Holistic • Comprehensive • Sustainable
At NOVA, our approach empowers growth and healing through highly individualized, one-on-one treatment. We look forward to empowering your body, mind, and spirit.
Our clinic is located in the Pepper Place studios building
2821 2nd Ave S, Suite E, Birmingham, AL 35233
Office phone: 205-202-6078
At NOVA Physical Therapy and Wellness, we believe health and wellness is a proactive journey. Quality care is crucial to effective treatment. Everyone’s goals, and path to restore and maintain function are unique and should be honored. We utilize a holistic, comprehensive, and sustainable approach grounded in personalized attention to your needs. You’ll receive one-on-one sessions to help you to get back to doing the things you enjoy. We hope to empower you by providing the knowledge and tools necessary to be an active participant in your healing and wellness throughout your lifetime.
ABOVE ALL OUR PRACTICE IS COMMITTED TO:
Holistic Health and Wellness • Empowerment • Self-care • Authenticity • Inclusivity/Diversity • Family • Community • Sustainability (health, fitness, environment)
AT OUR CORE
Treatment tailored for you.
Our Services
One-On-One
Physical Therapy
Kinesiotaping
Health & Movement Screenings
Running
Evaluations
Functional Dry
Needling
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
Normatec Recovery Sessions
Clinical Pilates (Private Sessions & Group Classes)
Private Pay/Out of Network & Wellness Fees
Private Pay PT Initial Evaluation (55 min): $160
Private Pay PT Follow Up Visit (55 min): $130
Wellness Initial Evaluation (55 min): $140
Wellness Follow Up Visit (30min/60min): $75/$130
Dry Needling Session (25 min): $50
Normatec Recovery Session (25 min): $30
Pilates Group Classes (50 min):
$35 for single class
$165 for 5 classes
$300 for 10 classes
Pilates Private Lessons (50 min):
$100 for single session
$475 for 5 sessions
$930 for 10 sessions
Pilates Class Times
(By Appointment and subject to change. Please call the clinic to book your spot!)
Mondays at 6pm
Wednesdays at 7am
Fridays at 12pm
Laura Richardson
Founder, DPT
Laura, a native of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, came to Alabama on a soccer scholarship to Troy University, where she completed her BSc in Cell and Molecular Biology. Her years playing a multitude of sports growing up peaked her interest in Physical Therapy as a career. She attended The University of Alabama at Birmingham to pursue her Doctor of Physical Therapy, graduating in 2010. She has worked in outpatient private practice, with an emphasis on orthopedic injuries, and also with patients with pelvic floor dysfunction. She has training in Kinesiotaping, is certified in advanced Functional Dry Needling, completed Level 1 Pelvic Floor training and STOTT® Pilates Rehab Mat and Reformer instructor training. Pilates is a great compliment to other exercises and sports for improved posture, stability and mobility and will be offered to physical therapy and wellness clients. She is looking forward to working with you to optimize your health and wellness, so you can enjoy your sports or active lifestyle to the fullest.
Outside of the clinic, Laura enjoys spending time with her husband, two daughters and their American Bulldog, Rufus. She loves living in the Avondale neighborhood, supporting the many great local restaurants, breweries and other businesses. Saturday mornings at Pepper Place Farmer’s Market, after a pilates class, has been a regular activity for Laura and is one of the reasons it felt so right to open NOVA at this location.
Abbey Sedlacek
DPT
Abbey was born and raised in Birmingham. Her mother, Peggy, was a physical therapist at Children’s of Alabama. Abbey was drawn to the relational work of physical therapy. Following in her mom’s footsteps was an easy decision.
She earned her B.S. in Kinesiology from the University of Alabama in 2013 and her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from UAB in 2017. After graduating, Abbey began work at an outpatient private practice, where she enjoyed working with a wide variety of patients, from children to athletes to older individuals trying to safely navigate their environment. Abbey’s favorite thing about her job is building relationships with her patients and helping them achieve their highest functional level of activity.
Abbey enjoys hiking, running, cooking, and listening to live music.
Madison Ohlman
DPT, Certified Pilates Instructor
Madison is originally from Marietta, Georgia but has been living in Birmingham for the past six years to attend Samford University. She received her Bachelors in Exercise Science in 2020 and her Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2023. Madison’s passions include Dance Medicine and Rehabilitative Pilates. She has completed training for Pilates Mat, Reformer, Barrell, Chair, and Cadillac (Beginner and Advanced). She enjoys working with patients of a variety of diagnoses and independence levels to make a positive impact on their overall quality of life.
Madison recently married, and is excited for new life adventures with her husband, and she is thrilled to begin her career at NOVA.
