Category: Physical Therapy

Visit a physical therapist in Grand Rapids, MI, for dry needling

Tension and stiffness in the muscles and soft tissue puts pressure on your joints and on your nerves, which can limit your range of motion. Tension and stiffness also cause pain that spreads throughout your nerves and affects other parts of your body.

You can visit a physical therapist for treatment when you have tense and stiff muscles. At Advent Physical Therapy in Grand Rapids, Michigan, we are experienced in a variety of treatments for muscular tension. One treatment we offer at our East Paris clinic in Grand Rapids is dry needling.

What is dry needling?

Dry needling is a treatment that uses sterilized needles to release tension in the muscles at trigger points. It is often confused with acupuncture because of the use of needles to treat pain. However, their objectives are quite different.

Dry needling is performed by a licensed physical therapist who is trained to identify trigger points that cause muscular tension. Acupuncture is more concerned with improving the flow of your body’s “energy force,” which is not medically proven. Dry needling is.

The “dry” part of dry needling refers to the fact that the needles are not filled with drugs or medication. The sole purpose of using these needles is to release tension, not to inject a medication to mask the pain.

Does dry needling hurt?

Many people associate the word “needle” with pain. In many cases, you would be right to do so, but not with dry needling.

Physical therapists are skilled at gently inserting the needle in the correct spot to reduce tension in the muscles. Instead of causing pain, this reduces pain. There may be some initial discomfort, but you shouldn’t experience any sensation you would describe as painful.

Visit Advent Physical Therapy in Grand Rapids, MI, for dry needling

Are you looking for dry needling near you? We offer dry needling as a treatment at our East Paris clinic in Grand Rapids. If you live near the Grand Rapids area, come visit our East Paris clinic to talk to one of our team members about dry needling and learn about our other methods of treatment for your pain.

Contact our team today for more information about dry needling or to schedule an initial appointment.

July 13, 2019
What to expect from physical therapy for arthritis in Ada, MI
Arthritis causes pain in the joints that makes it difficult for you to move. This makes many daily tasks more challenging, including walking or getting dressed. Unfortunately, arthritis has no cure, but there are treatments that can help. One treatment that many people with arthritis choose is physical therapy.

Physical therapists specialize in methods for treating arthritis pain and improving your range of motion without using drugs or invasive surgical procedures. At Advent Physical Therapy in Ada, Michigan, our treatments for arthritis vary depending on the individual needs of each patient.

Physical therapy treatments for arthritis

If you visit us for help with your arthritis pain, we will examine your condition to make sure you get the personalized treatment you need, which may include:
- Stretches and exercises — Stiff and weak muscles often increase the pressure on your joints that can make your arthritis pain worse. Improving the strength and flexibility of these muscles provides better support for the joints, which helps reduce pain and improve your range of motion.
- Joint mobilization — Physical therapists can use joint mobilization techniques to manipulate the joints into different positions to release pressure and improve your flexibility. This can help reduce pain and improve your ability to move your joints.
- Posture education — Standing, sitting and sleeping with poor posture can contribute to an increase in arthritis pain. Physical therapists can identify areas in which your posture can be improved and can help you make corrections. This may result in less pressure on your joints, which helps reduce your pain.
- Balance assistance — Sometimes, arthritis can make it difficult for you to balance or to stand on your own. In these cases, you may need to use assistive devices like a walker or a cane. Using these devices can be challenging if you’ve never done it before, but physical therapists can help you learn how to use them safely.
Visit Advent Physical Therapy in Ada, MI, for arthritis treatment

If you suffer from arthritis pain, there’s more than just medication and surgery for treatment. At Advent Physical Therapy in Ada, we can help you reduce your arthritis pain to decrease your dependency on medicine and so that surgery might not be necessary. Contact our team today for more information about arthritis treatment or to schedule an initial appointment.
July 7, 2019
Joint mobilization for treating spine pain in St. Louis, MO
Physical therapists are known for using hands-on treatment methods known as manual therapy. These are treatments in which the physical therapist mobilizes and manipulates your soft tissue and joints to help improve your physical condition.

When it comes to back pain, physical therapists may use joint mobilization techniques on your spine.

