Is Physical Therapy for me?

Here are anwers to some of the most common questions patients have about Physical Therapy.

1. What is Physical Therapy?
Physical Therapy (PT) is considered a conservative treatment method addressing the treatment, healing and prevention of injuries and disabilities. PT focuses primarily, but not solely, on pain relief, promoting healing, and restoring function and movement associated with injury. Other areas within physical therapy are ergonomic (body mechanic) training, fitness/ wellness, and especially education and prevention.

2. What can a Physical Therapy program do for me that I cannot do on my own?
Many patients may think that they know how to properly exercise, manage their pain and rehabilitate themselves. I have commonly been given explanations from patients for why they do not need therapy - for example, "I have had this before and I know what works for me" or "I know what is causing this, because my neighbor had the same thing so I will just do what she did" and attempt to manage themselves. A Physical Therapist is a specialist skilled and educated specifically in proper rehabilitation. We are continually educated as to management for different dysfunctions, differentiation of one dysfunction/injury from another and work closely with the referring physician in the development of a rehabilitation program specifically designed for each individual. The other important aspect to remember with physical therapy is that each individual is different. We all have different types of bodies, different patterns of movement, alignments and habits. A physical therapist, along with their trained staff, monitors each individual and attempts to correct improper movements, alignments and habits.

Most importantly with therapy comes education. Because of healthcare guidelines and reimbursement changes, your physician may not have the time needed to explain exactly what your injury/dysfunction/disability is and why/how it occurred. Your therapist is specialized in this and many times is the person who will educate you about the specifics of your problem and what the course of action will be to correct it and hopefully prevent it from reoccurring. PT focuses on education, correction and prevention.

3. How long is it going to take?
This is such a popular question. It seems that everyone has to have timelines, which is understandable because we all have lives to lead. Your physical therapist is aware that rehabilitation can be an imposition. I explain that because each person is different, rates of healing are different. A PT can usually get an idea of your progress within two weeks. Although rehab takes time, it also took time for the injury to progress to the point of causing pain or contributing to injury.

4. Who benefits from Physical Therapy?
Many and all can benefit from physical therapy. Nobody executes perfect body mechanics, training techniques or movement patterns. This is where wellness comes into play. Typically, the most appropriate patients are those who have been in accidents (work, auto, or falls), athletes with overstress injuries, patients with arthritis, pre- and post-operative patients, and people with general deconditioning or strains.

5. What will I have to do in Physical Therapy?
PT generally encompasses pain relief, strength and flexibility training, proper postural alignment, regaining movement or range of motion, improving and correcting posture, endurance training, relaxation and stress relieving techniques, balance and coordination training, proper walking, education, safety awareness and development/implementation of a home exercise program.

Remember that each individual is different, so each rehab/physical therapy experience and program is different. Be patient with yourself, your physician and your physical therapy staff. Healing takes time, diligence and compliance. If you think you may be a candidate for physical therapy, speak to your physician or come into Midwest Chiropractic for a consultation with one of our Doctors of Physical Therapists.

Infants and Chiropractic Care

You do everything to ensure your baby's health during pregnancy: you eat right, avoid drugs, smoking and drinking, take childbirth classes so you can have a natural, drug-free birth. After the baby is born, you breastfeed knowing that is the superior form of nutrition; you do everything you can to make sure your baby is healthy ---- but have you had the most important part of their health, their spine and nervous system, checked?

Birth Trauma - The First Subluxation: "The birth process ... is potentially a traumatic, crippling event.... mechanical stress imposed by obstetrical manipulation --- even the application of standard orthodox procedures may prove intolerable to the fetus. The view has been expressed clinically that most signs of neonatal injury observed in the delivery room are neurological...." Towbin A., Latent spinal cord and brain stem injury in newborn infants. Develop. Med. Child Neurol., 1969.

"With the birth process becoming more and more an intervening procedure....the chiropractic checkup becomes even more important to the child's future." Larry Webster, DC, of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association.

Of a random group of 1,250 babies examined 5 days after birth, 211 suffered from vomiting, hyperactivity and sleeplessness -- spinal abnormalities were found in 95% of this group. Spinal adjustment "frequently resulted in immediate quieting, cessation of crying, muscular relaxation and sleepiness." The authors noted that an unhealthy spine causes "many clinical features from central motor impairment to lower resistance to infections -- especially ear, nose and throat infections."

Shaken Baby Syndrome: Babies are very top heavy. Mild to moderate shaking of a child can result in serious neurological damage since their neck muscles are undeveloped. This damage has been known to occur after playfully throwing the child up in the air and catching him/her. The damage caused is called Shaken Baby Syndrome. So, when does a baby need a spinal checkup? These are the times, in a baby's first year of life, when spinal examinations are especially important:

1. After the birth process.
2. When the baby starts to hold his/her head up.
3. When the baby sits up.
4. When the baby starts to crawl.
5. When the baby starts to stand.
6. When the baby starts to walk.

Do all you can to give your baby the best possible chance to have a healthy life. That includes childbirth without trauma, avoidance of drugs and medical procedures, and breastfeeding. You have your baby's eyes checked, heart checked, ears checked ---- why not their spine and nervous system? Call Midwest Chiropractic today for a consultation with one of our Doctors, 773.229.9600.