Physical Therapy Falls Church, VA

Physical Therapy Falls Church, VA

Physical Therapy Falls Church, VA - physical therapist neck and head examination

Joint pain is a problem that many people of many different age ranges suffer from. It can make it difficult to walk, run, and move around. Physical therapy is a good treatment to start with if you suffer from joint pain, and it can help you restore function in your joints, recover from an injury, prevent future injuries, and maintain your overall health. With a qualified physical therapist to provide treatment for you, they can identify the source of your pain so that you can obtain the best results possible.

Here are some exercises that you can try at home to strengthen your body and reduce joint pain.

Physical Therapy in Falls Church, VA

If you are searching for a reliable and highly trained physical therapist to help you get relief for your injury or condition, you can go to a doctor or wellness specialist at AmeriWell Clinics. They have extensive experience treating patients who suffer from joint pain due to injuries or pre-existing health conditions.

Common Physical Therapy Exercises

Physical therapists develop an exercise program for you to do at home for several weeks. Combined with ice, rest, compression, and elevation, they should help to alleviate your pain and help accelerate your recovery. The following exercises at home to reduce aches and pain, strengthen your muscles and improve your flexibility.

Wall Slide. The wall slide helps to strengthen your quads, glutes, calves. If these muscles are weak, it can cause knee pain to develop. Stand next to a wall and press your back against it, with your feet spread shoulder-width apart. Slowly slide down, keeping your back pressed against the wall until your legs are at a 90-degree angle. Pay attention to your breathing and keep it consistent throughout the exercise.

Hip Abduction. For hip abduction exercises, you will need a soft yoga mat that you can lie down on. Lie down on your side with your legs extended. Point your toes to the side and slowly raise your leg until you feel your hip flex. Hold the position for three to five seconds, then return to your starting position. You can have your leg that is on the mat bent slightly to keep yourself stable. Repeat the exercise ten times for three sets.

Quadricep Stretch. Keeping your quads flexible can help you minimize pain in your knee. Stand on one leg and hold your foot on the other leg. You can hold onto a chair or wall for support. Pull your foot until you feel a stretch in your quadriceps muscles or front of your thigh. It should be a light to moderate stretch that should not cause pain or discomfort. Hold for ten seconds and repeat on the other side.

4 Reasons To Seek Physical Therapy

If you are feeling sore, experiencing aches in your muscles, or recovering from surgery, you should consider visiting a physical therapist. There are several benefits to pursuing physical therapy. You can read a few of those reasons below. Please contact AmeriWell Clinics to enjoy the best physical therapy Falls Church, VA can afford.

  • Avoid Surgery

Surgery is expensive. Many people find themselves in medical debt long after their operations. Fortunately, that doesn’t have to be you. Did you know that regular physical therapy sessions are a great alternative to surgery? If you have muscle aches, neck pains, or other injuries, consider trying a physical therapist first. Routine physical therapy sessions are known to alleviate many ailments that otherwise require surgery. Thus, more and more people are using physical therapists’ recommendations so that their bodies heal naturally, without having to get on the operation table.

Aside from healing naturally, you can avoid the risk of unsightly post-operation scars and infections. A physical therapist will never have to cut you open (although your therapist will inform you when you’ve reached your maximum recovery and whether surgery is necessary for further mobility and pain reduction). Rather, your therapist will assess you and create a workout regimen to improve your mobility, minimize inflammation, and reduce pain.

  • Prevent Injury

As suggested above, many patients wait until an issue manifests before scheduling an appointment. Did you know that seeking physical therapy is a strategic preventative step to avoid injury? Yes, that is correct. Physical therapy can decrease the likelihood of you suffering injuries in the first place. 

For example, suppose that you know you’ll join a local soccer team. You can start setting up PT appointments now. Remember that physical therapists are licensed professionals specializing in preventing and treating pain. Thus, they know better than your soccer coach which stretches are ideal for your body. Your sports coach will have the team do the same workouts, but some of these workouts may not target your weak areas nor increase your bodily functions to maximum capacity. Visiting a therapist will ensure that you’re less likely to hurt yourself playing sports.

