Physical therapy focuses on restoring movement, strength, and function in the body — reducing pain, rehabbing injuries, and helping people recover from surgery or illness. Occupational therapy focuses on helping people regain the ability to perform the meaningful tasks of daily life — getting dressed, cooking, driving, working — after an injury, illness, or neurological event has disrupted those abilities.

Both disciplines treat the whole person, and at Canyon Therapy, your care team coordinates across specialties when your situation calls for it.

Click to learn more about our Physical Therapy services.
Click to learn more about our Occupational Therapy services.

If you're not sure which is right for you, a free consultation is the easiest way to find out.

A good rule of thumb: if pain, limited movement, or difficulty with daily tasks is affecting your quality of life, therapy is probably worth exploring. You don't need to be recovering from surgery or a major injury — many of our patients come in for chronic pain that's been building for years, or conditions they've been told to "just live with."

Physical and occupational therapy are evidence-based treatments with strong outcomes for a wide range of conditions. The worst case from a free consultation is that we point you in a different direction. The best case is that you find out help is available sooner than you expected.

That depends on your specific condition, but for many patients, skilled therapy eliminates or significantly delays the need for surgery. Studies consistently show that for common conditions like knee osteoarthritis, rotator cuff tears, lumbar disc issues, and carpal tunnel syndrome, physical or occupational therapy produces outcomes comparable to surgery — without the recovery time or the risks.

We'll be honest with you about what we think therapy can and can't do for your situation. If we believe you'd be better served by a surgical consult, we'll tell you that too

You may experience some mild discomfort during treatment — that's normal, especially early on when your body is being asked to move in ways it's been avoiding. But we always work within your tolerance, and treating pain is what we do.

Our goal is to reduce it over time, not add to it. If you're having a particularly painful day, still come in — we'll adjust your treatment to meet you where you're at.

Every session is one-on-one with your therapist — no aides, no being handed off mid-appointment. Depending on where you are in your treatment plan, a session might include hands-on manual therapy, targeted exercise, dry needling, functional movement training, or a combination. Your therapist will explain what they're doing and why.

Most follow-up appointments are about an hour long.

Learn more about what to expect on your first visit HERE.

A skilled occupational or physical therapist does a lot more than prescribe exercises. They identify the underlying mechanical, neurological, or structural issues driving your symptoms — and build a treatment plan that addresses those root causes.

They apply hands-on techniques that you simply can't replicate at home, track your progress and adjust your plan as you improve, and catch compensations or movement patterns that could be setting you back without you realizing it.

Home exercise programs are an important part of recovery, but they work best as a complement to skilled in-person care, not a replacement for it.

We accept a wide range of insurance plans including Medicare, Wyoming Medicaid, Wyoming BCBS (including WyoBlue Medicare Advantage), Humana, Aetna, Cigna, PacificSource, Tricare, VA, Workers' Compensation, Medicare Railroad, MBA Administrators, RCI Original Care (state employee coverage), UHC, and auto accident insurance.

A few things worth knowing: therapy benefits vary significantly between plans — your deductible, copay, coinsurance, and whether prior authorization is required can all differ. Some plans also have a cap on the number of therapy visits covered per year.

We'll help you understand what your plan covers so there are no surprises at the front desk. If you don't have insurance or prefer to pay out of pocket, we offer self-pay rates — contact us for details.

For a full breakdown of accepted plans and payment options, see our Insurance & Billing page or give us a call at 307-587-9789.

That depends on your specific plan, and the honest answer is that coverage varies significantly. Having insurance doesn't automatically mean you have no out-of-pocket costs. Here are the key terms worth understanding before your first visit:

Deductible — the amount you pay out of pocket before your insurance begins covering services. Medicare's deductible resets every January 1st and changes annually. Many patients with Medicare and a supplement are surprised by a balance early in the year — this is why. We'll always tell you where things stand before you start.

Copay — a flat fee you pay per visit, regardless of what your insurance covers otherwise.

