3 Questions To Ask About Knee Pain

If you have recently suffered an injury, had surgery, or experienced a loss of mobility, you might be able to benefit from knee therapy by a Knee Pain Doctor. Your doctor may recommend this to you, but it is entirely appropriate for you to bring it up if he or she does not. Bear in mind that your doctor may not be able to answer all your questions about knee therapy, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t ask. If your doctor does not know the answer, he or she should at least be able to help you find it out.

If your doctor believes that you could benefit from knee therapy, he or she may recommend that you see a particular therapist. However, this is just a recommendation, and you have the freedom to choose which therapist to see. Before you make your choice, however, it is a good idea to ask some questions first.

1. What Do You Need To Do To Prepare for Appointments?

Knee therapy often involves exercise, so you should dress in comfortable clothes that allow you to move freely for each appointment. If for some reason you cannot go to your appointment dressed in your therapy clothes, you should at least bring them with you so you can change when you get there. You may also undergo some sort of treatment modality, such as iontophoresis. If this is the case, you should wear clothing that allows easy access to the symptomatic area. For example, for the pain in your knee, you may want to wear shorts or sweatpants that are easy to roll up.

If it is your first appointment, you may have to bring medical reports and images. However, in many cases, your doctor’s office can simply forward these.

2. What Can You Expect From a Typical Session?

Knee therapy appointments generally last about an hour. However, the exact treatments you receive depend on your diagnosis. During your first session, the therapist will perform an initial assessment and develop a treatment plan in response.

3. What Is the Knee Pain Doctor’s Experience?

Some knee pain doctors, like one from Austin Physical Therapy, are generalists that treat all areas of the body. Others specialize in a particular type of injury or body part. While you can receive treatment from a generalist therapist, it might be a good idea to seek out a specialist in your particular knee injury. If there are no specialists available, it is still a good idea to ask the therapist about his or her experience with the type of problem you have.

Contact our office with any questions you have about knee pain or to schedule your initial appointment.

As a medical professional, you are always concerned about keeping your patients’ information safe, secure, and private. So, what is the best way to keep personal information? It is by using a chiropractic billing service, like one from Genesis Chiropractic Software, of course. Why is this safer than other methods? Continue reading to find out. 

A Billing Service Can Survive Natural Disasters

Unlike using a filing cabinet, if you have information saved on the cloud, it is kept safe from natural disasters that could destroy papers in a file cabinet. For example, if there was a flood or a fire, these could completely destroy important patient records that do not have any sort of backup. A billing service is a great tool that offers peace of mind for the medical provider as well as the patient. It creates a good form of backup that can survive many different issues and makes it simple to safely transfer information from one person to another. 

A Billing Service Has Firewall Protection

You may think that something that is online is less safe than information kept on one computer or in a file folder. This is not true. A good billing software will have safeguards in place that protect your patients’ personal information. This will include firewall protection and possible two factor authentication that makes it only possible for those who should be looking at the information on the site. It will back up all of the information so that nothing is lost, even if a computer breaks down, and will keep records safe from hackers for you and your patients. 

A Billing Service Enables Conversation from One Person to Another

A billing service makes it incredibly simple to share information from one source to another. For example, a chiropractor can easily share a patient’s information with the customer or with any of their medical professionals with just a few clicks. This information is safeguarded so that unwanted people will not be able to view the medical records, but so that the right people can view the information with ease. 

Contact a Billing Service Representative Today

Reach out to a professional chiropractic billing service to get assistance in creating a plan that is right for your office today. It does not matter how large or small your practice is. No matter what, a billing service can greatly assist your office and help make everything a more streamlined and organized process. This will help all of your administrative staff, as well as your customers by making information accessible, safe, and easy to use. Your staff can focus more fully on the customer experience in your office and will be able to keep all of their information up to date and secure. Do not hesitate to purchase a reliable chiropractic billing service today. You will be happy that you did and can begin building your office onto the cloud for safekeeping. A representative can answer all of the questions you have and get you signed up as soon as possible. 

When people think of a physical therapist, they probably imagine a professional who provides treatment to those recovering from a recent injury. But, did you know that physical therapy can be beneficial for those who aren’t injured, too? The multitude of benefits may surprise you. So if you are considering physical therapy, don’t hesitate to contact a clinic near you to have your questions answered and schedule an exam.