  • Increase Health

Physical therapists do more than improve your mobility. We improve your health as well. Some patients have experienced improvements in managing their diabetes, kidney problems, and more. Remember, targeted stretches increase blood circulation. The fluidity of blood circulation affects your organs. Stretches are also exercises that boost your metabolism and promote weight loss. Therefore, better health is a common benefit to regular physical therapy.

  • Better Mobility

As we age, our bones and muscles are negatively impacted. Bone density and sore muscles promote poor posture. Poor posture can become permanent, exacerbating your aches and increasing the likelihood of injuries. But bad posture isn’t only a result of aging. Working from home oftens results in people not realizing they’re hurting their skeleton’s makeup. 

For example, if work requires you to sit at a desk all day, you’re probably prone to holding your neck in a certain position. You may arch your back towards your computer. You may sit with your shoulders rounded. Even if you work outside the home, straining your neck to text can cause neck pains. Whatever the issue, we can help you.

4 Reasons To Seek Physical Therapy Infographic

4 Reasons To Seek Physical Therapy

What Are The Benefits To Seeing A Physical Therapist?

There are many benefits to seeking physical therapy in Falls Church, VA, such as therapy sessions from our clinic. The benefits of scheduling a session with us includes:

  • Reducing likelihood of needing surgery
  • Promoting wellness
  • Increasing blood circulation, which can improve your organs’ functionality
  • Minimizing negative effects of aging
  • Saving money (more affordable than surgery)
  • Promoting long-term health benefits
  • Improving balance
  • Increasing bodily strength
  • Stimulating weight loss

What Are Four Benefits Of Physical Therapy?

  • Avoid Risky, Costly Surgery

Surgery is expensive. Many people find themselves in medical debt long after their operations. Fortunately, that doesn’t have to be you. Did you know that regular physical therapy sessions are a great alternative to surgery? If you have muscle aches, neck pains, or other injuries, consider trying a physical therapist first. Routine physical therapy sessions are known to alleviate many ailments that otherwise require surgery. Thus, more and more people are using physical therapists’ recommendations so that their bodies heal naturally, without having to get on the operation table.

Aside from healing naturally, you can avoid the risk of unsightly post-operation scars and infections. A physical therapist will never have to cut you open (although your therapist will inform you when you’ve reached your maximum recovery and whether surgery is necessary for further mobility and pain reduction). Rather, your therapist will assess you and create a workout regimen to improve your mobility, minimize inflammation, and reduce pain.

  • Increase Your Health

Physical therapy improves your health. Did you know that some patients experience improvements in their diabetes, kidney, and heart? Targeted stretches increase blood circulation. The fluidity of blood circulation affects your organs. Stretches are exercises, which boost your metabolism and promote weight loss. Therefore, better health is a common benefit to routine physical therapy sessions.

  • Improve Your Mobility

As we age, our bones and muscles are negatively impacted. Bone density and sore muscles increase bad posture. Unfortunately, poor posture can become permanent. Having bad posture long term will exacerbate your aches and increase the likelihood of injuries. But bad posture isn’t only a result of aging. Working from home oftens results in people not realizing they’re damaging their skeleton’s makeup. 

For example, if work requires you to sit at a desk all day, you’re probably prone to holding your neck in a certain position. You may arch your back towards your computer. You may sit with your shoulders rounded. Even if you work outside the home, straining your neck to text can cause neck pains. Thankfully, if you have a mobility issue, our physical therapy clinic can help you.

  • Prevent Possible Injury

As suggested above, many patients wait until an issue manifests before scheduling an appointment. Did you know that seeking physical therapy is a strategic preventative step to avoid injury? Yes, that is correct. Physical therapy can decrease the likelihood of you suffering injuries in the first place. 

