Category: Physical Therapy

Three conditions treated with physical therapy for back pain
Sooner or later, everyone has to deal with some degree of back pain. While many cases are relatively mild and can improve on their own in a short period of time, back pain can also become chronic and have a devastating impact on your quality of life.

Physical therapy for back pain can become an option for patients whose relationships, work and hobbies are all being negatively impacted by pain. At Armor Physical Therapy, our expert clinicians can treat a wide range of the underlying causes of back pain, including the following three common conditions. If you have any questions about the conditions we treat and how we can help you find relief, feel free to reach out to our caring and dedicated team.

Physical therapy for back pain can help with these common causes

Due to the structure of the spine and supporting muscles, this area of the body is very prone to injury and degenerative age-related conditions. Here are three primary examples:
1. Back muscle strains — The muscles supporting the lower spine are put under tremendous stress on a daily basis. This means it is very easy to develop a painful injury, especially when related to strenuous physical activity.
2. Herniated and bulging discs — The discs in our spine are responsible for cushioning the vertebrae and allowing us to bend and flex. These discs can start to bulge out of their normal place in the spinal column or become herniated as a result of injury or age-related breakdown. The displaced disc material can then put pressure on surrounding nerves, causing back pain and related symptoms.
3. Arthritis of the spine — Like any other joint in the body, the joints that link the spine together can develop arthritis. In addition to localized aches and pains, spinal arthritis can cause bone spurs that can compress the spinal cord or nerve roots and cause painful symptoms.
To treat any condition that causes back pain, a physical therapist can perform a full evaluation and recommend treatments designed to strengthen and stabilize the back while also improving range of motion.

Armor Physical Therapy for back pain relief

For almost any cause of back pain, our caring and expertly-trained team of therapists can work with you to create a highly personalized treatment plan that is right for your needs and specific situation. Start your pain relief journey, contact us today to schedule your initial appointment.
June 20, 2019
One physical therapy for arthritis you’ll find in Gretna, LA
There are likely many patients in the Gretna, Louisiana, area who are suffering from arthritis. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that more than 25% of adults in Louisiana have some form of arthritis. With practically a one-in-four chance of having this condition, it’s in your best interest to know more about arthritis and how a physical therapist can help you treat it.

How does arthritis affect the joints?

There are two types of arthritis that commonly affect the joints. One of these is osteoarthritis, and this type is typically the result of natural aging. For instance, the movements you make every day can cause cartilage in your joints to wear out over time. In turn, issues like this may lead to joint inflammation, pain and difficulty moving the joint.

Rheumatoid arthritis is the second type of arthritis that may be affecting your joints. This issue happens when your body mistakenly attacks the lining of your joints. Unlike osteoarthritis, it commonly affects every joint in the body at the same time. However, it does typically lead to inflammation, pain and lower range of motion, but rheumatoid arthritis patients may also have fevers and loss of appetite.

Aquatic therapy is one therapy method used in arthritis treatment

Aquatic therapy is one name used for a therapy method that has patients perform exercises in a pool. This technique may also be called water therapy or aquatic rehab. The factor that makes aquatic rehab so effective is it makes use of several natural characteristics of water.

For example, water has the ability to make objects float, which is called buoyancy. Buoyancy is also helpful because it reduces the effects of gravity on your joints, and this can make it easier for you to perform movements recommended by a physical therapist. Also, water exerts an inward force on the body called compression. This natural compression helps stabilize your arthritic joints and increases blood flow.

