Discover the 35 most frequently asked questions regarding Physical Therapy.
35
MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
REGARDING PHYSICAL THERAPY
Easy To Use Mobile Download
Copyright Notice ©2017 Power Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine All rights reserved. Any unauthorized use, sharing, reproduction or distribution of these materials by any means, electronic, mechanical, or otherwise is strictly prohibited. No portion of these materials may be reproduced in any matter whatsoever, without the express written consent of the publisher. Published under the Copyright Laws of The US, by: ower Physical Thera 3140 Red Hill Ave STE 225 Costa Mesa, CA 92626
www.powerptsm.com
The 35 Most Frequently Asked Questions Power PT & Sports Medicine
About The Author: Mark Nowlin Mark C. Nowlin, DPT, OCS, CSCS is a California licensed Physical Therapist, and a member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). Dr. Nowlin has 15 years of experience specializing in orthopedic and sport medicine physical therapy. He is recognized as an Orthopedic Certified Specialist (OCS) by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS), something that less than 10% of Physical Therapists in California have achieved. He founded Power Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine in 2011. Having completed rigorous courses of study in specialized education and through several years of active practice Dr. Nowlin has acquired extensive knowledge of biomechanics, human anatomy and human physiology. In addition, Dr. Nowlin has extensive experience assessing and treating a wide range of musculoskeletal and orthopedic conditions, including occupational and sport injuries. He works with a wide range of clients, from youth to seniors, and with athletes of all ages and at all levels, from amateurs to professionals. His specialty and treatment philosophy are to provide manual, “hands-on” treatment combined with proven exercise methods and a tailored home program to help the client achieve excellent results. Dr. Nowlin also enjoys giving back to the community by participating as an Adjunct Professor at Vanguard University in their Kinesiology Department. He is a local resident of Huntington Beach, and in his leisure time he enjoys spending time with his wife and children, and taking part in outdoor activities like running, hiking, camping, and golf. Introduction In this special report written to help “lift the lid on Physical Therapy,” I share with you 35 very common questions, provide answers, offer clarity and debunk myths (…and the skepticism) that many people have and hold concerning the Physical Therapy industry. This special report is for health conscious men and women, serious about their health. Particularly, those who are determined enough to do something about ill health and want to do whatever it takes to find a return to better health. It is compiled from years of taking concerning questions left on my patient message board, inquisitive email replies, questions from people who walk in to out PT clinics in person, those who call in on the phone and even “live chat” their queries to us… and they all have one thing in common: They come from men and women who value their health enough to go out of their way and make a simple inquiry about what they can do about the first signs of ill-health, and more, ASK exactly how Physical Therapy can help them achieve their goal of returning to great health. The questions, and the honest answers which follow, are in no particular order. And I’ll use all the questions as the context for my response about what PT is, and what we can do (for you) here at Power Physical Therapy .
www.powerptsm.com
The 35 Most Frequently Asked Questions Power PT & Sports Medicine
Physical Therapy – Your 35 FAQ’s Answered
Q1. How long before I feel the difference from Physical Therapy? A1. There are two ways physical therapy can help, and a good PT will lift your concerns and ease your worries by telling you what’s going wrong, often within 10-15 minutes. Shouldn’t take much longer. Next, the speed at which the physical problem is eased is completely dependent upon your age, how long you’ve suffered, how severe it is etc., as well as the treatment skills of the PT. Rarely does anyone spend more than 2-4 weeks (unless long standing problems, severe injury or surgical recovery) in our care before leaving happy. It often works that quickly. Q2. What actually is Physical Therapy? A2. Physical Therapy is a proven strategy for first easing the worries and concerns of people suffering from aches, pain and stiffness, then helping that person move freely again, bending further, stretching easier and living an active and healthy lifestyle into their 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. More, it lets that person live free from the worry that the same problem will come back to haunt them anytime soon. Q3. Do I get personal support if I need it? A3. Yes. If you arrange to try PT with us, you’ll be given almost full access to your therapist, who will be on hand to take your call or reply to your emails, for as long as you need. Q4. Does PT help someone like me? A4. Here’s a list of the types of people PT helps: 1 . People aged 30-70 who love to be active- Why ? Because men, women and couples “on-the-go” have lots of good reasons to get better fast. 2 . People still working (and want to remain that way…) Especially sales people, managers, civil servants, engineers, office workers, teachers, manual workers, nurses, health care workers, lawyers, even doctors…Why? Because they need to move easily and sit comfortably for long periods in order to perform well in their jobs. 3. People aged 55+ and determined to remain independent- Why? Because many people see the impact that physical ill health has taken up their parents.
