Physical Therapy Bowie, MD
If you’ve been injured, needed surgery, or have been weathering chronic pain, you may benefit from seeking the assistance of our Bowie, MD physical therapy team. Understanding how PT can help you and what physical therapists actually do can make the process of seeking assistance more straightforward.
REASONS FOR SEEING A PT
You may want to attend physical therapy to help with the following problems:
- Improve overall health and wellness
- Prevent injury
- Heal from an injury
- Recover from disease
- Reduce chronic pain
- Recover after surgery
Generally speaking, you’ll need to attend an assessment, so that our team can construct a personalized treatment plan on your behalf. Then, you’ll likely need to attend several follow-up sessions so that we can adjust your treatment plan as necessary, depending upon how you are responding to the care you’ve been receiving.
WHAT A PHYSICAL THERAPIST DOES
Maryland physical therapists are health professionals who use certain techniques to help you recover and/or prevent damage to your body. They may set a schedule of specific exercises to walk you through during every appointment, in addition to certain stretches and utilization of various pieces of equipment (like exercise bands and weights) to strengthen your body over time. Your PT will assess your condition and record improvements, changing techniques if something is not working. You should feel comfortable talking to our Bowie, MD physical therapy team about anything related to your care that may be weighing on your mind, as we are here to listen to your concerns and to make your treatment plan as effective as it can possibly be.
EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Physical therapists must graduate with a degree from an approved program. They then earn certificates allowing them to practice. Your doctor probably has a licensed PT they refer patients to regularly as a trusted source.
FINDING A PHYSICAL THERAPIST
Asking your doctor if physical therapy may help your issues never hurts, and they can give you a reference for a PT they like. However, you do not need a reference from a doctor to attend physical therapy. You can complete online research to find a PT near you and make a consultation appointment with them by yourself. They can assess your physical state to determine if physical therapy is right for you and how often you should come in.
If you’re suffering as a result of chronic pain, post-surgical challenges, and/or trauma, consider speaking with the experienced team at Mid-Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic about your physical therapy needs. Utilizing physical therapy can help to decrease your need for prescription pain medication over time, can help to improve range of motion, mobility, flexibility, etc. Depending on the nature of the unique circumstances that you’re facing, the potential benefits of Bowie, MD physical therapy could be profound – try it and see for yourself!
The Do’s And Don’t of Physical Therapy
Physical therapy in Bowie, MD, can be a great tool for helping your body recover after a surgery or traumatic injury. Here’s what you should and shouldn’t do to get the most out of your treatment.
Do Set Goals
During your first physical therapy appointment, discuss any concerns with your provider and set concrete goals for treatment. Having these goals in mind can help you track your progress and can let your therapist know when you are ready to stop services. Make sure the goals you set are realistic. If you’ve never been an avid runner, you shouldn’t expect to be able to run five miles right after knee surgery. A realistic goal for you may be regaining full range of motion with no pain.
Don’t Forget To Keep Up With Home Exercises
You probably won’t attend physical therapy every day, so your therapist may give you simple exercises to do at home to maintain your progress. It can be tempting to skip these exercises because they aren’t always fun, but keeping up with them is important for a speedy recovery. The more you keep up with your home exercises, the faster they can help you progress in treatment.
Do Communicate With Your Therapist
Your physical therapist isn’t a mind reader. He or she can probably evaluate your physical progress based on your ability to perform various exercises, but only you know how much pain you are in while receiving treatment. Communicate clearly with your provider when you are receiving physical therapy in Bowie, MD, so that your therapist knows which exercises are too easy and which ones are too difficult.
Don’t Skip Appointments
Emergencies happen occasionally, and you may not be able to attend every physical therapy appointment you schedule. However, you shouldn’t make it a habit to cancel appointments just because you don’t feel like attending physical therapy. You could inadvertently set back your recovery if you miss too many appointments, so try to attend as many as possible.
Do Commit To Working Hard
Physical therapy can be a great tool to help you regain strength, movement or balance. However, you shouldn’t expect it to work miracles after your first appointment. It takes a lot of time and energy to retrain your muscles after surgery or injury, and you have to stay committed to your recovery if you want to see results after treatment. If you’re willing to put in the hard work, physical therapy can be a great resource for you.
How To Get the Most Out of Physical Therapy
Know Your History
When you’re in physical therapy in Bowie, MD, it’s important that you tell your therapist everything that’s led up to you seeing her. Injuries, previous treatment attempts and a medication list can help your therapist figure out how best to treat you.
