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Category: Physical Therapy

  • Can vestibular rehab near you be helpful?

    Can vestibular rehab near you be helpful?

    Balance is an attribute that comes and goes as we age. When you’re a child, you learn how to balance yourself well enough to walk. But balancing can become hard again as you grow older or if you have certain medical issues. Vestibular rehabilitation from a physical therapist near you can help you deal with balance problems that are keeping you off balance. 

    What is vestibular rehabilitation?

    Vestibular rehabilitation is a type of physical therapy practiced by specially trained therapists. It uses exercises to train your body to compensate for balance issues. This type of therapy can also be very effective at helping treat balance disorder symptoms. Vestibular rehab is often used to help people deal with symptoms like dizziness and gaze instability, as well as vertigo, which is a feeling that the room is spinning around you. In addition, this type of therapy is also helpful for patients who want to reduce their risk of falls. 

    What issues can vestibular rehabilitation near me treat?

    The vestibular rehabilitation you can find near you is designed to treat many issues that affect balance. A few of the problems that vestibular therapy specialists can help with include: 

    • Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) — BPPV occurs when calcium carbonate crystals break loose and affect the balance structures in the inner ear. Vestibular therapy specialists can use a head movement called the Epley maneuver to help reduce the symptoms of BPPV. 
    • Meniere’s disease — This is a condition where there is too much fluid in the inner ear. It’s often hard to determine a direct cause of Meniere’s disease. Some factors thought to cause it are abnormal fluid drainage, infections and abnormal immune response. 
    • Stroke —This issue is when an artery carrying blood and oxygen to the brain is blocked or bursts. Strokes can cause damage to the balance center of the brain, and vestibular rehab can help the body learn how to compensate for this damage. 

    Find vestibular rehabilitation near you at Panther Physical Therapy

    With three clinics in the suburbs north of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Panther Physical Therapy offers physical therapy services near you. One of these services is vestibular rehabilitation. We also offer free screenings to help you determine what’s causing your balance issues. Our team has a wealth of experience building individualized vestibular therapy plans, and the plan we build for you might include therapy methods like:

    Are you ready to start getting our help with improving your balance? Contact our team today for more information or to schedule a vestibular rehab appointment.

  • Three sciatica symptoms and physical therapy treatments

    Three sciatica symptoms and physical therapy treatments

    The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) claims that 31 million Americans are living with lower back pain on any given day. Lower back pain is also a common cause of people missing work, and it can affect the young and old alike. 

    Sciatica is a condition where the sciatic nerve is either pinched or irritated, and it’s one of the most common causes of lower back pain. Sciatica is known to cause several specific symptoms. However, physical therapists can offer many treatment options to treat sciatica. 

    Three common sciatica symptoms people seek treatment for

    Before you go to a doctor or physical therapist, you might want to know if your symptoms could be caused by sciatica. This will give you a better idea of what treatments might be suggested for you. Three of the most common symptoms of sciatica are: 

    1. Pain — Lower back pain is caused by many issues. But the pain that sciatica causes is unique in several ways. It often feels like a burning in your lower back or legs, and sciatica pain has also been described as feeling like an electric shock. Also, the pain caused by sciatica tends to radiate from the lower back and down the leg. 
    1. Odd nerve sensations — Sciatica can cause people to feel several odd sensations in their lower body. Numbness is a common sensation reported with sciatica, and tingling can also be experienced with this condition. 
    1. Weakness — People with sciatica often have weakness in their leg or foot. This is a result of the interruption of nerve impulses to the leg and foot muscles. 

    Three physical therapy treatments for sciatica symptoms

    Physical therapy is an option that can benefit patients with sciatica, and physical therapists have several sciatica treatment methods that can help with your symptoms. Here are three of the most common treatments used for sciatica: 

    1. Stretches — Tense muscles in the lower back and legs are often the root cause of sciatica. Physical therapists can show you how to perform specific stretches that are designed to relieve sciatica symptoms.
    1. Manual therapy — Therapy specialists can also use their hands to treat sciatica. The manipulation of the body by a therapist’s hands is called manual therapy, and it can help restore mobility and flexibility to your lower back and legs. 
    1. Instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) — In some cases, knots of scar tissue or adhesions can form in the lower back muscles. Often, these adhesions are the result of a previous back injury. IASTM involves the use of specially designed metal tools, and therapists use these tools to break up adhesions and return flexibility to your muscles. 

