Physical Therapist Baltimore, MD

Seeking Physical Therapy After an Injury

Seeking care from our Baltimore, MD physical therapist can provide you with the treatment you need. Chronic pain, physical injuries, and limitations can leave a person debilitated. There are several reasons to consider a physical therapist. Treatment through physical therapy provides several benefits for people of all ages. It may be a good treatment option for many people as it involves guided care and at-home exercises. A physical therapist specializes in movement, and they help patients manage pain and improve flexibility through a combination of exercises and patient education. By assisting patients through hands-on guidance and care, physical therapists help patients understand their physical functions and restore them. It can be tough not to resume your regular activities after the temporary loss of physical function. Physical therapy can help patients feel stronger physically and mentally, making them feel more at ease during the recovery process. It can help rebuild confidence and get back to your daily routine. At LeMoine Physical Therapy, we aim to put your needs first by providing optimal care to assist you in the recovery process. Consider whether physical therapy can benefit you. Start the road to recovery today with the services our dedicated practitioners can provide.

Reasons to Consider a Physical Therapist

There are a variety of reasons that people might consider treatment from a physical therapist. A person might have suffered a spinal fracture in a car accident or may be recovering from extensive hip surgery. Whatever the reason, physical therapy offers many benefits that facilitate healing and promote general health. Your doctor or chiropractor may have recommended physical therapy to you as a way to manage chronic pain or for injury recovery. You may have just recently recovered from a debilitating illness and need physical therapy to get your mobility back to normal. In some cases, you may have decided on your own to contact a physical therapist. You don’t need to have a particular health condition to benefit from physical therapy. If you want to learn more about effective exercises or are simply looking to improve your overall health, a physical therapist can help you. No matter what has brought you to consider physical therapy, there are many reasons and benefits for why considering a physical therapist is in your best interest:

• To help return to physical activity faster
• For optimal recovery from a sports-related injury
• To reduce the risk of future injuries
• To increase strength, muscle tone, and balance
• For an increased range of motion
• To manage chronic pain that results from osteoarthritis
• To help manage medical conditions and the symptoms that may accompany them
• For a non-invasive way of managing pain and injuries

Musculoskeletal pain that has resulted from injuries or medical conditions can seem endless and even impact everyday life. If you experience persistent muscle pain, it can affect your energy level and limit your time participating in certain activities. It is recommended that you consult with a physical therapist to see if physical therapy is appropriate for relieving pain or managing the symptoms of your condition. Our Baltimore, MD physical therapist, can help patients access the many benefits physical therapy provides to assist with injury recovery and pain management.

Advantages to Seeing a Physical Therapist

Whether you have been injured, are recovering from invasive surgery, or struggling with chronic pain, a physical therapist is a medical professional who can work to assess, diagnose and treat the problem. A physical therapist will work closely with their patient to manage their condition to achieve an optimal recovery. After a thorough medical review, a physical therapist will develop a treatment plan, provide exercises to complete both during sessions and in the privacy of your own home. Physical therapy offers advantages that include: 

• Pain Management
• Increased Range of Motion
• Identifying and Treating the Root of the Problem
• Avoiding Invasive Surgeries
• Recovery from Injuries
• Address Issues Related to Aging
• +More

Health issues from aging, chronic medical conditions, and injuries can feel like an uphill battle. In some cases, the prospect of recovery may feel far out of reach. However, when you work with an experienced Baltimore, Maryland physical therapist, you give yourself the ability to achieve the results you need. 

Finding a Physical Therapist

For treatment you can depend on, it’s critical to take the time and research area physical therapists. There are multiple categories under physical therapy, such as orthopedic physical therapy, pediatric physical therapy, geriatric physical therapy, and cardiovascular physical therapy. You may choose to be treated by a therapist specializing in a specific area, depending on your age or medical condition. You deserve to experience the best possible outcomes from treatment, and because of this, you must invest the time in finding the right practitioner to help you. Search for the following:

• A physical therapist with the credentials and experience necessary
• A physical therapist who tries a variety of treatment techniques
• A physical therapist who comes highly recommended

Don’t choose just anyone to provide you with physical therapy. You have the best opportunity to achieve positive outcomes by carefully researching area PTs before committing to their services.

Follow-Up Care

Quite often, a physical therapist will want to see you again at a later date. Follow-up care is a way for the therapist to ensure that everything you worked so hard to achieve is still benefiting your life. If you were recovering from an injury or medical procedure, the therapist will want to check to see if recovery is at a certain point. It might also be necessary as a part of recovery to follow up once every few months until that certain benchmark is reached.