Find physical therapy for your arthritis at Rehab Access in Gretna

Rehab Access is proud to have a physical therapy clinic right here in Gretna, and our team can help treat many injuries and medical conditions. This includes various types of arthritis. Our physical therapy plans for arthritis are personalized to fit each patient, and they may include many therapy methods, such as aquatic therapy. However, the best thing about our arthritis treatment plans is the benefit they’re designed to provide, which may include:
- Reduced joint pain
- Decreased inflammation
- Improved range of motion
- Increased ability to do normal daily tasks
Are you ready to take the next step to find relief from your arthritis symptoms? Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.
June 17, 2019
Three types of manual therapy — and how they help

Manual therapy is a term for a number of hands-on techniques that a physical therapist uses to help patients recover from injuries, chronic pain and post-surgical rehabilitation. The objective is to help relax tense muscles, increase blood flow to injured areas and mobilize soft tissue and joints. Along with therapeutic exercise, manual therapy is a central part of physical therapy, helping patients regain range of motion and return to a normal level of activity.

To help you learn more about manual therapy and have a better idea about what to expect from physical therapy treatment, we’re sharing three specific techniques that therapists commonly use. As you read this over, feel free to reach out to us with any questions that you have. The team at Peak Performance Sports and Physical Therapy is here to help.

1. Soft tissue and joint mobilization

As the name implies, mobilization is a form of manual therapy that involves encouraging movement in injured areas of the body, such as dysfunctional joints or strained muscles. The therapist uses gentle, slow movements to activate joints or gentle pressure to break up and relax tense, fibrous muscle tissue. Combined with other treatments, this can help restore function to areas that were previously limiting mobility.

2. Strain-counterstrain

This technique is designed to relax spastic muscles by holding a specific position, typically for 90 seconds, and then gently pulling away from it. The goal is to restore mobility and decompress tissue that has been under pressure due to injury.

3. Myofascial release

Also known as trigger point therapy, myofascial release involves a therapist using his or her hands to break up and release irritable bundles of soft tissue that are often sources of pain and limited mobility.

Manual therapy at Peak Performance

At our locations in New Bern, Havelock, Winterville, Swansboro and Jacksonville, North Carolina, we have highly skilled and experienced therapists who practice manual therapy and other physical therapy techniques to help patients find the relief they deserve. When you come to us for treatment, you can expect to be treated with compassion and a collaborative approach designed to provide you with personalized care. To learn more about our manual therapy and other treatment offerings, contact us today to schedule your initial appointment.

June 12, 2019
Finding pelvic pain treatment in Creve Coeur, MO
Pelvic pain can be extremely debilitating, and you may not know where to turn to get help. However, there’s a physical therapy team that offers pelvic pain treatment right here in Creve Coeur, Missouri.

At Excel Sports & Physical Therapy, our team is proud to offer many types of physical therapy to residents of the Creve Coeur area. Over the past 35 years, we’ve been committed to providing the very best therapy in this community. One of the ways we show our commitment is with our personalized therapy plans.

To create a personalized plan for you, our team will first perform a thorough evaluation of your condition or injury. Then, we’ll take some time to answer any questions you have and listen to your concerns and therapy goals. Once we have all this information, we’ll build you an individual therapy plan that targets your specific injury or condition. One time this process is very helpful is when our Creve Coeur team is creating a pelvic pain treatment plan.

Two conditions our Creve Coeur team can build pelvic pain treatment plans for

Pelvic pain treatment may not be something Creve Coeur residents have ever heard of. One reason for this is because it’s generally considered a relatively new form of physical therapy. However, this type of treatment is very important because the muscles, tendons and ligaments in the pelvic area are vital to supporting your core. Also, pelvic pain treatment is helpful for a variety of painful pelvic conditions.

One pelvic condition this treatment is intended to help is postpartum conditions. Postpartum is a word that means “following childbirth.” New mothers must deal with many pelvic issues after giving birth. For instance, they may experience strained pelvic floor muscles as a result of childbirth. Connective tissue damage may be another side effect of childbirth that new mothers need help recovering from. Pelvic pain treatment plans can be designed to help heal and strengthen pelvic muscles and connective tissue. In turn, the strengthening and healing may help reduce pain.