    Advent Physical Therapy can help you find treatment options for sciatica symptoms

    Are you looking for an experienced physical therapy team that offers effective treatments for sciatica symptoms? Advent Physical Therapy can help. We have 14 clinics in West Michigan, and each of them offers free screenings to help you begin your therapy process. Our team also creates therapy plans that are personalized to the needs of each patient we see. 

    Take the next step to start getting our help treating your sciatica. Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.

  • Dealing with jaw and ear pain? Physical therapists can help

    Dealing with jaw and ear pain? Physical therapists can help

    Jaw and ear pain can often happen at the same time, and they can be difficult to deal with. They can make eating a chore that you’d rather avoid. Even talking to your friends and family can be a source of pain. 

    Typically, these types of pain are centered in the jaw joint, and the ear becomes involved because of its close proximity to the jaw. Referred pain is the term used to describe pain felt in one body part that actually originated in another body part. There are several reasons that you could be feeling discomfort in your jaw and ear, and physical therapists offer techniques that can help you deal with this discomfort and pain. 

    Why do I have pain in my jaw and ear?

    Simultaneously feeling pain in the jaw and ear can be linked to several issues. Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction is one such issue. The TMJ is next to the temporal bone, and the inner ear is on the other side of this bone. Jaw joint misalignment, sore jaw muscles and other issues can cause pain in the TMJ and radiate into the ear. 

    People can also feel pain in these areas from osteoarthritis. This type of arthritis is the most common one that affects the TMJ, and it’s caused by the wearing out of cartilage in the TMJ. In rare cases, a condition called trigeminal neuralgia could be the source of your pain. Irritation or damage of the nerves that supply the face and jaw is typically the cause of this condition. 

    How can physical therapists treat jaw and ear pain?

    Physical therapists have several techniques they can use to treat pain in your jaw and ear. Three of the most common therapy methods used for this purpose are:

    • Manual therapy — This is a hands-on technique designed to stretch soft tissue like muscles and fascia. Manual therapy  can also help manipulate joints in ways that are intended to increase their flexibility. 
    • Therapeutic exercises — Physical therapists can design a program of jaw exercises for you. This program can help realign the jaw joint, and it can also help strengthen and relieve tension in the jaw muscles. 
    • Dry needling — This therapy method uses thin needles to release trigger points in the jaw muscles. Trigger points are areas of built-up tension. Most patients experience little discomfort during a dry needling session. 

    SSOR is ready to help you treat jaw and ear pain

    You don’t have to continue living with jaw and ear soreness. Our SSOR physical therapy team can help you find effective treatment options for your pain. We offer complimentary screenings that are designed to reveal the root cause of your symptoms. Further, our team has lots of experience building individualized treatment plans for many types of pain, and our plans are intended to offer benefits like: 

    • Reduced pain
    • Improved jaw mobility
    • Increased ability to do normal daily tasks

    Do you want to start getting our help for your pain? Contact us today for more information or to schedule your initial appointment. 

  • Two effective plantar fasciitis treatment exercises

    Two effective plantar fasciitis treatment exercises

    Running, aerobics and walking all have one thing in common: doing them too often can lead to plantar fasciitis. The plantar fascia is a ligament that connects to your heel and then splits to connect to each of your toes. When this ligament is irritated, it’s called plantar fasciitis. This can cause pain in your foot or heel that makes walking and other normal activities become more of a chore. However, there are two exercises that can help with the treatment of plantar fasciitis. 

    1.  Toe stretch

    Plantar fasciitis is often caused by increased tension in the plantar fascia. Stretching this ligament can help reduce the tension, pain and other symptoms of plantar fasciitis. One stretching exercise that can help treat plantar fasciitis is the toe stretch. 

