Chiropractic care from the right healthcare provider can significantly boost your physical health. Whether you’re dealing with an injury or medical condition, most patients experience immediate results. You’ll want to incorporate strategies and habits outside the office to get the most out of your chiropractic care. We’ll explore ways to enhance your chiropractic care.

How Do You Set Goals Before Starting? 

Even before starting your chiropractic treatments, set goals you want to achieve, which you can discuss with your chiropractor upon your first visit. Of course, you’ll want your goals to be realistic, as chances are you probably won’t get rid of all of your aches and pains during the first session. When patients receive chiropractic care, they often treat aches and pains that have developed over several years.

How Can Your Attitude Affect Treatment? 

Having the right mindset or attitude enhances any treatment, no matter how physical. This doesn’t mean you need to be jumping for joy every time you visit your chiropractor, but do try to have a positive attitude in and outside the clinic. By doing so, you’ll be more motivated to work harder and get better.

Are There Any Habits I’ll Need To Change Or Practice? 

Chiropractic care doesn’t stop when you leave the clinic. The truth is, what you do at home dramatically impacts the way your body recovers. So to get the most out of your chiropractic care, practice the following good habits: 

• Getting enough sleep: Your body undergoes the most healing when it’s at rest, and while a couple of good night’s sleep probably won’t completely heal a bad back, it certainly can help. So alongside ensuring you’re receiving eight hours of sleep a night, make sure your bedroom is a good sleeping environment, that your mattress and pillows are comfortable, and that you practice a good posture in bed.

• You are what you eat and drink: While most people love to indulge in sugary drinks, it’s best to practice a healthy diet. This means getting enough nutrients your body needs. While your primary care provider or chiropractor can offer some suggestions, many experts recommend a diet rich in leafy greens and lean meat. Also, stay hydrated and replace coffee with tea. If living without coffee isn’t possible, try limiting your intake and forgoing the sugar and cream.

• Avoid unhealthy habits: You should always avoid unhealthy habits like smoking, binge drinking, and staying up late.

• Practice good posture: While we tend to picture athletes, construction workers, or elderly patients with specific medical conditions as only needing chiropractic care, office workers are just as susceptible. Unfortunately, many people practice bad posture without even realizing it, and working in an office eight hours a day can sometimes be a big contributor. It’s too easy to slouch in a computer chair. Instead, you’ll want to practice good posture and take time out of your day to stretch or even do light exercises.

Here are a few ways to enhance your chiropractic care. If you need a chiropractor in Baltimore County, MD, Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic can help!

Physical therapy will put you on the right path following an accident, illness, surgery, or injury. From minor mobility losses to major, life-changing events, you want to ensure you’re receiving care from the right physical therapist. Before choosing a physical therapist, there are a few questions you should ask yourself and your potential therapist.

How Can Referrals Help? 

While you can fire up Google and search for a physical therapist near you, referrals from trusted sources are often the better choice. The best referrals are typically from your primary care providers, such as your doctor or hospital. However, you can also ask for referrals from family, friends, coworkers, or acquaintances.

Is the Location Convenient? 

The best physical therapist probably won’t mean much if it takes you several hours to reach their office. Instead, if you’re receiving physical therapy often, you’ll want to choose a location close to your workplace or home. Doing so makes it easier for you to track and attend all your appointments.

Does the Office or Therapist Have the Right Resources? 

Depending upon your injury or illness, you might require specific equipment. Additionally, you might be interested in treatments like aquatic therapy. Make sure you call the office beforehand and see if they have the necessary resources.

Does the Physical Therapist Have the Right Experience? 

Any potential physical therapist will need to be licensed and insured. However, there are other factors at play as well. Not only do you want to make sure they have plenty of experience under their belt, but that they also have the right kind of experience. For example, while a particular physical therapist might be good at their job, they might not have much experience working with your specific condition.

What Are Some Questions You Should Ask? 

When vetting a potential physical therapist, don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as you need. Some questions you can ask include:

• How long have you been practicing?
• Where did you get your degree from?
• What physical therapy methods do you use?
• How long does a typical session take?
• Do you have experience treating my specific condition?
• Do you have any referrals from satisfied clients?
• When will I start seeing results?
• Should I expect any discomfort or pain from our sessions?
• Do you accept my insurance?

How Do You Both Get Along? 

Another factor to consider is how well you get along with your physical therapist. The right physical therapist should make you feel at ease and should be easy to communicate with. If you don’t feel comfortable with your physical therapist for any reason, then it’s okay to switch therapists. This doesn’t mean that your physical therapist did anything wrong — different people have different personalities and methods of communication, and it is entirely okay to switch providers if you don’t feel fully comfortable.