A second condition pelvic pain treatments can be designed to help is pain after abdominal surgery. Many abdominal surgery patients should consider pelvic pain therapy following surgery. For example, women who have had cesarean sections can benefit from this type of therapy. Another group of surgery patients who may benefit from pelvic pain treatment after surgery is women who have had hysterectomies. This type of therapy is also intended to treat pain in either men or women who have undergone bladder surgery.

In order to help patients dealing with these and other pelvic conditions, our Excel Sports & Physical Therapy team wants to help you with a personalized therapy plan. These helpful pelvic pain therapy plans may include therapies like:
- Postural exercises
- Diaphragmatic breathing techniques
- Myofascial exercises
- Massage therapy
By combining these and other therapies into a personalized pelvic pain treatment plan, our team can design treatment plans that offer many benefits. If you’re interested in finding out more about our services in Creve Coeur, there’s one initial step you’ll need to take.

Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.
June 10, 2019
Two therapy methods used for lower back pain treatment

Lower back pain is a problem that many people experience on a daily basis. In fact, research from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) shows that up to 80% of adults will experience low back pain at some point in their lives. Pain in this area can be the result of many factors. However, physical therapy-based lower back pain treatment can be used to treat many of these factors. There are two physical therapy methods in particular that are often used to treat this form of pain.

1. Dry needling

Dry needling is a type of physical therapy commonly used for lower back pain treatment. This therapy uses thin needles that many people may associate with acupuncture. However, dry needling is based on modern Western medical science rather than the ancient Chinese practices acupuncture is based on.

Using this technique, a physical therapist can reach tense muscles that other therapy methods can’t reach. For instance, tension can build up at certain points in the muscles, and these areas of tension are also known as trigger points. The thin needles used in dry needling are an effective way for a therapist to release the tension from these trigger points. This may help to reduce the pain you’re feeling in your lower back.

2. Aquatic therapy

Another physical therapy method that’s often used in lower back pain treatment plans is aquatic therapy. Patients may also hear this therapy method referred to as water therapy or aquatic rehab, and this technique takes advantage of the natural characteristics of water.

For example, water has the ability to make things float, which is also called buoyancy. This natural buoyancy helps reduce the effects of gravity on your back, and this ability allows your spine to decompress. In turn, this decompression may decrease the pressure placed on spinal nerves, which is one reason you may be feeling back pain.

Rehab Access wants to help you find great lower back pain treatment

Since 1999, our Rehab Access team has been helping patients in Belle Chasse and Gretna, Louisiana, find the physical therapy they need. Our team has helped many patients find effective treatment plans for lower back pain. Our treatment plans are personalized to the needs of each individual patient, and they may include many evidence-based physical therapy techniques, such as dry needling and aquatic therapy.

Take the next step to find relief from your lower back pain at Rehab Access. Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.

June 10, 2019
The benefits of treating lower back pain with physical therapy
Finding treatment for lower back pain is a priority for people who suffer from it frequently. Treatments for lower back pain vary depending on what’s causing it and how severely it’s affecting you. Some people can get by fine with rest and medication at home. Others will need professional treatment.

One type of health care professional that many people visit for lower back pain treatment is a physical therapist.

What are the benefits of treating lower back pain with physical therapy?

There are several benefits to visiting a physical therapist for treating lower back pain, including:
- Less dependency on drugs — Many people’s response to pain is to take medication for relief. The problem with this is that medication often comes with negative side effects that affect your quality of life. Physical therapists can help reduce your back pain without using drugs, which reduces your dependency on medications for pain.
- Reduces the need for surgery — If your back pain is severe enough, you may be looking at surgery as a viable treatment option. However, surgery is invasive, risky and requires a long time for recovery. Physical therapists can treat many of the same conditions treatable by surgery. This reduces the possibility that you will need to have surgery to address your lower back pain.
- Improves your range of motion — Physical therapists use therapeutic exercises and stretches that help improve the flexibility of muscles in your core and back. This provides better structural support for your spine and helps improve your range of motion.
- Prevents future lower back pain — Improving the strength and flexibility of the muscles in your back and core reduces pressure off the spine. This pressure often causes painful conditions, so reducing it helps prevent these conditions from developing.
Visit Advent Physical Therapy for lower back pain treatment