Here are a couple of the many surprising benefits that physical therapy can yield for you, whether you are healing from a recent injury or just want to boost your health:

Enhanced Immune System

Physical therapy is one of the most ideal ways that you can enhance your immune system. This form of treatment increases circulation, allowing healing properties to make their way throughout the body. Additionally, physical therapy reduces inflammation, strengthens respiratory health, and improves the cardiovascular system. The immune system is responsible for healing, so receiving physical therapy will help you feel at your very best overall.

Promotes Better Balance

After an injury accident, you may feel like your balance is somewhat off, which may lead to falls and further physical injury. Physical therapy provides you with exercises, stretches, and other useful tips to improve your coordination and balance.

Outlet for Avoiding Surgery

Did you know that physical therapy can prevent someone from having to undergo surgery? For some people, the idea of an operation and anesthesia can be terrifying. And depending on the condition, surgery may not be the only method of treatment. Many patients find that physical therapy has enabled them to reach a place of health they have imagined, as if they had gone through surgery. Except now, they can avoid the post-surgical side effects and other potential complications.

To learn more about whether physical therapy in Bowie, MD is right for you, contact Mid-Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic today.

What To Expect During Your First Physical Therapy Session

Physical therapy is beneficial for a wide range of conditions. It can help individuals regain their strength following an injury or surgery. It can also improve balance and coordination in individuals with temporary and permanent movement disorders. The first visit for a physical therapy Bowie in MD with a physical therapist determines subsequent treatment and includes multiple steps. 

Interview

During your first visit, your physical therapist will begin by asking you questions to get a sense of your overall health history, the limitations and discomfort you experience due to your condition, and what you hope to achieve through therapy.

Physical Evaluation

After interviewing you, the therapist may touch and move your body parts or ask you to perform movements or activities to determine how well your joints, muscles, and nerves function and assess your:

• Strength
• Coordination
• Flexibility
• Balance
• Range of motion
• Mobility
• Stamina

Treatment Plan

After a thorough evaluation, a physical therapist will propose a treatment plan to help you achieve your goals. Treatments often begin during the first visit and include various modalities. Sessions will usually start with an application of heat to stimulate blood flow and send oxygen and nutrients to the affected areas. Heat increases flexibility in preparation for other treatments that follow.

After applying heat, the therapist may use manual massage techniques to decrease muscle pain and tension and improve circulation. The therapist might also repeatedly move your joints in various directions to help improve your mobility.

Ultrasound is helpful in the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions. A topical gel on the skin over the affected site helps deliver ultrasound waves to the muscles via a wand to improve blood circulation and promote healing. Light therapy and electrical stimulation can help reduce pain and inflammation and encourage injury healing.

Treatment sessions may also include supervised exercises that you can perform with progressive degrees of intensity as your condition heals or improves. Your sessions will end with an application of ice to control inflammation resulting from therapeutic activities.

Home Exercises

During an initial physical therapy visit to our clinic Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic, your therapist may recommend exercises using special equipment available at the physical therapy site. The therapist will also review home-based exercises you can perform independently between sessions. Discussing the importance of these exercises is a crucial part of your initial visit and will help ensure that you continue to improve and progress between sessions with a therapist.

If an injury or medical condition leaves you unable to enjoy life, schedule an evaluation and initial session with a knowledgeable physical therapist to start on the road toward feeling better.

Physical Therapy for Kids

Physical therapy is something that helps everyone learn to successfully and independently use their gross motor skills and functional mobility skills, but this is even more so true for children who are just learning to use these types of skills. It’s very easy to see why an adult might go to therapy, but a child? Let’s talk about the benefits of physical therapy in Bowie MD at Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic for children.

Why should I bring my baby and physical therapy?

If your child is demonstrating behaviors and issues such as the ones listed below, while this is not a fully exhaustive list of some of the most common things physical therapists see for children, they may benefit from physical therapy.