Set Goals
Setting therapeutic goals is a key part of your treatment at Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic. Unless you know where you want to go, your therapist can’t figure out how to get you there. Your goals can include:
Physical Therapists Alone Can’t Relieve Your Symptoms
When you’re in physical therapy in Bowie, MD, you and your physical therapist may wish that she had a magic wand to wave over you and magically fix what’s ailing you. Just attending your physical therapy appointments isn’t enough to relieve your symptoms, and never will be.
Commit To Attending Your Appointments
Attending your physical therapy in Bowie, MD, appointments is crucial if you want to achieve your goals. Your therapist can help you by giving you lists of exercises to do at home and how to modify them for your current condition. However, if you don’t show up, she can’t know your current condition, and the exercises previously prescribed could be too easy or too difficult for you.
Do Your Homework
Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic physical therapists may give you homework at the end of every appointment. This homework is more important than any you did in school. There’s simply no way to reach your therapeutic goals without doing your homework exercises between your physical therapy appointments.
Forget About “No Pain, No Gain”
This proverb became popular in the 1980s to encourage athletes to play through the pain, and that if you weren’t in pain, you weren’t working out hard enough. Fortunately, doctors have thoroughly debunked the notion that exercise has to hurt. Quite the opposite is true. If you feel pain during a workout, stop what you’re doing. Do some gentle stretching movements to assess how bad the pain is and whether or not you need to see a doctor.
Find a Dedicated Time and Space To Do the Work
Having a dedicated time and space to do your homework can be a key component of actually doing the homework. For example, you might start the coffeemaker and go to the corner of your living room where you’re keeping resistance bands, an exercise ball and some light hand weights to do your physical therapy. When the coffee’s done, so are you.
Fix Your Injury with a Reliable Physical Therapy Provider
Physical therapy in Bowie, MD can be difficult for some to commit to. While many patients are hoping for an overnight fix to the issue that ails them, changes usually don’t occur overnight. However, by committing to Mid-Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic, you provide yourself with the best chance towards improved functioning. Allow for us to assist in the recovery of the area of your body causing problems. For further questions, or to schedule an appointment with one of our physical therapists, contact us today.
Physical therapy in Bowie, MD can help people who have limited movement and function due to a health condition or injury. If you have never had this type of therapy before, you may feel nervous and unsure of what to expect. However, you should be rest assured that physical therapy has a wide range of benefits, including:
AVOID SURGERY
Although surgery is necessary to treat certain conditions, it should always be used as a last resort. Surgery can carry risks, such as infection, blood clots and allergic reaction to anesthesia. Sometimes, physical therapy can help you eliminate your pain and improve your condition so that you don’t need to have surgery.
ALLEVIATE PAIN
When you suffer from chronic pain, whether due to a sports injury or arthritis, it can be difficult to perform everyday activities. Some days, it may even be difficult to get out of bed. Although pain medication can give you temporary relief, it can come with unpleasant side effects. A physical therapist can perform several treatments, such as soft tissue mobilization and ultrasound, to relieve your pain.
INCREASE MOBILITY
If you have limited mobility, you likely have difficulty performing simple tasks without help. If you attend physical therapy, you may be able to improve your mobility and live a normal life again. Your physical therapist may have you perform various strengthening and stretching exercises. He or she may also give you crutches or another assistive device to help you walk.
IMPROVE BALANCE
Poor balance can make you more susceptible to falls. The older you are, the more serious complications you may suffer from these falls. If you attend physical therapy in Bowie, MD, you may be able to improve your balance, ultimately reducing your risk of falls.
BOOST CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH
If you attend regular physical therapy sessions, you may also see an improvement in your cardiovascular health. It helps you get the exercise you need to get your blood pumping.
RECOVER FROM STROKE
If you recently suffered a stroke, attending physical therapy can do you a world of good. A stroke can negatively affect your body in many different ways, including weakening your muscles, making it more difficult to walk and reducing your coordination. A physical therapist can teach you how to do simple tasks again and help you recover from your stroke faster.
Schedule an appointment for physical therapy at Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic in Bowie, MD today.
TOP QUESTIONS ABOUT PHYSICAL THERAPY
Physical therapy is a form of recovery for patients who have suffered from bodily injuries or issues. Disease and age can impact the body’s functioning over time, and physical therapy is designed to help keep the body from degrading further. Therapy works muscles, ligaments and tendons until they are in working order once again. Consider going to physical therapy to improve your health and get closer back to normal. To help you in your decision, here are answers to your top questions about physical therapy.
WHAT DOES A PHYSICAL THERAPIST DO?
A PT works with you to build an exercise regime that helps affected parts of your body recover. While exercise might make you think of the gym, physical therapy exercises are tailored to patient needs and often start out slow and gradual. The PT may assess your condition a few weeks after you’ve been going to see if you are making any progress. PTs also develop goals for you to aim for after so much time in physical therapy. They have access to your medical records to ensure they understand any diagnoses or surgeries you have had that may affect the plan they create for your recovery.