Our physical therapists at Advent Physical Therapy can treat a variety of conditions that cause back pain. Whether you have long-lasting back pain or a sudden development of pain, our team can help you. Contact our team today for more information about lower back pain treatment or to schedule an initial appointment.
June 10, 2019
Four reasons you’d need physical therapy for neck pain
Neck pain is a common problem that affects millions of Americans every year. It ranges in severity from minor stiff necks from sleeping in a funny position to chronic conditions like arthritis or spinal stenosis. Regardless of severity, many conditions that cause neck pain can be treated with physical therapy.

Physical therapists use a variety of techniques to treat neck pain. Stretches and exercises are at the core of many physical therapy treatments, but you can also expect:
- Manual therapy
- Electrical stimulation
- Massage
- Posture education
So, you may be wondering if it’s time to schedule an appointment with a physical therapist to treat your neck pain. Below are a few reasons you should schedule an appointment for treatment:

1. Your neck is stiff

When you cannot fully turn your head or look up and down, you may need to see a physical therapist. There could be tension in the muscles that is painful and limits your range of motion. You may also have a spinal condition like a herniated disc that is limiting your range of motion.

An occasional stiff neck from poor posture or sitting too long is a normal part of life. However, if your stiff neck persists for days or weeks, you may have a condition that requires professional treatment.

2. It hurts to move your neck

A stiff neck and a sore neck are not the same thing. You can experience pain in your neck but still have a full range of motion. If your neck has been hurting for days and you can still move it, you may still need treatment.

3. You frequently get headaches

Some conditions in your neck put pressure on the nerves in your spine. This could cause pain in the part of your neck that stems into your head, leading to headaches. If you frequently get headaches or migraines, you may need physical therapy to reduce pressure off the nerves in your neck.

4. Your neck pain spreads into your shoulders and arms

Conditions in your neck can also put pressure on the nerves that stem from the spine into the arms. If you have a sharp, burning pain that extends from your neck into your shoulders or arms, you may need physical therapy for treatment.

Visit Excel Sports & Physical Therapy for neck pain treatment

Do you have sudden neck pain or a chronic condition that’s been affecting your neck? Our team at Excel Sports & Physical Therapy can help. Contact our team today for more information about neck pain treatment or to schedule an initial appointment.
June 7, 2019
How do physical therapists treat arthritis in Saint Peters, MO?
Every year, millions of people are diagnosed with arthritis. This condition damages the cartilage in your joints, making it painful to move them.

Arthritis has no cure, but there are treatments that can help reduce the pain and improve your range of motion for a better quality of life. One effective treatment that helps many people with arthritis is physical therapy.

Treating arthritis with physical therapy

Physical therapists have several methods they can use to treat arthritis. If you visit a physical therapist for arthritis treatment, your treatment will likely include:
- Therapeutic exercise — Physical therapists specialize in guiding people with arthritis through gentle exercises to build the strength of the muscles around the arthritic joints. Stronger muscles provide better structural support for the joints, which reduces joint pressure that makes your pain worse.
- Stretching — Physical therapists can guide you through stretches that help improve the flexibility of your muscles for a better range of motion.
- Manual therapy — Manual therapy methods like joint mobilization and soft tissue mobilization can help reduce your pain and improve your range of motion. These techniques involve the use of your physical therapist’s hands to manipulate your joints and tissue in ways you wouldn’t be able to do on your own.
- Electrical stimulation — Physical therapists can connect electrodes to the skin around the arthritic joint to stimulate the muscles and soft tissue around it. Small bursts of electricity are delivered through the electrodes to force the muscles and tissue to contract and release. This helps reduce tension and can soothe pain.
Visit Excel Sports & Physical Therapy in Saint Peters, MO, for arthritis treatment

