Physical therapy is a way of treating pain and movement disorders primarily using exercise and treatment modalities rather than drugs. It can be effective at treating a wide range of complaints and is often a major factor in rehabilitation from an injury or surgery. Because your physical therapy plan is tailored to you, your therapist has to have a good understanding of your condition and what is causing it. The first appointment is very important to helping your therapist understand your condition. Therefore, the examination will be more detailed than at subsequent visits, where you and the therapist will concentrate more on putting the plan into action.

Subjective History

Your physical therapist will start out your first appointment by asking you to describe your condition subjectively. He or she will ask you to describe what symptoms you are having and whether anything makes them better or worse. You will be asked when the pain began and what you think could have caused it. If you don’t know what is causing your pain, it’s okay to say so. Your therapist is just trying to collect all relevant information. Any information you can provide may be helpful, so just answer as completely and honestly as you can. If you have imaging studies to give to your therapist, this is the time to give them to him or her.

Objective Examination

Your physical therapist will then perform an objective examination. This involves palpation of tender areas with his or her hands to gauge pain level, measuring range of motion, and performing tests. Based on the results of this objective examination and the subjective history, the therapist can get an idea of what is causing the pain.

Assessment

Your therapist’s assessment is like a diagnosis. Based on the information gathered from the history and objective examination, as well as any imaging studies and doctor’s records, if applicable, your therapist identifies your condition and its likely cause.

Plan and Goals

During your first therapy appointment, you and your therapist will work together to identify goals that you want to achieve over the course of treatment. These should be specific and measurable so your therapist can track your progress and determine when your goals have been met. Your therapist will also give you a plan for your treatment course. This will identify what you will do during sessions as well as what you will have to do outside of therapy appointments.

Subsequent physical therapy appointments in Baltimore, MD, like ones you can make at Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic focus more on the treatments you receive than the diagnostics. Contact our office to schedule your initial appointment.

Stem cell therapy is a regenerative medical procedure that harnesses the power of the body’s natural healing capacity. As a knee pain doctor like our friends at Premier Osteoarthritis Centers of Pennsylvania can explain, stem cell therapy uses the body’s own unique and versatile stem cells to encourage whole-body healing. If you’re wondering how this cutting-edge treatment can help you, read on.

What are Stem Cells?

A stem cell is a unique kind of cell that can adapt into specialized cells. Each part of the body has its own individualized cell type and structure. For instance, liver cells are only useful in the liver; brain cells are only needed in the brain, and so forth. However, stem cells have a significant difference. They can adapt and differentiate into different types of cells. 

So, once injected into a certain are, a stem cell can become a liver cell, a brain cell, a knee cartilage cell, etc. No matter where they are injected into the body, they will adapt and divide, supplying a source of healthy cells to that specific area of the body. Injecting stem cells into a particular part of the body can help to rebuild and regenerate damaged tissue. Stem cells continuously divide, so a single injection can bring ongoing benefits.

Where Do Stem Cells Come From?

Pluripotent stem cells are “master” cells. They have the potential to produce any cell or tissue the body needs to repair and regenerate. They are typically extracted from embryos and fetal tissues. However, due to ethical concerns, most stem cell doctors use adult stem cells, which are usually found in the bone marrow and adipose (fat) tissue.

Adult stem cells are extracted from primarily two areas. They can be taken from the bone marrow in the hip area. They can also be obtained from the abdomen. Bone marrow extraction of stem cells usually yields fewer cells than those gathered through abdominal liposuction. 

What Conditions Do Stem Cells Have the Potential to Treat?

Due to its versatility, stem cell therapy can be useful for treating a broad range of health issues, including:

• Joint damage
• Damaged cartilage
• Bone damage
• Spinal cord injury
• Autoimmune disorders
• Torn ligaments and muscles
• Baldness
• Arthritis
• And more

How Does Stem Cell Therapy Help Arthritic Patients?

Arthritis is a disease that many people suffer from. Some people only suffer mild pain and discomfort, while others may have issues with mobility and sustaining their active lifestyles. Many who experience more severe forms of arthritis may have to alter their work schedules or refrain from their home and leisure activities.

Numerous forms of conventional treatment options are available for arthritic patients. Anti-inflammatory medications, corticosteroid shots, physical therapy, and painkillers—all of these may still lead a patient to joint replacement. However, stem cell therapy is a viable option for many of these patients. It can actually serve to help them avoid major surgical procedures.