    How to perform the toe stretch:

    • Get into the starting position — This exercise should be done while sitting down, so you’ll need to find a stable chair to use. Cross your right leg over your left thigh to make it easier to grab the big toe on your left foot. 
    • Grab your big toe — Use the fingers of your left hand to lightly grasp your left big toe. Slowly pull the toe toward the top of your foot until you feel a stretch in the bottom of your foot. 
    • Hold the stretch — Once you feel the stretch in the bottom of the foot, hold the stretch for 20 to 30 seconds before slowly returning your toe to the starting position. 
    • Repeat these steps — Continue to repeat this stretch with your left big toe for three or four repetitions. Then, switch legs and repeat the stretch three or four times with the right big toe. 

    2.    Marble pick up

    Another type of exercise that can be helpful in your plantar fasciitis treatment is strengthening exercises. Such exercises are designed to help increase strength in the plantar fascia, but they can also help boost the endurance and flexibility of this tendon. An exercise you can use to get these benefits is the marble pick-up. 

    How to do the marble pick-up exercise: 

    • Gather the right equipment — You’ll need several items to do the marble pick-up exercise. You’ll need three to five marbles and a heavy cup or bowl. You can use marbles that are all the same size but you can increase the difficulty of this exercise by using marbles of different sizes. Also, you’ll need a stable chair to sit in while you do the exercise.
    • Set up your equipment — Sit down in the chair and lay the marbles and bowl or cup in front of your feet. The closer to your feet the marbles and cup are, the easier the exercise will be. 
    • Move the marbles with your right foot — Using your right big toe, pick up one of the marbles and slowly move it over the cup or bowl. Drop the first marble into the container, and then pick up the next marble and repeat the process. Make sure to move as slowly as you can while moving each marble to increase the strengthening potential of the exercise. 
    • Repeat with your left foot — Repeat the same steps while using your left foot to move the marbles. Try to repeat this exercise two or three times with each foot. 

    Excel Sports & Physical Therapy can help you with plantar fasciitis treatment

    Physical therapists can help you find effective treatment for plantar fasciitis. Excel Sports & Physical Therapy has a team of therapy specialists who can help you with this foot injury. We offer free screenings to help reveal the source of your foot or ankle pain. Our team also excels at building personalized treatment plan for a variety of injuries, which makes use of many beneficial therapy techniques, including: 

    Are you ready to start getting help with the pain of plantar fasciitis? Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment to start treating your plantar fasciitis. 

  • Two women’s physical therapy exercises used in Kalamazoo, MI

    Women’s physical therapy can be used to treat many issues in Kalamazoo, Michigan. One common issue it’s used to treat is pelvic floor dysfunction, and this condition can be caused by weak pelvic floor muscles. Physical therapists can help you learn many therapeutic exercises to strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor. Here are two examples of exercises a women’s physical therapist can recommend to strengthen these muscles: 

    1. Hip bridge raises

    Hip bridge raises are a low-impact exercise you can perform lying on the ground. The exercise primarily targets the glutes, but it has an impact on your pelvic floor as well.

    To do hip bridge raises, lie on the flat of your back on the floor. Bend your knees at a 90-degree angle, keeping your feet flat on the ground and your arms pressed flat against your sides with your palms on the ground.

    Take a deep breath and push your hips up off the ground. Focus on driving the weight through your heels and squeezing the glutes and pelvic muscles while driving your hips upward. When you’ve reached a point where your body forms a straight line from the knees to your shoulders, slowly lower back down to the ground. Repeat this 10 to 15 times for two to three sets every other day of the week.

    1. Shallow squats

    The squat is an exercise that many people associate with strengthening the legs and buttocks. While they do work the muscles in these areas, squats can also work the pelvic floor muscles. A squat variation called the shallow squat is often used in women’s physical therapy plans to increase the strength of the pelvic floor muscles. 