Our physical therapists at Excel Sports & Physical Therapy in Saint Peters, Missouri, specialize in these techniques and many more for treating arthritis. Contact our team today for more information about treating arthritis with physical therapy or to schedule an initial appointment.
June 6, 2019
Three reasons athletes in St. Louis need sports therapy

Participating in sports puts extra demands on your body. Sports take a toll on your muscles, ligaments, soft tissue, bones and joints. Athletes of all levels need to take special care of their bodies if they want to keep pursuing the physical activities they love. That’s why many athletes choose to visit physical therapists for assistance.

Physical therapists are experts in treating the muscles, soft tissue, bones and joints. They are skilled in a variety of treatments that are beneficial for amateur and professional athletes. Take a look below at three reasons you should schedule an appointment for sports therapy if you’re an athlete:

You need to treat an injury

Athletes are frequently injured due to the strain of physical performance and from hard impacts. Recovery from many of these injuries is painful and requires a lot of time. This is difficult for athletes who don’t want to fall behind the competition or simply feel restless while not training and competing.

Physical therapy treatments for sports injuries vary depending on the cause of the injury. However, the general goal of treatment is the same for all athletes: to reduce pain and to improve the speed and quality of recovery.

You need to prevent injuries

One step above treating injuries is preventing them from occurring in the first place. Physical therapists can help improve your strength, flexibility and gait, which can reduce your chances of getting injured in the future. This is beneficial for both athletes recovering from an injury and athletes who are currently in good shape

You need to step up your game

Physical therapists can examine your physical condition and the way that you run, jump and move. With the information gathered by their examinations and observations, they can develop a personalized sports therapy routine to help you improve your physical performance. If you’re looking to enter the next level of competition, this may be just what you need.

Visit Excel Sports & Physical Therapy in St. Louis for sports therapy

Are you an athlete who needs help treating or avoiding an injury? Are you looking to improve your performance so you can outshine the competition? Our team at Excel Sports & Physical Therapy in St. Louis is ready to help you meet your goals. Contact our team today for more information about sports therapy or to schedule an initial appointment.

June 5, 2019
What is aquatic therapy used for?
By taking advantage of the natural resistance and buoyancy of water, aquatic therapy can be a very effective form of treatment for a number of musculoskeletal injuries and conditions. The buoyancy relieves pressure on joints and other parts of the body to help the healing process and allow for range of motion that isn’t possible for many people on land. Meanwhile, by having more resistance than air, water-based movements can help develop muscles to help stabilize an injured area.

This increasingly common form of physical therapy can be an essential part of a comprehensive treatment plan for many people. If you’re wondering if aquatic therapy can help your injury, we’re sharing the following guide to what this form of treatment can be used for. At Peak Performance Sports and Physical Therapy, we’re committed to educating our patients about the options available to them.

If you have any questions or want to learn more, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at any time.

What conditions and injuries can aquatic therapy treat?

Aquatic therapy can be performed in a group setting or one-on-one. It can consist of many types of movements and exercises such as leg and arm swings, squats and even sprints. Your therapist can work with you to develop a custom-tailored aquatic treatment plan based on your condition and other factors.

This form of treatment can benefit a wide range of conditions and situations, including:
- Arthritis
- Sports-related injuries
- Hip pain
- Knee pain
- Back pain and sciatica
- Post-surgical rehabilitation
If you believe aquatic therapy may be the right form of treatment for you, it’s important to seek it out from a qualified and experienced provider.

Peak Performance — your aquatic therapy experts

At Peak Performance, we’re committed to delivering compassionate, results-based treatment to everyone who comes to us seeking relief. Our highly credentialed team of clinicians will work with you on an individualized basis to create a comprehensive treatment plan that is right for you and your needs. By reviewing your medical and treatment history and performing a full physical analysis, we can recommend treatments, including aquatic therapy, that can return you to the active lifestyle you deserve.

