Category: Physical Therapy

How to find carpal tunnel treatment in Horizon City, TX
Carpal tunnel syndrome refers to symptoms, such as pain and tingling, that result from a compressed nerve in the narrow carpal tunnel of the wrist.

The carpal tunnel is a passageway made up of bones and the transverse carpal ligament. This small opening is tightly packed with nerves, ligaments, muscles and blood vessels. Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when pressure or injury causes compression of the median nerve that travels through this passage to send sensory and motor information to the hand.

This can be a condition that may potentially worsen over time, so it’s important to seek carpal tunnel treatment to avoid the related symptoms becoming debilitating. In very many cases, a physical therapy program is a core part of a treatment plan for carpal tunnel syndrome. By taking steps to improve range of motion in the wrist and showing how to practice proper wrist posture and ergonomics, a physical therapist can help you manage this condition.

Carpal tunnel treatment through physical therapy

If you’re a patient seeking carpal tunnel treatment in Horizon City, Texas, Border Therapy Services is here to help. At our clinic right here in town, we’ll guide you through all the steps on your journey toward relief from wrist pain and related symptoms.

Here’s what you can expect at your initial appointment:
- A streamlined administrative process and a friendly staff to help you with any questions about paperwork
- A personal assessment with one of our therapists that includes a medical history review, questions and answers about your symptoms and activities that trigger pain and a hands-on examination of your wrists
- Recommendations for treatment options and patient education that can help relieve pressure on the median nerve and carpal tunnel
From there, you can work together with your physical therapist to create a plan that is custom-tailored to your needs.

Top tier care right in Horizon City

At Border Therapy Services, we have a team of expert physical therapists with decades of combined experience who always put the patient at the center of care. Our carpal tunnel treatment options include manual therapy, massage and ergonomic recommendations to take pressure off the wrist.

Learn more by contacting a member of our caring team to make your initial appointment today.
May 12, 2019
Do you need manual therapy in Grand Rapids, MI?
Injury, age-related conditions and recovering from surgery can all cause pain and severely limit your normal range of motion. Along with other modes of treatment, physical therapy should be an essential part of your plan to find relief and regain mobility.

One of the main tools in a physical therapist’s toolbox is manual therapy, which refers to several specific hands-on techniques. By manipulating the muscles, bones and joints in a specific area, a therapist can help that part of the body improve functioning.

To determine if manual therapy can help you if you are a Grand Rapids, Michigan, patient seeking a return to an active lifestyle, Advent Physical Therapy is sharing the following information. We’re passionate about delivering top-tier care and want to help you make an informed treatment decision that’s right for you.

What types of conditions and injuries can manual therapy help with?

Manual therapy uses methods like joint mobilization, soft tissue mobilization, targeted stretches and muscle contraction to increase range of motion and improve blood flow to the area, among other benefits. These methods can be effective for a very wide range of musculoskeletal injuries and conditions, including:
- Neck pain, back pain and related symptoms
- Shoulder pain, arm pain and wrist pain
- Pelvic pain, hip pain and knee pain
- Foot and ankle pain
- Headaches
- Post-surgical recovery
- Arthritis
- Fibromyalgia and chronic pain
Physical therapy for these and other conditions can also include strength and stability exercises, dry needling, biofeedback and instruction on exercises and therapies that can be performed at home. When seeking a manual therapist, it’s important to find someone with the right skills and experience treating your condition. You also shouldn’t forget the importance of personal rapport in the treatment process — if you feel comfortable and at-ease with your provider, it can have a positive impact on your care.

The manual therapy experts at Advent Physical Therapy

Since 1996, Advent has been helping west Michigan patients get their lives back with manual therapy and a full range of physical therapy offerings. With multiple clinics right in Grand Rapids, we’re here to help if you’re seeking manual therapy to relieve pain and improve mobility.

Learn more about how we can help by contacting us and scheduling your initial appointment.
May 12, 2019
Treating ankle pain with physical therapy in Winterville, NC

There are more than one hundred muscles, tendons and ligaments in the human ankle. These along with the dozens of bones and joints make the ankle one of the most complex musculoskeletal systems in the body. Ankles are also under considerable stress as they are relied on for nearly every physical movement we make. Consequently, ankle pain, injury and disease are common experiences affecting many adults every day in the United States. This type of pain is also associated with a surprising number of factors and causes. Whatever the cause of the symptoms, physical therapy is now available for ankle pain treatment in Winterville, North Carolina at Peak Performance. Our team provides a noninvasive approach which is tailored specifically to each patient we work with.