    To do a shallow squat, you’ll first need to position your body correctly. The correct starting position for this exercise involves standing with your feet about hip width apart, and your feet should also be flat on the floor. From this starting position, slowly bend your knees until they reach about a 45-degree angle. Be sure to keep your back straight and bend forward slightly as you bend the knees, and concentrate on tightening your pelvic floor and buttocks as you slowly return to the starting position. Repeat these steps until you’ve done about 10 reps. You can do more sets of shallow squats, but you’ll want to rest for 30 seconds to a minute between each set. 

    Armor Physical Therapy in Kalamazoo, MI, offers women’s physical therapy

    If you have pelvic floor dysfunction in Kalamazoo, Armor Physical Therapy has a clinic in your area that offers women’s physical therapy. We can begin your treatment process with a free screening, and this step can help us pinpoint the cause of your condition. Using this information, our team can then create an individualized therapy plan for you, and some treatments that could be included in your plan are: 

    Are you ready to get our help with your pelvic floor dysfunction? Contact us today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment. 

  • Pelvic floor physical therapy for incontinence in Jacksonville, NC

    Pelvic floor physical therapy for incontinence in Jacksonville, NC

    The pelvic floor is a group of muscles in your pelvic region that support the organs in your pelvis. It’s important that these muscles remain strong and flexible to continue supporting the organs. When the muscles become weak or stiff due to injuries, chronic conditions or a sedentary lifestyle, you may experience pain, limited range of motion, and loss of bladder or bowel control.

    Pelvic floor pain creates many challenges in your daily life, so it’s important to find treatment from a professional to help your pelvic floor remain healthy. One type of professional that many people turn to for assistance with their pelvic floor are physical therapists.

    What can physical therapists do to help with pelvic floor pain?

    Physical therapists are licensed health care professionals who specialize in natural treatments to help with conditions like those that affect your pelvic floor. Treatments are personalized to the needs of each individual patient, but you can generally expect treatment to include: 

    • Stretches and exercises — Stretches and exercises help build up the strength and flexibility of the muscles in the pelvic floor. This can help to reduce pain and provide better structure for your internal organs.
    • Hands-on therapy — Physical therapists can use hands-on techniques like joint mobilization and soft tissue mobilization to help rehabilitate the pelvic floor. These treatment methods are often used to help reduce tension in the muscles and improve range of motion in the joints.
    • Posture guidance — Poor posture can be both a contributing factor to pelvic pain and a result of pelvic pain. Physical therapists can monitor your posture and assist you in making corrections to help reduce pelvic floor pain. 

    Visit Peak Performance Sports and Physical Therapy in Jacksonville, NC, for pelvic floor physical therapy

    Are pelvic pain and loss of bowel and bladder control making your daily life more difficult? Our physical therapists at Peak Performance Sports and Physical Therapy in Jacksonville, North Carolina, specialize in these treatments and more to help improve the condition of your pelvic floor. Contact our team today for more information about pelvic floor physical therapy or to schedule an initial appointment. 

  • Shortening your recovery time for a sprained ankle — help for patients in Gretna, LA

    Shortening your recovery time for a sprained ankle — help for patients in Gretna, LA

    Whether you twisted it while jogging or rolled it on the basketball court, a sprained ankle can take you out of action quickly — and keep you there. Often, people who are recovering from a sprained ankle are among the very active, or worse, they work physical jobs that require standing and moving. In these and other cases, sprained ankle recovery time can become a serious concern. 

    The recovery time for a sprained ankle can vary on a case-by-case basis, especially depending on the severity of the injury or whether it’s a recurrence of a previous one. It’s absolutely critical to follow the advice of a medical professional on returning to activity, as trying to rush the recovery process can result in worsening the injury. 

    If you’re a Gretna, Louisiana, patient dealing with a sprained ankle, physical therapy can offer a host of benefits, including the potential to safely shorten your recovery time. Rehab Access has an experienced team at our clinic right here in town where we’ve helped many patients get over their sprained ankle and get back into action. 

    What to expect when you work with a physical therapist

    Since every person has unique body mechanics, posture and structure, a one-size-fits-all approach to physical therapy is never ideal. That is why we’re committed to highly personalized care that starts with a full physical assessment. Our therapists will review your medical history, perform balance, gait and posture tests, administer a hands-on examination of your sprained ankle and discuss your specific symptoms and treatment goals. 