Why would you need joint mobilization for spine pain?

Each section of the spine is composed of several joints that provide you with the ability to bend and twist your back. Injuries and chronic conditions can affect these joints, which may impede your ability to move your back.

Joint mobilization can help you regain the use of your spine by treating the effects of injuries and conditions on the joints in your spine. There are several benefits to treating spine pain with joint mobilization, including:
- It helps reduce spine pain — Joint mobilization helps reduce pressure off the nerves around your joints. One method of doing this in your spine is to gently separate each vertebra to help them release pressure and realign correctly.
- It can increase the range of motion in your spine — Joint mobilization can help increase the flexibility of the joint and the soft tissue around it. This can improve your range of motion, allowing you to bend and twist further.
- It can improve your autonomic nervous system — The autonomic nervous system is responsible for controlling your heart rate, blood pressure and breathing. Joint mobilization can improve your body’s regulation of the autonomic nervous system, which can help you resist inflammation that causes pain and limited range of motion.
- It can reduce your dependency on medication — Treating pain and improving your range of motion with manual therapy can reduce your need for drugs and medication. This is beneficial because they often come with negative side effects that impact your quality of life.
Visit Excel Sports and Physical Therapy in St. Louis, MO, for joint mobilization

Back pain can keep you from enjoying your favorite activities and spending time with the people you love. Don’t let back pain control your life. Contact Excel Sports and Physical Therapy in St. Louis, Missouri, today for more information about joint mobilization or to schedule an initial appointment.
July 6, 2019
What is electrical stimulation in physical therapy?
If you are unfamiliar with the electrical stimulation method used in physical therapy, it can seem a little frightening. However, there is nothing to fear. This safe and painless physical therapy method is used by placing adhesive patches on the skin, which is connected to wires. A machine will then send a mild electric current through the patches to the affected area of the body in order to interact with sensory or motion nerves and stimulate the inner electrical system.

Electrical stimulation is a physical therapy modality used to release natural endorphins in the body, relieving pain, spasms, inflammation or weakness associated with conditions ranging from low back pain to a stroke. This physical therapy method is also used to retrain the muscles that are having issues with mobility. Through electrical stimulation, the muscle can then contract by sending electrical impulses straight into the muscle tissue. To learn about the different types of electrical stimulation in physical therapy, read on.

Types of electrical stimulation in physical therapy

There are a variety of electrical stimulation forms that a physical therapist may use depending on your specific condition. Each form of electrical stimulation has different uses and varies the frequency of waveforms to target different parts of the body. For example, electrical stimulation includes but is not limited to the following:
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation — Also known as TENS therapy, this technique is used to relieve sore and aching muscles and chronic pain.
- Russian electrical stimulation — This method uses high-frequency waveforms to strengthen muscles, improve endurance and promote healing.
- Neuromuscular electrical stimulation — NMES improves muscle spasms, increases circulation, maintains range or motion and reeducates the neuromuscular system.
Visit Whatcom Physical Therapy for electrical stimulation

If you’re looking for electrical stimulation, look no further than Whatcom Physical Therapy. Our specialists will conduct a detailed medical history and physical examination to determine the best treatment method for your needs. Contact us today for more information on what electrical stimulation entails and how it can help you on your road to recovery. We look forward to helping set up your initial appointment so you can reclaim your life from your condition.
July 3, 2019
Physical therapy for TMJ pain in Warrenton, MO
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a part of your body you probably don’t think of very often. Chances are, you probably have never even heard of it until you’ve had jaw pain and sought treatment.

TMJ pain affects the joints in your jaw that connect the jaw to the skull. These tiny joints are right in front of your ears. They are what allow you to talk, chew food, smile and do anything else that requires you to move your jaw. When one or more of the TMJs are in pain, it can be difficult for you to move your mouth for any of these functions.

Treating TMJ pain with physical therapy

Treatment for TMJ pain varies depending on its cause and severity. In some cases, people treat TMJ pain with medication. However, this isn’t very effective for long-lasting TMJ pain. In these cases, you’ll want to see a physical therapist for treatment.