Treatment methods for ankle pain

Beyond just the RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) method at home, there are a number of causes which necessitate more professional care. Most commonly associated with ankle pain and physical therapy are injuries such as ankle sprains, strains or fractures. We work with these injuries and are also trained in techniques to address ankle pain which comes as a result of arthritis, gout, bursitis, overuse, work conditions and many other health factors. Our treatment starts with an assessment of an individual’s ankle pain at our Winterville clinic. We make use of standardized and experienced techniques to determine what the best approach is for each patient.

Let Peak Performance in Winterville treat your ankle pain

The Peak Performance team develops a treatment plan which we will walk through with you before beginning any work. This may include on-site exercises, training, education and potentially lifestyle adjustment recommendations. The physical therapy plans we utilize have been shown via research and experience to reduce ankle pain and prevent future occurrences.

If you would like to set up an initial appointment to discuss your ankle pain and possibilities for reduction and prevention, contact the Peak Performance team at our Winterville, clinic today.

May 6, 2019
Physical therapy for chronic arthritis in Harmony, PA
Chronic arthritis is a condition that affects millions of Americans every year. In many cases, it develops due to old age. In other cases, it may be the result of injury, frequent heavy labor or being overweight.

Regardless of the cause, if you have arthritis, you’ll need treatment from a health care professional to reduce pain and improve your range of motion. One form of treatment that many people with arthritis choose is physical therapy.

Physical therapy treatments for chronic arthritis

Physical therapists use many different techniques to help people with arthritis reduce their pain and regain some mobility. If you live near Harmony, Pennsylvania, you can visit Panther Physical Therapy for a personalized treatment that may include:
- Stretching and exercising — Pain in the joints caused by arthritis is made worse by stiff and weak muscles. Muscles in this condition fail to provide enough support for the body, which increases pressure on the joints.
  
  Physical therapists can guide you through therapeutic exercises to help improve the strength and flexibility of your muscles. This can improve support for the joints and help lessen pain from arthritis.
- Manual therapy — Manual therapy techniques include movements of the spine and joints that can help reduce pain and improve your range of motion. Manual therapy may not be right for people with arthritis in advanced stages, but it can help if you’re still in the earlier stages of the disease.
- Electrical stimulation — Electrical stimulation uses tiny surges of electricity to help soothe pain and release tension in the muscles. This can help improve support for the spine and joints affected by arthritis.
- Posture guidance — The way you stand or sit may have a much harder impact on your joints than you realize. Physical therapists can examine your posture and gait. They will find areas that could use improvement to help reduce pressure off the joints affected by arthritis.
- Education for using assistive devices — Sometimes, it’s necessary to use an assistive device like a walker or a cane when you have chronic arthritis. It can be hard to safely move around with these devices if you don’t know how to use them.
  
  Physical therapists can show you how to safely and correctly use an assistive device to reduce the chances of falling while moving around.
Visit Panther Physical Therapy in Harmony for arthritis treatment

Do you live near the Harmony area and suffer from chronic arthritis? Our team at Panther Physical Therapy can help. Contact our team today to learn more about chronic arthritis treatment or to schedule an initial appointment.
May 6, 2019
When to see a physical therapist for shoulder pain
Shoulder pain is such a common problem for people because these joints are such a complicated arrangement of connective tissue and muscles that have a high degree of stress put on them. From lifting a box to swinging a tennis racket, we use our shoulders in pretty much any activity that involves the upper body. What’s more, many athletes and weightlifters can often overdevelop their chest and arm muscles, leading to muscle imbalances that increase strain on the already delicate shoulder muscles.

You should seek out shoulder pain treatment from a qualified medical professional if symptoms don’t improve in a short period of time, generally no longer than a week. Physical therapy is an effective and often-recommended form of treatment for many causes of shoulder pain, but some people are unsure of when the best time to seek it out is.

To help, the team at Advent Physical Therapy has prepared this easy-to-understand guide that can answer some of your questions. We also welcome you to reach out to us with any questions you have or to learn more about how we can help.

Indicators that you need physical therapy for shoulder pain treatment

If your shoulder pain is the result of a serious injury, such as a fall, workplace accident or automobile accident, seek immediate medical attention. In other cases, a physical therapist can help treat your shoulder pain if any of these apply to you:
- Your doctor is recommending it.
- Basic treatments like rest, ice, compression and stretches aren’t helping.
- Your ability to play a sport or perform basic activities is being impaired.
- Your family, social and work life is being affected.
When seeking out physical therapy for shoulder pain, it is important to find a practice that can work with you individually to create a treatment plan that is right for you.

How the team at Advent Physical Therapy can treat your shoulder pain

At our clinics located across west Michigan, the Advent Physical Therapy team is committed to providing personalized care to everyone who comes to us. We provide shoulder pain treatment with a combination of active and passive techniques to provide strength, stability and range of motion to the injured area. Our therapeutic options are designed to relieve pain, help the body’s natural healing process and prevent future injuries.