If you are suffering from arthritis or another issue that could respond favorably to stem cells, you owe it to yourself and your aging body to use stem cell therapy to regenerate tissue, rather than replace it with an artificial implant. To find out more, contact a knee pain doctor in your local area for a consultation.

There are many occasions when it’s smart to consult physical therapy in Bowie, MD. An expert physical therapist can help diagnose any issues you may have and prescribe treatment that will get you back on the right track, improving your overall health. However, you may find yourself wondering how the entire process works. Luckily, our staff at Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic can answer any lingering questions you may have!  

Who Is Physical Therapy For? 

You might believe that physical therapy is only something prescribed/recommended by your doctor following a serious injury or medical condition. This is a common myth and while in those scenarios, physical therapy is often recommended, there are other reasons to visit a physical therapist. These reasons may include preventing any future injuries, reducing general or chronic pain, and improving overall health and wellness. For example, it’s not uncommon for athletes and older patients to incorporate physical therapy sessions as part of their routine. 

If you believe that you could benefit from physical therapy, your physician will work with you to construct a specialized plan based upon your goals and needs. This plan will be adjusted as needed between sessions. 

How Will a Physical Therapist Help? 

When you enlist the services of physical therapy in Bowie, MD, there are a variety of ways that your physical therapist can help. The treatment they administer may depend upon your specific needs, but generally, a therapist will have a series of physical exercises and techniques that help their patients alleviate/prevent injuries. They may even use specialized equipment such as exercise bands and weights. As you become more comfortable with the exercise routines, (and after monitoring any changes or progresses in your overall health) your doctor may then incorporate more varied exercises. 

Of course, while physical therapists are required to obtain certifications for their training and thus are great at detecting whether or not an exercise routine is working, don’t be afraid to communicate with your physician. If a certain exercise is too taxing on your body or you simply believe it’s not working, you can let your therapist know. 

What Are the Benefits of Physical Therapy? 

There are many benefits that physical therapy can offer. In addition to helping rebuild your muscles and body following a serious injury, physical therapy can also help prevent future injuries. This can especially be crucial as some injuries may lead to irreversible damages that may need intense medical treatments such as invasive surgery or the prolonged use of medication. Physical therapy will also give you the tools to learn practical exercises that you can continue to utilize at home. Paired with other treatments such as a healthy diet, plenty of sleep, and alleviating stress, physical therapy can help foster a long, fulfilling life. 

Contact Us Today

Physical therapy offers a wide range of benefits. If you or a loved are in need of physical therapy in Bowie, MD then you should contact Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic today!

There are many situations where enlisting the help of physical therapy in Baltimore, MD can be beneficial to your overall health and well-being. While there is a myth that physical therapy is only for patients dealing with severe medical conditions or who have suffered serious injuries, the truth is physical therapy offers a wide range of benefits for a variety of patients. Whether you’ve been recommended by your doctor to receive physical therapy, are dealing with some chronic pain or an injury that just won’t heal on its own, or simply want to incorporate sessions into an overall healthy lifestyle, you should visit us at Mid-Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic. 

What Benefits Does Physical Therapy Offer? 

Physical therapy offers plenty of benefits. The immediate benefits include helping to mitigate the pain caused by an injury or medical condition as well as rebuilding muscles and leading to greater mobility. Additionally, physical therapy is also used to treat patients that have experienced a recent stroke or other episodes of cognitive impairments. 

No matter the reason why you’re receiving physical therapy in Baltimore, MD, such services will also help by preventing any future injuries or the development of certain medical conditions. Sometimes even a minor injury can increase over time which may lead to needing invasive treatments such as intensive surgeries or the prolonged use of medicine. By catching a problem early on, physical therapy allows patients to mitigate an issue before it becomes too serious. 

What Treatment Will My Therapist Prescribe? 

When meeting with a physical therapist, they will structure a personalized plan tailored to your own specific needs and goals. Typically, however, most sessions will consist of doing a series of exercises that may incorporate specialized equipment such as exercise bands and dumbbells. Your therapist will then monitor your progress across sessions and may begin to incorporate different exercises targeting different parts of your body as well as increasing the overall difficulty. Of course, you will want to communicate with your physical therapist every step of the way. If a certain routine is too difficult or you believe it simply isn’t working, you can let your therapist know and they will adjust the routine. 

Additionally, your physical therapist may also recommend take-home exercises that you can do between sessions. Other treatments may include recommending changes in your diet and lifestyle, including ways to alleviate stress. 

How Long Will Treatment Last? 

