When you’re healthy, it’s easy to take the little things for granted. For example, walking, running, exercising, or doing household chores. Most people have never had to deal with these issues, so they do not see the benefits. However, you may develop a condition, illness, or injury along the way, and suddenly, simple tasks like lifting or going up the stairs become difficult, uncomfortable, or even painful.
Fortunately, you do not have to continue living this way for the rest of your life. Physical therapy is a solution that can change your life for the better. So, contact Quantum Physical Therapy & Chiropractic Care in Riverhead, New York, to discuss your rehabilitation strategy.
Physical therapy (PT) is a healthcare specialty that involves evaluating and treating people who have difficulty with functional mobility. Its goal is to alleviate pain and improve your ability to function, move, and live. It is used in sports medicine to prevent injury and improve performance.
A physical therapist is a professional who has been trained in an accredited institution and is licensed by the state in which they work. If you have an injury or disease that makes it difficult for you to perform daily activities, your doctor will usually recommend physical therapy.
Your therapist will examine your medical history and ask about your symptoms, including how well you sleep and perform tasks, during your first physical therapy session. They will then perform diagnostic tests on you. These could include investigating:
How well do you climb steps?
Your ability to bend, reach, grasp, or generally move about
Your posture and balance
Your heart rate and heart rhythm when performing different activities
Once your therapist has determined your problem, they design a treatment plan for you.
You are aware that physical therapy is recommended for people suffering from pain or limited mobility. But what advantages do you stand to gain if you begin physical therapy sessions?
PT has been linked to several benefits. The most significant include:
Physical therapy techniques, particularly those targeting joints and soft tissues, can aid in the restoration of muscle and joint function. Pain is reduced or eliminated as a result.
Fractures and other types of injuries can occur as a result of sports, exercise, or even accidents. Certain conditions, such as a stroke, can also result in decreased body functioning. If you have experienced these problems, physical therapy can help nurse you back to health faster than most other options.
Your ability to stand, bend, walk, run, or move can be hampered by age, illness, or injury. Physical therapy can help you improve or restore your mobility in this case.
If you are an athlete or generally very active, sports physical therapy can teach you key exercises that you can perform to avoid injury and, consequently, prevent disability. Also, physical therapy improves mobility and function, which lowers your risk of sustaining an injury when going about your day.
Physical therapy can help you manage the symptoms of diabetes and vascular disease. PT, for example, allows for safe therapeutic exercise to lower sugar levels and increase energy levels in people with diabetes. It also helps with constipation, bowel incontinence, urinary incontinence, lymphedema, and fibromyalgia.
PT is also beneficial in easing pregnancy and postpartum symptoms. It has also often been used to address other health issues specific to women.
As you age, your risk of developing joint-related problems like arthritis and osteoporosis increases. PT is often prescribed to alleviate symptoms for patients dealing with these conditions.
All in all, physical therapy not only restores your health but also saves you thousands of dollars in medical or sports rehabilitation expenses.
We are one of several physical therapy clinics throughout the country. So, why are we here? Quantum, on the other hand, takes pride in being a one-of-a-kind evidence-based practice. Here’s what you get:
When you come to our clinic, our first priority is to thoroughly understand your specific problems. So we’ll talk to you, go over your medical history, and then run our own tests. Only after completing these steps will our physical therapist create an individualized care plan for you. In private treatment rooms, we provide one-on-one care. Our goal is to make you feel better, and we are committed to doing so.
Our physical therapists are trained, certified, and experienced in all of the Quantum techniques and exercises. The American Physical Therapy Association oversees everything. Having said that, our approach is patient-centered and hands-on, which means we understand your pain and will move at your pace.
We are committed to providing you with the highest quality of care. However, we understand that medical issues are frequently unexpected. As a result, we work hard to be accessible to everyone in Riverhead who requires our services.
Our goal is for our patients to live healthy lives long after they have completed treatment. As a result, we also provide patient education and home exercises to keep your body functioning properly.
No one wants to be involved in a car accident. However, most people will eventually be involved in one. According to a Fox Business report, you’ll likely be involved in three to four car accidents over the course of your life.
Quality medical care and physical therapy mean that most people will recover from car accidents without a disability or chronic pain. However, while it’s easy for many people to know they need medical care after a collision, most of them don’t know when to go for physical therapy after a car accident.
Many injuries that follow after a car crash do not require emergency care but will cause pain and other issues that may linger for years to come. This is why it’s important to see a physical therapist as soon as possible after the accident.
What are the signs to watch for? How soon is too soon to see a physical therapist?
