The Myth of Addictive Chiropractic Care

The practice of medicine is thousands of years old. Chiropractic is a relatively newer practice, being approximately 125 years old, and therefore, some myths and misconceptions persist about it. One of the most persistent is that chiropractic care is “addictive,” that once you start going, you have to keep going back for the rest of your life.

This is not true. Many patients stop having adjustments after completing their course of treatment and never go back to the chiropractor again. However, some patients continue going back to the chiropractor for maintenance treatments after completing their course of treatment. This is their choice, and they do so not because they cannot function without it but because they like the benefits that chiropractic adjustments offer to their health.

Is Chiropractic Care Addictive?

Chiropractic care is not compulsory. You can stop having treatments any time you want, even if your treatment course is not complete. The myth of chiropractic care being addictive might have arisen because people who stopped having treatments experienced recurrent pain. This may have occurred because they stopped treatment before finishing their course, just as if you stop antibiotic treatment before finishing all your medication, your symptoms of infection may come back.

The other reason is that people who stop chiropractic adjustments may have pain come back is that once they stopped treatment, even if they completed the course, they may have fallen back into the same habits that caused their symptoms in the first place. When you have ongoing visits to a chiropractor, he or she can recommend lifestyle changes that can help you maintain your current condition and avoid future pain. However, the notion that chiropractic permanently alters your spine so that you have to keep having adjustments is not true.

Why Do People Keep Going Back to the Chiropractor?

You might as well ask why people keep going back to the dentist after having a cavity filled. No matter how diligent you are about your dental hygiene, there are some cleaning tasks that you can’t do on your own. Similarly, you may do very well taking care of yourself and exercising, but just as you don’t have the tools and professional knowledge to remove tartar from your teeth, there are health benefits to chiropractic that you can’t duplicate by yourself.

An addiction is a behavior that you can’t stop even though it harms you. Chiropractic treatment does not qualify because there are few, if any, harmful side effects and the treatment has been clinically proven as beneficial for certain conditions. 

Speaking with a chiropractor in Crofton, MD from Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic can help answer any of your questions and concerns. Contact our office to make an appointment for an initial evaluation.

How Much Does Chiropractic Care Cost?

Chiropractors have helped a great many people relieve pain and restore movement throughout their bodies. Their contributions have been extremely beneficial. Note that each of their services comes paired with a price tag. Take a look at this information regarding how much chiropractic care costs.

Service Types

There are many different types of chiropractic services; each one has a specific cost. Manipulative treatment of one region can cost up to $50 while manipulative treatment of five regions can cost up to $64. A new patient evaluation service can be $167, and an established patient evaluation service can be $109. Some manual therapy procedures cost $45, and some therapeutic exercises cost $42. There are muscle tests that are $21, and there are physical performance measurements that are $61. There are range-of-motion measurements that are as little as $13, and lower-level laser sessions that are $48 for every 15 minutes. Overall, most chiropractic services fall somewhere between $10 and $175. These costs are fairly affordable compared to most medical services.

With Insurance

Note that some insurance policies do not cover chiropractic care. For example, insurance policies that fall under Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans may not cover chiropractic care because such policies view chiropractors as alternative healers rather than primary care providers. Individuals who need chiropractic treatment for prolonged periods may be able to get their insurance companies to make co-pay agreements. Coverage plans that do cover and acknowledge chiropractic care may address 50% to 100% of the costs, making such care accessible and budget-friendly.

Without Insurance

People who do not have insurance should expect to pay, on average, around $60 for each chiropractic treatment session they participate in. Patients who have minor problems will likely pay less, and those with major problems will likely pay more. Chiropractic care is unlike other types of treatment, which typically cost thousands of dollars, so those without insurance should be able to make payments in full or develop a reasonable payment plan with the facility they utilize. Chiropractic treatment is regarded, in the medical world, as being inexpensive, so it is highly unlikely that those who lack insurance will meet chiropractors who are reluctant to treat them for that particular reason.

Most people will be able to afford chiropractic services, with or without the aid of insurance. Speaking with a Chiropractor in PG County, Maryland from Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic today could help you learn more about the costs associated with the practice.

5 Reasons You Should Seek Physical Therapy After a Car Accident

There are almost 16,500 car accidents a day across the United States. That means there are over 687 collisions an hour. The odds are that many of those individuals will suffer long-term physical problems, have broken bones, or need hospitalization. One way to alleviate some of the lasting difficulties is with physical therapy. Here are five reasons you should seek physical therapy if you are ever in a car accident.

1. Speed Recovery

It may take more than a week after the accident to discover some of your body’s related injuries and how they are manifesting. During that time, the body can move awkwardly to compensate for the injuries. You can speed recovery by limiting the time your body has to compensate for those damaged body parts by working with a physical therapist.

2. Reduce Pain

Science has shown that activity lessens the effects of pain and helps reduce prolonged physical problems. Physical therapy helps improve motion as it oxygenates blood and improves circulation. That means the body can more efficiently heal itself. As damaged areas improve, mobility and pain are reduced through physical therapy, a wider range of movement often results, even further decreasing pain.

