Physical Therapy Interventions

Physical Therapy Interventions

We offer the following interventions to help improve the quality of life for our patients:

• Joint mobilization and passive joint motion
  • Joint mobilization is a manual therapy technique comprising a continuum of skilled passive movements that are applied at varying speeds and amplitudes to joints, muscles or nerves with the intent to restore optimal motion, function, and/or to reduce pain.  
• Manual soft tissue mobilization or manipulation
  • Manual therapy, or manipulative therapy, is a clinical approach utilizing specific hands-on techniques, including but not limited to manipulation/mobilization, manipulation of muscles,  and used by physical therapist to diagnose and treat soft tissues and joint structures for the purpose of modulating pain; increasing range of motion (ROM); reducing or eliminating soft tissue inflammation; inducing relaxation; improving contractile and non-contractile tissue repair, extensibility, and/or stability; facilitating movement; and improving function.
• ART
  • Active Release Techniques (ART) are a soft tissue method that focuses on relieving tissue tension via the removal of fibrosis/adhesions which can develop in tissues as a result of overload due to repetitive use. These disorders may lead to muscular weakness, numbness, aching, tingling and burning sensations.
• IASTM
  • IASTM is performed with ergonomically designed instruments to treat fascial restrictions, soft tissue fibrosis, chronic inflammation, or degeneration to improve pain, motion, strength, function.
• Stretching
  • Stretching is a form of physical exercise in which a specific muscle / muscle groups  or tendons (or muscle group) are deliberately flexed or stretched in order to improve the muscle’s felt elasticity and achieve comfortable muscle tone.  The result is a feeling of increased muscle control, flexibility, and range of motion. Stretching is also used therapeutically to alleviate cramps and to improve function in daily activities by increasing range of motion.
• Progressive strengthening
• Home exercise prescription
• Sports metrics and return to sport
  • Sportsmetrics™ is the first and largest ACL injury prevention program to decrease serious knee ligament injuries in female athletes. It is not just another plyometric training program. Jumping drills are used to teach the athlete to preposition the entire body safely when jumping landing. The selection and progression of these exercises are designed for neuromuscular retraining proceeding from simple jumping drills to multi-directional, single-foot hops and plyometrics with an emphasis on quick turnover. Principals can be used with all sports and all athletes for return to play.
• Pre operative classes and conditioning
• Kinesiology Taping
  • Kinesiology tape is an elastic cotton strip with an acrylic adhesive that is used with the intent of treating pain and disability for a varying array of conditions ranging from from athletic injuries to chronic pain disorders. It can be used to help improve movement patterns as an adjunct to strengthening.  With proper application it can assist in edema and swelling.  Other forms of taping include, but not limited to, McConnell and Athletic Taping 
• Work conditioning
  • A treatment program focused on functional requirements of a job or employment setting, incorporating the basic components of physical conditioning such as strength, endurance, flexibility, and coordination.
• Functional Capacity evaluation
  • A functional capacity evaluation (FCE) evaluates an individual’s capacity to perform work. The FCE process compares the individual’s health status, and body functions and structures to the demands of the job and the work environment. An FCE’s primary purpose is to evaluate a person’s ability to participate in work, although other instrumental activities of daily living that support work performance may also be evaluated. A well-designed FCE should consist of a battery of standardized assessments that offers results in performance-based measures and demonstrates predictive value about the individual’s return to work  and may include evaluation of cognitive demands if such testing is warranted. The FCE must be administered with care for the client’s safety and well-being. It is a length test lasting somewhere between 2-4 hours
• Permanent Impairment Rating
  • A permanent disability rating, sometimes known as a permanent impairment rating, is an assessment of the severity of your permanent impairment. A permanent disability rating is important in calculating the amount of monetary compensation you are owed to compensate you for the permanent impairment related to your workplace injury or illness. The testing for this involves clinical review of the clients history and assessment of present motion and strength deficits. Using specific guidelines from the AMA manual a relative percentage of impairment can be rendered
• Ergonomics
• Dry Needling
  • Dry needling is an alternative medicine technique similar to acupuncture.  It involves the use of either accupunture type needles for therapy of muscle pain, including pain related to myofascial pain syndrome and  is mainly used to “treat” myofascial “trigger points”, but it is also used to “target” connective tissue, neural ailments, and muscular ailments. As an adjuct the therapist may also choose to perform electrical stimulation with dry needling
• Modalities
• Titleist Performance Institute Certification
  • The Titleist Performance Institute Certification allows practitioners to partner with players to help regain their mobility and strength, getting them back in the game. When working with a golfer, screening should be completed to assess their limitations. From there, the specialist can create an individualized program specifically for that person. For accurate results and quick recovery times, practitioners use a variety of equipment, such as video and computer programs to record swing mechanics, biofeedback machines, universal gym equipment, and balance equipment.