Physical therapists are health care professionals who specialize in treating conditions that affect your joints, muscles, soft tissue and cartilage. At Excel Sports & Physical Therapy in Warrenton, Missouri, our team is experienced in treating conditions that cause TMJ pain.

Physical therapy treatments for TMJ pain vary depending on the cause of your pain and other factors like medical history. Generally, you can expect your treatment to include:
- Therapeutic exercise — Exercises that strengthen and stretch the muscles and soft tissue in your jaw help reduce pain and improve your range of motion. Stronger and more flexible muscles provide better support for the jaw when the joint is affected by conditions like arthritis.
- Posture guidance — Poor posture puts strain on your neck muscles that can stem into your face and affect your jaw. Frequently clenching your jaw also causes TMJ pain. Physical therapists can help correct your posture to reduce TMJ pain and prevent future pain.
- Manual therapy — Manual therapy techniques like soft tissue mobilization and joint mobilization can reduce pain in the jaw and improve the joint’s range of motion.
- Electrical stimulation — Physical therapists use electrical stimulation to deliver small bursts of electricity that cause the muscles in the TMJ to contract and release. This helps reduce muscle tension and soothes pain.
Visit Excel Sports & Physical Therapy in Warrenton, MO, for TMJ pain treatment

Do you have pain in your jaw that makes it difficult to open or close your mouth? Our physical therapists at Excel Sports & Physical Therapy in Warrenton are ready to help you. Contact our team today for more information about TMJ pain treatment or to schedule an initial appointment.
June 28, 2019
Treating carpal tunnel syndrome in Saint Charles, MO, with physical therapy
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common condition that causes pain in the wrist. It’s common because it’s caused by strain in the wrist that can occur while typing, driving, operating heavy machinery and other tasks that many jobs require.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is painful and limits the use of your wrist. It’s important to seek treatment when you have long-lasting pain in your wrist to prevent your carpal tunnel syndrome from getting worse. Many people with carpal tunnel syndrome choose physical therapy for treatment.

Why should you see a physical therapist for carpal tunnel treatment?

Visiting a physical therapist for carpal tunnel treatment is beneficial in a number of ways, including:
- Physical therapy helps reduce carpal tunnel pain — Many physical therapy treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome focus on stretching and exercising the muscles in the wrist. This improves the strength and flexibility of the muscles around the carpal tunnel, which can reduce pressure off the median nerve.
- Physical therapy helps prevent future carpal tunnel pain — Stretching and exercising the muscles can help prevent future pain as well as preventing current pain. Prevention techniques can help you whether you have carpal tunnel syndrome already or are at risk for it due to your job duties.
- Physical therapy helps your recovery from carpal tunnel surgery — In extreme cases of carpal tunnel syndrome, surgery is necessary for treatment. However, physical therapists still help in this situation. Physical therapists specialize in exercises and other treatments that improve the quality and speed of your recovery after surgery.
- Physical therapy decreases your dependency on pain medication — Pain medications often include undesirable side effects that affect your quality of life. Treating carpal tunnel pain with physical therapy not only improves the condition of your wrist, but it also decreases your need for using pain medications.
Visit Excel Sports & Physical Therapy in Saint Charles, MO, for carpal tunnel treatment

Our team at Excel Sports & Physical Therapy in Saint Charles, Missouri, is experienced in many treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome. Contact our team today for more information about carpal tunnel treatment or to schedule an initial appointment.
June 27, 2019
Five benefits of therapeutic exercise
Physical therapists work with patients in a wide variety of ways to help relieve pain and restore functioning. Injury, illness and surgical rehabilitation are just a few examples of issues that can disrupt normal functioning and be helped by physical therapy.

While everyone has unique needs, one of the most commonly recommended methods when developing a treatment plan is therapeutic exercise. This well-researched and evidence-based method of treatment incorporates strengthening, stretching and mobility-enhancing exercise routines designed around each patient’s individual needs.

At Peak Performance Sports and Physical Therapy, we value patient education as a core element of delivering exceptional care. To help you better understand how therapeutic exercise can benefit you, we’ve created this easy-to-understand guide. If you have any questions or would like more information, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.