3. Avoid Surgery

Physical activity, including physical therapy and all its modalities, can stimulate and strengthen weakened muscular systems. As tendons, ligaments, and muscles can better hold the body’s structures, physical activity can increase, and surgery becomes less necessary. Research also claims that exercise can improve quality of life, making surgery less sought after and often unnecessary.

4. Identify Injuries

Some injuries are difficult to identify after a vehicle accident, especially musculoskeletal damages that physical therapists can easily detect. Lumbar, knee and spinal injuries can also provide unique patterns of wounding that therapy exercises can identify. Once discovered, intervention can begin to ensure enhanced healing.

5. Prevent Damage

Chronic injuries and pain are sometimes the results of a car accident. The injuries that become long-term can linger for decades if the damage is not addressed soon after the collision. Using physical therapy can focus on wounds while they are minimal and can help prevent them from becoming long-lasting issues.

Using physical therapy is the best way to reduce pain, speed recovery, and prevent chronic injuries from reducing life’s pleasures. If you have endured a personal injury from a car accident and it would be wise to seek out professionals in physical therapy in Baltimore, MD from an office like Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic to better understand your path to recovery and rehabilitation.

What To Bring To Your First Physical Therapy Appointment

Physical therapy is the first step toward recovering from an injury, regaining mobility, or reducing pain. You can ensure a successful treatment plan when you bring the following to your first appointment with a physical therapist.

Your Medical History

Your physical therapist will want to know as much as possible about your condition and any other aspects of your medical history that might affect your treatment or progress. Be sure to gather any materials that your therapist may want to review, including:

• Medical records regarding your injury 
• Doctors’ statements about your physical deficiencies
• Medications you are currently taking
• Over-the-counter pain relievers and vitamins
• Current X-rays and scans 

Although your therapist will perform a physical evaluation, these materials are necessary to provide a complete picture of your issues.

Your Goals

You will need to understand what you hope to achieve through physical therapy. Whether you seek pain reduction, greater mobility, strength, or better balance, having goals will help your therapist steer your treatment in the direction it takes to achieve them.

Comfortable Clothes

Physical therapy sessions involve lots of stretching, lifting, bending, and other movements of various body parts. Avoid wearing restrictive clothing that will prevent you from adequately engaging your body. If you are arriving from work, you may want to bring a change of clothes that allows your therapist to examine your body while moving or resting.

Questions

Your first appointment is a perfect time to ask your therapist questions about your treatment. Questions may include:

• How long will my treatment last?
• How frequently should I come?
• How will I feel after each session?
• How will you measure my progress?
• What treatment modalities will you apply?
• What exercises can I do at home? 

Insurance Information

If you have health insurance, you should remember to bring your policy details to your first appointment. Your policy will determine if you have a deductible before your coverage begins, how much you will pay for each session, and if you require pre-authorization from your insurance provider before you can start treatment.

Prescriptions

Although most states don’t require you to have a doctor’s prescription to begin physical therapy, you will need to bring this paperwork to your first appointment if you have one. Your doctor may have specific goals for your treatment, and a prescription will help your therapist focus on the areas of your body where your doctor thinks you are struggling.

Before you schedule your appointment for physical therapy in Bowie, Maryland with Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic give the office a call to better find out how you can prepare for your first visit.

Reasons To Choose a Private Practice Physical Therapist

Your doctor may recommend physical therapy to help you regain your strength and mobility following an injury, surgery, or debilitating medical condition. Most doctors will provide patients with a list of physical therapy service providers from which to choose. Selecting a therapist from a private practice offers the following benefits.

Undivided Attention

When you choose a private practice for your physical therapy, you receive your therapist’s undivided attention and do not share it with multiple patients receiving treatment at the same time. In addition, private practice therapists do not answer to a corporate entity that requires them to see a predetermined number of patients during the day. As a result, they are less concerned about the number of patients they treat than the quality of care they offer.

Better Coordination of Services

A private practice maintains scheduling, billing, therapy, and administrative services all under the same roof. As a result, patients know that they can turn to the same dedicated staff members for immediate answers to their questions and concerns.

 Scheduling Flexibility

A busy work schedule could make finding time for multiple weekly physical therapy visits challenging. Choosing a private practice for your care will provide you with greater scheduling flexibility. In addition, physical therapy practices that are therapist-owned are more likely to accommodate your scheduling needs and may have evening and weekend availability.

Greater Range of Services

Therapist-owned physical therapy practices have the freedom to offer various services that you may not find if you choose a hospital setting. They may offer:

• Acupuncture. The therapist inserts thin needles through the skin and gently manipulates them to stimulate the release and flow of body chemicals that activate the body’s natural healing process.
• Dry Needling. The therapist inserts thin needles through the skin to reach muscular trigger points for relieving pain and improving the range of motion.
• Personal Training. Physical therapists have far more knowledge about body mechanics and systems than most personal trainers may acquire. As a result, they can develop the most highly customized exercise routine for your needs. 

Personal Connection

Therapists in private practice can take the time to get to know their patients better. Stronger interpersonal relationships with patients make the therapy process more enjoyable and give the therapists a better understanding of their patients’ lifestyles, emotional makeup, and anything that might influence their progress.

Contact a practice focused on physical therapy in Bowie, Maryland like Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic to discuss the available services that can benefit your healing process.