For example, suppose that you know you’ll join a local soccer team. You can start setting up PT appointments now. Remember that physical therapists are licensed professionals specializing in preventing and treating pain. Thus, they know better than your soccer coach which stretches are ideal for your body. Your sports coach will have the team do the same workouts, but some of these workouts may not target your weak areas nor increase your bodily functions to maximum capacity. Having therapy, such as from AmeriWell Clinics will ensure that you’re less likely to hurt yourself playing sports.

What Is Physical Therapy?

Many people need the most reputable physical therapy Falls Church, VA has. Unfortunately, not enough people understand what physical therapy entails to realize how much they need it. So what is physical therapy, you ask. As per the dictionary, Physical Therapy is “the treatment of disease, injury, or deformity by physical methods such as massage, heat treatment, and exercise rather than by drugs or surgery”. Physical therapy is also known as physiotherapy. Licensed physical therapists, who’ve undergone at least four years of medical training, conduct these therapeutic sessions. 

In the past, physical therapists were not required to have a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree (DPT degree). Instead, they would take a three to four-year course of a field closely related to physical therapy and acquire a Bachelor’s degree. Since 2005, many PTs have been required to have a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. This specialized degree permits physical therapists immediate and direct access to injured patients and clients. A physical therapist may be in an emergency room, intensive care unit, or privately owned office. In either location, we are specialists who assess the issues with your musculoskeletal system. 

So what does physical therapy include? Physical therapy is primarily exercises and stretches that improve your overall wellness and movement capability. The goal of physical therapy is to stimulate pain-free movement. Thus, our work focuses on the body as a whole–not just the neck, back, or certain ligaments. 

What Are The Benefits Of Regular Physical Therapy Sessions?

The benefits of attending regular therapy appointments are many. Generally, physical therapy sessions improve your overall wellness, improve your mobility, and better your health. 

When Should I Seek Out Physiotherapy?

You may wonder when you should schedule an AmeriWell Clinics appointment for physiotherapy. How bad do your injuries need to be? How restricted should your muscle movements be before you come to us? Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, you should come to us as soon as you start feeling pain or stiffness. Don’t wait for the problems to worsen. The earlier the appointment, the earlier the detection, and the better the prevention and pain reduction. 

Most of our clients come to us after suffering an injury, such as from a car crash or slip and fall, or after surgery. Even plastic surgery can leave you stiff and improper movement post-surgery can promote fibrosis. Coming to AmeriWell Clinics, our licensed physiotherapists will assess your limited movements. Then, we’ll develop a personalized plan for you. We will do targeted stretches with you and demonstrate how to move correctly to reduce your pain. These are just a few reasons why you should schedule an appointment for Falls Church physical therapy sessions.

What a Physical Therapist Can Do For You

A physical therapist from AmeriWell Clinics offers treatment, guidance, and support. The treatment offered has seen many people restore function to parts of their body that have become difficult to use over time or after an injury. The support they offer is through their exercise plans to restore function and form in a person’s limbs, muscles, tendons, or other areas in need of care from physical therapy in Falls Church, VA. Reach out to our clinic today to get the help you need for muscles or limbs that aren’t working as well as they used to. 

How Much Schooling Do Physical Therapists Generally Have?

Physical therapists typically have a 4-year undergraduate degree in subjects like kinesiology, exercise science, and other similar degrees. Once they graduate from their undergraduate program they then enroll in a 3-year physical therapy program where they receive a physical therapy doctorate degree or DPT. This means that the total school they generally have is 6 to 7 years. They learn an assortment of important lessons, information, and practices in these programs that provide the foundation for them to become a physical therapist. 

What Do Physical Therapists Learn in Their Training?

Physical therapists learn the important skills and tactics that they will use throughout their practicing physical therapy career during their schooling and subsequent training that they may have. This training and schooling teaches them all about the different ways of helping people restore functionality and comfort to limbs, muscles, and other parts of the body that are affecting them negatively. They also learn how to successfully communicate with patients who are suffering from a variety of different things. If you are seeking Falls Church physical therapy then reach out to AmeriWell Clinics today to get the guidance and help that you need for your physical therapy needs.

