How To Get The Most Out Of Your Chiropractic Care

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!