Physical therapy is a branch of the allied healthcare profession in which the skilled physical therapist utilizes multiple treatment approaches geared towards maintaining functional mobility in daily life.  These treatment approaches may include manual therapy techniques, therapeutic exercise, gait training, activities of daily living training and even home safety.  Physical therapy can reduce healthcare costs on a yearly basis, as physical therapists are able to evaluate, diagnose and treat multiple musculoskeletal, orthopedic and neurological conditions.

The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) describes physical therapists abilities to:

• “Diagnose and manage movement dysfunction and enhance physical and functional abilities”
• “Restore, maintain and promote not only optimal physical function but optimal wellness and fitness and optimal quality of life as it relates to movement and health”
• “Prevent the onset, symptoms and progression of impairments, functional limitations and disabilities that may result from diseases, disorders, conditions or injuries”

Training in safe and effective joint and spinal mobilizations. These techniques can be beneficial for stiff or painful joints.

Spinal manipulative therapy, or SMT, is the application of a quick “thrust” to a joint or multiple joints to the target segment(s).  SMT is a “momentum-induced” technique that aims to target multiple joints within the spinal column or a single joint within the arms or legs.  These “manufactured-barrier” techniques are utilized by highly-trained physical therapists and/or physicians and are much different from the chiropractic approach, which is commonly referred to “locking-down/combined-leverage” techniques.  SMT can help improve joint range-of-motion, increase blood flow, decrease tissue restrictions and even improve soft-tissue mobility.

Dry Needling is a skilled clinical intervention using thin, filiform needles to penetrate the skin and stimulate underlying myofascial trigger points, muscular, and connective tissues for the management of musculoskeletal and neuromuscular pain and movement impairments.  It is a technique used to treat dysfunctions in skeletal muscle, fascia, and connective tissue and to reduce or restore impairments in body structure and function, leaving to improved activity and participation. 

Cupping has been used for centuries in the practice of Oriental Medicine (or Traditional Chinese Medicine) in order to treat all types of diseases. In the medical community, cupping is widely accepted as a therapy tool in order to treat neuro-musculoskeletal impairments causing pain. These impairments include muscle soreness, spasms, decreased flexibility, and reduced blood flow. The negative pressure inside the cups leads to an increase in blood flow, responsible for healing and repair. The cups also create a ‘stretching’ or ‘tension’ moment through the fascia underneath which leads to increased fibroblast activity. Fibroblasts are responsible for connective tissue healing, remodeling, and repair, and thus, reduces pain.

Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization, or IASTM, is the use of tools (rather than the therapists hands) for manual therapy interventions, specifically geared towards breaking down chronic scar adhesions and fascial plane restrictions.  Some IASTM tools may include Gua-Sha, cupping, FRAMS, kinesiology taping or use of a mobilization wedge.  These other manual therapy tools can help further improve tissue mobility, blood flow, reduce swelling and improve joint movement. The use of IASTM is another tool in the physical therapist’s toolkit to help jumpstart the functional restoration processes.

Body Tempering is a myofascial release (massage) methodology.

lood flow restriction training involves wrapping a pneumatic cuff around ones extremity and systematically compressing a working limb with the intent to restrict the clearance of blood flow away from a working muscle during rest periods. The restriction of the venous system while still allowing arterial flow will cause a buildup of metabolic muscle byproducts and lead to the enhanced activation of specific muscle growth pathways. Prior to blood flow restriction training, the only previous way to achieve muscle adaptation was with repeated bouts of High Intensity training (HIT). 

Have exercises provided which are tailored specifically for YOUR diagnosis to meet YOUR goals.