What To Expect When You’re Expecting…To See A Doctor Of Physical Therapy.
You should never have to wait weeks or months to see a Physical Therapist. From same-day appointments to email and phone access, First Choice Physical Therapy is here for you. With Florida’s direct access you don’t even need a physician’s referral in most cases. Our talented and trusted Doctors of Physical Therapy are here for you today, tomorrow or whenever you may need us. Here is a list of a few things to “expect when you are expecting” to visit our Doctors.
- Expect fast and courteous care- If you have an 8 o’clock appointment and you have all of your paperwork done then you can expect to be seen right away. No packed waiting rooms and uncomfortable chairs. Our Doctors are unlike most you are accustomed to-meaning they hold a very tight schedule and see patients at their scheduled times. Why? Because we value your time and appreciate your business.
- Expect to pay the same amount of money per visit. Most outpatient Physical Therapy clinics have the same contracted rates with the insurance companies. So your co-pay or co-insurance will be the same from clinic to clinic. However, don’t expect the care to be the same. First Choice Physical Therapy is second to none when it comes to customer care. We love our patients and show them every day with our kind, courteous care and luxury amenities that no other clinic in Bay County has. Don’t believe us? Then research for yourselves. Be a good consumer. Do a walk-through of a clinic that you are thinking of using and compare companies. You will be paying the same price, but will you be getting the same care?
- Expect nothing but the highest trained and skilled Doctors of Physical Therapy in the business. Knowledge is power and knowing that your therapist has completed all of the necessary schoolings to become competent in the practice of Physical Therapy is just not enough. Are they good at what they do and are they passionate about helping you to achieve your physical therapy goals? Go to our website www.1stchoicept.com and research our Doctors. We are sure you will find that our skills and education come second only to our passion to serve you.
- Expect outcomes. Through teamwork and hard work, Physical Therapy can accomplish a lot in the way of reducing your pain and getting your mobility back. Often times Physical Therapy can help you to avoid costly and painful surgeries. So tell your Physician you want to try Physical Therapy first and then come to First Choice Physical Therapy. Make your choice clear to the Physician when asking to come to our clinics. Remember, you don’t need a referral to see our Doctors so just call our offices to get your appointment fast. We can usually find you an appointment within 24 hours. We hire the most Doctors of Physical Therapy in Bay County so we should be able to see you fast.
- Expect to answer some detailed questions and perform some activities for testing purposes. Below is the top 10 things to help prepare you for your visit to First Choice Physical Therapy:
- Make a list of any questions that you might have so that you can make the best use of your time with your physical therapist.
- Write down any symptoms you’ve been having and for how long. If you have more than one symptom, begin with the one that is the most bothersome to you.
- Make specific notes about your symptoms. For example, is your pain or other symptom better or worse with certain activities or movements or with certain positions, such as sitting or standing? More noticeable at certain times of the day? Relieved or made worse by resting?
- Write down key information about your medical history, even if it seems unrelated to the condition for which you are seeing the physical therapist.
- Make a list of all prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and supplements that you are taking.
- Write down and describe any injuries, incidents, or environmental factors that you believe might have contributed to your condition.
- Make a list of any medical conditions of your parents or siblings.
- Make sure you can see and hear as well as possible. So wear your glasses and hearing aids.
- If available, bring any lab or diagnostic reports from other health care professionals who have treated you for your current condition.
- You may want to avoid tight or formal clothes, in case the therapist wants you to engage in activities during the first session.
As always, we appreciate your business and want to continue to be your Home Town Physical Therapists. This year we will be celebrating our 20th year in business and are so blessed and grateful that we have great patients who have made this possible.
To your continued health,
Dr. Wade Rinehart, PT, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Let’s Talk Our Walk: Ankle Sprains
Have you ever “rolled” your ankle? This is called an ankle sprain. Approximately 26,000 people sprain their ankle a day in the United States. A day!
Despite the prevalence of ankle sprains, many people do not seek medical attention for their injury and the repercussions of not doing so can have long lasting effects on daily function and pain. Research shows that nearly 50% of individuals with ankle sprains not properly rehabilitated report pain three years later. Don’t live with your pain!
Come see us at First Choice Physical Therapy. Our dedicated team will help you return to your life pain free!