Emily Gantt
DPT, Certified Pilates Instructor
Emily is originally from the greater Detroit area in southeast Michigan. Her undergraduate studies were in Athletic Training and she then worked at a private high school treating all student athletes while also working alongside the team physician in an outpatient orthopedic clinic. Emily then went on to obtain her Doctorate of Physical Therapy at Shenandoah University while simultaneously studying in the Performing Arts Medicine Graduate Certificate Program to expand her treatment capabilities to the performing arts population. Following graduation, Emily then worked in a private practice outpatient orthopedic clinic where she was able to work with a wide variety of patients from children to geriatric patients. Additionally, Emily was able to gain more experience working with dancers at local studios as well as dancers from a professional ballet company. Emily is excited to continue to provide individualized care to the patients here at NOVA and is also looking to expand upon her current skill set and become a certified Pilates Instructor.
Outside of the clinic, Emily enjoys spending time with her boyfriend and friends, hiking, taking adult dance classes at a local studio, and trying out local breweries.
FAQs
Do you accept insurance?
Yes, we are in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) and Medicare Part B. This includes Blue Advantage. We will directly bill your insurance after each visit. You will be responsible for copay and remaining deductible at the time of service.
If you do not have BCBS or Medicare Part B, it is possible that your policy may have out-of-network benefits that could cover all, or a portion of your bill. Often times there is a slightly higher deductible or copay that you would be responsible for, and in some cases there may not be any out-of network coverage. We have, however, seen several policies cover up to 100%, so it is always worth checking. As with in-network plans, we can contact your insurance ahead of your first session to confirm your out-of-network benefits prior to starting PT. You will be responsible for copay and remaining deductible at the time of service.
Do I need a referral?
Alabama law states you may attend one PT visit for an initial evaluation. However, you will require a referral for further visits/treatment. A referral can come from your doctor, nurse practitioner, physician’s assistant, dentist or chiropractor.
NOTE: You will not require a referral if your visits are strictly for wellness purposes.
What is your illness policy?
Masking is optional, however, staff will wear masks when working with patients who prefer this option. If you are sick with fever or signs and symptoms of Covid or other illness where you could be contagious, please let us know as soon as possible, and we will reschedule you.
What are your private pay/Out-of-Network/Wellness Fees?
Physical Therapy Initial Evaluation (60 min): $160 //
Physical Therapy Follow-up Visit (45-60 min): $130 //
Dry Needling visit (20-25 min): $50 //
Wellness Initial Evaluation and Treatment (60 min): $140 //
Wellness Follow up Sessions (60 min): $130 • (30 min): $75 //
Normatec Recovery Sessions (25min): $30 //
**If you have concerns about paying for your visits, please let us know. We will try to work with you, so you can get the treatment you need.
What is your cancellation policy?
*Late (outside of a 24-hour window) cancellation/reschedule fee is $50 per visit for any reason. This will increase by $25 for subsequent occurrences within a 30-day timeframe.
*If the patient is more than 15 minutes late for their scheduled appointment, we have the right to charge the patient the late cancellation charge of $50.
*No-show fee is $75 each visit. This will increase by $25 for subsequent occurrences within a 30-day timeframe. Exceptions include emergencies (hospitalization, motor vehicle accident, immediate family member death)
*After three (3) no-shows or late cancellations in a row, we have the right to remove any future scheduled appointments.
We have this policy in place to provide the best 1:1 care to our patients. We want to ensure we have availability for patients who need our services. Late cancellations and no-shows limit our ability to fill that appointment spot with another patient.
What should I expect for my first visit?
Prior to your first visit, we will request your insurance information and verify your benefits to ensure you know what to expect in terms of your costs. We will also send a link to fill out your in-take, online paperwork prior to your visit; this helps reduce your time in the office at the first session. We request you arrive 15-20 minutes prior to your session if you haven’t completed the online paperwork to ensure you get the full time allotted to your session. During the initial visit we will start by reviewing your history, concerns and goals. Then we conduct an objective exam where we assess your posture, strength, range of motion, joint mobility, overall movement patterns, soft tissue mobility, etc. Time permitting, we will start on some treatments and send you home with at least a few things to work on before your next session.
Come Say Hi!
2821 2nd Avenue South, Suite E
Birmingham, AL, 35222
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If you are parking in the showrooms/studios parking lot on 2nd Avenue, you will enter the double doors under the “STUDIOS” sign, between Yellowhammer Print Shop and Stonehollow Farmstand. Go down the hall, and our suite is to the left of the restrooms, in Suite E.
You can also park in the 28th street parking lot by Ovenbird and The Son of a Butcher, then walk down the path towards the 2nd Avenue lot and enter as described above.
**NOTE: The 2nd Ave parking lot and Ovenbird lots will be easiest if you have difficulty navigating steps, as there is a ramp to get into the building**
If parking in the lot on the corner of 29th Street and 3rd Avenue (the parking lot with Jeni’s Ice Cream), go across 29th street and enter in the door between Ignite Cycle and The Lumbar. We are at the end of the hall on the left, before you run into Connect.
Contact
How can we help you? Fill out the form below and tell us how we can best service you. If you are booking an appointment, please call (205) 202-6078