Quantum Physical Therapy & Chiropractic Care, the first choice for people looking to undergo physical therapy in New York, covers the details.
You should schedule an appointment with a physical therapist after a car accident if you notice any of the following:
Accidents can cause debilitating pain due to the impact on your body. However, the pain should start to subside after a while in the days or weeks following your medical treatment.
If you’re still experiencing pain weeks after the accident and long after completing your medical treatment, it’s a clear sign that you have an underlying musculoskeletal injury that remains unaddressed.
Strains, sprains, and fractures can continue to cause chronic pain long after your car accident. According to a study published on Pub Med, 44% of people involved in a car accident reported pain as far away as three years later.
An experienced therapist can pinpoint the source of the pain and design physical therapy treatments targeted at addressing it properly.
Do you notice difficulties with moving parts of your body after recovering from your car accident? You should consider consulting a physical therapist. You’re most likely going to notice the limitation when you try to move your neck and limbs. You may also notice difficulties when you try to move your back.
Limited range of motion suggests damage to soft tissue that hasn’t healed fully.
A physical therapist can assess your range of motion and then develop a robust treatment plan to improve your mobility and flexibility. The treatment plan may include manual therapy, joint mobilization, and stretching exercises.
Headaches are common in car accident victims who experience a concussion or whiplash. The severity will range from mild to debilitating, making daily living difficult for you. The headaches should clear in the days or weeks following the accident. However, if you feel fine everywhere else but still find the headaches continuing, it’s a sign to see a physical therapist.
Some of the things the physical therapist might do to address the underlying cause of the headache include cervical spine alignment, muscle relaxation exercises, posture adjustment exercises, stress-reduction techniques, and more.
Are you still struggling with performing everyday tasks like dressing, driving, or lifting after recovering from your injuries after a car accident? It’s a good indication that you should see a physical therapist.
The difficulties you’re experiencing point to underlying musculoskeletal issues such as pain, weakness, and reduction in range of motion.
The physical therapist can evaluate the limitations to your function and then develop a customized treatment plan to help address them effectively. The treatment plan may feature adaptive techniques, ergonomic education, and targeted exercises.
We often focus on the physical impact of car accidents, but the psychological impact can be just as debilitating. According to a study by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), published in The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 39.2% of motor vehicle accident survivors develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The emotional distress may also manifest as depression and anxiety. These psychological symptoms can worsen physical symptoms and slow the progress of treatment.
Seeing a physical therapist to deal with the emotional distress is highly beneficial as they can develop targeted coping strategies that can help improve your well-being. Approaches like mindfulness techniques, stress management strategies, and relaxation exercises can help you get through this phase of the accident recovery.
When should you go for physical therapy after a car accident? Immediately after the accident or months after? The right time for physical therapy will vary from one case to another. However, the correct answer is as soon as possible.
Generally, your doctor will recommend physical therapy if your accident injuries present an obvious need for therapy approaches.
However, your doctor giving you the all-clear doesn’t always mean everything has gone back to normal with your body. Some of the symptoms above may manifest weeks or months after your accident. In that scenario, it’s important to start physical therapy as soon as you notice the symptoms.
Early intervention will help prevent secondary or long-term complications.
Do you need physical therapy after a car accident? Call Quantum Physical Therapy & Chiropractic Care to schedule a consultation.
Our doctors accept most insurance plans, including workers’ compensation, no-fault, and PIP (personal injury protection). Same-day appointments may be available. Call us today to schedule an appointment with a New York physical therapy specialist.
Learn more: Why is physical therapy necessary after a car accident?
Nobody wants to be in pain for an extended period of time. Instead of just masking the pain with painkillers, how about getting rid of it entirely without medication? Physical therapy can help manage pain by restoring muscles, assisting in the recovery from an injury or surgery, and improving mobility.
Everything begins with our first appointment with our physical therapist. You can contact us at our Riverhead, NY offices, at (631) 591-2293 and in the following locations as well:
Baldwin
1308 Grand Avenue Baldwin NY
(516) 223-7533
Jamaica Estates
175-43 Hillside Avenue Jamaica
(718) 487-4413
Valley Stream
139 N Central Ave, Suite #4 Valley
(516) 992-8455
Common injuries physical therapy can help treat include sprains, strains, concussions, and whiplash.
Physical therapy can help speed up accident recovery by strengthening muscles, improving range of motion, and improving balance.
The duration of the treatment depends on the conditions for which you’re undergoing therapy. Moderate to severe musculoskeletal issues might require long-term physical therapy.