www.powerptsm.com
The 35 Most Frequently Asked Questions Power PT & Sports Medicine
4. Especially active and involved Grandparent- Why? Grandparents who play games with their grandkids, help with schoolwork or like to walk with them to and from school, take them places or babysit them, often tell is that’s why the felt the need to come and try PT. 5. People who take their health very seriously- Why? A lot of the people who visit us are very “pro- active” about their health. That means they read up on foods, vitamins, health topics, try to eat right, take vitamins & other supplements such as cod liver oil- and do their best to stay out of the MDs office and the hospital. The very same motivations to stay out of the MD office are the reasons “why” to come to see a PT like me. Q5. What if I book an appointment today, then before I get to you, there’s a positive change in my condition and I don’t need to come and see you anymore? A5. Great! Best Outcome…just give us a call to cancel your appointment and we will cancel your appointment from our schedule and ask that you keep in touch to let us know how you’re doing. Though, I often recommend at the least to come in one visit to make sure your motion, flexibility and strength are good and balanced, so you will not repeat the issue in near future. Q6. What should I wear to therapy? A6. Our office staff can tell you this on the phone. But you never have to remove large chunks of clothing. To make your PT experience as comfortable as possible please keep in mind the location of your injured body part. Q7. What if I don’t want to make another appointment after my first visit, do you take it personally? A7. Not at all. And that’s fine by me. Our first priority is to tell you what’s going wrong and then tell you what would be your best options for care. Once we’ve done that, it is your decision on how you would like to handle your care. We KNOW we can give you amazing care and results. Q8. How likely is it that physical therapy will be able to help me? A8. If your problem or concern is one of pain and/or stiffness in the muscles or joints of the following area(s): *Back *Hip * Knee *Neck/Shoulder *Ankle *Foot/Ankle *Wrist/Hand Then its 99% likely that PT will be able to help you, and there are various ways we might do that. Q9. Can I talk to a therapist before I book just to confirm PT is right for me? A9. Absolutely! Just call us using this number 714-557-2100, or even email your questions to me using mark@powerptsm.com and we will get back to you ASAP.
www.powerptsm.com
The 35 Most Frequently Asked Questions Power PT & Sports Medicine
Q10. Will you do anything at the first session to help my pain? A10. Yes. It’s always our intention to start making progress on the pain and/or stiffness immediately, as well as help ease your nervousness, concerns and frustrations. Q11. Isn’t PT just for younger people who are injured and who play sports? A11. Absolutely NOT. I’ll be the first to admit that PT helps people who do play sports ( I have worked with pro basketball and hockey players, and a multitude of college and high school athletes)but, PT is actually much more valuable to help people who are aged 35+ who just want to keep active and on-the- go for as long as is possible. Q12. Will I get any exercises or anything like that to take home with me? A12. Only if the time is right and I think you doing them is not going to make your pain worse. I’ll give you as many hints or tips as possible that you can be using when you go back home that night. Q13. What will happen if I don’t choose to go and see a physical therapist? A13. Your current predicament will continue, and you’ll run the risk of doing unforeseen and untold damage to the joints if they’re not moved back into the correct position, or muscles made stronger. Q14. “This only happened the other day”, and I’m in a lot of pain. How long should I leave it before I come in and see a physical therapist for help? A14. ASAP. There will always be a number of things that we can do. Sometimes it’s as simple as “Do this, but don’t do that…” And the first will be to tell you what NOT to do. So many people make fatal, miss informed mistakes when it comes to dealing with sudden pain. Every decision that you get wrong in the first few days will, very likely, add to the length of time it will take to get better. Q15. Somebody mentioned a Chiropractor to me, what’s the difference between Physical Therapy and a Chiropractor? A15. To be brief, a PT looks for a cure. And our aim is to help you so much that you will not need to constantly keep coming back to us. So a PT will work you out a plan, to work on stopping the injury from happening again. We can do very similar techniques as osteopaths and chiropractors, such as manipulation of your spine, but we do added things such as massage and stretching and believe that the combination of that, plus exercises and posture correction will first reduce your pain fast, but also help you manage your pain in the coming years to avoid the need for repetitive visits to see us. Osteopaths and chiropractors are both fantastically effective at reducing back pain and many of the good ones will even refer their patients to a PT for the things like massage and exercises that they sometimes don’t do.