Balance Is Best
It may be difficult to choose the right exercises to do based on an ailment or for a general exercise regimen. Many times individuals have the right intention of exercising and being healthier, but just need a little guidance in selecting the most appropriate activities to engage in. Just as it is important to eat a balanced diet with adequate micro and macro nutrients, it is just as important to maintain a balanced exercise regimen. Today the technology we have access to, such as instructional videos and images for a multitude of exercising strategies including CrossFit, yoga, HIIT, and many more. I get asked the question all the time by my patients, “ Doc, what is the best kind of exercise that I can do for myself?”. Obviously, Mrs. P my 87 y/o with osteoporosis will be given a different answer than my 17 y/o high school baseball player. However, in general I will tell both of them that variety is best. Our bodies adapt to stresses applied whether it be to bone, tendon, ligament, or our cardiovascular system all will become conditioned to whatever stress that is being applied. As a result these structures change to become more dense, improve tensile properties, become more pliable, or work more efficiently. These are usually good stresses that allow our bodies to become stronger and more resilient, however in excess some loads or stresses can cause damage. I like to use the example of the long time powerlifter who only strength trained for years with little variation in training, and now has an arthritic back and knees from chronic excessive loads and wearing down of his joint surfaces. In contrast the long time yoga instructor who can fold up like a pretzel but now has severe nerve pain in her leg due to spinal instability and neural involvement. As an example when you use the knee joint, it is just as important to have adequate strength of surrounding musculature in order to stabilize the knee during movement and activity, as it is to have flexibility in that musculature to allow for proper movements to occur. The point being made here is that with repetitive training regimens that lack a variety of movements and/or appropriate loading, you can become too strong and lack mobility or too flexible and lack stability. Either of these scenarios can place an individual at risk for injury or depending on the injury sustained could prolong the recovery. At First Choice Physical Therapy we specialize in analyzing and treating movement and strength dysfunction related to the musculoskeletal system. Come let us help you recover from your injuries and help you return to whatever activity it is that you are missing out on due to pain.
Arthritic Knees: Is Surgery Your Only Option?
Knee replacement surgery is becoming commonplace in our society. But is it always necessary? Knee replacement surgeries are a major and elective surgery. One should weigh their options and carefully consider going “under the knife.” I’ve heard it time and time again from patients, “I never thought it would be this painful… I didn’t realize it would take this long to feel normal again… I thought everything would be better after surgery”. The reality is total knee replacements take an average of 6-12 weeks in physical therapy to return to a functional level of daily life. Stiffness, swelling, and overall discomfort can last upwards of one year. So is a knee replacement your only option when knee arthritis keeps you from enjoying your life? Research says no!
High-level evidence shows that our weeks of physical therapy incorporating both exercise and manual treatment coupled with a consistent home exercise program can improve your function by 50-80% and decrease pain by the same amount. These effects have been shown to last for an entire year! If your knee arthritis keeps you from the life you want to live, let us be your First Choice for relief! You will never know until you try. In the worst-case scenario, you go into a total knee replacement surgery with the most optimal knee strength and flexibility, which will pay you dividends on your post-surgical rehab healing time. This is not just a logical approach, but it has the full scientific evidence to prove it. Come see us at First Choice Physical Therapy. Call Today 850-248-1600.
What Causes Vertigo?
Vertigo or a “spinning” sensation can be caused by different conditions, such as dislodged crystals in the inner ear (BPPV/positional vertigo), infections, or buildup of fluid in the inner ear (Meniere’s disease). One of the most common causes is when some of the crystals (bone-like material that is part of the balance system) get dislodged and end up in the semi-circular canals in the inner ear. These misplaced crystals send confusing information to the brain and cause your eyes to beat in a specific pattern (nystagmus). A series of maneuvers can help guide the crystals out of the canals and make the vertigo symptoms stop. We specialize in treating vertigo. So if you want the spinning to stop, call us today at 850-248-1600.
Get Your Mind Right
“Hey, how are you doing?” is probably the most commonly used phrase to start a conversation between yourself and another person. But are we really prepared for what the other person might say? Usually, the answer is “fine” or “okay.” What happens if someone shares their anxiety or pain with you? How would you respond if they said, “I really need to share what’s going on in my life.”
At First Choice Physical Therapy, we pride ourselves on our ability to examine, diagnose, and treat your orthopedic pain/dysfunction as well as get you back to a normal, pain-free life. But what happens when your physical pain turns to emotional or even psychological pain? Unfortunately, physical pain can turn into emotional pain from feeling discouraged and anxious about your recovery, as well as psychological pain, thinking that you may never return to your normal life or that you will have pain the rest of your life. The worst thing you can do is stay silent about your worries and concerns. Sometimes just saying it out loud is therapeutic enough to know that you’re not alone and other people feel the same way you do.
As I am writing this article, I am home with my wife and our new baby boy, who is nine days old. What an absolute gift from God and a life-changing blessing! I have felt anxiousness, worry, excitement, and sometimes fear of the unknown throughout this whole process. Fortunately, I have family and friends surrounding me who are there to listen, give advice, and most importantly, pray that God gives me strength and peace during this transition. However, I would have never benefited from their support if I had never spoken up about my emotions. The point is, if something is going on physically or emotionally, the best thing you can do is address the problem and find a support group. My love and trust in Jesus Christ are where I turn. 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” Psalm 55:22 reads, “Cast your cares on the LORD, and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.”
Yes, at First Choice, we specialize in the physical aspect of the patient, and we never really have articles on this particular topic. Still, we also want you to know that we treat the entire patient as a patient at First Choice Physical Therapy. We are here to listen, counsel, and pray with you to get you better.
To Your Health,
Dr. Brannon Chester, DPT