Physical therapy can help with a multitude of health issues including knee pain, neck pain, and back issues among other injuries. How do you know what physical therapist to work with? It is important to find the best McHenry physical therapist near you and understand the process in order to get the most out of PT.
Finding the best physical therapy clinic to suit your issues can be a challenging task. Do you choose one based on location, staff, or doctor referral? The answer depends on what you value to be successful. Each individual is different and each injury is different. It is often difficult to determine when you should begin physical therapy because most people think they will be able to heal themselves. When it comes to choosing the right clinic for you, ultimately, the most important factor is getting healthy.
How to Find the Best Physical Therapist Near You
Many people will begin their search for a physical therapist by using Google to search for “physical therapist near me”. Each physical therapy website should have an About page and biographies of each therapist. Analyzing these pages will help you understand if the physical therapy clinic’s philosophy matches what you want to achieve from your therapy sessions. These pages can also give you an idea of therapist experiences, specialties, and certifications.
Recommendations from friends are another great way to find a physical therapy clinic. Many people often have a physical therapist they love and want to share their positive experiences. This gives you a chance to ask about the treatment, facility, and time spent with the patient as well as any other aspects that are important to your care. You may want to ask a few friends their opinions and then you can research their recommendations online to gather additional information.
Talk to the Physical Therapist Before You Begin
Once you have found a physical therapy clinic near you that seems to work for you (whether you base it on location, philosophy, or doctor recommendation), it is important to look at the therapist you may be seeing or who you would like to see. Reading a physical therapist’s biography, as well as additional information about them such as blog posts or publications, can give you a better sense of the therapist’s knowledge and philosophies.
If you’re an athlete, you may prefer someone who has an athletic background, concussion management, or an interest in sports. If you are in chronic pain, someone who has written articles regarding strategies to deal with pain through exercise may be a better choice for you. If you have concerns about the physical therapist, calling the center and asking to speak to the person who will be treating you can be helpful in gathering additional information. An experienced physical therapist should be willing to talk with you before meeting you and answer any questions you may have.
Questions to Ask Your Physical Therapist
What specialized training does the physical therapist have?
Some physical therapists specialize in a certain body part or injury while others are more generalist. You’ll want to be sure to ask your physical therapist how many patients he or she has helped with your specific injury. Whether you have a neck injury, a knee injury, a pulled hamstring, or anything in between, Red Rock Physical Therapy & Wellness has a specialist who can address your condition. We are one of the only physical therapy clinics in McHenry County that offer dry needling, myofascial release, and MPS therapy.
What can I expect from a typical session?
For your initial assessment, the nearby physical therapist will ask questions and evaluate your range of mobility to understand your case. In many facilities, you do not receive treatment during that initial visit.
The sessions that follow will work to treat the dysfunction with an emphasis on maximizing your recovery through a patient-focused plan. Typical appointments last around an hour, but your experienced physical therapist will be able to give you specific time frames based on your treatment plan.
Sessions will include techniques administered by the physical therapist as well as exercises tailored to your condition. Your PT will also help you progress through exercises and techniques as your healing tissue allows.
What do I need to bring with me to the sessions?
During your first evaluation, you’ll need to bring any medical imaging CDs and/or reports (i.e. X-ray, MRI). Also, you should wear comfortable clothing that is easy to move in as well as expose, if necessary.
How long will it take before I experience results?
Your physical therapist will be able to give you a more accurate timeline after completing your formal evaluation. Some patients have relief after the first session depending on the injury and treatment.
Each person’s injury and goals are vastly different, meaning the timetable is flexible to your treatment plan.
Will I always be seen by the same physical therapist?
Many patients assume they will see the same physical therapist for each visit, but at some clinics, that isn’t always the case. Some clinics will schedule your appointment with the first available therapist over the course of your treatment plan, so you end up getting treated by multiple therapists. Many clinics also use physical therapy assistants so that your actual time one-on-one with a physical therapist is limited.
At Rec Rock Physical Therapy & Wellness, physical therapists are the exclusive evaluation and treatment providers for our patients, and you can schedule all your appointments with one therapist.
Will I be one-on-one with the physical therapist?
Some clinics will have therapists schedule two or three patients at a time or even conduct group therapy sessions. Red Rock Physical Therapy believes in providing one-on-one physical therapy due to the many benefits it provides for you as a patient. As experienced physical therapists near you, we can provide you with our direct attention and focus, which helps us understand your needs, challenges, and goals while also getting to know you better.
What is my financial responsibility?
You should be able to ask the facility what your financial responsibility would be. With the ever-changing healthcare industry, this can be very challenging but the clinic should be able to estimate your expenses. At Red Rock PT, we will call and check all benefits prior to the session to help determine all costs associated with treatment. We feel that it is important to help guide patients with this aspect of treatment. Call or contact our nearby physical therapy clinic so we can follow up with your provider and notify you of your benefits.
Why does physical therapy take longer than I had thought?
Physical therapy is not a quick fix. Americans in general are notorious for looking for that quick fix. PT follows the way our anatomy and bodies operate. There’s a certain amount of time that is required for certain types of tissue in the body to repair themselves. If you try to speed up the process, you could experience a re-injury. Physical therapy takes patience and perseverance, and you’ve got to keep up with the program to experience the gains. Physical recovery happens in stages, and you have to be present for the whole program, from beginning to end, if you want lasting results.
Do I have to do home exercises?
Oftentimes people go to therapy only two or three times a week depending on their insurance and payment options. The responsibility for improvement falls on the individual, too. The stretching and strengthening exercises are something that has to be done almost daily. You’re not going to get the progress or improvement you need just relying on going to your therapy visits, so you have to do exercises at home.
How does physical therapy differ for older adults?
The timeline of healing and recovery is going to be longer because, with the aging process, seniors don’t heal as quickly as someone younger.
What’s the difference between physical therapy and occupational therapy
Physical therapy deals with the entire body, anywhere from the inner ear and vision, to the arms and legs. Experienced McHenry physical therapists look at the body as a whole and are focused on getting people up and walking and working on balance, overall strength, and core strength.
Occupational therapy specializes a little more in the upper extremities, arms, and hands. OT is very task-related and goes more into depth with someone’s fine motor skills, memory-type exercises and cognitive strategies. Often PTs and OTs collaborate with others on a therapy team—doctors, nurses, social workers, speech therapists, recreational therapists, and music therapists.
Contact an Experienced McHenry Physical Therapist Near You
These are some questions to help you on your journey through physical therapy. If you live in the McHenry County area and are in need of physical therapy, fill out the contact form or give us a call at 815-451-4502 to see how we can help you live pain and symptom-free!
McHenry Physical Therapy Review
Red Rock Physical Therapy is a gem tucked away in McHenry. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly. They are willing to work with your schedule to get you in to receive care. They are concerned with your well being and safety. I recommend them to anyone needing physical therapy.
Shawn Smosna
Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Shawn Smosna, April 4, 2020
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