What Injuries May Need Physical Therapy?

There are numerous injuries that generally require the service of a physical therapist. Injuries, where a strain, sprain, or tear has occurred, will heal faster when a physical therapist is able to assist. Soft tissue injuries that affect muscles, tendons, and ligaments also may require physical therapy to heal. These injuries may result in pain, swelling, bruising, loss of motion, spasms, and a loss of functionality. Some examples of these injuries include ACL tears, shin splints, rotator cuff injuries, and a variety of others that may occur from over-exertion on different muscles and tendons. 

How Do Tears, Sprains, and Other Injuries Needing Physical Therapy Generally Occur?

Many injuries can occur in the workplace or even at home. Simple trip and fall injuries can sometimes do significant damage to someone’s body. Other places where injuries occur are from participating in sports. Tennis players, baseball players, and soccer players put enormous stress on their arm muscles and leg muscles when participating in a match or practice. This stress leads to many injuries that require physical therapy in Falls Church, VA. AmeriWells Clinic is standing by and ready to help assess and improve different parts of the body that have been affected by injury.

Why Should I See a Physical Therapist For Prevention? 

Considering physical therapy Falls Church, VA for the prevention of injuries is a wonderful tool that many aren’t aware of. A physical therapist can perform screenings for orthopedic dysfunctions and help determine your likelihood of injury before an injury happens. They can then prescribe exercises you can do at home to help reduce the risk for injury. There is plenty of research that shows the connection between physical therapy and the prevention of ACL tears and lower fall risk in people susceptible to falls. It can also help those who are physically active prevent injuries from overuse of their muscles.  

Why Should I Avoid Certain Items of Clothing? 

You will want to avoid restrictive clothing. Things like jeans or even dresses can make it difficult to do the exercise properly. You want to be able to move around easily and be comfortable at the same time. This means you will want to wear a loose shirt, some athletic shorts or yoga pants, have on some supportive shoes, and no jewelry. You’ll want to ensure that your physical therapist can reach the area of your body so they can properly help you heal. You should also avoid wearing lotion directly before your appointment. It can reduce the traction that your therapist needs for your treatment. 

Why is Physical Therapy Hard? 

A common question we get about Falls Church physical therapy is why is it so hard? In order for your muscles and soft tissue to respond to activity, they need to be challenged. Your physical therapist is going to push you to your limits in order for you to get the most out of the exercise. We fully understand that it isn’t always fun, but we do know that it will help you in the long run. If the activities are too difficult, talk to your physical therapist so adjustments can be made. You won’t get anything out of an exercise that your body isn’t able to do or isn’t responding to. 

Why Should I See A Physical Therapist For Headaches or Jaw Pain? 

If you want to avoid medication, then contacting a physical therapist about headaches that won’t go away and jaw pain can be beneficial. They will be able to investigate what is causing the problem and be able to create interventions to address the poor movement patterns. It could be that your headaches and jaw pain are caused by clenching of the jaw. A physical therapist can help you with excises to reduce clenching and relaxing your jaw.  It is important to note that it may not work for everyone, but for many, they have found that learning jaw exercise has reduced their pain. 

Why Is It Important To Follow Through With All Scheduled Appointments?

Just because you are feeling better, doesn’t mean that you should stop going to your appointments. Many people stop coming when they feel that everything is good enough and they feel better. It is great that you feel that way, but to ensure that you reduce the risk of re-injury you should follow through with all your appointments. The goal of physical therapy is to help you recover and reduce the risk of re-injury. By following through with all the appointments made, you can know that you are making the fullest recovery possible. If you have any more questions about what Falls Church physical therapy can do for you don’t hesitate to reach out to Ameriwells Clinics today. 

