Are pain and  movement problems keeping you from enjoying life? If so, Walt Fritz, PT at the Pain Relief Center might be able to help.

As a physical therapist (PT), I see the value in movement as a means to stay healthy and restore function. However, movement takes many forms. The traditional PT view of movement is typically formalized exercise under the guise of strengthening. “We need to make you stronger so that you have better stability,” and other phrases are often used to explain this belief. Such descriptions are often popular beliefs on pain and movement disorders but are woefully simplistic. While strengthening can sometimes reduce pain, the mechanisms of exercise are complex.

I use manual therapy (think a slow, sustained stretch or pressure) to improve pain and the ability to move with fewer problems. When pain is lessened, movement (exercise) can often return on its own. We regularly discuss movement and exercise options throughout your treatment.

I’ve used manual therapy as my primary intervention for decades now. While I have recently moved on from calling what I use in my PT practice and what I teach health professionals myofascial release, I continue to use that style of gentle, sustained stretch in my practice. The reason for moving on from that description involves the limited credibility of the background science to support myofascial release. If you are interested, these and other issues surrounding my updated explanations can be discussed during your session.

My approach to physical therapy is to address areas that concern you the most or those most limiting to you through manual therapy work. Then, we try to craft a movement program that, along with home self-stretching strategies, improves the quality of life.

Walt Fritz, PT

Walt often gets referrals as the MFR (myofascial release) expert in the Rochester area. He wore that badge for years but has now moved on from it. Why the change? Though the hands-on work called MFR is helpful, nearly all of the explanations for restricted (stuck) fascia and scar tissue are unsubstantiated, as are the stories on how a therapist can select fascia (or any other tissue) for treatment to the exclusion of all other tissues. Walt continues to use the hands-on work he’s used for years, including when he considered himself an MFR expert, but now with well-rounded neurologically-based explanations for problems and possible solutions.

Walt Fritz, PT (Pain Relief Center) is located in Lima, NY. Where is Lima located? Imagine Route 5/20. Got it? Now think about Rt. 15 (East Henrietta Rd). Where those two roads meet is the 4-corners in Lima, known as The Crossroads of Western New York. Just how far is Lima? If you’ve been to Honeoye Falls, you are just 3 miles from Lima. The office is 4 miles east of the Avon/Lima exit (#10) off 390 South. 

On-street parking is available directly in front of the office on both Main St (Rt. 20/5) and Rochester St. (Rt. 15A). There is also off-street parking in the municipal parking lot just east of the 4-corners on the north side of Main St. (Rt. 20/5). The office is accessed via the side door on Rochester St.

Walt Fritz, PT, is a New York State Licensed physical therapist with over 35 years of experience and has been helping others get out of pain and get on with their lives for years. The goal of treatment is to create positive, lasting changes. Isn’t it time you visited the Pain Relief Center?

I invite you to spend some time reading through the various pages here. You will see a bit of yourself mentioned. Then make a call or email us to see what we can do for you. 

What is treatment like at the Pain Relief Center?

Unlike what many view as “traditional” physical therapy, Walt Fritz utilizes manual therapy combined with movement recommendations as his primary intervention.  This approach relies on a therapeutic alliance between himself and the patient to best determine intervention. You will find this approach refreshing, as you will be completely included in the evaluation and treatment planning process to a level and degree that you’ve never experienced. Unlike many physical therapy practices, you will have Walt Fritz, PT’s undivided attention throughout every session, without passing you off to an assistant or aide for treatment. 

Your first session begins with a complete history gathering, followed by a thorough evaluation. All first sessions also include some treatment, so you will get the chance to experience what makes physical therapy at the Pain Relief Center unique.

Traditional physical therapy often stresses a “weakness” model for pain treatment, where you are given specific strengthening exercises based on what is said to be weak. The theory behind this is that if you can better support yourself, the pain will diminish. While exercise is often helpful, claiming that the cause is weakness is too narrow a view of a complex problem. Physical therapy at the Pain Relief Center is quite different, as we use manual therapy approaches coupled with novel forms of movement to help get you back into action. Whether it is for issues of pain or problems moving, the approach taken by Walt Fritz is often a fresh start. We use an evidence-based approach to physical therapy customized to each individual’s needs.

