Car Accident
Have you been injured in a car accident and nervous about your recovery? If you know what to expect at a physical therapy session chances are you will realize they aren’t as bad as you think.
Going through the recovery process will only get you back to a comfortable level of movement in a satisfactory time frame, so why wouldn’t you do it? To calm the anxiety and apprehension you may have about going to physical therapy, here’s what you can expect on your first visit.
Paperwork
Your first physical therapy appointment will include filling out a lot of paperwork. Make sure you bring in all the necessary paperwork to avoid any long delays.
Any prescriptions you have been given by your doctor should be included with your paperwork. Write down as much of your medical history as possible, so your physical therapist has a thorough understanding of your health.
Also, include a list of your current doctors that can be contacted if needed.
Thorough Examination
After all of your paperwork is completed your physical therapist may have a few questions for you regarding your everyday life. This will include your home environment and the type of activities you do that may cause discomfort.
They may also run tests to determine your current level of health. These tests may involve your various levels of stress, as well as overall mobility.
The first session won’t simply be a short 30 minute sit down, so plan your day accordingly as yet therapist plans to find exactly tries to figure out exactly what they need to do to get you back to top condition.
Treatment Plan
After your physical therapist determines the best method for your recovery, they may create a full treatment plan for you to follow. This treatment plan may include specific exercises that need to be done in their office or can be done at your own free will.
If a specific medicine needs to be prescribed the therapist can recommend that as well. Any special equipment that may be needed during the recovery process will also be determined by the physical therapist.
It is extremely important to understand that if you do not follow the recommended treatment plan, there is little to no chance of you ever fully recovering.
It should also be noted that even if you follow the treatment plan exactly as it is written out, results will vary as every person recovers differently.
You and your therapist will have goals in place until you are as close to 100% as possible, but you should also know that it may be years before you get back to the level you were before the car accident.
What to Expect at a Physical Therapy Session
So now that you have an understanding of what to expect at a physical therapy session, what steps will you take to get ready for the session? Comment below and don’t forget to contact us to set up your first appointment.
Car Accident
When you’re hurt in a car accident, slip and fall, worker’s compensation case or other scenarios, it’s vital that you get physical therapy to get back on your feet.
Physical therapy is essential to healing neck and back pain, and also help you regain mobility. It’s a natural part of the recovery process that shouldn’t be taken lightly.
However, how can you pay for the physical therapy as the bills pile up?
In this regard, you need to learn all that you can about physical therapy insurance, so you can maximize coverage and pay your bills. To this end, consider the points below to learn more.
1. Find a Physical Therapist That Can Heal You Effectively and Quickly
The physical therapist that you choose means everything.
When you choose the best therapist, you’ll heal quick and effective. This alone reduces your bills and keeps you on track.
Get recommendations on physical therapists to be sure you’re on track.
2. Document Everything and Communicate With Your Insurance Provider
You’re doing yourself a huge favor by documenting everything. Keep hard copies and digital copies of your medical bills and information.
Organize them in a manageable way so that you’re able to prove any part of your medical care.
3. Look into Financing Options for Your Physical Therapy
Though your physical therapy after an accident is generally tied to pending litigation or settlements, some therapists require you to pay upfront or be billed.
In this case, you can set up a payment plan for your care. Most physical therapists are willing to help you out in this regard, especially if you have a strong case and they know they’ll eventually be paid.
4. Talk to an Attorney If Necessary
Nothing makes things move along faster than an attorney that can keep track of things and apply pressure.
Hire a personal injury lawyer that can oversee your situation and make phone calls and e-mails on your behalf. They don’t get paid until you do, so you don’t need to worry about paying them out of pocket.
5. Work out and Train on Your Own
You’ll be able to heal quicker and lower your bills when you take your health and well-being into your own hands.
To this end, make sure you’re doing exercises on your own, outside of physical therapy sessions. Lift weights and do yoga to keep your body strong and limber.
6. Stay Patient, Yet Diligent
These matters can take some time, so make sure that you’re patient and proactive.
It can be a long road, so you’ll need to handle it properly. The payoff, in the end, is worth it.
Handle Your Physical Therapy Needs
Staying on top of these matters will help you with your physical therapy insurance claim. Follow these tips so that you can heal properly.
To get the physical therapy that you need, schedule an appointment with us today!
Car Accident
Physical therapy helps with many injuries and physical conditions. But what is it and who needs it? Click here and understand the benefits of physical therapy.
Each year approximately 2 million people sustain permanent injuries in car accidents. These injuries can lead to serious disabilities that cause long-term pain, loss of mobility, and the inability to function day to day.
Many people in this situation feel prescription drugs are the only answer to their pain. They’re also faced with the possibility of numerous surgeries in order to regain the quality of life they had before.
However, physical therapy offers an alternative solution to individuals injured in an auto accident. It provides a natural way to rehabilitate injured areas and allow you to take control of your recovery.