Specific benefits offered by therapeutic exercise

There are a number of benefits to therapeutic exercise, and our team has years of experience successfully integrating this method into effective treatment plans. Here are just a few of the benefits that therapeutic exercise can offer patients:
1. Increased wellness and fitness levels — No matter what reason you seek physical therapy, therapeutic exercise offers a holistic approach to relief. While exercises can be targeted for a specific injury, they can also help your overall health, including your heart and lungs.
2. A stronger body — Following a therapeutic exercise plan is designed to improve the strength of your entire body, resulting in better posture and capability to perform daily activities.
3. Reduced risk for reinjury — A stronger and fitter body means a more stable body. For people dealing with injuries, therapeutic exercises strengthen the muscles around the injured area with the goal of making it less prone to reinjury.
4. Improved mood and energy levels — People suffering from limited mobility and pain can enter into a downward spiral of depression, anxiety and a sedentary lifestyle that makes it even harder to find relief. Therapeutic exercise releases endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers, and can help improve your energy levels so you can be more active.
5. Less dependence on medication — Therapeutic exercise is an all-natural pain relief and rehabilitation method that treats pain at the source. Medication can only mask symptoms and may become habit forming. Following through on a therapeutic exercise program can reduce the need to turn to medication for relief.
The therapeutic experts at Peak Performance are here to help

At Peak Performance, working with our team of expertly trained professionals can set you on the road to a personalized plan for a better livelihood. If you are interested in learning more about the benefits that therapeutic exercise and physical therapy can offer you, contact us today to schedule your initial appointment.
June 27, 2019
Treating balance disorders with physical therapy in O’Fallon, MO
Balance disorders are often related to vestibular conditions. These conditions affect your inner ear and can cause vertigo, dizziness and other symptoms that affect your ability to balance.

Living with a balance disorder is challenging. It can be difficult to focus, there is a risk of being hurt from a fall and you may frequently feel nauseous. Some balance disorders cannot be cured, but there are treatments that can help you manage life with imbalance.

Many people with balance disorders choose to visit physical therapists for treatment. Physical therapists have different ways of testing balance disorders depending on the cause of your imbalance and other factors like medical history.

Generally, your physical therapy treatment aims to reduce the effects of triggers that cause imbalance and to improve your strength and flexibility to help you resist falls.

Physical therapy treatments for balance disorders

Physical therapists use a variety of methods for treating imbalance. If you visit a physical therapist to treat a balance disorder, your treatment will likely include:
- Therapeutic exercise — Exercises to improve the strength and flexibility of your muscles helps you balance easier. When your muscles are weak, you are more likely to fall when you feel dizzy or disoriented. Stronger muscles provide better support, which reduces the chance of falling.
- Adaption stabilization — Adaptation stabilization exercises are designed to improve your ability to focus. These exercises usually have you move your head while maintaining a visual on a specific object or target. As your therapy goes on, your physical therapist will introduce new positions and change the distance and speed of your targets.
- Substitution — Moving your eyes or head in a certain way can trigger a balance disorder. Physical therapists can teach you substitution techniques for substituting the way you typically move your head and eyes with new methods less likely to trigger imbalance.
- Habituation — Physical therapists use habitation to build your resistance to specific triggers like motion or lights. This method works by exposing you to the trigger in a controlled environment to help your body grow used to it. Over time, you should be able to handle more of whatever causes your trigger without losing balance or feeling dizzy.
Visit Excel Sports & Physical Therapy in O’Fallon, MO, for balance disorder treatment

If you live near O’Fallon, Missouri, and need treatment for an imbalance disorder, our team at Excel Sports & Physical Therapy is ready to help. Contact our team today for more information about balance disorder treatment or to schedule an initial appointment.
June 25, 2019
Manual therapy in Portage, MI
Are you scouting manual therapy clinics in and around Portage, Michigan? Look no further than Armor Physical Therapy. Our high-quality physical therapy services focus on the root of your problem, rather than just treating your symptoms, to recapture your life from your condition and prevent the risk of further injury. To learn about the manual therapy exercises we offer in our Portage clinic, read the following article.

Types of manual therapy techniques

Manual therapy, also known as manipulative therapy, is a treatment designed to ease musculoskeletal pain, reduce inflammation and increase range of motion. This treatment involves a physical therapist applying pressure to the muscle tissue or manipulating the joints.

