McDonald Physical Therapy News
 
"Stronger Every Day"
 
July  2013
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Fran's Favorite Quotes

   "Be grateful for luck.
  But don't depend on it"

      

McDonald Physical Therapy cordially invites you to an

Open House

 

Friday, July 19th

5:30-7:30 pm

No-cost Consultations for knee, neck, shoulder, back and balance.

 

Door Prizes-Giveaways-Refreshments

 

Feel free to bring a friend or

family member!

 
 

Summer Give-Away

You already rave about McDonald

Physical Therapy to your

friends and family.

Now you can earn a
reward for it!
 
All summer long
(May 28th-Aug 30th), when you refer a friend or a family member to MPT,
we will give you a choice of a $25 gift card to one of the following:
 
Martin's Grocery Store
 Metro Run/Walk
Ginger Valley Green House
 Starbucks Coffee
 
That's not all!!
Your name will then be entered to win a
BIG CASH PRIZE
to be drawn on
September 3rd .

 

Hello to all our friends!     
  
This past week I received a call from a former patient of mine asking me about the new Direct Access law. This law now allows physical therapists to evaluate and treat patients without having them sent to a physician first. My patient wondered what it would mean to him as he had hurt his back and wanted to come in to see one of our physical therapists rather than wait to see his physician. He wanted to start an exercise program or at least get an understanding of his problem, so he could begin to actively participate in his healing process.

With the new law in effect, he can now come in and see one of our physical therapists first. He can then set up an appointment to see his physician within 24 days of his visit, based on whatever time is best for him and his physician. As a result of this new law, patients who are injured can be seen immediately by one of us. They can still set up an appointment to see their physician, but they no longer have to wait to address their immediate, acute injuries.

To celebrate this great news, we are having an Open House at our clinic, Friday, July 19th from 5:30 to 7:30. We will be offering free consultations, with no strings attached! What does that mean? It means we will be there to address any back, neck, knee, shoulder or balance issues you may have. Our hope is to help you begin to better understand your injury and guide you in a direction to better heal.

After our evaluations, we may suggest a visit to your family practitioner, internist, orthopedist or neurosurgeon. We have had the luxury of treating patients from many of the physicians in this area for over 24 years. There is no other clinic than can boast such a claim. We are an independent clinic and take great pride in the fact that we are not owned by physicians or a large company. We understand the physicians in our community and can help to better educate you as to what their specialties are and what a good fit might be for you.

So please join us on July 19th and experience our evaluations. We will listen and assess your problem, based on what we value most, your input and our expertise.
  
Enjoy! :)
Fran McDonald, PT, DPT

 

What is Physical Therapy?
What Does a Physical Therapist Do?
  
If you ask a person what they think of when they hear the words "physical therapy" a large percentage will tell you that they think of rehabilitation therapy for patients with injuries ranging from an accident or loss of mobility to a sports injury. They also think of other patients that need rehab therapy for illnesses which relate to musculoskeletal problems and are hospitalized for these problems.
 
A smaller percentage may tell you that they think of physical therapy as working with some kind of exercises to work the muscles similar to what a chiropractor does while another percentage does not really know what the words "physical therapy" mean. In light of the fact that there are many preconceived notions of what physical therapy means let's first clarify what physical therapy is before we discuss what a physical therapist does and how they can help you.
 
What Physical Therapy Really Means
Physical therapy involves the process of manipulating different body parts to decrease pain, improve mobility and function, and improve bodily strength to help the individual enjoy a better quality of life. Physical therapy also involves helping people prevent injuries and improve energy levels by staying physically fit.
 
Although physical therapy includes an individual evaluation to come up with a plan for treatment, the plan can be associated with an injury or illness or it can also consist of a plan for an ongoing health program which will help you enjoy a better quality of life by having the energy to do and enjoy more things. If you are having difficulty coming up with a long term health plan, physical therapy can be of tremendous benefit since it will be individualized to help you meet your health and fitness goals.
 
How a Physical Therapist Can Help
A physical therapist is highly educated and licensed to help people achieve their health and fitness goals. For this reason, a lot of people think of physical therapists as physicians who help you to overcome an injury or illness. While this is partially true you can also consult with a physical therapist to come up with a personalized program to improve and maintain health and prevent injury over the long term.
 
Regardless if you have an injury or illness or you simply want to increase your chances of continued good health and longevity, a physical therapist will do a complete evaluation which includes reviewing the status of muscular, skeletal, neurological, cardiovascular, pulmonary, and lymphatic systems as well as any other health concerns. The physical therapist will then work closely with you to determine what needs to be done to improve your health and longevity.
 
A physical therapist can also help you to learn what important aspects of your health you should focus on and what some of your personal goals are for achieving good health and wellness. This saves you time because the areas you should focus on are individually designed in a program that specifically suits your needs. This takes the guesswork out of coming up with a program you may think is beneficial to your health but you do not know for sure. For example, if you have specific shoulder problems, a physical therapist can help you come up with a plan to gain more use of your shoulder through rehab therapy without risking injury. If you have arthritis, your physical therapist can help you with a plan for treatment for the area of your body which is specifically affected by the disorder.
 
Essentially a physical therapist can help you to gain control over your health without the use of drugs. The physical therapist will get to the root of the problem and then work with you on a treatment plan until your goals are achieved for overcoming the precise health problem. If there is a health concern that requires the attention of a physician then the physical therapist will refer you to the appropriate health professional. So, physical therapy involves a lot more than rehab therapy and can significantly help you to maintain overall good health and well being for the long term. -www.Resultsphysicaltherapy.com
 
 What Physical Therapists Can Help You With:
  • Arthritis
  • Back Pain
  • Neck 
  • Fitness
  • Knee Pain
  • Obesity
  • Osteoporosis
  • Overuse Injuries
  • Shoulder Pain
  • Stroke
  • Sprains, strains, and fractures
  • And much more