Let’s go over the benefits of physical therapy so you can determine if it’s right for you.
What is Physical Therapy?
A physical therapist is much different than a general physician. They provide hands-on treatment to help restore your strength and mobility after an injury.
Instead of using medication or surgery, physical therapy utilizes exercises and stretching techniques that focus on specific problem areas. The practice also helps you mitigate pain related to an injury.
A physical therapist will use a number of approaches depending on your injury. This may include stretching exercises to relieve tight muscles and joints. These exercises can help reduce the formation of scar tissue.
Strength exercises help you regain muscle functionality and range of motion. This is important after serious injuries that require immediate surgery.
In addition to working with you on a one-on-one basis, a physical therapist will teach you ways to continue your treatment on your own. This means you’ll take control of your own recovery instead of relying on medications that only ease symptoms temporarily.
The Benefits of Physical Therapy
If you’re wondering whether you need physical therapy, one way to decide is to listen to your body. If you have trouble performing simple tasks or have targeted pain associated with your injury, it’s time to see a therapist.
You’ll also benefit from physical therapy if your injury caused a loss of mobility. If you now have a limited range of motion, a therapist can help you relieve tension so you can regain the flexibility you once had.
Your general doctor may also recommend seeing a physical therapist. This may be in conjunction with additional treatment or as a primary rehabilitative process.
It’s important to understand your injury doesn’t have to be debilitating to pursue physical therapy. You can seek treatment for a very minor issue like a sprained ankle.
Regardless of the severity of your injury, physical therapy will provide the following benefits.
Help with Pain Management
After an auto accident, there’s a good chance you’re dealing with ongoing pain. This pain can affect your ability to work or function normally. It can also lead to other issues such as trouble sleeping.
Physical therapy will focus on soft tissues and joints in order to mobilize them. This results in restored functionality and a reduction in pain.
A physical therapist may use ultrasound to pinpoint the exact cause of pain and treat it with ultrasound therapy. They’ll then use hands-on techniques such as joint mobilization and massage therapy to reposition and relax joints and muscles.
This is a much safer alternative to pain medication. Opioids carry a high risk of addiction and can result in withdrawal symptoms once you stop taking them. There are also other side-effects including nausea, depression, and sleeplessness.
Regain Mobility
After an accident, you may have trouble doing simple things like walking, standing, or bending over. This can make daily life extremely frustrating.
A physical therapist will help strengthen the joints and muscles that sustained injury. They’ll also use stretching and massage techniques to help relax the problem areas. The goal is to restore movement and flexibility.
It’s very common for pain to cause loss of mobility. Easing your pain through natural techniques instead of medication will allow your joints and muscles to strengthen, leading to long-term rehabilitation. You won’t achieve this while relying on pain medication.
Some severe injuries result in lifetime disability of some sort. This means you’ll never fully regain the range of motion you once had. However, ongoing physical therapy can help restore a portion of the mobility you once had.
It’s important to understand you may need years of physical therapy. You’ll also need to practice techniques on your own time to advance the rate of rehabilitation.
Improve Balance
After an injury, there’s a good chance you won’t have the balance you did before. This is dangerous, as you’re now at a higher risk of falling and further injuring yourself.
A therapist will determine if the possibility of falling is present. If this is the case, they’ll work with you to help return your balance and coordination.
Physical therapists use exercises that mimic common, everyday circumstances. The goal is to strengthen your balance so these situations don’t present a risk of further injury.
They can also work with you to eliminate any dizziness associated with your vestibular system. This is a sensory function in your body that helps with balance and coordination.
Eliminate the Need for Surgery
A huge benefit of physical therapy is that you may be able to treat your injuries without the need for surgery. This means no recovery time, pain, or medications.
Depending on your injury, therapy may provide the same results as surgery. It may take longer to achieve these results, but it’s worth it if it means avoiding invasive surgical procedures.
If your injuries are severe enough to require emergency surgery, physical therapy can help you recover faster. Some people even opt for pre-surgery therapy to prepare for the recovery process.
Make sure you talk to your doctor about choosing physical therapy over surgical treatment. They can break down the pros and cons to help you determine which path is better for you.
Take Control of Your Recovery
After an auto accident, you may feel helpless against the pain and lack of mobility caused by your injuries. However, physical therapy will empower you to take control of your own rehabilitation.
Keep these benefits of physical therapy in mind when deciding which treatment plan is right for you.
We provide solutions for individuals injured in auto accidents, workplace accidents, and slip and falls. Contact us today for a consultation.
Car Accident
Everything You Need to Know About Physical Therapy for Pain Management
If you have long-term pain, physical therapy can help reduce your pain. Here’s everything you need to know about physical therapy for pain management.
Every year, approximately 50 percent of all Americans over the age of 18 live with some kind of musculoskeletal injury or condition.
