By Shane Recer, PT, DPT, CSCS, Clinic Manager
ApexNetwork Physical Therapy – Granite City, IL clinic
You may find yourself with a backache, sore shoulder or downright painful knee one morning. We often just take it easy and hope the pain subsides after taking our preferred over-the-counter medicine or search online for answers to a universal question: what did I do? That trip to the lake or extra long gardening session may have been a precursor to an orthopedic injury.
Navigating our current health care system can be a daunting task. Should I call my primary care physician? How do I schedule an appointment with an orthopedic doctor? Is it “worth” my co-pay to see a specialist? A cost-effective approach could be to schedule a free injury screen with your ApexNetwork Physical Therapist. The free injury screen lasts around 15 minutes and you will spend that time with a licensed professional, completely free of obligation or cost. After your screen, your therapist will discuss the most appropriate next step. Which may include; complimentary home exercise program, scheduling process to another health care professional or a formal physical therapy program.
Shoulder pain, with or without a clear source of trauma, is a common complaint we see in the clinic. Shoulder pain in itself could be benign (i.e. nothing to worry about), or a symptom of an orthopedic issue that may include, but not limited to; tears, strains/sprains, or a movement dysfunction. Adhesive capsulitis is one such movement dysfunction that is often debilitating and may last up to 4 years without treatment! Conservative treatment of frozen shoulder will often yield good results. This may include less long-term follow up visits and avoiding surgery altogether. Early intervention may also help lower the cost of long-term medical care for our patients.
If you find that you’re concerned with the possibility of having an orthopedic injury, contact your local ApexNetwork office and ask to schedule your free injury screen as soon as possible.
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