Muldowney Physical Therapy New Patient Options

(For people who are able to come to our clinic 2-3x/week for 6-8 months to be treated.  This is good for people in RI, Mass, Conn, NH and people willing to move to RI for 6 months to 1 year). 

• You will first come for a 4-hour total body evaluation and treatment so I can have ample time to figure out all of the issues you may have. The cost for this is $1200.  This is not covered by insurance. 
• After your 4-hour evaluation, you will see me one time a week on a self-pay basis so that I can treat any body part that needs treatment that day. Self-pay allows me not to be limited by insurance restrictions that only allow one body part to be treated at a time. My only goal every visit is to reduce your pain that day. The cost for this is $125 for a 30-minute session. This is also not covered by insurance. 
• You will also come in 1-3 additional times each week under insurance with one of my staff, under my guidance, to go over exercises, self-corrections, ADL modifications and bracing suggestions if needed. All of my staff are trained and can quickly fix something that hurts you that day, but the focus is exercise progression, ADL modification, and self-corrections.  The cost for this is a copay or deductible, dictated by your specific insurance policy. We only take Blue Cross and Medicare.
• This is only for people willing to be treated in the Cranston clinic 2-3x per week.  This applies mostly to people coming from RI, Mass, Conn, and NH, or for people willing to move to RI for 6-8 months.  
• People this does NOT apply to are people with: tethered cord who have not had surgery yet (we do treat post-op tethered cord), cranial hypertension not treated, MALS not treated, endometriosis not treated.  This is because your outcomes will be poor, and it is not worth your money.  See insurance option below.  After surgery for all of the above issues, we will be happy to see you. You can book a half-hour virtual appointment with me (cost $100) if you want to discuss your specific issues to see which option is best for you.  

(For people who will return home after the evaluation and work with their local PT. Not an option for RI residents).   

• You can do a 5-hour evaluation and treatment with Kevin Muldowney.  For more information, please visit:  http//eds.muldowneypt.com.  
• The only difference between this option and the 4-hour evaluation option is that the last hour is used to record videos for your local PT on my manual techniques, so they can help you at home. You do not need to do this if you are coming into the clinic for treatment because our staff is already trained on the manual techniques. The cost for this is $1500 and this is not covered by insurance.  
• Due to the high cost of travel and accommodation to go to Cranston, RI, I recommend a half-hour virtual appointment with Kevin before you schedule your 5-hour evaluation in order to make sure that you do not have any co-morbidities as listed above that might hinder his ability to properly evaluate you.  You do not have to book this half hour virtual appointment in order to book your 5-hour evaluation with Kevin, but we highly recommend it.  You can skip this half hour virtual appointment if you believe you are fine to come in for the 5-hour evaluation.  
• After completing your 5-hour evaluation, we will book a 1-hour virtual appointment with you and your local PT to go over the manual techniques and answer any questions they may have about your specific issues. We need to get them up to speed because they will be helping you the most.  The cost for this is $225 and is not covered by insurance. 
• After your 5-hour evaluation, we will book a 1-hour virtual appointment with you and your family member to teach them how to fix your back at home so they can fix you every day before you do your exercises. The cost for this is $225, and this is not covered by insurance.  
• Next, we will book biweekly or monthly virtual appointments so I can keep up with your progress and problem-solve any issues you are having. The cost for this is $225 for an hour and $125 for a half hour, and is not covered by insurance. We can determine what you need for the length of a virtual appointment andthe  frequency of virtual appointments at the end of your previous virtual appointment.  
• None of the options listed in Option 2 is covered by insurance.  If you live in RI, you cannot choose this option. 

(This is only for people who are in RI, CT, Mass, who are able to attend PT at our clinic 2-3x/week). (There will not be a total body evaluation with this option.)

• This is what you get at most physical therapy clinics, except that our clinic has a staff that has extensive experience treating people with EDS every day. 
• You will receive a 1-hour evaluation for one body part only.  There will be no total body evaluation with this option.  We usually begin with the low back. You will need a doctor’s referral for low back pain. EDS is not a billable diagnosis. 
• You will see one of my staff and they will evaluate you and perform all follow-up treatments with you. Each treatment will consist of half time manual therapy to relieve your pain and half an hour of exercise.  Attendance of 2-3 times per week is customary, especially at the beginning where you will need lots of training on the exercises, ADL modification and home self-corrections. 
• This is a good option for people who cannot afford the 4-hour evaluation. This option consists of evaluation and treatment with my colleague, Ed Brady, PT. Please ask for him when booking an appointment.  We only take Blue Cross and Medicare for insurance. If you do not have these insurances, then this option is not for you.
• During your time with us, you always have the option to purchase a 4-hour evaluation by Kevin if you believe we are missing something.  You can discuss this option with Ed. 

For more than a decade, Kathleen Muldowney has been a trusted leader in screening patients with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) for tethered cord, a neurological condition that occurs at higher rates within the EDS community and is often overlooked.

Kathleen has developed a comprehensive and highly detailed screening process that combines an in-depth patient history, targeted clinical questions, and specialized physical assessments to determine whether tethered cord is a likely concern. When sufficient clinical evidence is identified, Kathleen guides patients step-by-step through the next phase of care—explaining which diagnostic tests are needed, what referrals are required and which neurosurgical specialists are most appropriate.

To support timely and effective care, Kathleen prepares a thorough clinical summary and recommendation letter for your primary care provider, clearly outlining her findings and the medical necessity for further neurosurgical evaluation and what tests or referrals will be needed.  

Navigating a possible tethered cord diagnosis can feel overwhelming and complex.  Kathleen’s role is to simplify the process, provide clarity and ensure nothing falls through the cracks—helping patients move forward confidently and efficiently.

Upon request, Kathleen is also available to educate and answer questions for family members or friends during physical therapy appointments, including discussions about the pre- and post-operative course, surgery considerations and rehabilitation expectations.

Kathleen is also the creator of the Tethered Cord Buddy Program. Once a patient has been formally diagnosed by a neurosurgeon and scheduled for surgery, Kathleen can pair them with a  “buddy”—a fellow patient who has already been through the experience and can offer firsthand insight, encouragement and support from someone who truly understands the journey.

In addition, Kathleen provides a customized physical therapy plan for both pre- and post-surgical care, designed to optimize recovery and achieve the best possible outcomes.

Through her deep clinical knowledge, compassionate guidance, and built-in support systems, Kathleen ensures patients receive not only expert screening and education—but also the confidence, preparation and support needed for a successful recovery.

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