Physical Therapy in Milwaukee, WI
Want to move with more strength and less pain? Let’s build a plan that gets you there.
Trusted, personal care in neighborhood clinics throughout Greater Milwaukee. Physical therapy is offered at our Menomonee Falls, Waukesha, and West Allis North clinics.
What is physical therapy?
Physical therapists are movement experts. They evaluate how you move, then build a plan to ease pain, restore function, and help prevent future problems.1
Physical therapists finish a graduate-level program and pass a national exam. They must also be licensed in the state where they work.1
Most of physical therapy is active. You learn exercises that build strength, flexibility, and balance. Your therapist adds hands-on care and coaching on how to move through your day.
At Chiropractic Company, physical therapy is offered at three clinics: Menomonee Falls, Waukesha, and West Allis North. Care is natural and drug-free, and you choose your care.
reviewed by Cochrane found exercise eases lingering (chronic) low back pain more than no treatment or usual care (review published 2021)6
offer physical therapy: Menomonee Falls, Waukesha, and West Allis North
How physical therapy and chiropractic care work together
Both kinds of care help with back, neck, and joint pain. Both are natural and drug-free. They lean on different tools.
Chiropractic care centers on hands-on care for your spine and joints. Physical therapy centers on exercise and retraining how you move.
Sometimes one is enough. Sometimes a combined plan makes sense, such as adjustments to ease stiffness plus physical therapy to rebuild strength. Your providers explain the options, and you decide.
| Chiropractic care | Physical therapy | |
|---|---|---|
| Main focus | Spinal adjustments and gentle joint movement for the spine and joints | Exercise, strength, flexibility, and how you move through daily tasks |
| Who provides it | A doctor of chiropractic (DC) | A licensed physical therapist |
| What you do | Mostly receive hands-on care, plus stretches and home tips | Mostly active exercise, guided by your therapist, plus hands-on care |
| Where we offer it | All 20+ clinics | Menomonee Falls, Waukesha, West Allis North |
A combined plan, under one roof
At our Menomonee Falls, Waukesha, and West Allis North clinics, chiropractic care and physical therapy are both available. Your chiropractor and physical therapist can share notes so your plan fits together. Wisconsin law lists chiropractors among the providers who can refer you to physical therapy.2
Conditions physical therapy can help
Physical therapy helps with many muscle and joint problems, especially when strength, flexibility, or balance is part of the story.
More conditions we care for:
What a physical therapy evaluation looks like
Your first physical therapy visit is an evaluation. Your therapist gets to know you and how you move.
Tell us your story
Your therapist asks what brings you in, when it started, and what makes it better or worse. They also ask what you want to get back to.
Movement and strength checks
Your therapist watches how you walk, bend, reach, and balance. They check strength, flexibility, and where it’s tender.
Clear findings, in plain language
You hear what your therapist found and what may be adding to your pain. Ask anything.
A plan built around your goals
Together, you set goals and talk through a plan. It covers what you’ll do in sessions and at home. You choose your care.
Check-ins along the way
Your therapist rechecks your progress and adjusts your plan as you get stronger.
What your physical therapy plan may include
Your plan depends on your evaluation and your goals. Most plans mix exercise with some hands-on care.
Guided exercise
Strength, flexibility, and endurance work, matched to your body and your goals.
Gentle joint movement
Slow, controlled movements help stiff joints move more freely.
Gentle muscle work
Pressure and stretching ease tight, sore muscles.
Home exercise program
A short set of exercises to do between sessions, so progress keeps going.
Understanding your pain
Plain-language coaching on what pain means and how to stay active with it.
Balance and stability
Exercises that help you feel steady on stairs, ice, and uneven ground.
Moving through your day
Practical tips for lifting, sitting, standing, and getting back to sports.
Care that fits with chiropractic
If you also see a chiropractor, your therapist can coordinate with them. You choose your care.
What research says about physical therapy
Exercise for lingering back pain
A large review of 249 trials found exercise eases lingering (chronic) low back pain more than no treatment or usual care. The gain in daily function was smaller.6
Physical therapy guidelines
Guidelines from an academy of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) strongly recommend exercise for lingering low back pain. They also recommend gentle joint movement and teaching people about pain.5
Drug-free care first
Leading U.S. physician guidelines recommend natural, drug-free care first for low back pain. For lingering pain, exercise and rehabilitation are among the options they list.7
Research shows what tends to help groups of people. Your results depend on your condition, your goals, and how you respond. If something needs a medical doctor first, we’ll tell you and help you get there.
Do you need a referral for physical therapy in Wisconsin?
Often, no. Wisconsin rules let physical therapists treat muscle, bone, and joint injuries without a written referral.3 This is often called direct access.4
There are two exceptions to that rule. New broken bones (acute fractures) need a referral. So do injuries where a tendon or other soft tissue has torn away (soft tissue avulsions).3
Conditioning and injury prevention don’t need a referral either.2,3 Most other physical therapy needs a written referral from a physician, chiropractor, physician assistant, advanced practice nurse prescriber, dentist, podiatrist, or naturopathic doctor.2
If you need care beyond physical therapy, your therapist must refer you to the right provider.2
Insurance may still ask for a referral
State law and your insurance plan are separate. Some plans still require a referral or approval before they pay for physical therapy. Verify your insurance, and our team will check your plan before your visit.
Start physical therapy with confidence
Check your coverage first, then contact the physical therapy clinic closest to you: Menomonee Falls, Waukesha, or West Allis North.
- We’re in-network with most insurance companies
- We check your physical therapy benefits
- We tell you if your plan needs a referral
Coverage varies by plan. Our team reviews your benefits before your first physical therapy visit.
- Menomonee Falls · (262) 253-6779
- Waukesha · (262) 549-0606
- West Allis North · [Phone]
Call the clinic closest to you to ask about physical therapy openings.
Trusted by Greater Milwaukee since 1982
Personal care in neighborhood clinics, with more than 1,400 five-star Google reviews from real patients.
- Best of MilwaukeeRecognized 13 years
- Top Choice AwardsRecognized 7 years
- UWM AthleticsOfficial chiropractors since 2019
Winners and finalists, including our doctors and practices before they joined us. See every award, with sources
Frequently asked questions about physical therapy
Where to find physical therapy
Physical therapy is offered at these three clinics. Chiropractic care is available at all 20+ clinics.
Menomonee Falls Physical therapy
N96 W18743 County Line RdMenomonee Falls, WI 53051(262) 253-6779
Physical therapy hours: [Hours]
Waukesha Physical therapy
161 W Sunset DrWaukesha, WI 53189(262) 549-0606
Physical therapy hours: [Hours]
West Allis North Physical therapy
[Address]West Allis, WI [ZIP][Phone]
Physical therapy hours: [Hours]
Get back to doing what you love.
Build strength, move with more confidence, and get a plan that fits your life. Physical therapy is offered in Menomonee Falls, Waukesha, and West Allis North.
More life in every day.
More ways we can help
Sources
- Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy. Learn Physical Therapy Basics. fsbpt.org
- Wisconsin Statutes § 448.56, Referral and evaluation (current through Jan. 1, 2025). Statute text
- Wisconsin Administrative Code, Physical Therapy Examining Board, ch. PT 6.01, Referrals. docs.legis.wisconsin.gov
- American Physical Therapy Association. Direct Access by State. 2023. apta.org
- George SZ, Fritz JM, Silfies SP, et al. Interventions for the management of acute and chronic low back pain: revision 2021. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy. 2021;51(11). orthopt.org
- Hayden JA, Ellis J, Ogilvie R, et al. Exercise therapy for chronic low back pain. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2021. cochrane.org
- American College of Physicians. American College of Physicians issues guideline for treating nonradicular low back pain. Feb. 14, 2017. acponline.org