Every patient is different and for patients with only minor injuries or discomfort, their treatment may only last a few sessions. For patients with severe injuries or medical conditions, their treatment may last up to a year or more. Ultimately, your physician will work with you to find the best treatment plan. 

Contact Us Today

Physical therapy offers a wide range of benefits and whether you’ve suffered a recent injury or medical condition or just want to live a healthier lifestyle then you should contact our office. At Mid-Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic we offer great physical therapy in Baltimore, MD. 

If you are dealing with chronic pain, physical therapy in Baltimore, MD may be helpful. The non-invasive treatment can treat many injuries and ailments and aims to restore range of motion and flexibility. Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about physical therapy.

What’s Involved in a Typical Physical Therapy Session?

A physical therapy session typically takes between 30 and 60 minutes. During your initial session, your therapist will ask you multiple questions about your condition and give you a proper examination. He or she will have you move around and evaluate your balance, strength, flexibility, mobility and range of motion. 

After the initial evaluation, your therapist will create a customized treatment plan and may use several types of therapies, such as joint mobilization, manual manipulation, heat, ice and ultrasound. He or she will also have you perform several exercises to reduce your pain and improve flexibility and mobility.

What Should I Wear to My Physical Therapy Appointments?

It is important to wear comfortable and loose clothes for your physical therapy sessions. You will have to move around frequently during each appointment, so wear athletic gear, like shorts, a t-shirt and gym shoes. Your clothes should also give your therapist easy access to the injured body part. For example, if you have a shoulder injury, you may want to wear a sleeveless shirt.

Why Do I Have to Do Exercises at Home?

In order to make a successful recovery, you have to take an active role in your healing process. Besides attending physical therapy in Baltimore, MD regularly, you will have to perform the home exercises your therapist assigns you. While performing these exercises may be tedious at times, it’s important to keep up with them.

How Long Will I Have to Attend Physical Therapy?

Everyone is different. How long you attend physical therapy may depend on several different factors, such as your age, the severity of your injury, your diet and immune system. After giving you a proper evaluation, your therapist may be able to estimate how many sessions you will require.

Is Physical Therapy Covered By Insurance?

Many health insurance companies nowadays recognize the benefits of physical therapy and cover it in their plans. However, just to be sure, call your insurance company beforehand. Schedule an appointment for physical therapy in Baltimore, MD With Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab today.

Chiropractic Billing Service

Billing insurance companies is an important aspect of running a chiropractic service. However, trying to carry out the billing in-house can be too time-consuming and costly for your chiropractic company in the long run. It may be worth it to hire an outside chiropractic billing company.

Here are a few ways an outside chiropractic billing service can help you save you money.

Avoid the Overhead of In-House Staff

Some chiropractic offices choose to hire an in-house team to handle their medical billing. However, this can be quite expensive for medical practices, especially if there is a high turnover rate. You will have to keep spending money on training new staff members. On the other hand, if you outsource your chiropractic billing, you can eliminate overhead costs of in-house staff.

Process Claims Quicker

The faster you process your insurance claims, the faster your chiropractic practice will get paid. A reputable chiropractic billing service can process your claims in a timely manner and maximize your reimbursements.

Secure Patient Data

As the owner of a chiropractic practice, you want to do everything you can to protect your patients’ private information. If there is a security breach and your patients’ information is at risk, it could damage your practice’s reputation and make you lose money. This is another important reason to hire an outside chiropractic billing company. They make cybersecurity a top priority, so you can be rest assured that your patients’ information will be protected.

Reduce Billing Errors

Billing errors can result in increased claim denials and reduced cash flow. If you hire a reputable chiropractic billing service, you can dramatically reduce billing errors. These companies only hire experienced and trained medical billing experts who are very familiar with coding. 

Allow You to Spend More Time with Patients

If you handle your medical billing in-house, it could take valuable time away from your patient. Verifying insurance, processing claims and handling denials can definitely take up a lot of your time. If your patients are not getting the care that they deserve, they might go to another chiropractic office. If you hire a chiropractic billing company, they can process all the insurance claims, letting you devote more time to your patients.

Physical Therapy Baltimore, MD

When you are attending physical therapy in Baltimore MD, you may be going in with no knowledge of physical therapy practices prior. This is okay because the physical therapist available to you at Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab and Chiropractic are here to answer all of your questions.