To schedule your initial appointment, contact a member of our caring and dedicated team today.
June 5, 2019
What can a physical therapist do for arthritis?
When you’ve been diagnosed with a chronic condition like arthritis, you may feel resigned to a life of living with pain and lots of medications. However, it doesn’t have to be this way. People with arthritis can reduce their pain, improve their range of motion and have a better quality of life with physical therapy treatment.

Why you need physical therapy for arthritis treatment

Physical therapists are licensed health care professionals who specialize in treating musculoskeletal conditions like arthritis. Physical therapy treatments do not involve the use of medications, which is beneficial because medications cause many undesirable side effects.

Physical therapy treatments for arthritis vary depending on the type of arthritis you have and how severely it’s affecting you. Your physical therapist can examine your symptoms and review your medical history to develop a personalized treatment routine to help you feel better.

How do physical therapists treat arthritis?

Depending on the cause and severity of your arthritis, your physical therapy treatment may include:
- Therapeutic exercise — Gentle exercises and stretches help strengthen the muscles and soft tissue around the joints. This provides better structural support for the bones and joints, which reduces pressure off the areas affected by arthritis.
- Manual therapy — Physical therapists use manual therapy techniques for mobilizing and manipulating the joints into positions that help reduce pain and improve range of motion. This may also include deep tissue massage for reducing tension in the muscles to improve structural support and promote relaxation.
- Electrical stimulation — Your physical therapist may connect you to a small machine that delivers tiny bursts of electricity to the muscles around your joints. This forces the muscles to contract and release, which helps reduce tension and pain around the joints.
Visit Advent Physical Therapy for arthritis treatment

Our physical therapists at Advent Physical Therapy specialize in a variety of treatments for arthritis and many other conditions. If you have pain and difficulty moving your joints, our team can develop a treatment for you. Contact our team today for more information about arthritis treatment or to schedule an initial appointment.
June 5, 2019
Five benefits of visiting a physical therapist for ankle pain treatment
Your ankle joints are made up of several bones, ligaments, muscles and tendons that all act together to support your body and provide motion. When one or more of these parts of your ankle are hurt, it can be difficult to accomplish many daily tasks or to even simply walk or stand.

A variety of conditions can cause ankle pain, including:
- Sprains
- Arthritis
- Bursitis
- Tendinitis
- Fracture
All of these conditions affect your ankles in different ways, but they do have one thing in common: they can be treated with physical therapy.

Five reasons to see a physical therapist when you have ankle pain

Physical therapists are licensed health care professionals who can treat sudden pain and chronic conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system. This system includes your bones, joints, muscles, ligaments and tendons, which are all important parts of the ankle.

Here are five reasons you can trust a physical therapist with treating your ankle pain:
1. Less dependency on drugs — Physical therapy treatments do not involve the use of medications or invasive methods like surgery. It actually reduces the need for you to rely on these methods for improving the condition of your ankle.
2. Reduced pain — One of the primary goals of physical therapy is to reduce your pain through stretches and exercises. These can improve the condition of the soft tissue in your ankle and reduce pressure off the painful area.
3. Improved strength — Exercising and stretching the ankle makes it stronger, which helps prevent future injuries of a similar sort from developing.
4. Improved range of motion — Physical therapy treatments can break down scar tissue and reduce stiffness and swelling in the ankle that inhibit your range of motion.
5. Improved gait and balance — Physical therapists can examine your gait and determine if there are any improvements that can be made to reduce and prevent ankle pain. They can also show you how to safely move around to prevent falls while your ankle recovers from an injury.
Visit Advent Physical Therapy for ankle pain treatment

Whether you have a sudden ankle injury or long-lasting ankle pain, physical therapists can help you. Our team at Advent Physical Therapy will develop a personalized treatment plan to help reduce your ankle pain and get you back on your feet. Contact our team today for more information about ankle pain treatment or to schedule an initial appointment.
June 2, 2019