What Is Physical Therapy?

Physical therapists (PTs) are movement experts who optimize the quality of life through prescribed exercise, hands-on care, and patient education. Physical therapists teach patients how to prevent or manage their condition so that they will achieve long-term health benefits. PTs examine each individual and develop a plan, using treatment techniques to promote the ability to move, reduce pain, restore function, and prevent disability. – APTA

What are some common conditions that I treat?

Orthopedic physical therapy treats musculoskeletal injuries, involving the muscles, bones, ligaments, fascias, and tendons.

It is suitable for medical conditions such as: 

-fractures

–sprains

-tendonitis

-bursitis

-chronic medical problems

-rehabilitation or recovery from orthopedic surgery

Patients may undergo treatment with joint mobilizations, manual therapy, strength training, mobility training, and other modalities. Geriatric physical therapy can help older patients who develop conditions that affect their mobility and physical function, including arthritis, osteoporosis, hip, knee, and other joint replacement, and balance disorders. This type of intervention aims to restore mobility, reduce pain and increase physical fitness levels. 

Vestibular therapy aims to treat balance problems that can result from inner ear conditions. Vestibular physical therapy involves a number of exercises and manual techniques that can help patients regain their normal balance and coordination. Common conditions that I treat are:

-Back pain, including: arthritis, sciatica, herniated disc and SI joint dysfunction

-Knee pain, including: arthritis, meniscus, ACL, MCL and other knee issues

-Foot pain, such as: ankle sprain, plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis

-Hip pain, such as: arthritis and labral tear

-Neck pain, including herniated discs and arthritis

-Shoulder pain, such as: rotator cuff tears, “thrower’s” shoulder,  “swimmers” shoulder

-Elbow pain, such as: tennis elbow and golfers elbowVertigo, concussion and headaches

Benefits of physical therapy?

Depending on the reason for treatment, the benefits of physical therapy include:

-Pain management with reduced need for opioids
-Avoiding surgery
-Improved mobility and movement
-Recovery from injury or trauma
-Helping athletes maximize performance
-Fall prevention and improved balance
-Management of age-related medical problems

What separates me from other PT’s?

Every patient that I see receives a thorough evaluation on their first visit.  This allows me to determine the underlying root of the patient’s problem, not just the painful area.  After a thorough evaluation, I create a customized rehabilitation program that is specific to each patient, this allows you as the patient to get the best results possible.  The rehab program typically consists of some form of hands-on care such as joint manipulation or mobilization paired with strength and mobility training.

Physical therapy is vital for recovery and pain management, and can also help you manage ongoing or chronic conditions. Our team will work to create a custom treatment program that fits your needs. Because our physical therapy is done on location, there is no need to drive to multiple locations or appointments. Here are common treatments used in physical therapy:

High Volt Galvanic

High-voltage pulsed galvanic stimulation (HVPGS) is gaining widespread use for wound healing, edema reduction and pain relief from many types of syndromes. High Volt impulse therapy provides a unique twin-peak monophasic waveform with very short pulse duration (microseconds) and a therapeutic voltage greater than 100 volts. The combination of very short pulse duration and high peak current, yet low total current per second (Microcurrent) allows relatively comfortable stimulation. Furthermore, this combination provides an efficient means of exciting sensory, motor and pain-conducting nerve fibers. This aids in healing of damaged nerve tissue, neuromuscular re-education of nerve damaged tissue and muscle. If you have suffered from nerve damage, neuropathies, etc., this may be the therapy for you.

Ultrasound

Ultrasound therapy is also used for therapeutic effects. Ultrasound uses acoustic energy at a high frequency that causes a continuous wave, which produces thermal effects on damaged and inflamed tissue. These thermal effects include increased blood flow, a reduction of stiffness and spasm, an increase in flexibility of tendon and joint capsules, and decreased pain. Pulsed waves typically produce non-thermal effects. These effects include tissue restoration, collagen synthesis, an increase in blood flow, and a reduction of edema (an excess of fluid which causes swelling). We may provide a combination of both depending on the type of injury and the phase of healing you are in.

Manual therapy (massage)

Trigger point therapy is a technique in which pressure is applied to muscular and damaged tissue releasing the tightness and toxins that build up in injured and tight muscles. It also restores the muscle to the natural state so that optimal health benefits can be achieved. Trigger point therapy re-educates the muscles to become pain free. We provide Massage and trigger point therapy together as part of our treatment to increase healing, decrease pain fast and move you to more freedom of stiff and sore muscles.

Wobble chair

The Therapeutic (Wobble) Chair is a seat that provides 360° of rotation, 40° of side to side flexion and 35° of front to back flexion on a universal type joint to facilitate all possible combinations of exercise motion needed for lumbar disc mobility, re-hydration, nutrition delivery, and waste elimination. When used properly this therapy can help heal damaged and degenerative discs, chronically tight muscles, and accelerate healing.

Repetitive neck traction

The Repetitive Cervical Traction is used for loading and unloading of the cervical spine or neck to reestablish necessary motion in both the cervical and lumbar spine. This Traction is for patients who are in the rehabilitative phase of care. When used properly both in the office and at home daily, miraculous restoration of discs can occur, and increase of range of motion will occur which can lead to correction of posture distortions.

Spinal Traction

Spinal traction is a great alternative to surgery. Traction is used to gently stretch the spine relieving pressure on the nerves and disc (the tissue between the bones). Traction is great for treating pinched nerves, disc bulges and herniations, sciatica and joint pain. Traction can also be used to lengthen shorten ligaments that can be causing the loss of the normal shape of the spine.

Foam rolling

Also known as self-myofascial release has been used for years by professional athletes, now we bring you these simple techniques to give you the tools to take care of your muscles at home or the gym. Foam rolling is great for pressing out toxins from tight muscles. You can lengthen shortened muscles relieving pressure on joints that are causing pain.

Spinal Molding

We place a lot of stress on our back and neck throughout the day. We fatigue the muscles surrounding your spine when we work on the computer, tablet, talking on the phone, watch TV, or even just blow drying your hair. When these muscles fatigue they often splint and spasm leaving you in pain. Spinal molding is a home therapy to lay on a special designed neck and low back orthotic that correctly places the spine in a healthy position, releases muscle tension and eases pain.

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