WHAT EDUCATION DOES A PHYSICAL THERAPIST HAVE?
Physical therapists must get a degree in their field before they begin practicing. They must also gain specific certificates that allow them to work with patients. Do not worry when you see a Physical Therapist in Bowie, MD recommended by a doctor, as your physician should know qualified professionals to help with your problems. If you find a PT online, just be sure to double check that their credentials are in order.
DO YOU NEED TO SEE A DOCTOR TO ATTEND PHYSICAL THERAPY?
Contrary to popular belief, you do not need a doctor’s referral to see a physical therapist. While many people end up in physical therapy because of a doctor’s suggestion, you can still seek one out on your own. If you aren’t sure whether therapy is right for you, consider asking your regular doctor, as they may be able to give you a great PT to see.
Starting any new practice for a medical issue can be intimidating, especially when you’ve tried numerous other things to ease your pain or heal your injury. With Physical Therapy in Bowie, MD, you can make a consultation appointment to meet the PT and try it out. If it is not for you, you can always look elsewhere for help, but it never hurts to try first.
WHAT SHOULD YOU EXPECT AT PHYSICAL THERAPY?
Physical therapy is not as frightening as people sometimes think. The great thing about going to see an experienced physical therapist is that they have likely worked with all kinds of different people with different pain levels and abilities. Your PT will never push you further than you can go. He or she will communicate with you throughout treatment to make sure you are getting the care you need. You should also be vocal about how different exercises affect you and whether or not you feel comfortable doing them. There are many different things that happen while you are at the PT’s office, but here are some of the most common things you will do while under the care of a physical therapist:
1. Exercises
You will likely be given several different exercises by your physical therapist to do. Some of these will be gentle stretches and movements, while others may be strengthening exercises or endurance. You will often have a good mixture of both. These will help strengthen muscles so that there is less unnecessary pressure on the muscles and joints that are in pain. This will be a good long term solution to pain and problems, as it can actually fix them, rather than putting a bandaid on them. Physical therapy can be better than medication, as it offers a fix instead of covering up symptoms. Obviously, medication is necessary for many people, but if supplemented with physical therapy, it can be incredibly powerful.
2. Manual Techniques
Many physical therapists will use manual techniques to relieve pain and help work out pressure points in the muscles. They can even move different joints and skeletal structures around a little to try to relieve pain and pressure in the body. Manual manipulation can happen before or after the exercises and help increase the way it works.
3. Assign Homework
You are only at the physical therapist’s office for a few hours every week. This is why it is so important to follow your PT’s instructions and do the work that they assign you at home. It is meant to be a lifestyle change that you work into your routine. This will offer you the absolute best chance at recovering from your issues or managing your pain. By figuring out how to treat your problems on your own, you will gain a whole new level of independence as well. You can speak to your therapist about making a routine that is conduscent with your lifestyle.
6 Conditions That Physical Therapy Can Treat
Physical therapy involves a range of different techniques to treat abnormal body functions. The abnormality may be due to an underlying disease or a traumatic injury. Physical therapy in Bowie, MD, at Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic may be able to help treat conditions that you might not expect, as well as some that you probably do.
1. Cancer
Physical therapy doesn’t treat cancer, but it can help improve the disability and pain that can result from cancer treatment. If your quality of life has diminished following cancer treatment, physical therapy may be able to identify the impairments you are experiencing and provide treatment.
2. Urinary Incontinence
Over time, the muscles of the abdominals and pelvic floor may weaken, causing urinary incontinence and other embarrassing issues such as sexual problems. Physical therapy in Bowie, MD, can help to resolve these problems by strengthening the muscles of the core.
3. Whiplash
Whiplash refers to neck pain that occurs due to violent, involuntary, back-and-forth motion of the head. Car accidents, especially rear-end collisions, are a common cause, but it can also occur due to participation in contact sports played at high velocities, such as football. The more serious your injury, the longer it can take to recover from whiplash. If your symptoms persist, physical therapy may be able to help. With the guidance of a therapist, you may perform range-of-motion exercises and manual stretching to maintain flexibility and function as well as pain-relief modalities, such as massage.
4. Ankle Sprain
Accidentally twisting the ankle can cause stretching or tearing of the ligaments that support the joint. Injuries to the ligaments are called sprains. Though considered less serious than fractures, sprains can be very painful and take a long time to heal. Physical therapy can help you recover from an ankle sprain more quickly.
5. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome is a mysterious condition in which physical or mental exertion causes extreme fatigue. While the cause is unknown, a physical therapy program designed to increase endurance may be effective at improving symptoms as part of a larger treatment plan.
6. Lymphedema
The role of the lymphatic system is to produce fluids as part of the body’s immune response. Some conditions can cause excess fluid production, resulting in swelling. Physical therapists can help reduce swelling and keep it from coming back through a technique called complete decongestive therapy.
There are many more conditions that may benefit from physical therapy in Bowie, MD, at Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic.
Finding the Right Physical Therapist
Because finding a physical therapist can be daunting we’ve put together a list of how to help you find the right one for your needs. Finding the right physical therapist can help motivate you to get back to where you were before your injury. Here are a few ways to get started:
- Ask Your Healthcare Provider. Many healthcare providers have a relationship with specialists and can help recommend a physical therapist to you. You can get a list of different places to go and to call to find the one that suits your needs the most.
- Go Online. Most, if not all, physical therapy clinics have websites that outline their services, hours, location, and what to expect during your therapy session. Often there are links to the required paperwork that needs to be completed prior to your visit. Not only can you find that but you can find reviews of people that went there.
- Call Your Local Hospital. Typically hospitals have a dedicated outpatient physical therapy clinic onsite. When you call, ask for the physical theory or rehabilitation department.
- Contact the APTA. The American Physical Therapy Association is the governing body of physical therapists in the United States. Contact them to see who is in your area.
- Ask Friends. Ask your friends for referrals to a physical therapist. They are going to be honest with you about if they liked the place or not in most cases. You may even get to know more about the place such as how they dealt with patients and what to expect with the team.
- Ask Family Members. Just like asking your friends, talk to your family as well. More often than not you are going to find that they give you an unbiased review of the place. No one really likes going to a physical therapist but they will normally be honest with you about if the place treats people with respect and offers help.
Finding a physical therapist that is right for you can be difficult. It is why you should have a list to see before you settle on one. You are going to want someone who works with you and doesn’t treat you like just another patient they see. That is why if you are looking for physical therapy in Bowie, MD then the team at Mid-Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic is ready for your call. Don’t hesitate to reach out today to learn about how we can help you get back to feeling better.
If you have an injury or health condition that’s preventing you from completing every day tasks, you may benefit from physical therapy in Bowie, MD. This non-invasive therapy can help alleviate pain, improve mobility, increase flexibility and prevent disability or surgery. Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about physical therapy.
What Should I Expect During My First Physical Therapy Appointment?
In your initial physical therapy session, your therapist may ask you to fill out several forms about your medical history and insurance information. Then, your therapist may ask you why you have decided to undergo physical therapy and what your goals are. He or she will also perform a physical examination that may include assessing your range of motion, touching around the area of your problem and testing your muscle strength. If necessary, your therapist may order special tests.
Once you have received an evaluation, your physical therapist will create a treatment plan.
What Type of Physical Therapy Treatments Will I Receive?
The type of physical therapy treatments you receive will depend on your condition. Common types of physical therapy treatments include joint mobilization, ultrasound, massage, heat, ice and exercise.
How Long Will I Have to Attend Physical Therapy?
Every patient is different. How long you will have to attend physical therapy will depend on several factors, such as the extent of damaged tissue, how long you have had the condition, your age and overall health. After your initial evaluation, your therapist should be able to estimate how long you will have to go to physical therapy in Bowie, MD for.
Do I Have to Do Home Exercises?
In addition to your physical therapy sessions, your therapist may ask you to perform various stretching and strengthening exercises at home. While doing these exercises may become tedious at times, they are essential for your recovery. Common exercises may include hamstring stretches, straight leg raises and lumbar extensions. If you are having difficulty with any of your exercises, let your physical therapist know.
Does Health Insurance Cover Physical Therapy?
Many health insurance companies recognize the benefits of physical therapy and include the treatments in their plans. Before your sessions, the front desk staff at a physical therapy clinic can verify your benefits and determine what your plan will cover.
Schedule an appointment with Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic for physical therapy in Bowie, MD today.
Physical Therapy Statistics
According to the CDC, in 2019, 20% of adults experienced chronic pain. Even more concerning, they found that 7% of adults suffer from chronic pain that prevents them from their work and life activities. When you suffer an injury or have an injury that results in pain, loss of motion, or strength, you may need to find physical therapy in Bowie, MD. It can be daunting to start a new journey with a medical professional you don’t know. Taking that step to finding a physical therapist is the first step in helping you get better from an injury that needs a little more help than just a medication. When you step through our doors at Mid-Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic you can know you are in good hands.
Mid-Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic Bowie Physical Therapy
4201 Northview Dr # 101, Bowie, MD 20716