These are some factors to consider when choosing a physical therapist. Whether you predict that you’ll only need a couple of sessions or will need physical therapy indefinitely, choosing the right physical therapist takes some consideration. For physical therapy in Bowie, MD, reach out to Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic today!

Many patients find relief from receiving chiropractic care. Whether you have some back, neck, or shoulder pain that’s not going away, suffered a recent sports or work injury, have a specific medical condition that might benefit from seeing a chiropractor, etc., many benefits exist. However, you might have questions, especially if you haven’t seen a chiropractor before. This guide will explore some frequently asked questions patients have, including what chiropractic care can be used for and how to choose the right chiropractor.

Who Can Benefit From Chiropractic Care? 

Patients of all ages can benefit from chiropractic care or adjustments. While patients between the ages of 45 and 65 visit a chiropractor the most, these services are offered across the board, even to children. It’s crucial to receive a screening beforehand to ensure that you or your loved one is an ideal candidate for chiropractic adjustments.

Patients suffering from a specific medical condition, athletes, and an injury or trauma benefit from chiropractic care. While we think mostly of athletes, older patients, and workers in labor-intensive industries like manufacturing or construction needing chiropractic care, even office workers may need help sometimes. Back, neck, or shoulder injuries or pain don’t have to result from a heavy fall and can simply result from improper posture.

What Are Some of the Benefits of Chiropractic Care?

Many immediate and long-term benefits are associated with chiropractic care with some including the following:

• Reduces neck, back, and shoulder pain
• It can be used as an alternative to medication and sometimes even surgery
• Eases chronic migraines and headaches
• Possibly reduces osteoarthritis pain symptoms
• Reduces scoliosis symptoms
• Helps a patient improve their overall posture
• Athletes may improve their overall performance when they incorporate regular chiropractic care sessions.

What Are Some Ways to Enhance Your Chiropractic Care? 

For best results, patients can enhance their chiropractic care outside the office. Some examples include:

• Having a healthy diet filled with leafy greens and lean protein while minimizing sweets
• Abstaining from bad habits like smoking or binge drinking
• Making sure you’re receiving enough sleep every night
• Doing your take-home exercises
• Taking the chance to stretch throughout the day
• Practicing good posture
• Staying hydrated

How Many Sessions Do You Need Before Improvement?

There is no set amount of sessions a patient needs before they improve. Some patients find enough relief after a couple of sessions, while others — such as those with a specific medical condition — may need an indefinite number of sessions.

How Should You Choose the Right Chiropractor? 

There are some considerations to have in mind before choosing your chiropractor. Making sure your chiropractor has plenty of experience is ideal. However, you’ll also want to make sure your chiropractor has the right experience, i.e. they have experience working with patients with a similar injury or medical condition.

For actually finding a chiropractor, referrals are generally more beneficial than trying to read reviews online. When possible, obtain a referral from a trusted professional source like your primary care provider. Friends, family, and coworkers can be referrals, too, however. For a chiropractor in Bowie, MD, the Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic team can help when you call today!

Following a significant injury, it’s recommended to seek help from a physical therapist. Daily or weekly sessions can make a huge difference and even helps patients recover from injuries that leave them immobilized. However, there are some considerations to have in mind before choosing a physical therapist. Like how not every damage is equal, not every physical therapist will be the right choice for you and your needs. To make the process easier, we’ll review some of the basics of physical therapy and some considerations before choosing your physical therapist.

Who Can Benefit From Physical Therapy? 

Physical therapy can help various patients in all healing stages, from diagnosis to restorative to preventative measures. Some common conditions physical therapy can help treat include:

• Sports injuries, including tennis elbow and concussions
• Neurological conditions like strokes, Parkinson’s disease, traumatic brain injuries, vestibular dysfunction, and spinal cord injuries
• Wounds, skin burns, and diabetic ulcers
• Muscular dystrophy and cerebral palsy
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Rotator cuff tears, back pain, and temporomandibular joint disorders

What Are Some of the Benefits of Physical Therapy? 

Physical therapy has plenty of benefits that can help heal current injuries and prevent future injuries. Some benefits include:

• Fall prevention
• Stroke or paralysis recovery
• Improving overall balance
• Sometimes allows patients to avoid surgery
• Improving overall movement and mobility
• Pain management
• Management of age-related issues
• Helps patients recover from trauma or injuries

How Can Physical Therapy Help Athletes? 