• If your child is only moving by scooting on their bottom, this might indicate that your child is having trouble learning to crawl or walk. The physical therapist could help you and your child figure out what is causing their behavior.
• If your child is having a lot of trouble with tummy time, it may indicate a deeper issue and needs to be dealt with through physical therapy.
• If your child is clicking or popping their hips, then it might be a good idea to check with the physical therapist about what might be causing that and how you can correct it.
• If your child is moving asymmetrically even with their head, they may have an issue that could be corrected with physical therapy rather than medications or surgery.
• If they are developing flat spots on their head, then they might benefit from seeing a physical therapist.

What are some common diagnoses that a physical therapist in Bowie MD might treat for a child?

Some of the most common conditions of the physical therapist to choose children might see in their treatment of children are listed below. This is not a whole and exhaustive list, but rather some of the most common things that therapists see when treating children.

• Hypotonia is a low muscle tone throughout the child’s body that is affecting the child’s endurance, stability, the way they move, the ability to meet their milestones and more.
  • Treatments for this would include functional activities, external equipment usage limited, orthotic management, muscle strengthening and more.
• Torticollis, a tightness through one or more muscles in the child’s neck that causes the child to turn her head to one side and talk to the side is a very serious condition that while it is easy to treat, affects how the child moves, plays and interacts with their environment. This is a condition that is caused by a child’s preference to turn toward one side of their environment, or it can be developed in utero.
  • Ways to treat these conditions are encouraging your child to turn both ways and their environment, positioning your child in an opposing manner that they would usually turn, practicing handling techniques and strengthening.

When should I be concerned about my child’s toe walking?

If your child is walking on their toes over 25% of the time, they may have decreased ability throughout their ankles, or sensory sensitivities. This is perfect for a physical therapist to work with your child on, because a lot of physical therapy in Bowie MD is going to focus on stretching, sensory input, shoe modifications, bodily awareness activities, strengthening and abdominal strengthening.

Chiropractic Car Accident Care

There are more than 6 million car accidents in the U.S. every year. Thankfully, the number of fatalities has gone down in recent years, but nearly 4.5 million people are seriously injured in car crashes every year.

Knee injuries account for about 10 percent of car accident injuries. People seated in the front side passenger seat are particularly susceptible, as their knees often slam into the car’s dashboard upon impact. The knee is the largest joint in the body, and though neck and back injuries are more common in car crashes, knee injuries can be just as serious.

The Most Common Knee Injuries Suffered by Accident Victims

• • Torn Meniscus. The two menisci in each knee are actually cartilage that serve as a cushion between the shin bone (tibia) and the thigh bone (femur). The cartilage can tear when the knee is under stress, and the pain and swelling will make it difficult to extend the knee.
  • Kneecap Fractures. When involved in head-on or side-impact collisions, victims could crack, break or shatter their kneecap (patella).
  • Torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL). The ACL connects your shin bone and thigh bone. When the ACL tears away from the knee joint, there will be much pain, and surgery will likely be required.
  • Dislocated Knee. This occurs when the kneecap becomes misaligned with the shin and/or thigh bone.
  • Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Injuries. Located in the back of your knee, the PCL keeps your shin bone from moving too far backwards. When the front of your knee takes a huge hit while in a bent position (like when a passenger’s knee hits the dashboard), your PCL can be damaged.

What Are Your Treatment Options?

In many cases, car accident victims experiencing knee pain may be asked to engage in physical therapy, take painkillers and, if those fail, prepare for surgery.

A Proven Alternative – Chiropractic Care 

Another option that is increasingly popular is chiropractic care. Following extensive examinations and testing, including x-rays, most chiropractors will examine not only the knee but also your lower back, pelvis, hip, ankle and feet due to the direct impact they have on the knee. They will discuss a treatment plan with you that likely includes exercises and gentle chiropractic manipulation and mobilization techniques, as well as laser or ultrasound therapies to reduce the pain and increase your range of motion.

Car accident victims have many options to consider, as a chiropractor, like a car accident treatment professional in Glen Burnie, MD, at a practice like Mid-Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic, can explain.

Geriatric Physical Therapy

Our nation’s elderly population is susceptible to numerous age-related injuries and illnesses, such as arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, hip and knee replacements, strokes, Parkinson’s disease, osteoporosis, and more. On top of that, one out of every four older people falls every year, with about 20 percent of these falls causing a serious injury (e.g., broken bones, head injuries, etc.). It’s likely that a similar fate could await the generations that follow.