Physical therapists are trained and licensed in movement, and this means that they can diagnose and treat a range of injuries, disabilities and health conditions someone may be experiencing and that may be negatively impacting their life. Physical therapy is all about improving a person’s range of movement and the quality of life, and because physical therapies focus so much on preventing further injury or further disability, you may actually see a physical therapist after you’ve had a stay in the hospital or have recently acquired a disability.

What to Expect

When attending physical therapy in Baltimore MD for the first time, you are going to be asking yourself what to expect. Physical therapy takes care of patients who are in all phases of healing, meaning you might be going again from the moment you were initially diagnosed to the later stages of recovery where you’re trying to practice restorative medicine and preventative medicine. Physical therapy may also be practiced alone or it may be in support of other treatment; it will depend entirely on your healthcare team and what you are dealing with.

You can seek physical therapy by yourselves or you may have physical therapy referred to by your physician. A physical therapist has the training that allows him to conduct a physical exam and evaluate your movement, flexibility, muscle and joint motion as well as performance. The physical therapist may find out about your health history to further support their treatment of you. Your physical therapist is usually able to give a clinical diagnosis, a prognosis, and a plan of care which will include short and long-term goals.

You can expect yourr physical therapist to perform physical therapy treatment and intervention; they may also provide you with self-management recommendation or exercises that you can do at home, however you should know that you should not practice anything you’ve learned in physical therapy in Baltimore MD at home unless it has been specifically stated that this is an at-home practice.

This is because if you are practicing something that is not an at-home practice you may actually cause yourself more harm than good. Physical therapy may not just require physical manipulation but it may also involve the use of electric current to deliver certain medications such as steroids; it may require electrical stimulation the other transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation or neuromuscular electrical stimulation depending upon what is going on; heat, moist heat and cold therapy as well as light therapy may also commended when treating certain medical conditions.

Reach out and talk to Mid-Atlantic Spinal Rehab and Chiropractic today about all of your physical therapy needs in Baltimore MD.

Physical Therapy Bowie, MD

When you hear about physical therapy, there is going to be a wide range of thoughts you have about physical therapy and some of these thoughts are going to be more accurate than others and more truthful, too. Physical therapy is something you can receive from your healthcare provider, and physical therapy is going to aim to maintain, restore, and improve your life. Physical therapy can help you restore, maintain, or improve your movement abilities, your activity levels, and even ensure that you are enabling your health as far as you can so that you have an optimal functioning and quality of life.

The questions come in because people do not really know what physical therapy is. They may not know what physical therapists do. And when people do not know what someone’s occupation focuses on or does, they may find themselves with questions or incorrect knowledge and information.

Myth: I need a referral to see a physical therapist.

In Maryland, something called the Maryland direct access law says that there are no restrictions or limitations for treatment when there is no referral. This means that you can be seen as a patient and evaluated and treated by a licensed physical therapist without requiring a physician to refer you. However, this is a common misconception, because in many states, a physical therapist may require a referral. However, physical therapy in Bowie MD, such as the physical therapist available to you from Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic,  has no restrictions on who they can see as a patient.

Myth: Physical therapy is painful.

Most physical therapists do not believe that you are only experiencing physical therapy correctly if you are in pain. In fact physical therapy in Bowie MD is often done while also respecting the limits that your body is able to do. Physical therapy is often compared to a good workout, so while you might have some physical discomfort and some soreness after visiting your physical therapist, you should not be in enough pain that it bothers you. Communicating with the therapist is going to help them know how you are responding to the different ways they are providing care. If something is hurting you, tell your physical therapist and let them know so that they can adjust the exercises accordingly.

Myth: I’ll have to stop activity levels if I go to PT.

You might believe that if you are in physical therapy you actually have to stop being active. That is not the goal of physical therapy, in fact physical therapists are often going to keep you active and they will not ask you to stop and thus it is absolutely necessary or the activity level is unsafe you and you are pushing your body beyond what you can handle. Talk openly with your physical therapist in Bowie MD to discuss your physical therapy and ensure that you are doing the best you can and are not actually hurting yourself. 

Myth: Physical therapy will fix me.

Physical therapy is not about fixing you, in fact the very idea that physical therapy may be able to fix something that is very permanently a part of you is terrible. Physical therapy is going to provide you the tools to manage her symptoms on your own, so you do not need to rely on your physical therapist all the time. This is a collaborative team effort, and everyone has a different body with different movement patterns and activity levels to they can manage to do. Physical therapy is about giving you the best life you can have in working with you to achieve your goals.