To speak with a member of our team and schedule your initial appointment, contact us today.
May 5, 2019
Physical therapy — the missing piece of pain management
When you think of pain management, medication is probably the first thing that comes to mind. The problem is that medication typically treats the symptoms of pain and doesn’t treat the underlying source. This is where physical therapy comes in as a critical, often fundamental, part of managing pain associated with a wide range of conditions and injuries.

In addition to improving or restoring function and mobility, pain relief is one of the primary goals of physical therapy. A qualified physical therapist can help you create a personalized treatment plan that is built on evidence-based pain management methods.

Excel Sports and Physical Therapy is a team who is passionate about delivering patient-centered care, starting with education. Please take a moment to read the following information and feel free to reach out if you have any questions or would like to learn more.

How does physical therapy relieve pain?

Physical therapy can relieve pain using a combination of active and passive techniques. Active therapies are exercises and other methods that patients do themselves while passive therapies are performed on patients, with or without the assistance of equipment.

While physical therapy can provide short-term relief, the main goal is long-term pain management. This can be accomplished the following ways:
- If a pinched nerve is the source of pain, physical therapy can relieve pressure on the nerve through exercises designed to improve posture and reduce painful movements.
- Physical therapy techniques help increase blood flow to injured areas, assisting the natural healing process.
- Following your therapist’s advice for healthy lifestyle choices, including practicing good posture, getting regular exercise and eating a nutritious diet, that can reduce pain and inflammation.
It is critical to choose a physical therapist with the right credentials and experience who can help you create a care plan for your individual needs.

Excel Sports and Physical Therapy has decades of experience in pain relief

With roots in providing physical therapy services in the greater St. Louis region that go back to 1984, our mission at Excel is to help you find relief and return to the quality of life you deserve. Our veteran staff has decades of combined experience in a wide breadth of physical therapy methods.

If you’re in pain and want to learn more about how physical therapy can help, please contact us today to schedule your initial appointment.
May 4, 2019
Is spinal stenosis causing your back or neck pain?
You may think you’re having back or neck pain from a pulled muscle or some other simple injury. However, you may actually be suffering from a condition called spinal stenosis. If you’re experiencing back pain, neck pain or other symptoms, you may want to find out if spinal stenosis is the cause of your symptoms.

What is spinal stenosis?

When the spaces that run through your spine get narrower, this is called spinal stenosis. This condition is most likely to occur in the lower back or neck, and it often leads to pinched spinal nerves. In fact, conditions like sciatica, or pinching of the sciatic nerve, are often the result of the narrowing associated with stenosis. According to the National Institutes of Health, stenosis typically affects men and women over 50. However, this condition isn’t limited to this age group.

One of the most common causes of stenosis is natural aging. However, there are many other factors that can lead to this condition. For instance, arthritis of the spine can lead to spinal narrowing. Injuries to the spine from car accidents or sports can also lead to stenosis. Even factors like having too much fluoride in your body or calcium deposits on spinal ligaments can lead to stenosis.

Symptoms that may be coming from spinal stenosis

There are several common symptoms that patients with stenosis tend to have. One of these symptoms is unexplained numbness, tingling or muscle weakness in some areas of the body. These areas may include your hands, arms, legs or feet. People with this condition often also have trouble walking. They also commonly have issues maintaining their balance while sitting or standing. However, the most common symptom experienced by stenosis patients is pain in the neck or back.

Armor Physical Therapy can design a treatment plan for your spinal stenosis

If you or someone you know has stenosis of the spine, Armor Physical Therapy has a team in Holland, Michigan that’s here to help. We can design a treatment plan for this condition that may include physical therapy techniques such as:
- Manual therapy
- Electrical stimulation
- Dry needling
- Therapeutic exercises and stretches
Are you worried it will be difficult to get our help? Don’t be! All it takes to begin your therapy with us is one easy step.

Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.
May 2, 2019
How can physical therapy reduce lower back pain?
Lower back pain is a common occurrence among adults in a wide range of occupations and situations. It is the most common official reason for missed work days and affects the lives of roughly 80% of people over the course of their life. The good news is that most forms of lower back pain can benefit from the types of physical therapy exercises offered by rehab service providers.

For pain that is not acute or has not been occurring for more than a day or two, we usually recommend resting and doing simple exercises at home. However, if persistent lower back pain manifests, a physical therapy plan can and likely should be developed with a team of trained experts.

Physical therapy treatment for lower back pain

Physical therapists can use several different techniques for treating lower back pain. Most treatments will include some form of therapeutic exercise and stretches. These increase the strength and flexibility of your back and core muscles. The goal of these exercises is to improve the structural support of your muscles for your spine and upper body. This reduces pressure off the spine that causes lower back pain and can help prevent future pain.

Other techniques for treating lower back pain may include:
- Dry needling
- