“What starts as “just soreness” can quickly become a nagging injury that affects an entire season. Here’s the good news: you do not need a prescription from a doctor to see a physical therapist.“
- Dr. Alex Sheridan
You Don’t Need a Prescription to Start Physical Therapy This Fall
Fall brings a new season of activity — school sports, fall leagues, running, football, soccer, tennis, golf, gym workouts, and busy schedules all place different demands on the body. As athletes return to practices and competition, we often see the same pattern: pain or soreness gets pushed aside because they don’t want to miss a game or fall behind.
What starts as “just soreness” can quickly become a nagging injury that affects an entire season.
Here’s the good news: in New York, you do not need a prescription from a doctor to see a physical therapist. This is known as direct access, and it allows many athletes and active individuals to get evaluated without waiting for a physician appointment first.
What Does “Direct Access” Mean?
Direct access means you can schedule a physical therapy evaluation without first visiting a physician. That matters because:
- Early care can prevent small problems from becoming bigger injuries.
- It saves time by allowing you to get evaluated sooner.
- It can help reduce unnecessary costs associated with delayed care.
- It keeps athletes active and working toward their goals throughout the season.
Instead of waiting weeks while pain continues to worsen, athletes can be evaluated by a movement expert trained to identify what may be contributing to the problem. At Compass Physical Therapy, we work with athletes and active individuals to assess pain, movement patterns, strength, and sport-specific demands so issues can be addressed early.
Common Fall Injuries
With athletes returning to practices and games, fall can bring an increase in both acute and overuse injuries. Some of the most common problems we see include:
- Ankle sprains
- Knee pain from running and jumping
- Hamstring strains
- Shin splints
- Shoulder pain in throwing athletes
- Hip tightness
- Low back pain
- Muscle strains
- Overuse injuries from increased training
- Injuries from returning to sports too quickly. If you’re noticing:
- Pain during or after practice
- Repeated ankle rolls
- Tightness that won’t go away
- Knee pain with running, stairs, or squatting
- Shoulder pain while throwing
- Persistent soreness after workouts
- Pain that is changing the way you move or play
👉 That’s your cue to get evaluated.
Physical Therapy Is More Than Rehab
Many people think physical therapy is only for recovering from surgery or a major injury. In reality, PT can also help with:
- Injury prevention
- Improving movement quality
- Building strength and stability
- Correcting strength imbalances
- Sport-specific mobility
- Return-to-sport testing
- Performance optimization
- Movement screenings
The goal isn’t just to recover from an injury — it’s to help you move better, build confidence, and perform at your best.
A Parent’s Perspective
For parents, it can be difficult to watch your child play through pain because they don’t want to miss practices, games, or tournaments. But playing through pain isn’t always the best way to stay in the game.
Addressing an issue early can help young athletes feel stronger, more confident, and better prepared for the demands of their sport.
Who Should Consider Physical Therapy This Fall?
- Middle and high school athletes
- Travel and club athletes
- Runners preparing for fall races
- Football, soccer, tennis, and volleyball players
- Adults returning to their regular gym routine
- Weekend warriors
- Anyone dealing with nagging pain
You don’t have to wait until an injury takes you out of the game. PT can be part of your training and injury-prevention plan.
Stay Healthy All Season Long
Direct access physical therapy allows athletes and active individuals to take a proactive approach to their health. Whether you need a movement screen, injury prevention plan, or evaluation for pain that hasn’t gone away, early action can make a difference.
At Compass Physical Therapy, our goal is to help you move better, stay healthy, and perform at your best all season long.
You don’t have to wait for a diagnosis or a prescription.
If something doesn’t feel right, take action early and keep moving forward.
Leaving you with my top 5 injury prevention tips for your fall season:
- Warm up before you play — Spend 10 minutes on dynamic movements and sport-specific drills.
- Keep strength training in-season — Even 2 short sessions per week can help maintain strength and stability.
- Increase workload gradually — Avoid sudden jumps in running, lifting, practice time, or intensity. Don’t go 0 to 100%.
- Prioritize recovery — Sleep, hydration, nutrition, and rest days are part of injury prevention.
- Address pain early — Don’t wait until a small ache changes the way you run, jump, throw, or play.
Have a great season! Dr. Alex
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About the Author
Alex Sheridan
For nearly a decade, Dr. Alex Sheridan has dedicated himself to the world of orthopedics and physical therapy. With almost 10 years of experience in helping individuals overcome pain, regain mobility, and restore function, he saw firsthand how transformative personalized care can be. That passion led him to establish Compass Physical Therapy with a vision to create a practice rooted in individualized attention, functional movement, and real results.
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