Physical Therapist Lanham, MD

Whether you are in chronic pain or have experienced an injury, it may be in your best interest to reach out to our physical therapist Lanham, MD patients depend on. There are many conditions that our physical therapist may help treat at AmeriWell Clinics. If your doctor has recommended physical therapy, we know that you will have several questions about this course of treatment and its benefits. 

What is physical therapy?

Physical therapy can be accessed for a vast number of reasons. For patients who have been in an accident, suffered from medical conditions, or are rehabilitating from surgery, physical therapy can help repair the body’s physical dysfunction. Physical therapy aims to reduce pain, improve range of motion, and prevent future injuries. Physical therapists can be found in a range of healthcare settings. In some cases, a patient may choose to seek physical therapy, or their doctor or medical practitioner may recommend this form of treatment. 

What types of conditions will physical therapy help treat?

Physical therapy can help treat a wide range of medical conditions and may be used alone or in combination with other forms of treatment. A physical therapist can help with:

• Post Surgical Rehabilitation
• Back Pain
• Neck/Shoulder Pain
• Physical Injuries
• Neurological Conditions
• Sports Injuries
• Arthritis

How long will I need to undergo physical therapy?

If you are considering physical therapy, one of the first questions our physical therapist in Lanham, Maryland, receives is how long they will need to undergo PT. The length of time can vary depending upon the reason for physical therapy and how well you respond to treatment. Your physical therapist will evaluate and reevaluate you throughout treatment to gain a clear understanding of how you are progressing. If your condition improves, you may not require PT for as long as you may have thought initially. However, if you are not making the necessary gains, your treatment may be extended. 

How can I find an experienced physical therapist in my area?

When searching for a physical therapist, it will be vital that you find one with the experience you require. In some cases, it may be a good idea to ask doctors or people you know for recommendations in the area. You can also check the American Physical Therapy Association for a list of physical therapists near you. 

Why is it important to do the home exercises recommended by my physical therapist?

At your first PT appointment, your physical therapist will likely provide you with exercises that will need to be completed at home. This may be challenging for patients who are not used to working out or struggle to find time at home to complete the exercises. However, be aware that completing the prescribed exercises at home will make all the difference for successful physical therapy outcomes. 

What can I expect from a physical therapy session?

You can expect to complete some paperwork at your first physical therapy session and meet with your physical therapist for treatment. They will review your medical history and perform a physical evaluation to assess posture, muscle tone, and joint function. Your physical therapist will develop a treatment plan and provide you with a diagnosis and plan of care for treatment. This will include the duration and frequency of treatment, in addition to exercises to work on at home. 

When You Should See a Physical Therapist

Physical therapy is a division of medicine that helps your body recover from injury. Whether you were in an accident, had surgery, or just aren’t able to move like you once were, physical therapy may be able to help you recover. However, physical therapy isn’t just something to be undertaken on a whim. It’s important to make sure you know when to contact a physical therapist.

Post-Injury Healing

Perhaps the most common reason to see a physical therapist in Lanham, MD is to help with recovery after surgery or injury. No matter the circumstances behind your injury, the recovery process can be long and grueling. Physical therapy at Ameriwell can help make healing easier on your body. This therapy should help you regain the full range of motion you had before your injury. Your physical therapist will create a personalized plan for your recovery that can help you get back to your old self.

Chronic Pain Relief

Another common reason people see a physical therapist is for help with their chronic pain. Conditions such as arthritis or fibromyalgia can leave people in pain for most of their life. While these conditions benefit from the aid of medicine, a physical therapist in Lanham, MD can also help to lessen the pain level. If you struggle with a condition that leaves you sore and aching constantly, physical therapy may be able to help you. Your Ameriwell therapist will evaluate your condition and find the best way to help you. If your chronic pain is getting the better of you and keeping you from enjoying your life to the fullest, it might be time to contact a physical therapist.

Longevity Aid

Finally, seeing a physical therapist in Lanham, MD can help prevent early-onset aging. As your body gets older, things like balance and muscle mass begin to decline. With these things declining, joint pain and potential injury come far easier. Physical therapy at Ameriwell can help to keep your body in shape, giving you the chance to prevent that premature aging. By staying in shape through physical therapy, tasks that were once difficult, such as walking up stairs or getting in and out of a car, may be easier on you and your joints. The exercises your therapist chooses for you will help you in the areas you most need, so don’t be afraid to tell them where you’re struggling. If you feel like you’re losing mobility due to impending age, look into seeing an Ameriwell physical therapist to help you. 