What can be done to delay these conditions?

One of the top recommendations from medical experts is to keep our aging population as active as possible for as long as possible. Whether currently active, sedentary or recovering from an injury, geriatric physical therapy (PT) can play an important role in delaying the physical challenges of aging.

Participating in a rehabilitation program or a geriatric physical therapy program can restore people’s range of motion and functionality, reduce pain and improve their quality of life. Experienced PT professionals understand that they’re not training future Olympic athletes with a strict dietary and exercise regimen. They’re helping the elderly accomplish daily tasks and recommending exercises that can be done safely and effectively.

Specific kinds of geriatric PT include:

• Orthopedic PT: In addition to helping patients recover from orthopedic surgeries, orthopedic PT focuses on treating injuries to the musculoskeletal system. Its goal is to restore function to the patient’s muscles, bones, joints, tendons and ligaments.

• Cardiopulmonary PT: This PT aims to increase endurance for those who have had heart attacks or other cardiovascular or pulmonary conditions, like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or pulmonary fibrosis.

• Neurological PT: This PT addresses both brain and bodily functions. Here, physical therapists teach seniors with Alzheimer’s disease, ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), Parkinson’s disease or brain injuries to adapt to their physical and mental limitations (visual, mobility, balance, muscle loss, etc.) so they can continue to complete their daily activities.

An increasing number of geriatric PT locations use a broad range of gentle, yet effective strategies, including stretching, light exercise, walking, hydrotherapy, massage, and more. The goal remains to make basic tasks easier for senior adults and to help them be as independent as possible.

If you or a loved one are battling age-related injuries or illnesses, perhaps you should consider geriatric physical therapy? There are many options to explore, as a professional, like the geriatric physical therapy team in Baltimore, MD at a PT rehab center like Mid-Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractor, can explain.

What to Expect at the Chiropractor

If you are about to have your very first visit with a chiropractor, you may not know exactly what to expect. Though you’ve probably heard of other people’s experiences, it could be intimidating to go without prior experience yourself. The good news is that chiropractic treatment or physical therapy can be life-changing. The following are some things that you can expect.

Length of Your Visit

Your first visit will more than likely last longer than follow up visits because the chiropractor will want to make a full assessment of your condition and overall health. This could take anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes. Adjustments only take a matter of minutes, so most of the initial visit will be talking, going over your medical history and getting your financial matters taken care of.

Follow up visits could last anywhere from five to 20 minutes, depending on the severity of your condition and the type of care you’re receiving.

What It Feels Like

Have you ever done a workout for the first time in a long time? You know that sore feeling you get at the end that’s a good-sore? If you feel any pain at all after a chiropractic adjustment, it will be that same good-sore feeling. If you have more serious pain than that, you should discuss it with your chiropractor for the chance it’s something more serious that needs a different sort of treatment.

Returning for Follow Up Care

Not every patient will have to return for follow up care. It’s possible the issue you’re dealing with can be fixed in a matter of one appointment. It’s also possible it will take multiple appointments that span over the length of many years. Depending on your problem, you may need to return to the chiropractor for follow up visits for the rest of your life, just as you would go in for dental exams and medical physicals on a regular basis. Your chiropractor will discuss this with you at your initial appointment so you can know what to expect moving forward.

Paying for the Visit

Many health insurance plans cover chiropractic care, though this is something you should speak with your provider about. You may have to use an in-network chiropractor and you might only be allotted a certain amount of visits per year, so it’s important you understand the details of your plan. If you don’t have insurance coverage, you may be able to work out a payment plan with the chiropractor.

Getting in Touch With a Chiropractor

Visiting the chiropractor doesn’t have to be a stressful event. To learn more about what you can expect at your next visit, get in touch with a chiropractor today.

 

If you are experiencing tingling or numbness, then we advise seeing a chiropractor for an assessment right away. A sensation similar to “pins and needles” of the extremities can be very uncomfortable and quite annoying. Numbness and tingling are two symptoms that could be associated with health concerns, so it is important to respond promptly by getting medical care.