Physical therapy isn’t just for helping patients with an injury, medical condition, trauma, etc. Physical therapy can also help prevent patients from suffering future injuries and help them use their bodies in new ways. In the case of athletes, many sports players incorporate regular physical therapy sessions into their workout routines. A physical therapist can help athletes strengthen their muscles and use their bodies in new ways.

What Are Some Ways You Can Find a Physical Therapist? 

Today we live in a digital age where you can quickly load up Google and search “physical therapists near me.” However, while this approach is convenient, referrals should still be your first resource. When possible, go with referrals from a trusted professional source such as your primary care provider or any physicians you may know. Other referral sources might be your coworkers, family members, or friends.

It’s essential to keep in mind that a referral may not always be the best choice. To narrow down your options, other factors you should consider: 

• The physical therapist’s experience: Along with wanting a physical therapist with plenty of experience, you also want a physical therapist with the right expertise.

• Is the location convenient: A physical therapist across the other side of town or a couple of hours away isn’t suitable. While the office doesn’t have to be next door, aim for a location close to your work or home.

• Consider overall compatibility: People have different personalities and chemistries, and working with someone you feel comfortable with is essential. Also, make sure they’re covered by your insurance.

These are some things you need to know about physical therapy. So, for physical therapy in Baltimore, MD, give Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic a call today!

Chiropractic care carries a vast host of benefits. So whether you’re dealing with a recent sports injury, a chronic health condition, are noticing stiffness or pain that’s not going away, or want to incorporate chiropractic therapy into your everyday routine, you’ll want to make sure you’re receiving care from the right chiropractor. That’s why we’ll answer some questions regarding choosing the right chiropractor for your spine and back health.

How Do You Get Referrals? 

Choosing the right chiropractor often begins with using referrals from trusted sources. When possible, obtain referrals from your primary care doctor or any specialist you work with. Other referrals sources might include:

• Family
• Friends
• Colleagues (such as co-workers)

How Do You Research A Potential Chiropractor’s Credentials? 

Ensuring your chiropractor is licensed to practice chiropractic care in your area is always your first step. But, of course, just because a chiropractor is licensed doesn’t automatically mean they’re a good fit as a chiropractor. However, being licensed will indicate they have the skills and experience to perform the tasks. You’ll also want to ensure they don’t have a history of medical malpractice.

How Do You Take Your Chiropractor’s Experience Into Account? 

Chiropractic care isn’t a “one size fits all” type of care. Instead, patients receive chiropractic care for a wide list of reasons. For example, while a potential chiropractor might have years of experience helping patients with sports injuries, they might not have much experience assisting patients with specific medical conditions. Therefore, hire a chiropractor with specific experience dealing with injuries or medical conditions similar to yours when possible.

Do They Have Telehealth Options? 

We live in a digital age, and more healthcare providers are incorporating telehealth options into their medical treatments. While sometimes it’s essential to see your care provider in person, virtual calls can do the trick, meaning fewer visits to the office. For example, for chiropractic care, a telehealth visit means your care provider can help you manage minor symptoms or for asking questions or complaints.

How Should You Evaluate Patient Reviews? 

While patient reviews aren’t a substitute for referrals from trusted sources, they can help you gain insight into whether or not a chiropractor is right for you. Don’t assume a couple of one-star reviews mean subpar service. Likewise, a few five-star reviews don’t mean the best service. Instead, prioritize detailed written reviews that comprehensively cover a chiropractor’s service. Many reviews focus on factors like wait times, the office’s environment, scheduling appointments, etc. For example, a person who had to wait ten extra minutes might give an unfavorable review that doesn’t even mention how service from their chiropractor was.

How Well Do You Work With Your Chiropractor? 

Being comfortable around your chiropractor is very important. You should feel relaxed every time you visit and have no problem communicating. The right chiropractor should show interest in getting to know you right from the start and will respect your treatment preferences and any decisions you make.

These are some questions to consider when choosing the right chiropractor. When you need a chiropractor in Baltimore County, MD, we at Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic are eager to assist!

Chiropractor

Chiropractors are healthcare professionals who diagnose and treat neuromuscular disorders. They can treat everything from back pain to headaches and offer non-invasive treatments. Here are a few signs that you may need to see a chiropractor.

You Have Chronic Back Pain

It is one thing to experience a sore back every once in a while. However, if you deal with chronic back pain on a daily basis, it is a cause for concern. Instead of relying on pain medication, which only masks symptoms, you should consider going to a chiropractor. He or she may perform spinal adjustments and mobilization to treat your back pain. When you reduce your back pain, you can move around much easier and improve your quality of life.

You Work a Desk Job

If you have to sit in front of a computer all day for work, you may develop poor posture. Having poor posture can put extra stress on your shoulders, neck and back, which can lead to discomfort. This is why it may be a good idea to see a chiropractor soon. A chiropractor can show you how to improve your posture and may suggest a standing desk or ergonomic chair.

You Get Headaches Often

Many people get a headache now and again. However, if you experience multiple headaches a week, it can disrupt your life. In this situation, you may benefit from seeing a chiropractor. Your headaches may be a result of a misalignment in the spine. A chiropractor can help you find the appropriate solution.

You Have Limited Range of Motion

If you have difficulty turning your neck far enough or have lost flexibility in your arms or legs, you may have limited range of motion. A chiropractor may be able to help increase your range of motion through various therapies, such as manipulation and massage.

You Were Just in an Accident

If you were recently injured in an accident, like a car or motorcycle crash, it may be a good idea for you to see a chiropractor. Many chiropractors actually have a lot of experience treating accident injuries, like whiplash and back pain, and can help you make a full recovery without resorting to invasive methods.

If you are dealing with any of these issues, schedule an appointment with a chiropractor, like one from Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic, today.

Physical Therapist

If you’re recovering from an injury or dealing with chronic pain, your family physician may have referred you to a physical therapist. These healthcare professionals perform non-invasive treatments to reduce your pain, increase your function and restore mobility. Here are some tips to get the most out of your physical therapy sessions.

Go to All of Your Physical Therapy Sessions

This might sound like a no-brainer, but some people stop attending their physical therapy sessions if they don’t see results quickly enough. It is important to understand that it often takes time to notice results. If you don’t notice a difference after a couple of sessions, don’t give up. Continue to attend all of your physical therapy appointments and you may see results in no time.

Do Your Assigned Exercises

If you want to achieve maximum results, it is not enough to just go to your physical therapy appointments. Your physical therapist will also assign you various strengthening exercises to perform at home. Although doing these exercises might be tedious at times, they are critical for your recovery. If you perform these exercises regularly at home, you may see results faster.

Be Honest with Your Physical Therapist

When it comes to communicating with your physical therapist, honesty is the best policy. Your physical therapist can’t help you if he or she does not know the truth. For example, if you have been experiencing pain when performing exercises at home, you should let your physical therapist know right away. He or she may be able to come up with an appropriate solution.

Set Goals

It is a good idea to set goals in many aspects of your life, including your physical therapy  sessions. For example, you might want to recover from your injury and get back to playing your sport or just go on a walk without feeling pain. If you have specific goals in mind, you will be more motivated to stick to your physical therapy sessions.

Ask Questions

There is no such thing as asking your physical therapist too many questions. In fact, your physical therapist will likely encourage you to ask questions. For instance, if you’re not sure why you’re performing a specific exercise, bring up your concern to your therapist.

Schedule an appointment with a physical therapist, like one from Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic, today.

Physical Therapist

If you are undergoing surgery soon, whether it is a knee replacement or back surgery, you may want to consider going to physical therapy sessions afterward. Going under the knife is a big deal and the recovery process can be long. Although surgery can improve your condition, it can also leave you weak and less mobile.

Here are a few reasons why you should attend physical therapy after surgery.

Alleviate Pain

It is not uncommon for people to experience pain right after they have surgery. The muscles around the surgical site tense up, which can cause you discomfort. This is one of the biggest reasons why you should go to physical therapy. During your sessions, a therapist will use various non-invasive methods, such as joint mobilization, heat and ice and exercise, to remove pressure from your muscles and joints, which will ultimately relieve your pain.

Improve Mobility

Surgery can be very hard on the body and may make you less mobile immediately afterward. You may have trouble walking around and need assistance with basic tasks. If you wish to improve your mobility, consider going to physical therapy. Your therapist can show you various exercises to help strengthen the affected area and improve your range of motion.

Prevent Scar Tissue

After surgery, the body will naturally produce scar tissue to close the wound. However, if you have too much scar tissue, it can restrict your movements and cause discomfort. That is another reason to consider physical therapy after undergoing a surgical procedure. A physical therapist may perform a massage and ultrasound therapy to soften scar tissue and speed up the healing process.

Boost Circulation

Blood transports nutrients and oxygen to the affected area, which reduces inflammation and speeds up the healing process. Physical therapy can actually improve blood circulation throughout your body, helping you recover quicker. For instance, your physical therapist may perform electrical stimulation to increase muscle contractions and blood flow.

Prevent Secondary Issues

All surgeries come with risks, such as blood clots and infection. One way to reduce your likelihood of these complications is to attend physical therapy. Your physical therapist can have you perform certain exercises to prevent secondary issues.

If you wish to attend physical therapy, you may want to schedule an appointment with a physical therapist, like Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic, to discuss your goals. 

Your First Physical Therapy Appointment

If you suffer from an acute or chronic medical condition that could benefit from Bowie, MD physical therapy sessions, connect with Mid-Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic today to learn about our physical therapy services. We may be able to help you to improve your quality of life, speed your recovery, manage your pain, and otherwise promote your well-being in ways that are sustainable.

Physical therapy is a broad medical discipline. Patients seek out physical therapy services for all kinds of reasons. Commonly, individuals who have suffered an injury as a result of trauma, who are trying to rebound from a challenging surgical procedure, who are attempting to manage a chronic health condition more effectively, and those who are trying to deal with pain in ways that allow them to either avoid or minimize their usage of the medication seek out the services of physical therapists at Mid-Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic.

Assessing Your Needs

While you are mentally preparing to attend your first physical therapy appointment, take a few moments to think about what it is like to meet with a doctor for the first time. Just as you do not expect that a doctor will know how to treat your symptoms until you tell them what those symptoms are, when they began, what makes them worse, if anything makes them better, and what you hope to achieve by seeking medical assistance at this time, so do our providers need to benefit from explanations of this kind.

Without access to detailed information about your situation, your goals for physical therapy, and whether you hope to achieve those goals on any specific timeline, we cannot effectively create a physical therapy treatment plan that will meet your needs. Similarly, we will need to evaluate you physically to some degree. For example, if you are seeking physical therapy services primarily because you suffer from hip pain, we will need to see your range of motion, how your hip functions in various ways, and whether your gait has anything to do with your pain.

Once we have thoroughly assessed your circumstances, the Mid-Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic team will provide you with our recommendations for your treatment. You will be encouraged to ask any questions that you might have and to voice any concerns that you might have. Physical therapy is not a set of directions to follow. It is a partnership between patient and provider.

Setting Expectations: Physical Therapy

If you could benefit from seeking Baltimore, MD physical therapy services, connect with the dedicated team at Mid-Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic today to schedule an initial consultation. The consultation process will allow you to tell us your story and to explain what you hope to achieve by attending physical therapy services. It will also allow you to understand how we may be able to help you and what you may be able to expect from the process of physical therapy over time.

Expectations: What the Physical Therapy Process Entails

One of the reasons why it is so important she set expectations at the beginning of the physical therapy process is so that you do not get discouraged when you hit bumps along the road ahead. Many people approach the process of physical therapy with the expectation that they will attend their sessions, do their homework exercises, and all their goals will be achieved according to the timeline they have developed in their minds as ideal. In reality, physical therapy is like any other kind of therapy. Sometimes, patients improve at a rate that is unexpected. Sometimes, challenges arise and improvement occurs more slowly than expected. Understanding that physical therapy is a process and is not something that can be approached with absolute certainty as to outcome can help to keep your mind open and flexible as you seek to achieve the most favorable outcomes possible under the circumstances.

What the physical therapy process will entail for you will depend upon the kinds of physical challenges that you are facing, your unique goals for this process, and the kinds of physical therapy that you are willing to try. For example, we may recommend that you use a piece of equipment known as a Pilates reformer to strengthen certain areas of the body. If you do not like the reformer and need us to take a different approach, we will do our best to accommodate that preference. Know that whatever approach we take, you can expect that you will need to work on certain aspects of your recovery at home because you can only achieve a certain level of results if you only work when you are at Mid-Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic.

Expectations: Goals and Timeline

It is important to set goals within a short-term range, medium-term range, and long-term range prior to commencing your physical therapy treatment plan. Keeping these different goals in mind will help to ensure that you can remain focused and resilient during your physical therapy journey. We will revisit these goals and adjust them if necessary or appropriate. Because physical therapy is a process comma there is a certain amount of fluidity and flexibility required on behalf of both a provider and patient in order to achieve the most favorable result possible under the circumstances. To learn more about our approach to physical therapy treatment specifically and patient care generally, connect with Mid-Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic today. We look forward to speaking with you.