    While the primary goal of physical therapy is to improve functioning and decrease the risk of reinjury, an effective program can also potentially shorten your recovery time in the following ways: 

    • Improve strength and stability to take pressure off the ankle
    • Increase blood flow to the area to promote healing
    • Mobilize the joint and soft tissue through manual therapy 

    By consistently following your treatment and any lifestyle recommendations from your therapist, it’s possible to find yourself back to a normal activity level in a surprisingly short period of time. However, it’s always important to stay patient and follow the activity guidelines from your therapist or other treatment professionals. 

    Sprained ankle treatment you can trust in Gretna, LA

    Are you ready to jump-start your recovery for a sprained ankle? Contact our caring and dedicated team today to schedule your initial appointment. 

  • Three TMJ physical therapy exercises you can try right now

    Three TMJ physical therapy exercises you can try right now

    How familiar are you with your temporomandibular joint (TMJ)? Unless it’s in pain, there’s little chance you’ve given the TMJ much though. However, these little joints play in important role in your daily life. Without them, you wouldn’t be able to smile, laugh, talk or even chew your food.

    Some conditions cause pain in one or both of your TMJs that can affect these abilities. Fortunately, there are a few physical therapy exercises you can perform right now that may help. 

    Three TMJ physical therapy exercises to try now

    These exercises are designed to improve the strength and flexibility of the muscles and soft tissue in your jaw. This helps improve support for the TMJs and prevent stiffness. 

    The three exercises you may want to try for TMJ are: 

    1. Relaxed jaw exercise — In this exercise, gently press your tongue against the roof of your mouth. While holding your tongue here, slowly let your teeth come apart as you relax your jaw muscles. Hold your jaw like this for a few seconds before closing and repeating a few times.
    2. Goldfish exercises — Place one finger on just below your ear where the TMJ is located and place the other on your chin. While gently pressing your tongue against the roof of your mouth, use the finger on your chin to help open your mouth completely and close it. Repeat this exercise six times to complete a set with the goal of performing six sets per day. If opening your mouth all the way hurts too much, try a partial goldfish exercise and open the mouth only halfway.
    3. Chin tucks — Stand or sit with your back and neck straight and your shoulders and chest squared. While in this position, slowly tuck your chin back toward your neck. Hold this for a few seconds before releasing to a normal resting jaw position. Repeat 10 times at least for one set per day.

    If you’re unsure about whether these exercises are helpful or safe for you, talk to your doctor or physical therapist. Physical therapists are experts in identifying which treatments are right for you when suffering from a condition like TMJ dysfunction. They can form a personalized treatment that may or may not include these exercises to help you recover from TMJ dysfunction.

    Visit Excel Sports & Physical Therapy for TMJ treatment

    Is TMJ pain keeping you from laughing with your friends and family or enjoying your favorite meals? Our physical therapists at Excel Sports & Physical Therapy are here to help. Contact our team today for more information about TMJ treatment or to schedule an initial appointment.

  • What happens if you don’t seek therapy for a sprained ankle

    What happens if you don’t seek therapy for a sprained ankle

    Have you recently sprained your ankle and are questioning why your doctor is recommending physical therapy? Physical therapists are licensed health care professionals who provide natural treatments for injuries like sprained ankles. They are experts in musculoskeletal injuries and have extensive knowledge of how to help your body heal and regain strength after an injury. Physical therapy is a crucial step in the recovery process for sprained ankles. A physical therapist will first assess your injury and create an individualized treatment plan based on your specific needs. This may include exercises to improve range of motion, strength, and balance, as well as manual techniques to reduce pain and swelling.

    However, you may be wondering if you can get by without physical therapy. If your sprain is very minor, you might be fine after a little rest and some light exercise, but most people with a sprained ankle will need some form of physical therapy to reach their recovery potential.

