June 25, 2025 Defining Wellness vs. Maintenance Therapy in Physical Therapy Practice
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, - The Louisiana Physical Therapy Board often receives questions about how to distinguish between traditional physical therapy, maintenance therapy, and wellness services—and how each should be appropriately documented. These distinctions are important not only for clinical accuracy but also for legal and ethical compliance.
Under the Louisiana Physical Therapy Practice Act and Board Rules, each category of service has a defined role:
- Traditional Physical Therapy Services involve an initial evaluation and treatment of diagnosed conditions or functional impairments with a goal of functional improvement. These services require a licensed physical therapist and must include an ongoing plan of care, regular assessments, and thorough documentation of patient progress and outcomes.
- Maintenance Therapy Services are considered a part of physical therapy practice when it is aimed at preserving a patient’s current functional level or preventing deterioration. Although the goal is not significant functional improvement, the same professional standards apply. The care must be medically justified and demonstrably beneficial to the patient. A licensed PT must conduct periodic reassessments and update goals at least every 30 days—or at each visit if sessions are less frequent. Providing unnecessary or non-beneficial services violates the Board’s rules on professional conduct.
- Wellness Services, also referred to as Preventive Services, involve promoting general health, fitness, and injury prevention for individuals who are not being treated for a diagnosed medical condition. In these cases, the individual is considered a client—not a patient. Services may include exercise programs, fall prevention, ergonomic assessments, stress-reduction techniques, and general health education. These can be offered in non-clinical settings like fitness centers, corporate wellness programs, or community outreach initiatives. While these services fall outside the scope of physical therapy treatment, they must still be delivered with professional judgment, proper screening, and documentation.
Special Consideration: Services for Athletes
Therapists may be approached by athletes seeking injury prevention advice or performance improvement. If services go beyond verbal guidance, the therapist must document an initial screening or initial evaluation and establish a plan of care—even for a single visit.
To support licensees, the Board has developed a sample screening form as a resource to help guide documentation during the initial screening process.
Regardless of the type of service, all practice must align with Louisiana law and Board Rules, with the health and safety of the public remaining the top priority.