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faq's

General Physical Therapy

Q1: How long is a typical physical therapy session?
Depending on your injury, each therapy session will typically last between 45 minutes to an hour.


Q2: What do I wear?
Please make sure to arrive in comfortable, loose fitting clothes that will enable the therapist to see/ work on the area of treatment easily. We encourage patients to wear comfortable (tennis) shoes as well.


Q3: Do I need a prescription from my doctor to see you?
Patients may receive treatment for up to 30 consecutive days with one of our certified direct access therapists. After those initial 30 days, a script from a physician is required by law for additional treatment.


Q4: What do I need to bring during my first appointment?
Please bring a photo ID, insurance card, doctor’s prescription (and/ or PCP referral if required by your insurance) and any additional reports relevant to your treatment (i.e MRI, x-rays,etc.).


Q5: Who do I contact for information regarding my bill or health insurance coverage?
Please contact our Billing Department at 703-239-2300, or you may email us at billing@alliancephysicaltherapyva.com


Q6: What will my treatment consist of?
Upon your first visit to the clinic, you will receive an evaluation from a licensed physical therapist. During that evaluation, several questions will be asked and several measurements will be taken. It is from this information that your physical therapist will devise an appropriate treatment program to specifically address your issues.


Q7: Do I use ice or heat?
The type of injury and time after the injury occurred are important factors in determining whether to use heat or ice. Ice is important to reduce pain and inflammation after an injury that has occurred within the past 48 hours. Heat is effective for relieving joint stiffness, muscle aches and may be used for more chronic conditions. There are benefits to both heat and ice for various injury types. Consult your physical therapist or physician to help decide which modality is appropriate for your injury.


Q8: Do I stretch or not?
It is important to warm up and stretch muscle tissue prior to physical activity. Stretching muscle tissue for 30 seconds and 3 repetitions are adequate. Take your time and stretch for the full 30 seconds with each repetition. It is also beneficial to stretch after physical activity when the muscle is adequately warmed up.


Q9: What is the difference between a ligament and a tendon?
The difference between the two is as follows: tendons connect muscles to bones while ligaments connect bone to bone.


Q10: What is the difference between a sprain and a strain?
The difference lies in the structures involved. Any muscle injury can result in a strain; this means the muscle has been overworked or stressed. A sprain is an injury to the ligament.


Q11: What type of injuries requires Aquatherapy?
Aquatic pools are used for many injuries, including any lower extremity injury that requires the patient to bear less weight. Examples include joint replacements, ligament surgery, sprain or strain. Other conditions that will benefit from aquatics are spinal pain/ surgery or any neurological condition affecting walking/ balance skills.

Specific Body Part Questions

Q1: What is whiplash?
Often during a motor vehicle accident, the head and spine will thrust forward and backward. This movement may result in internal structural damage. These structures may include muscles, ligaments, nerves, tendons, and bones. Any violent movement of your head will often result in muscle and ligament injury; this injury is referred to as whiplash.


Q2: What is a muscle spasm and why does it seem to be more prevalent in my neck and upper back?
Muscles are comprised of small fibers that glide over one another to create muscle contractions. These components of muscle tissue can become injured, sometimes for unknown reasons. With any muscle injury, inflammation is usually present, the micro-fibers of the muscle become entangled; this is a protective mechanism of the muscle. Once the fibers are entangled, pain is often perceptible. The most common site for this is the upper back and the neck because the majority of stress is placed on these tissues from daily activities. When abnormal stress is placed on us, we tend to elevate and round our shoulders, which in turn places undue stress on already stressed tissues.

Q1: What is tendonitis?
The prime movers of the body come from the muscular system and each muscle has its specific purpose. The muscle contracts to allow the action to take place at a joint. The contraction only moves the bones because of the muscle attachments to it. These muscle attachments between the bones are called tendons. Every muscle has a tendon to connect each end of itself to the other bones of a joint. When the tendons become injured from micro-trauma or specific injury, pain and swelling can occur. This inflammatory process is referred to as tendonitis.


Q2: What is the rotator cuff?
A rotator cuff is a group of four muscles that support the shoulder and scapula. They are the prime movers of the humerus(upper arm bone) into the rotation. Another prime function of the rotator cuff muscles are to ‘dropthe humerus down’ in the joint and allow abduction(movement of the arm away from the body). The four muscles comprising the rotator cuff are: Subscapularis, Supraspinatus, Infraspinatus, and Teres Minor.

Q1: What is the difference between tennis elbow and golfer's elbow?
The elbow has a medial and a lateral component, which makes the difference in wrist flexors and extensors. The lateral epicondyle (the outside part of the elbow) is the location of the wrist extensors. These muscles help to raise the wrist back towards you. Any tendon irritation at this site is referred to as lateral epicondylitis or tennis elbow. The medial epicondyle (the inside part of the elbow) is the location of the wrist flexors. These muscles help to lower down the wrist. Any tendon irritation at this site is referred to as medial epicondylitis or golfer's elbow.


Q2: Why is a brace usually used on my forearm for elbow tendonitis?
Any type of brace or support used for this condition is useful to alter the leverage on the forearm muscles and relieve strain on the elbow. The brace can be made of varying fabrics and usually uses velcro to be held in place just below the bones at the elbow. It may also be recommended to use the brace with some forearm injuries.

Q1: What is carpal tunnel syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) occurs when the median nerve, which runs through a tunnel created by the bones, ligaments, and muscles of the wrist, becomes compressed. This compression often leads to inflammation of the tendons and nerves, which causes the symptoms of CTS. Engaging in a wrist and hand strengthening program can also help reduce the risk of tendon injuries and manage symptoms.

Q1: What might cause clicking and pain in my knee, usually up and down stairs?
Clicking may be caused by the meniscus. The meniscus is a circular shaped disc that rests on top of the tibia and usually provides some cushion. There is a medial and lateral meniscus. In certain injuries or with time, the meniscus can wear down and tear ultimately. Regardless of how small a tear may be, it will often present with clicking. Any signs/symptoms that are present will be further aggravated by stairs, mostly with descending.


Q2: What is an ACL and why is it so important?
The knee joint is made up of several internal and external joint support structures. The external structures include capsular tissue and collateral ligaments (ligaments that support the knee from the sides). Internal joint supports are also ligamentous which are comprised of the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments. The anterior cruciate ligament or ACL prevents the femur (upper leg bone) from moving backward on the tibia. This is extremely important in activities that require running and cutting. If the femur moves backward on the tibia in a traumatic fashion, then a tear is possible. Sports such as soccer, basketball, and football are leading activities for such an injury.


Q3: When is a Total Knee Replacement necessary?
The knee joint takes on a fair amount of stress in everyday life. Going up and down stairs, walking, jogging, running and jumping are activities that further stresses the knee. We usually face these activities on a daily basis. Over time, with activity and age factors, the knee can wear down. From a structural standpoint, your knee will not completely breakdown but small amounts of wear and tear may become noticeable, beginning with mild arthritis. As pressure increases on the tissue, more cartilage frays and further injury to the bone may take place. When the bone becomes more involved, the pain usually increases. It is when the pain becomes function limiting and less bearable during daily activities that a surgery may be necessary. The surgery type will be decided by you and your physician.

 

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