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    What happens if you don’t seek therapy for ankle sprains

    • You will deal with a lot of pain — Physical therapists specialize in treatments that improve the strength and flexibility of the muscles around your ankle to help reduce pain. This works by improving your mobility to resist stiffness and by helping to reduce pressure off the recovering parts of the ankle. Without physical therapy, you might deal with pain in the ankle for a long time.
    • You will have long-lasting stiffness — Scar tissue can develop in a sprained ankle, especially if surgery is required to treat it. Scar tissue is tough and thick. It can affect your range of motion if allowed to build up in the ankle. Physical therapy can help prevent the buildup of scar tissue and break down existing formations of scar tissue.
    • Your ankle might heal incorrectly — While recovering from a sprain, your ankle may compensate for the injury by transferring responsibilities for movement and support to other muscles, ligaments and tendons surrounding it. This can lead to an imbalance in the ankle that affects your posture and your ability to walk and run.
    • You might develop chronic inflammation — Without physical therapy, strain, increased pressure, stiffness and scar tissue can cause irritation that leads to inflammation. This inflammation can lead to further problems down the road, such as arthritis. 

    Visit Excel Sports & Physical Therapy for sprained ankle treatment

    At Excel Sports & Physical Therapy, we prioritize empowering our patients rather than instilling fear to encourage treatment. It’s crucial to recognize that neglecting physical rehabilitation post an ankle sprain can exacerbate the situation. Our dedicated team is committed to safeguarding against such outcomes.

    Request an appointment or call us today at Affton, North O’Fallon,  St. Louis, Creve Coeur, Ellisville, Saint Peters, O’Fallon, Saint Charles, Warrenton & Wentzville, MO centers.

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  • Treating a herniated disc in the neck with physical therapy

    Treating a herniated disc in the neck with physical therapy

    A herniated disc is a condition in the spine that causes pain and limits your range of motion. The discs in your spine are supposed to prevent friction and shock damage from affecting your vertebrae. However, injuries and conditions can cause one of the discs to herniate, which means its fluid has burst out and is putting pressure on the nerves in your spine.

    Treatments vary for herniated discs based on severity and personal factors like age and medical history. However, one treatment that consistently helps people with herniated discs in their necks is physical therapy.

    How do physical therapists treat herniated discs in the neck?

    Physical therapists have several treatments they can use for treating herniated discs in the neck, including:

    • Exercise — Strong muscles help support the neck and head and reduce pressure off the spine. This is helpful when you have a herniated disc that’s already creating pressure in your neck.Physical therapists can identify which exercises will be beneficial on your neck without causing pain or exceeding your limits.
    • Stretching — Flexible muscles also help support the neck and can improve your range of motion. Physical therapists can guide you through gentle stretches to help improve flexibility in your neck.
    • Manual therapy — Manual therapy techniques are hands-on treatments for mobilizing and manipulating the joints and soft tissue. These techniques help reduce tension and stiffness in the muscles and joints that may contribute to your herniated disc pain.
    • Posture correction — Poor posture like hunching your head forward or slouching your shoulders can contribute to pain and stiffness when you have a herniated disc in the neck. Physical therapists can examine your posture and determine how you can make improvements to reduce some pressure off the spine. 

    Visit Panther Physical Therapy for herniated disc in the neck treatment

    At Panther Physical Therapy, our treatments are always personalized to the needs of each individual patient. If you visit us for treatment, our team will examine your condition and determine which treatment methods are right to help you reach your recovery goals. Contact our team today for more information about treating a herniated disc in your neck or to schedule an initial appointment. 

  • Two beneficial herniated disc physical therapy exercises

    Two beneficial herniated disc physical therapy exercises

    Herniated discs are particularly common in the lower back. When a disc herniates, the inner material pokes out through a rip in the outer disc layer, and this herniated material can rub against or pinch a nerve. Often, a herniated disc can lead to a condition called sciatica. This can cause you to feel pain in your lower back, and the pain can feel like it’s running down through your buttocks and legs. One technique that physical therapists can use to help with herniated lower back discs is therapeutic exercises. Here are two herniated disc physical therapy exercises in particular that can benefit you: 

    1. Piriformis stretch

    One goal that herniated disc physical therapy typically aims for is to stretch muscles that support the lower back. This is a common therapy goal because tight muscles in the hips, buttocks and legs can increase strain on the lower back, and the increased strain can lead to more herniated disc pain. An example of a therapeutic exercise that can help decrease this pain is the piriformis stretch. 