Falls Church Physical Therapy Statistics

According to a study published in the Journal of Physical Therapy Science, researchers found that physical therapy was effective at reducing pain in people with a variety of conditions, including low back pain, neck pain, and shoulder pain, in some people up to 80 percent.

Set Up an Appointment

Stretching your muscles and doing strengthening exercises can help you get rid of joint pain. It’s important to keep these muscles engaged so that your joints, tendons, and ligaments are functioning properly. If you are suffering from pain that has not gone away, you may benefit from physical therapy. Schedule a consultation at AmeriWell Clinics to learn more about physical therapy benefits.

 

7 Effective Ways Physical Therapists Can Relieve Pain

 

When it comes to managing pain, physical therapists play a crucial role in helping individuals recover from injuries, reduce discomfort, and improve overall mobility. Through their expertise in anatomy, physiology, and movement, physical therapists employ various techniques and therapies to alleviate pain and enhance the quality of life for their patients. Here are seven effective ways that physical therapists can relieve pain:

 

  1. Customized Exercise Programs:

Physical therapists are experts in designing tailored exercise programs that cater to each individual’s specific needs and condition. These programs focus on strengthening weak muscles, improving flexibility, and enhancing overall body mechanics. Through targeted exercises, patients can experience reduced pain, as the muscles and joints become more balanced and resilient.

 

  1. Manual Therapy Techniques:

One of the hallmark skills of physical therapists is their ability to perform various manual therapy techniques. These techniques may include joint mobilization, soft tissue massage, myofascial release, and trigger point therapy. By employing hands-on methods, physical therapists can alleviate tension, reduce muscle knots, and improve joint mobility, providing much-needed pain relief.

 

  1. Electrical Stimulation:

Electrical stimulation is a widely used technique in physical therapy to reduce pain and promote tissue healing. By applying low-level electrical currents to affected areas, physical therapists can stimulate nerve endings and muscles, leading to pain reduction and increased blood circulation. This modality is especially beneficial for patients experiencing chronic pain or post-operative discomfort.

 

  1. Heat and Cold Therapies:

Physical therapists often incorporate heat and cold therapies into their treatment plans. Heat therapy helps to relax muscles and increase blood flow, while cold therapy reduces inflammation and numbs painful areas. Alternating between heat and cold applications can effectively manage pain and accelerate the healing process.

 

  1. Aquatic Therapy:

Aquatic therapy, performed in a pool, provides a low-impact environment for patients to exercise and rehabilitate. The buoyancy of water reduces stress on joints and muscles, making it an ideal option for those with conditions like arthritis, back pain, or joint injuries. Water’s resistance also allows for gentle strengthening exercises, leading to pain relief and improved functionality.

 

  1. Posture and Body Mechanics Education:

Physical therapists are skilled at educating patients on proper posture and body mechanics during daily activities. By identifying faulty movement patterns and alignment issues, they can help patients make necessary adjustments to prevent pain and avoid further injury. Proper posture and body mechanics not only alleviate pain but also contribute to long-term musculoskeletal health.

 

  1. Patient Education and Self-Management Strategies:

Beyond hands-on treatments, physical therapists empower patients with the knowledge and tools to manage their pain independently. By providing information on pain management techniques, home exercises, and lifestyle modifications, patients can take an active role in their recovery journey. This approach encourages self-efficacy and fosters long-term pain relief and overall well-being.

 

Physical therapists possess a diverse range of skills and therapies that can effectively relieve pain and enhance the quality of life for their patients. From customized exercise programs and manual therapies to innovative techniques like aquatic therapy and electrical stimulation, these professionals play a crucial role in helping individuals recover from injuries and manage various types of pain. By focusing on holistic approaches and patient education, physical therapists provide comprehensive care that addresses not just the symptoms but also the underlying causes of pain.

AmeriWell Clinics, Falls Church Physical Therapy

5985 Columbia Pike Suite 100 Falls Church, VA 22041