Reach out to The Mid-Atlantic Spinal Rehab and Chiropractic for all of your physical therapy in Bowie MD needs today.

Often times of trouble and injury are caused by trauma to the coccyx area, which is a triangle bony structure located at the bottom of the vertebral column. There are about 3 to 5 bony segments, and they are held into place by joints and ligaments, and it is very easy to damage your coccyx.

If you have any questions about how you might injure your tailbone, it could be as simple as falling, having a child or even bone spurs. That is not a full and exhaustive list, simply some of the most common ways that people injure their tailbone. Furthermore it is important to note that when you are injuring your tailbone you might have a bruise, dislocation or even fracture.

So what can a chiropractor do for your trouble and injury? If your tailbone is simply moved out of alignment and is causing irritation to the nerves in the tissues, a chiropractor is going to be able to correct this misalignment which can bring you some minor pain relief. They are also going to be able to teach you exercises and stretches that can help both your tailbone pain and a tailbone injury.

Oftentimes when you are given an exercise for tailbone pain or injury, you’re going to be stretching and strengthening the muscles and tendons surrounding the tailbone. Try these yoga poses to relieve some pain:

The yoga pose called cat cow is going to be able to help you relieve tailbone pain because it reduces the tension of the tissues around the bony structure. When you are doing this pose, you must get on your hands and knees with your hands directly underneath your shoulders and your knees directly under your hips. Upon exhaling, arch your back towards the floor and then inhale and arch your back while lifting your head up.

Child’s pose is going to tone the muscles of the pelvis while also stimulating blood flow and giving your back a stretch. You should start by getting on your hands and knees, very similar to cat cow, then you are going to set your bottom back on your heels and lower your chest to the floor. You want to hold this pose, breathing in slowly.

The cobra pose is going to be a stretch that opens up the chest and relieves tissue pain throughout the spine and lower back. This pose begins by laying facing down, placing your elbows on the floor underneath your shoulders with your hands pointed forward. Upon stretching, you lift your chest to the sky and extend your elbows and straighten her arms. Keep your hips in contact with the floor and squeeze your shoulder blades together.

Reach out to a chiropractor such as the ones available at Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab and Chiropractor for any and all questions relating to tailbone pain.

If you are somebody who experiences back pain, but you enjoy swimming, it is your lucky day because there is evidence that swimming and water exercise can help you if you have acute or chronic back pain. Swimming is extremely low impact, there are no weights involved in the water giving you active resistance; not every exercise is equal, and it even applies to the exercising you’re doing in the pool.

You should talk to your chiropractor such as the ones available Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractor, if you have any questions about whether your pool exercise routine is actually helping you. Your chiropractor will be able to fill in if you have less tension in a trouble area after swimming, and if not, they will be able to recommend better exercises for you to do in or out of the pool. Keep reading for a few exercises you can try on your own:

• Flutter kicking is holding onto the side of the pool and gently scissoring your leg so that your feet are kicking, and you do this with your face down or you can face upwards and see the ceiling. This is an extremely low impact and gentle exercise but do not discount the reward.
• Pelvic stretches are when you stand on the bottom of the pool with your back facing the wall, your arms are hanging in the water, you gently arch your tailbone and pelvis until your back rounds out. The entire focus of this particular stretch is to feel like your back is parallel to the wall of the pool, working your abdominal muscles and pushing your hips forward. You hold this for a few seconds and then you release it.
• What’s called a ‘new start’ is when you use the shallow end of the pool and stand with your feet planted on the floor with your arms relaxed. You essentially begin to march in place and as you lift your leg, you pull your knee closer to your chest and maintain your balance as you stand there. When your back is getting stronger you will eventually be able to pull your leg to waist level without bending your knees.
• For pool planking, you will need to use another flotation device. You are going to hold your flotation device out in front of you and lean into the water to keep your back straight. You want to push the noodle or other flotation device to submerge as you lean forward, you then lock your elbows, keep your feet anchored to the floor and then stay for 60 seconds. You should not perform plank more often than you are instructed to by your caretaker.
• Push-ups in the pool are another one of the best ways to strengthen your back and core. This exercise can be modified and fitted to everyone. You begin in the shallow end of the pool, sit on the floor, place your hands on the floor, and then press your body weight through your hands to push yourself off the floor. Hold it for a few seconds and push off the floor and return to a standing position.

It is important to remember that while you are working under the care of a chiropractor or any other type of physical therapist, that you need to do the exercises exactly as prescribed, so that you do not burn yourself out, or hurt yourself worse.