    To start this stretch, lie back on a flat surface. If you have one, you could use a massage table, but most people can get by with doing this exercise on the floor. The starting position for this exercise is lying flat on the floor with your legs straight out in front of you. From this position, bend your right leg up until your foot is flat on the floor and then move your left leg so that your ankle is resting on your thigh just above the knee. Next, slowly pull your right thigh toward your chest until you feel a stretch in your left buttock. Hold this stretch for eight to 10 seconds before returning to the start position. Repeat these steps until you’ve done 10 repetitions with each leg. 

    1. Cobra Pose

    Your physical therapist might also bring a beneficial yoga move called the Cobra Pose into your herniated disc physical therapy. 

    This movement is intended to help stretch the muscles of your lower back, and you’ll begin the pose by lying on your stomach on the floor. You’ll also want to keep your legs straight, and you should bend your arms so that your forearms are resting on the floor. Your hands should be resting on the floor at about shoulder level. Once you’re in this starting position, slowly push your upper body up with your arms until you feel a stretch in the lower back. It’s important to keep your head and neck straight while you do this. When you feel the stretch, hold that position for five to 10 seconds and then return to the starting position. Your goal should be to complete 10 repetitions of this stretch, but it’s OK to do fewer if the movement tires you out too much. 

    Find out other types of herniated disc physical therapy Panther Physical Therapy offers

    Therapeutic exercises are one technique our Panther Physical Therapy team uses for herniated disc physical therapy. But we also offer many other options that can help with this issue. Our team provides free screenings that can help us learn how your injured disc is affecting your body. This information is important because it allows us to create a therapy plan that’s personalized to your needs. Our individualized plans are designed to use multiple therapy methods, and some of the methods that may be included in your plan are: 

    Don’t wait any longer to get started with your herniated disc physical therapy at Panther Physical Therapy. Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an appointment.

  • Relief for common sports injuries — how does physical therapy help?

    Relief for common sports injuries — how does physical therapy help?

    While they can be highly enjoyable and a great form of exercise, many athletic pursuits can be a common source of injury. From playing tennis to basketball or even just going for a run every morning, the repetitive motions and quick movements that accompany sports can put a high degree of stress and strain on our joints. 

    These conditions are what lead to injuries such as sprained ankles and knees, hip bursitis, strained lower back muscles, tennis elbow and other common sports injuries. If you have pain and symptoms that don’t improve in a short period of time — a few days to a week at the most — it may be time to seek treatment. As experts in the form and functioning of the body, physical therapists have a unique set of skills to help people of all backgrounds find relief from sports-related injuries. 

    Please take a moment to read over this quick and informative guide. If you have any questions or want a better understanding of the available treatment options, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. 

    Specific ways therapists help relieve common sports injuries

    After your therapist reviews your medical history, discusses symptoms with you and performs a physical examination, you and your therapist can work together to design a treatment plan that works for your condition, lifestyle and treatment goals. Here is how a physical therapy and sports rehabilitation program can help your injury:

    • Learn proper mechanics to minimize stress on the body
    • Improve posture to evenly distribute weight and pressure
    • Strengthen core muscles and other supporting musculature for better stability 
    • Increase range of motion and mobility
    • Break up injured bundles of soft tissue and increase circulation to promote the natural healing process

    Additionally, your therapist can help provide instruction on healthy lifestyle factors and at-home treatments that can have a positive effect on your overall health while decreasing the risk of reinjury. 

    The sports injury experts at Rehab Access

    Our caring experts have helped many athletes of all backgrounds and ability levels get back to their favorite sports and activities. When you come to us for relief from any common sports injuries, we’ll work with you to get you back into action as quickly and safely as possible. We understand that no two patients and injuries are alike, which is why we value individualized treatment plans. 

    To schedule your initial appointment and start your journey toward relief, contact us today.   

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