Coinsurance — the percentage of the cost you're responsible for after your deductible is met.

Prior Authorization — some plans require approval before therapy can begin. We'll handle this on your behalf if your plan requires it.

The best thing you can do is call us before your first visit. Our front desk team will contact your insurance provider, verify your benefits, and walk you through exactly what to expect cost-wise — no surprises.

Learn more about which specific insurance carriers we work with HERE.

In Wyoming, you can often begin outpatient therapy without a physician referral thanks to direct access laws — meaning you can be evaluated and start treatment right away.

That said, some insurance plans still require a referral for coverage purposes, and if your care requires coordination with a provider or extends beyond certain guidelines, we'll work with your doctor to make sure everything stays on track. When in doubt, call us before your first visit and we'll help you sort it out.

Every session is one hour, one-on-one with your licensed therapist — no aides, no being handed off mid-appointment.

Depending on where you are in your treatment plan, a session might include hands-on manual therapy, targeted exercise, dry needling, functional movement training, or a combination. Your therapist will explain what they're doing and why throughout.

Learn more about what to expect on your first visit HERE.

Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing that allows you to move easily during your session. Depending on the area being treated, we may need access to that part of your body — for example, shorts for knee or hip therapy, or a tank top for shoulder treatment.

Athletic shoes or supportive footwear are recommended for most visits.

Learn more about what to expect on your first visit HERE.

Most patients start at two to three sessions per week, especially in the early phase of treatment when consistency drives the most progress. As you improve, that frequency typically decreases. Your therapist will recommend a schedule based on your specific situation and adjust it as your recovery advances.

We understand that getting to appointments multiple times a week isn't always easy — we'll work with you to build a schedule that's realistic.

Photo ID, your insurance card, and comfortable clothing that allows access to the area being treated. If you have any imaging related to your condition — X-rays, MRI, or CT scan reports — bring those along. A list of current medications is helpful if they're relevant to your condition.

If you have a physician referral or prescription, bring that too, though it's not required. You can also download and complete your new patient forms before you arrive to save time at the front desk.

Learn more about what to expect on your first visit HERE.

Pelvic floor physical therapy addresses conditions related to the muscles, connective tissue, and nerves of the pelvic region. It's effective for a wide range of issues affecting both men and women — including urinary incontinence, pelvic pain, postpartum recovery, prolapse, painful intercourse, and post-prostatectomy bladder control issues.

Treatment is conducted in a private setting by a specially trained therapist, and everything happens at your pace. Many patients — men and women alike — feel some hesitation before their first appointment. That's completely understandable. Your therapist will explain everything before it happens and check in throughout.

Most people find the experience far less intimidating than they expected, and the results are often significant. Check out our Pelvic Health page to learn more.

They use a similar tool — a thin filiform needle — but they're based on different principles and have different goals. Acupuncture is rooted in traditional Chinese medicine and works along meridian energy pathways. Dry needling is a Western, evidence-based technique performed by licensed physical therapists that targets trigger points — tight, irritable spots in muscle tissue that cause local and referred pain.

When a needle is inserted into a trigger point, it creates a release response that reduces muscle tension, improves blood flow, and calms the nervous system's pain signals. The result is often an immediate reduction in pain and improved range of motion. At Canyon Therapy, dry needling is always used as part of a broader treatment plan, not as a standalone procedure.

Check out our Dry Needling page to learn more.

Hand therapy is a subspecialty of occupational and physical therapy focused on the hand, wrist, forearm, and elbow — some of the most mechanically complex anatomy in the human body. A Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) has completed advanced post-graduate training and a rigorous certification process specifically in this area.

For many common conditions — a sprained wrist, minor tendinitis — a general PT can provide good care. But for complex injuries like tendon repairs, crush injuries, nerve damage, Dupuytren's contracture, or post-surgical hand reconstruction, a CHT brings a level of specialized expertise that makes a real difference in outcomes.

Canyon Therapy has CHTs on staff, which is not something every clinic in the region can offer. Check out our Hand Therapy page to learn more.