Lots of people experience musculoskeletal injuries and could benefit from physical therapy. But, only a fraction of them actually works with a physical therapist to try and fix their problem.
Are you on the fence about seeing a physical therapist? Are you unsure of what they do or how they can help you with your pain?
If you’re hesitant about seeing a physical therapist, keep reading.
Everything you need to know about physical therapy for pain management is explained below.
What is Physical Therapy?
There’s a lot of confusion surrounding the field of physical therapy. In fact, a lot of people don’t even know what physical therapy is or what a physical therapist does.
Here’s some basic information you ought to keep in mind when considering whether or not a physical therapist can help you.
Physical therapists provide a variety of services that are meant to help people develop, maintain, and restore their movement and functional abilities.
Their goal is to help patients maximize all aspects (physical, mental, emotional, social) of their well-being and quality of life.
Physical therapists can help people of any age or stage of life. People work with a physical therapist to treat and recover from a wide range of conditions, including:
- Cardiopulmonary conditions (COPD, cystic fibrosis, post-myocardial infarction, etc.)
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Trigger finger
- Chronic pain
- Sports injuries (ankle sprains, knee dislocations, rotator cuff tears, etc.)
- Neurological conditions (stroke, spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injuries, etc.)
Some physical therapists also work with postpartum women to treat issues like pelvic floor dysfunction.
Benefits of Physical Therapy for Pain Management
If you’re struggling with chronic pain or any kind of musculoskeletal injury, a physical therapist can be a great person to have in your corner. There are lots of ways that physical therapy can help with pain management, including the following:
Set Specific Exercise Goals
Research consistently shows that exercise can help minimize physical pain. It’s especially beneficial to people who struggle with chronic pain.
Of course, if you’re brand new to exercise, or if it’s been a long time since you’ve exercised, it can be hard to know where to begin or what to focus on. You also have to be careful and make sure you don’t accidentally make your injury or condition worse.
A physical therapist can help you set specific exercise goals and design a program that will be effective for your needs.
Manual Therapy
Physical therapists often use types of manual therapy like manipulation, massage, dry needling, traction, and joint mobilization.
These therapies provide a lot of great benefits for people dealing with pain and injuries. Some specific benefits include:
- Minimizing swelling and inflammation
- Promoting relaxation
- Improve physical performance
- Increase movement abilities
- Prevent or treat impaired bodily functions
Manual therapies can also be used to improve overall health and wellness.
Education
Many people know very little about what is causing their pain or how their lifestyle could be making things worse.
A physical therapist can provide important education to help patients make changes that will improve their quality of life, minimize their pain, and prevent it from getting worse.
Additional Pain Management Techniques
Physical therapists also have access to a wide range of tools that can help minimize pain and improve mobility.
The following are some popular tools that physical therapists rely on:
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) unit: This tool interrupts pain signals by sending low-voltage electrical currents to the skin over injured or painful areas.
- Ultrasound: Ultrasound devices interrupt pain signals by sending sound waves to painful areas.
- Massage tools: Many physical therapists use massage tables, chairs, or other tools to help loosen up patients’ muscles and encourage relaxation
These tools are not always necessary to relieve pain. But, they can be very helpful, especially when they’re used under the guidance of a qualified physical therapist.
What to Expect from Physical Therapy
Many people feel anxious about going to physical therapy for the first time because they’re not sure what to expect.
Every physical therapist is different, of course. But, your first appointment will typically go something like this:
- When you first arrive, you’ll talk to your physical therapist about your condition
- He or she will then perform an examination and measure impairments that could contribute to or cause your pain
- When the exam is complete, the physical therapist will talk to you about what they observed and work with you to come up with a treatment plan
- They may also begin treatment after your initial examination
Your physical therapist will put together a treatment plan that is unique to you and your needs. Most plans involve two or three sessions per week for roughly 6-8 weeks.
How to Find the Right Physical Therapist
In order to experience the benefits of physical therapy, you need to make sure you’re working with the right physical therapist.
There are lots of physical therapists to choose from. These guidelines can help you find a qualified individual who can treat your specific condition:
- Ask for recommendations from friends or family members
- Check with your insurance provider to find a therapist who’s in your network
- Do some research online to learn more about the physical therapists in your area
- Check their online reviews to find out what people are saying about a particular therapist
- Schedule a consultation and pay attention to the way they communicate with you
During your initial consultation, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Ask about their education, experience, and the type of clients they typically see. The answers to these questions can help you determine whether or not they’re a good fit for you.
Meet with a Physical Therapist Today
Now that you know more about physical therapy for pain management, are you interested in working with a physical therapist?
Whether you’ve been injured in a car accident or are struggling with chronic pain, a physical therapist can help.
If you live in or around the Tampa or St. Petersburg, Florida areas, contact us at AJ Therapy Center today to schedule an appointment.