At our Portage clinic, our physical therapists will assess the bone, muscle, blood and nerve supply in the area causing you pain and discomfort prior to performing manual therapy. After the evaluation, a customized manual therapy treatment plan will be created and tailored to your specific needs.

This may consist of a combination of manual therapy treatments, such as:
- SCS — Strain counterstrain treatment is used to ease abnormal neuromuscular reflexes, which are causing pain and discomfort. This involves placing the patient in a comfortable position, identifying the most tender part of the body and palpating the tender point for about 90 seconds until the pain diminishes by at least 70%.
- STM — Soft tissue mobilization is used to increase the range of motion and function in abnormal tissues. This manual therapy treatment can be done through a variety of methods, such as the physical therapist applying gentle pressure on the affected tissue and stretching it.
- MET — Muscle energy technique is used to mobilize restricted joints as well as lengthen postural muscles that are prone to shortening. To do this technique, the patient will create voluntary muscle contractions. Then, the physical therapist will apply a resistant force from a precise position in a specific direction to stretch the muscle.
- HVLA — High-velocity, low-amplitude manipulation is more of an aggressive technique and is used for restoring the range of motion in joints by stretching the joints at its restricted barrier through a short and quick thrust. Because the joint is not moved past its limit, there is no damage associated with this treatment.
Visit Armor Physical Therapy in Portage for manual therapy today

At Armor Physical Therapy, we provide some of the best manual therapy services in the Portage area for a variety of musculoskeletal injuries and conditions. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, our manual therapy treatments are often able to provide you with lasting relief from your pain and discomfort without the need for harmful medication or surgical intervention.

To get started on your road to recovery, contact our team today and schedule your initial appointment with our team.
June 24, 2019
The benefits of treating arthritis with physical therapy in Grand Rapids, MI
More than 100 forms of arthritis can damage the cartilage in the joints of your body. When this happens, the bones in your joints rub against one another, which causes pain and a limited range of motion.

Treatments for arthritis pain range from medication all the way to surgery in extreme cases. However, many people with arthritis can benefit from physical therapy treatment instead.

Benefits of treating arthritis with physical therapy

Treating arthritis with physical therapy is beneficial in many ways, including:
- Decreased dependency on drugs — Medications can be addictive and cause undesirable side-effects that impact your quality of life. Physical therapists can treat arthritis pain and reduce your need for drugs.
- Lower chance you’ll need surgery — When arthritis pain is severe, surgical intervention may be necessary. However, surgery is invasive, risky and requires a long time for recovery. Physical therapists can treat your arthritis so that surgery may not be necessary.
- Increased range of motion — Physical therapists use therapeutic stretches and exercises and other techniques in many arthritis treatments. These help improve your flexibility and range of motion.
- Better joint support — Stretching and exercising the muscles around your joints provides better structural support for the joint. This helps reduce pressure on the joint that can make arthritis pain worse.
- Improved posture — Arthritis pain can make it difficult to maintain proper posture. Poor posture leads to an increase in arthritis pain and other issues. Physical therapists can examine your posture and identify areas that could use improvement for reducing arthritis pain.
- Increased safety — Arthritis can increase your risk of falling while moving around, which may cause traumatic injuries. Physical therapists can show you how to safely move around and how to use assistive devices correctly, such as canes and walkers.
Visit Advent Physical Therapy in Grand Rapids for arthritis treatment

At Advent Physical Therapy in Grand Rapids, Michigan, our team is experienced in treating arthritis and other chronic painful conditions. If you have chronic joint pain and would like professional assistance in reducing and preventing it, our team is ready to help. Contact our team today for more information about arthritis treatment or to schedule an initial appointment.
June 23, 2019
Two causes of sudden ankle pain without an injury
When you suddenly feel ankle pain, you may believe that you’ve injured your ankle in some way. However, there are actually several issues that can cause sudden ankle pain without any injury at all. Physical therapy can often be used to treat injuries and other issues that cause ankle pain. In fact, there are two sources of this type of ankle pain that a physical therapist can help you treat.