To rule out major health concerns, a chiropractor will try to identify where the cause of this sensation is coming from. Usually, tingling or numbness means there is something awry within the spinal column. Rest assured that if this is the case, we can create a care plan to get you back on track.

The Cause of Numbness and Tingling

More serious reasons that numbness and tingling may be happening is due to a stroke, seizure disorder, diabetes, or multiple sclerosis. But for most patients that a chiropractor sees, these sensations are due to less serious conditions, such as migraine headaches or carpal tunnel. Essentially, what could be occurring is a nerve is getting pinched. When the flow of blood is restricted from a pinched nerve, people can experience numbness or tingle in their fingers, hands, legs, or arms.

How Chiropractics Can Address These Symptoms

Chiropractics focus on the central nervous and musculoskeletal system, including function of nerves. So, it makes sense to see a chiropractor if you are feeling tingling sensations or numbness, as these symptoms are associated with nerve-related issues. When the spine gets misaligned, it can lead to migraines, carpal tunnel, or pinched nerves. These misalignments can cause interference of nerves, which hinder sufficient blood flow and impact communication between brain and body. When messages cannot be effectively sent throughout the body, dysfunction can arise.

Chiropractic Adjustments

A chiropractor can examine a patient’s spine, and perform an adjustment to remove incorrect alignments while reducing nerve interference. During these adjustments, a chiropractor is using his or her hands to apply gentle force to specific areas of the spine as a way to move vertebrae back into placement. Many patients express feeling immediate relief and a sense of mental calmness after their treatment session.

After realigning the spine, blood flow can open up and the body can function as it was intended to once again. For a significant number of patients, regular chiropractic care can correct the uncomfortable and intrusive nature of numbness and tingling sensations. Additionally, chiropractics can help people maintain overall health and wellness of their entire body so they can feel at their very best.

Don’t let unsettling tingling and numbness prevent you from enjoying your daily life. At a chiropractic clinic, they can help figure out where the source of this issue is coming from and take immediate steps to correct it. If you would like to book your appointment with a chiropractor or find out more information, don’t wait to call a clinic.

Personal Injury Doctor Glen Burnie, MD

When you have been in a personal injury accident, you may wonder why your lawyer is sending you to a chiropractor. In fact, immediately following your accident you probably aren’t worried about much else except whether you can safely move, if your passengers are safe, and getting the contact information of the other driver. Wondering what kind of medical help you need and whether you will get compensation for your injuries or personal property damage is probably not the first thing on your mind. However, chiropractors have worked with many patients and their attorneys after a personal injury accident. They know it can be daunting to be going through both medical and legal ordeals at the same time, which is why they strive to help patients out with both. 

How can a chiropractor help after the accident?

When you visit an office, you are getting a team of chiropractors who knows how to help patients suffering from a personal injury that was caused by someone else’s negligence. They often help treat injuries such as:

•     Muscle Tears
•     Whiplash
•     Headaches and Migraines
•     Bone Fractures
•     Spinal Damage

When should I see a chiropractor?

Often, patients come to a doctor after waiting weeks after the accident because they were hoping their injuries would just go away. Unfortunately, this is not how the body works, and to rid your body of the pain you should get treatment as soon as possible. They believe it is important for your health to come to our office immediately following the accident so we can diagnose your injuries and get you on the right treatment plan. Further, insurance companies do not want you to get medical help shortly after the accident because they can use this against you. 

Can you help with my legal claim?

You will need evidence to support your argument when you are speaking with the insurance company. We provide you with a full write-up of your diagnosis, the injuries you have, the proposed treatment plan, and why we believe chiropractic care is the best option for your treatment as opposed to any other medical service. Further, when you see a chiropractor, you may be able to avoid more costly treatment options such as surgery. An insurance adjuster may be more willing to accept your compensation amount when they see a reasonable price instead of surgical procedures.

When it comes to your healing after a car accident, we know that it is both physical and emotional. While your doctor’s primary goal may be to help your body heal, they can also work with you and your attorney to give you the emotional closure you need by helping with your claim. For more information, please give a personal injury doctor in Glen Burnie, MD  from Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab and Chiropractic a call now.