Preparing For Your First Physical Therapist Appointment 

When you are dealing with chronic pain or acute pain from a recent injury, you may need to get surgery. However, there is a lot more that goes into surgery than some might think. I addition to the anesthesia, you could be dealing with weeks or months of pain from recovery as well as needing to be on different pain medications. After surgery, many look at physical therapy to see how this can help them recover. If you are hoping to go a more natural route with your recovery, do not hesitate to call our office to speak with our Lanham, Maryland physical therapist. 

Before the Appointment

When you are getting ready to come to your physical therapy appointment, please feel free to jot down any questions or concerns you may have about the whole process. You may want to know how physical therapy will impact your life, how often you need to come, and if it will help the different symptoms you are experiencing. If you have recently been to a doctor’s office and have medical charts or labs, your physical therapist may want to look at those to ensure you are getting the treatment that is best for you. 

It is also best to bring in a list of vitamins and medications that you are currently taking because your physical therapist will want to evaluate your progress throughout physical therapy. 

What should I wear? 

Your physical therapist may have specific kinds of clothes they recommend you wear when you come in. However, you can expect the best thing for you to wear will be something that is loose and comfortable because you may be asked to practice certain stretches or do different exercises. 

What to Expect

During your first appointment, you should expect to have an evaluation. Your physical therapist will want background on what your injury is and how you got it. They will want a medical history and they will want to know how this injury is impacting your day-to-day life. Can you still do hobbies? Are you having problems getting out of bed in the morning? They will ask you detailed questions about all of this so that they can begin creating a treatment plan that is specific to your needs. 

Expect them to look at your range of motion, posture, and flexibility so that they can see how bad your injury is. 

3 Questions to Ask Your Physical Therapist

Beginning a new physical therapy regimen can be a daunting proposition. For the most part, people undergo this type of treatment because they are experiencing pain or they need to recover from a surgical procedure. It is natural for people to feel skeptical about the utility of therapy because the primary goal is to address pain, but therapy itself can feel painful. If you are starting a relationship with a new treatment provider, asking some important questions can give you a better sense of what lies ahead on the road to recovery and exactly what you need to do in order to stay on track.

2. How Long Will I Be in Therapy?

Typically, a person’s primary care physician or orthopedist will give them a referral to undergo physical therapy. A referral may state the duration of a treatment plan, but the exact number of sessions that you need to attend may depend on the evaluation of a physical therapist in your first evaluation. If you are getting a physical therapist in Lanham, MD at Ameriwell, you and your therapist can review any plan provided by your doctor and also discuss the length of treatment that is generally necessary for your condition.

2. What Are the Goals of My Treatment?

Having identifiable goals is helpful in motivating patients to do some of the harder work that a regimen can involve. When you seek help from a physical therapist in Lanham, MD, you should ask about specific goals for a therapy program. Therapists at Ameriwell can advise you about the primary objectives of your treatment plan including reducing your pain levels, improving your pain levels, or completing activities that you are currently finding challenging due to your condition.

3. Do I Need to Refrain From Certain Activities?

A physical therapist may offer some valuable insight about physical activities that you need to avoid or moderate. Overexertion can lead to setbacks in the progress that you achieve with your physcal therapy regimen, so it is important that you heed warnings about temporary limitations. You can also ask about how soon you can revisit the possbity of resuming various physical tasks.

There is a natural tendency to want a quick fix for medical issues. A physical therapy regimen is not a quick fix for a problem but rather an ongoing treatment in which patients need to play an active role. Asking questions helps you start the process with clear goals and expectations. 

Do’s and Don’ts of Physical Therapy

Do Provide a Complete Medical History

The more information you give your Ameriwell physical therapist in Lanham, MD, the better able to treat you she’ll be. Focus on your problem areas, but don’t ignore the rest of your body. Pain can be referred from one body part to another; your physical therapist can identify referred pain and treat it.

Do Talk to Your Therapist

Throughout your physical therapy journey, keep the lines of communication open. Don’t try to be stoic and bear the pain in silence; tell your physical therapist something hurts. Her goal is to get you out of pain, but she can’t do that if you don’t talk to her.

Do Complete Your Home Exercises

Think of your home exercises like homework. You’d get in big trouble with your parents if you didn’t do your homework, right? Your physical therapy homework is even more important. If you only work on physical therapy with your physical therapist, you aren’t going to make the progress you want.