Maintenance care

Maintenance care is something that many physical therapists will require of their patients. This is a treatment that you take care of on your own at home or in the gym. Instead of working directly with your therapist at his or her facility, you would be responsible for ensuring it gets done. Maintenance care could include:

• Knee and leg exercises – These are often done by laying on the floor on your back and doing very specific lifts and bends with your legs and knees to keep your muscles agile and strong.
• Hip exercises – The pigeon stretch, donkey kicks and hip circles are just a few exercises that are often recommended for maintaining agility in the hips at home.
• Shoulder and arm exercises – Lateral arm raises and upright rows are some exercises that may be recommended for at-home maintenance if you have a back, shoulder or arm injury.
• Foot and ankle exercises – While many foot and ankle exercises are meant to keep the ankle flexible, there are several that also focus on strength.
• Elbow exercises – Many elbow exercises include using light weights to curl, crush and lift in an effort to strengthen the muscles surrounding the elbow.

Tips for Effectively Communicating With Your Physical Therapist

Whether you are seeing a physical therapist in Baltimore, MD, for neck or back pain, it’s essential to keep the lines of communication open. If you can communicate with your therapist effectively, you will be more likely to have a successful treatment. The more you can articulate your symptoms or how you feel during a session, the better your therapist can assist you. For physical therapy sessions to be effective, you must be able to communicate clearly. Here are a few tips to consider:

• Bring a list of questions: During your first physical therapy appointment, there are likely many things you want to know. For example, you may want to know what treatments are available for your condition and how long it will take to find relief. You might wonder about how some exercises can be modified if necessary. You may also want to find out if there will be any side effects. To avoid forgetting any of these questions, write them down on a notepad and bring them with you to your appointment. The physical therapist will answer them during your session.
• Talk out loud: Although physical therapists are skilled at their jobs, they are not mind readers. That is why you shouldn’t be afraid to verbalize your thoughts during your sessions. During an exercise, the physical therapist will occasionally ask how you feel or ask you to count out loud the number of repetitions you do. For instance, if you feel too much discomfort during one of the therapies he or she provides, do not hesitate to speak up. Your physical therapist wants you to feel comfortable expressing your feelings and will be happy when you speak up. They will adjust exercises accordingly and accommodate your concerns. Not being able to complete an exercise is okay, as they understand that each patient is different.
• Be honest: There is no reason to lie to your physical therapist in Baltimore, MD. He or she is there to help you, not judge you. For example, if your symptoms have been getting worse lately, let your therapist know. He or she may decide to change your treatment plan. If you have not had enough time to do your assigned exercises at home, tell your therapist. Your therapist can’t help you to the best of his or her ability if he or she does not completely know what’s going on.
• Don’t hesitate to ask for clarification: There may be several instances when you don’t completely understand what your therapist tells you. In these situations, you shouldn’t be afraid to ask for clarification. 
• Bring a friend or family member: During your physical therapy sessions, you will receive a lot of information. If you are afraid of missing some of this information, consider bringing a friend or family member along. They may catch things that you may have missed or ask questions that you have not thought of.

Baltimore Physical Therapist Infographic

Steps to Take to Prepare Yourself for Physical Therapy

Before seeing a Baltimore, MD, physical therapist, it’s completely normal to be apprehensive about what you can expect. This is especially true for those who have never received treatment from a physical therapist before. One of our top priorities at LeMoine Physical Therapy is to provide a wide range of comprehensive services to our patients to meet their specific needs. Treatment from our physical therapists can offer several benefits to those when they need it the most. Additionally, we know that you may be unsure of what your first session of physical therapy will look like. However, by understanding what to expect, we are confident that you will have peace of mind and feel adequately prepared for your first appointment. 

• Be Prepared for Your First Appointment

Diligence and preparation are crucial to ensuring that you receive results from physical therapy. Not only should patients be ready to put in the work, but they should also follow through with recommended at-home treatments. This may all seem daunting and overwhelming to consider, especially if you are unsure of what to expect. Your physical therapist will explain everything to you at your first appointment. However, here are a few things you can expect and keep in mind for your first appointment: 

• Arrive at Your Appointment Early

It’s a good idea to come to your first appointment about 15 minutes early. This will allow you time to settle, complete any additional paperwork and change your clothes (if necessary). Arriving early ensures that you are ready to get started at the time of your appointment. 