www.powerptsm.com
The 35 Most Frequently Asked Questions Power PT & Sports Medicine
Q16. I can’t figure this thing out. One minute I’m not bothered by it, then the next it can quite literally take my breath away. Just when I think it’s getting better, it hits me again! What if I come in and see you and it doesn’t hurt at that time, will I be wasting my time? A16. No. Pain is not really what we do! Physical Therapy is about finding whatever it is that is causing the thing to happen in the first place. And, if your injury is now a few weeks old, two things are likely to be happening. The first is that the joints and muscles are locked stiff, or jammed in one place, so every time you get to a certain point they don’t want to move and will give off a sharp pain. Second, is that now you’re likely to have inflexible and weak muscles. And the combination of that plus locked joints=long term problems. Q17. Is Physical Therapy guaranteed to help me like I hope? A17. That depends on what your hope is, but like most things, there are no guarantees. But, after a few sessions we will know IF the therapy will be beneficial. We do have great success, but IF there is an underlying cause that we cannot see or find, occasionally improvement does not occur. Q18. Does this sort of thing happen to other people like me? A18. We see many people with the same sorts of injuries, all day long. Particularly, the 35-64+ age group who suffer from aches, pains and stiffness. Q19. What is the long term benefit of me choosing to go and see a physical therapist? A19.You can have the freedom in your life to do what you want and when you want to do it, unrestricted by pain or stiffness. Q20. How quickly will I be seen? A20. Our goal is to get people in within 48 hours, often times we have squeezed people in on the same day. Q21. I’m not in any pain per se – I’m just experiencing lots of stiffness and tightness and worried that somethings about to go “pop” (meaning I will be). Am I right to be considering physical therapy? A21. You are PERFECT for physical therapy (and us). Some people think that physical therapy is about ending pain – that’s only ONE thing we do. But it isn’t the BEST. The aim is to stop you from ever getting to the point where you’re in lots of pain by making you looser, more flexible and your body stronger and able to withstand the amount of activity you want to do, no matter what your age.
www.powerptsm.com
The 35 Most Frequently Asked Questions Power PT & Sports Medicine
Q22. What’s the difference between a good physical therapist and a bad one? A22. Just three things: 1. The amount of “care” taken (easy to spot). 2. The hands on techniques and skills being used. 3. Ability to accurately diagnose an injury Q23. Can physical therapy help me if I have arthritis? A23. Yes! But please understand it can’t CURE it. But it can very easily help manage the symptoms it causes. Many people come to therapy aged 45+ and suffering with “wear and tear” (arthritis) inside their knee joints etc. We can minimize those aches and pains with the proper stretching and strengthening activities. Q24. I have had “clicking”, “clunking” and “cracking” noises happening in my joints for a few years now. And the pain is just starting to get worse with it. I’m 48. Is physical therapy for me? A24. Yes. You’re an almost perfect candidate for physical therapy. This is a typical story. Most joint problems begin with warning signs like the “clicks and cracks” you’ve been hearing. And then a few years later comes the pain Q25. I’m a runner and am not in any pain on the outside of my knee when I rest, but it ‘fires up’ whenever I get back on the trail. Is that common and do I need physical therapy? A25. Yes and Yes. Most sports injuries settle down so that you can walk around and do simple everyday things without pain. But as soon as you step it up a level or two, if the problem is still there, it lets you know in the way of tightness, pain or swelling and stiffness Q26. Is there anyone that physical therapy ISNT right for? A26. Yes. Anyone who is expecting a miracle and hoping to be fixed in one visit. Rarely possible,
particularly for injuries happening to men and women aged 35+. Q27. What does physical therapy treatment actually entail?
A27. Things like massage/manual therapy, stretching and loosening of joints and muscles, combined with exercises and advice to improve posture. We also have PTs who are trained in several unique
techniques and exercise programs. Q28. Is physical therapy painful?