Do Commit Fully to the Process

However silly or ridiculous you may feel doing certain movements, just go with it. Your physical therapist in Lanham, MD, isn’t asking you to do those movements so she can laugh at you; she’s asking you to do them because they will help you heal.

Don’t Expect That the Therapist Will Fix You

Physical therapy isn’t like taking your car into the mechanic’s shop. The mechanic fixes your car so it’s as good as new; the physical therapist gives you exercises to do so you can fix yourself over time. 

Don’t Focus Only on the Negative

Study after study has shown that there is a mind-body connection, and that what you focus on comes into being. If you only focus on the pain, you’re going to have more pain. Conversely, if you focus on the fact that you’re healing, you could heal faster.

Don’t Rely on Only Passive Treatments

Passive treatments include massage, acupuncture and chiropractic care. They’ll help you recover from your injury, but they can only get you so far. They need to be accompanied by active treatments to get the full benefit and healing you need. 

Don’t Drop Out of Physical Therapy

Whatever your injury, physical therapy isn’t a quick fix. It’s a long process to heal muscles, ligaments and bones. When there’s pain at the beginning of your treatment, it can be tempting to drop out. Your therapist is trained to recognize the normal pain from physical therapy and can refer you to another medical practitioner if needs be. 

Lantham Physical Therapy Statistics

According to a study published in the Journal of Physical Therapy Science, researchers found that physical therapy was effective at reducing pain in people with a variety of conditions, including low back pain, neck pain, and shoulder pain, in some people up to 80 percent.

Lanham Physical Therapist Infographic

Misconceptions About Physical Therapy

A physical therapist in Lanham, MD is a professional, licensed movement expert who assists patients with reducing pain, improving mobility, and encouraging more daily activity. Although it is very beneficial, there are some common misconceptions that often deter people from seeking physical therapy. The following are some of those misconceptions and their realities. 

Misconception – I Will Need a Referral to See a Physical Therapist

Reality – Up to 70 percent of people think they need a referral before seeing a physical therapist. In general, a referral from your doctor is not required to be seen by a physical therapist. There are some states that have restrictions in place which limit the therapy provided without a referral. You can talk with AmeriWell Clinics to learn more about this. 

Misconception – Physical Therapy is Painful

Reality – A Lanham, MD physical therapist does not want you to be in more pain. Their goal is to minimize your pain and discomfort. They will work with you to help you heal and restore movement. It should be noted that some patients will feel discomfort while doing certain movements or exercises. This is normal. This discomfort will go away shortly after the session, or with ice and anti-inflammatories. 

Misconception – Physical Therapy is Only for Accidents

Reality – Physical therapists are not only for patients who’ve just been injured or are recovering from surgery. They are very good at identifying potential problems before they lead to an injury. These problems may include, carpal tunnel syndrome, frozen shoulder, headaches, low back pain, and more. 

Misconception – Any Doctor Can Be a Physical Therapist 

Reality – A physical therapist in Lanham, MD has been specially trained in their field. They are then licensed by the appropriate board and state. Just as a primary care physician would not perform brain surgery, a physical therapist must have training within that precise field of study. Any medical professional cannot choose to utilize physical therapy without the right training and licensure. 

Misconception – Insurance Does Not Cover Physical Therapy

Reality – Most insurance policies cover physical therapy. Beyond insurance, this method of treatment may be able to reduce costs by helping people avoid scans, medications, surgeries, or other treatments. It can also help to prevent injuries from happening. 

Misconception – Physical Therapy Won’t Prevent Me Needing Surgery

Reality – Many people will find that physical therapy sessions are just as effective as surgery. Whether you have a meniscal tear, osteoarthritis, or degenerative disk disease, you should try physical therapy before you decide to undergo an operation. 

Misconception – I Can Do Physical Therapy on My Own

Reality – Although you are encouraged to participate in your treatment, you need to be guided by a licensed physical therapist in Lanham, MD. Your therapist can leverage their expertise and the latest available technology to treat your symptoms safely and efficiently. 

Physical therapy is a very good treatment option for a broad range of conditions, injuries, and bodily issues. If you are in pain or are experiencing a sudden onset of physical symptoms, it may help to be treated by a Lanham, MD physical therapist. For an appointment, call AmeriWell Clinics.

AmeriWell Clinics is dedicated to helping our patients achieve optimal results through treatments. We keep your health at the top of our priority list by providing patients with a customized treatment plan to evaluate and treat their condition to improve physical functioning. We offer a range of services aimed at helping our patients suffering from chronic pain and injuries. Call our Lanham, Maryland physical therapist, to schedule your appointment today!