repair, hip and shoulder labral repair, tendon repairs (Achilles, patellar, quadriceps), and total hip and knee replacement
• Sports injuries: shoulder and elbow injuries in throwers and overhead athletes, muscle strains, tendinopathy, ankle, knee and elbow sprains, hip and groin injuries, shoulder instability, tennis and golfer’s elbow, and plantar fasciitis
• Spine and joint pain: low back and SI joint pain, neck and mid-back pain, sciatica, disc herniation, osteoarthritis, and stress fractures
• Performance: running and gait analysis, movement analysis, force plate and dynamometer testing, and return-to-sport testing

For most muscle, joint and sports injuries, physical therapy is a safe place to start. See a doctor or go to urgent care first if you have a suspected fracture, can’t put weight on the injured area, have a major injury or a dislocated joint, or have numbness, weakness or loss of bladder or bowel control. If you’re not sure, book a free discovery call and I’ll help you decide on the right next step.

Yes. I work with young athletes and offer injury screenings for youth and student-athletes. For athletes under 18, a parent or guardian should be present at visits. If they can’t attend, I’ll need verbal and written permission from the parent or guardian.

If we haven’t already covered it on your discovery call, I’ll start by taking your history: your injury or surgery, how it’s affecting your work, hobbies and daily activities, your past medical history, and your goals for physical therapy.

Next comes objective testing. Depending on your needs, this can include posture and movement assessment (such as walking, running, cutting and other sport-specific movements), mobility, strength and coordination.

Once the assessment is done, I’ll explain what I found: what’s going on, why it’s happening and how we’ll move forward. We’ll finish the session with treatment, including manual therapy and therapeutic exercise, and recheck your symptoms to see how you’re feeling.

After your evaluation, I’ll send you a home exercise program with sets, reps, video links and notes to guide you. I also check in weekly or every other week to see how you’re doing and adjust your program as needed.

Wear comfortable athletic clothes that let me see and move the injured area, such as shorts for knee or hip problems and a tank top for shoulder problems. Runners should bring the shoes they usually train in.

If you have them, bring any imaging reports (X-ray or MRI), surgical notes, and your surgeon’s rehab protocol.

Every session is a full hour of 1-on-1 time with me. For new injuries and post-surgical rehab, I usually recommend 2 to 3 visits per week at first, tapering as you improve. For long-standing problems, once every 1 to 2 weeks is often enough. We’ll set the right frequency together based on your goals.

Some exercises and hands-on techniques can cause mild, temporary discomfort, especially early in rehab or after surgery. Treatment shouldn’t cause sharp pain or leave you much worse the next day. I’ll explain what’s normal, adjust treatment to how you respond, and keep you in charge of how hard we push.

Yes. With concierge physical therapy, I come to your home, office or gym. I also provide sideline and event coverage for teams, games and tournaments.

I cover Orange County, Los Angeles, and southwest San Bernardino and Riverside counties, including Placentia, Fullerton, Brea, Yorba Linda, Anaheim, Anaheim Hills, Irvine, Los Angeles and Pasadena. Concierge pricing may vary with distance.

In-clinic visits are at 980 S Via Rodeo, Placentia, CA 92870, inside No Limit Personal Training. Hours:

• Monday to Friday: 7am to 8pm
• Saturday: 7am to 6pm
• Sunday: 8am to 5pm

If none of these times work for you, reach out and I’ll do my best to accommodate you.

DC Physical Therapy is an out-of-network, self-pay practice. This lets me spend the whole visit with you 1-on-1, instead of passing you to assistants or aides, and build a plan around the root cause of your problem rather than insurance visit limits.

Initial evaluation (1 hour): $250. Follow-up session (1 hour): $200. Concierge session: $350, which may vary with distance.

After your initial evaluation, a 10-visit package is available at 10% off (one free session). Packages are non-refundable and valid for one year from purchase.

Yes, you can pay with your HSA or FSA card, as well as cash, card or check. I also provide superbills, itemized receipts you can submit to your insurance company for possible out-of-network reimbursement, if your insurance accepts them.

Please give at least 24 hours’ notice to cancel or reschedule. I understand emergencies happen, but frequent last-minute cancellations will lead to no-show fees.

It depends on the injury, the surgery if you had one, and how your body responds. Instead of going only by time, I use objective tests of strength, power and movement, including VALD ForceDecks force plate testing, to show when you’re ready. For example, return to sport after ACL reconstruction commonly takes 9 months or more.

Yes. Pre-surgery rehab, often called prehab, can reduce swelling, restore motion and build strength before your operation. Patients who go into surgery stronger and moving better often have an easier recovery.

Not every injury can be prevented, but being proactive with your health can reduce your injury risk and improve your performance. A movement and strength assessment can reveal weak links, imbalances and faulty mechanics before they lead to injuries. Objective measurements show where you are now, what needs to be addressed, and how you’re progressing over time.