A28. Not really. But it is true that therapy is a very physical experience, and as such, treatments may be a little uncomfortable at times, but we will always aim to be as gentle as possible, and cause the minimal discomfort we possibly can, to get your problem solved as fast as we can. Before we do any therapy techniques we will tell you exactly what is about to happen, whether or not it is likely to hurt, and for how long.
www.powerptsm.com
The 35 Most Frequently Asked Questions Power PT & Sports Medicine
Q29. Will I get some things (tips) that I can be doing at home to help myself get better quicker? A29. Absolutely. The aim is to help you in every which way that we can. Primarily, we will do everything for you, but of course, you’re only with us for 45-60 minutes, so, we aim to “arm” you with tools, hints and tips that you can use to make a difference that you will feel, very quickly, on your own. Q30. How important are exercises to my recovery? A30. Not as much as you’ve been led to believe. They’re more important to stop the problem from coming back. That said, they do play a role in your recovery but most people do the wrong ones, at the wrong time, in the wrong order, for the wrong reasons. A good physical therapist will stop that from occurring. Q31. How long does the session last? A31. Depends on your condition really. Typically, you should expect a session to run 60 minutes, give or take a few minutes. Reality is, it will take as long as you need to get the help you came looking for. Q32. Will I be in any pain after the treatment i.e. the next day? A32. It is not uncommon to be sore the day after a session, mostly due to either us moving you in ways you are not used to, or you doing more than previously due to feeling better. It is often unavoidable and most patients eventually concede that the pain is a nice sort of pain, one they know that is doing them some good, and is often no worse than the pain that they are already in. The discomfort usually reduces as treatment progresses and we always advise you on things like ice, heat or certain exercises to help minimize that discomfort. If it’s painful the next day, ice usually soothes it! Q33. Do I need a referral from my Dr.? A33. No, unless you are planning to use Medicare to cover your visits or are part of an HMO group. We are able to see anyone without a Dr. Referral, with exception of Medicare or HMO clients. Just give us a call and book. If you’re willing to invest in your health, you’re very welcome to come see us, and we would LOVE to take great care of you. Q34. Can I bring a friend in to the treatment room with me? A34. Yes. No problem. You do not need to inform us of this decision in advance. If you are accompanied by a friend or family, then we will often ask if you would like them to join you in the therapy room during treatment. Alternatively, they can wait in the reception if you would prefer. Q35. How often will I need treatment? A35. That will depend upon the nature of your injury and how quickly you want the improvements. Our aim is to return you to full fitness/function as quickly and as safely as possible. Your PT will be in a better position to answer this following your initial consultation.
www.powerptsm.com
The 35 Most Frequently Asked Questions Power PT & Sports Medicine
BIG TIP: Getting in early nearly always means less time to recover and less PT sessions needed. Conclusion So, there you have it: 35 Questions answered that take you behind the scenes of a real live Private Physical Therapy Practice. More, you’ve just read the most common concerns, questions and myths that surround the PT industry. I hope the answers have provided you with clarity, debunked any myths and put to bed any skepticism that may, or may not be stopping you from accessing a very valuable service- one that can quite literally change how active you are, and how healthy you look and feel – in your 40’s, 50’s, 60’s and beyond. I Hope this is the beginning of a great, long term relationship where myself and my colleagues from the Power PT and Sports Medicine Team become the source of leading edge health advice for you and make a real difference to your life. Mark C. Nowlin Power Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine Costa Mesa, CA www.powerptsm.com Health Advice Disclaimer We make every effort to ensure that we accurately represent the injury advice and prognosis displayed throughout this guide. However, examples of injuries and their prognosis are based on typical representations of those injuries that we commonly see in our physiotherapy clinics. The information given is not intended as representations of every individual’s potential injury. As with any injury, each person’s symptoms can vary widely and each person’s recovery from injury can also vary depending upon background, genetics, previous medical history, application of exercises, posture, motivation to follow physio advice and various other physical factors. It is impossible to give a 100% complete accurate diagnosis and prognosis without a thorough physical examination and likewise the advice given for management of an injury cannot be deemed fully accurate in the absence of this examination from one of the Licensed PTs at Power Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine. We are able to offer you this service at a standard charge. Significant injury risk is possible if you do not follow due diligence and seek suitable professional advice about your injury. No guarantees of specific results are expressly made or implied in this report. You can contact me at: Mark@powerptsm.com 714-557-2100 Dedicated to getting you moving and active, like you deserve,
www.powerptsm.com
The 35 Most Frequently Asked Questions Power PT & Sports Medicine
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10Made with FlippingBook HTML5