Walt Fritz is an internationally recognized educator and teaches his form of manual therapy to physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, massage therapists, occupational therapists, and others. You can read more about his teaching at this link. By using an approach based on a more accurate range of explanations, Walt utilizes best-practice approaches to pain and movement disorders. He will work with your physician to best serve your needs. If you have heard of Walt’s experience using myofascial release (MFR), due to some significant issues of credibility of the underlying explanation used in most MFR therapies, Walt has evolved his practice into a simpler version, manual therapy.

It is unnecessary to have a doctor’s prescription or referral before your first appointment at the Pain Relief Center (though we will need one shortly after), and scheduling an appointment is easy; click on the “Book Now” link on the right-hand side of this page, or call us at 585-244-6180.

Payment and Insurance Guidelines

The Pain Relief Center accepts Aetna, Excellus/Blue Cross Blue Shield, TriCare, Independent Health, Medicare, Preferred Care GOLD, and No-Fault (Motor Vehicle) as In-Network insurance. All insurance-based sessions typically run 40 to 50 minutes, with No-Fault sessions lasting 25 minutes.

All other insurances (including Cigna, United Health Care, and traditional Preferred Care) would be considered Out-of-Network (OON). In-Network (IN) coverage allows you to pay a co-pay or co-insurance after any appropriate deductible. Your insurer pays the rest directly to the provider (the Pain Relief Center). If we do not accept your insurance (Cigna, United Health, etc.), you may receive reimbursement for some of the session fees if your policy covers OON physical therapy. We do not accept Medicaid or Workman’s Compensation policies. You can contact your insurer directly to learn about your coverage.

The private pay rate for sessions at the Pain Relief Center is $65.00 for the standard 25-minute session or $130.00 for the extended 50-minute session. When assessing out-of-pocket costs, please remember that during each session, you will have Walt Fritz, PT’s undivided attention during the entire session. Unlike traditional physical therapy, where most patients exercise on their own with occasional supervision from the physical therapist, treatment at the Pain Relief Center will have you engaged throughout the entire session with Walt. 

A few things to understand: there is often an OON deductible that must be met before you receive money back for your session fees. At times this deductible is a separate one from your In-Network deductible. It is best to call your insurer directly to ask if this applies. OON physical therapy is charged at the private pay rate of $ 65/per 25-minute session or $130/per 50-minute session. Please understand that your insurer will reimburse you based on their maximum daily rate for physical therapy reimbursement. For some insurers, this is $65. If your OON coverage is 80%, you would be eligible for 80% of $65, even if you paid the 50-minute session rate. This reimbursement disparity is the primary reason the Pain Relief Center does not accept certain insurance as an In-Network Provider.

Payment for all treatment may be made by HSA cards, Flex-Spending cards, credit/debit cards, check, or cash.

Why would I consider seeing a PT who does not accept my insurance?

While paying out-of-pocket may seem out of the question, you will find that sessions are affordable and often priced only slightly higher than what your copayment would cost as other PT clinics. Why pay out-of pocket when you can see an in-network PT at another clinic? Walt Fritz uses a unique method of manual therapy that often helps where traditional exercise-based PT did not. Plus, Walt works with you throughout the entire session, which is very unlike traditional PT.

How much time does/did your current/past PT spend with you during a session?

Unlike traditional physical therapy session, where the PT (or assistant) splits their time between you and other patients, Walt’s model of manual therapy guarantees that you will have his undivided attention during the entire session. While exercise-based models of PT can certainly be effective, many patients fall through the cracks in this sort of approach and may benefit more from a manual therapy style of intervention.

Treatment for full-body problems, as well as voice and swallowing disorders

Walt treats head to toe conditions of pain and movement difficulty and is the most experienced therapist utilizing a manual therapy-style of treatment in the entire western New York region. Additionally, given Walt’s expertise in teaching his work to speech-language pathologists and vocal coaches from around the world, he is now offering treatment to patients experiencing issues in these area in his Lima, NY clinic. Walt and the therapists he has trained through his seminar are working with elite vocal performers to maximize their vocal capacities. Manual therapy treatment have a robust level of evidence to support its use in issues of vocal dysphonia, swallowing problems (dysphagia), pressure in the throat (globus), diminished oral motor abilities and jaw disorders that have not responded completely to other interventions.

For the out-of-town patient, longer/intensive treatment sessions are available. A thorough background evaluation by a qualified physician will be required prior to treatment.

©Copyright 2020 Walt Fritz, PT, and the Pain Relief Center