• Dress Comfortably 

You will want to wear clothing that is comfortable and that you can move in. This will ensure that you are comfortable when completing exercises with a physical therapist. Wearing professional clothing, tight-fitting clothing, skirts, or dresses may impact your ability to move and may even leave you feeling exposed.

• Bring Medical Records

At your first appointment, your physical therapist will review your medical condition. Know that they will have questions regarding the impacted area, including information regarding past injuries and medical treatment you have received. Documentation of injuries can be beneficial, so- bringing any medical records in addition to your own personal written accounts of the injury, treatment, and pain levels can assist with treatment. 

• Keep Your Own Documentation

At your first appointment, we will go over a lot of information. While you will receive handouts of exercises, it may be in your best interest to keep your own documentation. Jotting down information and any questions you may have can help you ensure you receive information and stay on track during the appointment. 

Baltimore Physical Therapy Infographic

Baltimore 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.

Baltimore Physical Therapy FAQs

Working with an experienced and trusted physical therapist located in Baltimore, MD, may provide those with injuries and suffer from pain with a solution for what ails them. Physical therapists can offer many benefits to patients. Whether you have suffered an accident or experiencing chronic pain of some kind, our team from LeMoine Physical Therapy is here to help. It’s common to have questions about physical therapy and what you can expect from the process, which is why we have taken the time to provide answers to the questions we are most often asked: 

What conditions does a physical therapist treat?

Physical therapy can assist with pain management, injury prevention, and rehabilitation. Although the idea of another form of treatment may seem like a time commitment, know that in the long run, you could save both time and money. Treatments can potentially mitigate the need for more extensive treatments. A physical therapist can treat a wide range of conditions, injuries, and ailments, including: 

• Headaches
• Post-surgical recovery
• Neurological conditions
• Back pain
• Neck pain
• Knee pain
• Recovery from injuries
• Osteoporosis
• Sprains & strains
• Fractured bones
• +More

What types of exercises will my physical therapist suggest, and how long will they take to do at home?

Types of exercises that our physical therapist might recommend in Baltimore, MD, can vary depending upon the reason for treatment. Exercises are intended to:

• Improving range of motion
• Strengthening the targeted area
• Exercises to improve balance
• Exercises to improve mobility & increase movement

The frequency and length of time it takes to complete at-home exercises can vary depending upon the treatment. However, a physical therapist may recommend doing the exercises 3-5 times a week. Sometimes, the assigned homework can take anywhere from 10-30 minutes. 

How long before I start to experience pain relief after receiving treatment from a physical therapist?

The length of time it takes to experience relief can vary depending upon the type of injury and your commitment to the at-home exercises provided to you. For some, it’s possible to begin experiencing relief and improvement throughout the first few weeks. 

Is it normal to experience pain or discomfort during physical therapy?

Yes- patients may experience mild discomfort or soreness when engaged in physical therapy. However, it’s essential always to be honest about pain levels with your physical therapist. Significant or excruciating pain may be a sign of a more severe problem. 

How long is the typical physical therapy session?

The initial physical therapy evaluation can take longer, often around 60-90 minutes. However, on average, most sessions can last anywhere from 30-60 minutes. 

What do I need to do to prepare for appointments?

Physical therapy often involves exercise, so you should dress in comfortable clothes that allow you to move freely for each appointment. If for some reason you cannot go to your appointment dressed in your therapy clothes, you should at least bring them with you so you can change when you get there. You may also undergo some sort of treatment modality, such as iontophoresis. If this is the case, you should wear clothing that allows easy access to the symptomatic area. For example, if you have pain in your knee, you may want to wear shorts or sweatpants that are easy to roll up, whereas you might want to wear a short-sleeved T-shirt for treatment of an injury to your elbow or shoulder.

If it is your first appointment, you may have to bring medical reports and images. However, in many cases, your doctor’s office can simply forward these

LeMoine Physical Therapy, Baltimore Physical Therapist

1232 Race Road, Suite 203 Rosedale, MD 21237

Contact Our Baltimore Physical Therapist Today

LeMoine Physical Therapy has professionals who are ready to assist you with achieving optimal results. Experiencing pain, physical limitations, and a reduced range of motion can be frustrating and impact your quality of life. Take back control with the help of our Baltimore, Maryland, physical therapist. 

Client Review

“Today was my last day for my treatment on my left arm. The pain I was in from the torn rotator cuff has been releaved. The staff and Dr Lemoine were very pleasant. I would recommend them to my friends.”
Carol S.