1. Osteoarthritis

One issue that can cause sudden ankle pain without an injury is osteoarthritis. This condition is a natural result of the aging of your body, and it typically causes cartilage and bones in your joints to become worn out or damaged. In turn, these issues can lead to a number of debilitating symptoms.

For example, osteoarthritis damage typically causes sudden pains to occur in the joints that are affected, such as the ankle. This condition can also lead to swelling and inflammation in the ankle, and these symptoms may make it harder for you to walk. They may also make it more difficult to stand up for even short periods of time, and this can make normal daily activities like washing dishes or walking to the mailbox a challenge.

2. Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is another condition that may cause sudden pain in your ankle without an injury. Unlike osteoarthritis, this condition is not a natural one. In fact, it’s an autoimmune disorder where your immune system mistakenly attacks the lining of your joints. Joints that are commonly affected by rheumatoid arthritis include the ankles, knees, hips and finger joints.

This type of arthritis can be difficult to distinguish from osteoarthritis because it has several similar symptoms. For instance, it can cause sudden joint pain, and it may also lead to joint swelling and inflammation. It also commonly makes activities that require joint movement more difficult.

However, there are several symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis that are different from osteoarthritis. This includes the fact that this condition may cause you to have a fever. It may also lead to high levels of fatigue and a loss of appetite.

Feeling sudden ankle pains without an injury? Continuum Wellness is here to help!

If you’re someone who has a condition causing you sudden ankle pain without an injury, our team at Continuum Wellness is here to help. We can perform an initial evaluation to determine what condition is causing your ankle pain. Then, our team can build a personalized physical therapy plan designed to treat the specific cause of your pain, and such a plan may include physical therapy methods like:
Our plans are also designed to benefit you in many ways. For example, they’re intended to reduce pain, decrease swelling, increase range of motion and improve your ability to perform everyday tasks.

Are you ready to take the next step to treat the source of your ankle pain? Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.
June 23, 2019
Why should you visit a physical therapist for pelvic pain treatment?
Your pelvis is the region between your thighs and abdomen. It’s made up of several muscles, soft tissue and bones, and it contains many vital organs. Pain in this region makes it difficult for you to stand up, sit down and enjoy physical activities.

In some cases, pain in the pelvis is related to a condition in one of your organs. This kind of pain is usually accompanied by symptoms like fever, cold sweats, nausea, blood in the stool and blood in the urine. If you have pelvic pain like this, you should seek emergency medical attention.

However, pelvic pain is usually related to a non-life-threatening condition that affects your soft tissue, bones or joints. In these cases, you’ll want to see a physical therapist for treatment.

How do physical therapists treat pelvic pain?

Physical therapy is beneficial for people with pelvic pain for a number of reasons, including:
- It can reduce your pain — Physical therapists use techniques that help make muscles in the pelvis stronger and more flexible. This provides better support for the pelvis and reduces pressure off the joints caused by weak and stiff muscles. Physical therapists may also use soothing techniques like massage, manual therapy and electrical stimulation to treat pain.
- It can improve your range of motion — Therapeutic exercises and stretches increase the flexibility of your muscles and joints. This helps improve the range of motion in your pelvis.
- It helps prevent future pain — Improving the strength and flexibility of the muscles not only treats pain, but it also helps prevent similar conditions from developing again in the future.
- It decreases your dependency on drugs — Many people react to pain by taking painkillers and anti-inflammatory medication. While these medications can be helpful, they often include undesirable side effects. By treating your pain with physical therapy, you can decrease your need for taking medications to reduce your pain.
- It reduces the need for surgery — Sometimes, when your pain is extreme or lasts for a long time, surgery is necessary for treatment. However, physical therapy can often treat the same causes of pain and reduce the need for surgery. This is beneficial because surgery is risky and often requires a long time for recovery.
Visit Excel Sports & Physical Therapy for pelvic pain treatment

Do you have pain or stiffness in your pelvis that’s affecting your ability to live your daily life? Are you pregnant and want help reducing and preventing pelvic pain that often occurs during pregnancy? Our physical therapists at Excel Sports & Physical Therapy are here to help you. Contact our team today for more information about pelvic pain treatment or to schedule an initial appointment.
June 21, 2019