Chiropractic treatment is not as popular as its conventional counterpart; pharmaceuticals, but has numerous benefits for our health if not more. Chiropractic adjustments focus on the bodily alignment and spinal placement which helps to keep the balance in the central nervous system. This treatment has proven to be the safest approach to naturally heal the patient with almost no side-effects while treating the body and mind holistically. The lack of chemicals and artificial medication definitely adds to the basket. 

Back and Neck Pain

Compared to medicine treatments, chiropractic treatment is preferred by majority of the patients suffering from Back pain and neck pain. A research outcome as published in the British Medical Journal in 2003, proves that Chiropractic adjustments provide vastly better results compared to that of physiotherapy or counseling and drugs. 

Migraine and Headaches

After back pain, Chiropractors commonly cure headaches and its cousins. Migraine pains are unbearable and the patients’ suffering is unending. A gradual and almost permanent solution to such headaches can be acquired through regular and thorough chiropractic sessions. It keeps you away from the long-term drugs and their side-effects while also reducing pain intensity bit by bit. Recurring visits to a headache doctor or chirocraptor in Mesa, AZ can ensure a healthy balance of neuro-chemicals and prevent migraine attacks and spontaneous headaches.

Neurological Benefits

Not only do MRI scans reveal a marked increase in cerebrospinal fluid and blood flow after a chiropractic adjustment, scientists observe that cerebellar invagination (when the cerebellum falls below the neck line) is reversed and brain plaquing (common in patients with various sclerosis) disappears.

Blood Pressure Benefits

Several studies showed comparable results with hypotensive patients, and after chiropractic care; their low blood pressure was increased to ordinary concentrations. This is interesting as it highlights the capacity of the body to produce a healthy homeostatic atmosphere after removal of vertebral subluxations.

Prevents Surgery 

Chiropractic practices have been considered the most natural way to deal with bone and back alignment, which negates the need for expensive surgeries. In fact, experts advise people with lower back pain to consult a chiropractor before turning to surgical options. 

Conclusion

Even though western medicine and drugs have proven to be effective and useful to us for decades, we shouldn’t neglect other forms of treatment and consider the healthiest choices for our bodies. It is definitely worth your time to consult a chiropractor along with your orthopedist, to explore all the possible solutions for your day to day bone and brain needs. 

 

---

 

Thanks to LifeCare Chiropractic for their insight into chiropractic care and alternative medicine.

Know The Differences

If you have a problem with chronic back pain, you may feel like you are running out of options for relief. Your doctor has probably prescribed pain killers and muscle relaxers, but you can’t take those and function adequately. With the opioid epidemic reaching a critical level, doctors are remiss to prescribe anything too strong. What other options do you have to help control the pain? Luckily for you, you have a group of providers that are at the ready to work together to help you feel better in the short and long run.

Medical Doctor

Your medical doctor is your first line of attack in pain management. You may have some options, most of which consist of medication either over the counter or prescription. However, if pain killers have an adverse effect on you, they may not be an option. Surgery may be your last resort, and it is not a step you wish to take at this time. Fortunately, your doctor can then recommend the services of a physical therapist and a chiropractor to provide further relief.

Physical Therapist

Depending on the cause of your pain, a physical therapist may be able to help. Through the use of heat, cold therapy, electrical impulses to stimulate muscles (called TENS units) and massage among other methods, a physical therapist may be able to provide temporary relief several times a week if your condition warrants it. Therapists may also teach exercises that can be performed at home to help stretch and strengthen back muscles. Boosting the muscles in your back can help provide support to the spinal column if that is where the pain is originating.

Chiropractor

If your back issue originates in the spine, a chiropractor can help. Through specialized maneuvers called spinal adjustments, a chiropractor can help realign the vertebrae and offer pain relief. These movements also stimulate the body to help heal itself. These maneuvers are performed by a licensed professional who is well-versed in performing them safely. Your medical doctor will refer you if a chiropractor can assist in correcting your condition. Chiropractors can help with more than just spinal issues.

Chiropractic practices can offer pain relief that may eventually become long-term if the body can repair itself. Years ago, a medical doctor would not have necessarily recorded chiropractic care, but now the practice is much more respected.