Not always. Texas law lets you see a physical therapist for an evaluation without a referral. If your injury needs imaging or a doctor, your therapist will tell you. Go to the emergency room for a suspected fracture, dislocation or head injury with worsening symptoms.

It depends on the injury and your sport. A mild sprain may take a couple of weeks, while an ACL reconstruction often takes many months. Your therapist uses strength and movement testing, not just the calendar, to decide when you are ready.

Yes. We treat young athletes and build their plan around their sport and season. A parent or guardian needs to complete paperwork and give consent for patients under 18, and we keep parents and coaches updated with your permission.

Complete rest is rarely the best answer. Most injuries heal better with the right kind of movement. A physical therapist shows you what you can keep doing, what to pause and how to stay in shape while you recover.

Return to sport testing measures strength, balance, speed and control on the injured side and compares it to the healthy side. It helps show when your body is ready for full practice and games, which can lower your risk of getting hurt again.

Yes. Our therapists provide concussion rehab for headaches, dizziness, balance problems and a safe step by step return to school and sport. Athletes should be cleared by a medical provider first, and anyone with worsening symptoms needs emergency care.

Yes. A therapist can spot weak links in strength, flexibility and movement before they turn into injuries, then give you a simple program to fix them. It is a smart step before a new season or after a past injury.

The Gunter clinic has an on site recovery sauna. It does not replace treatment, but it can be part of an athlete's recovery routine when their physical therapist says it fits the plan.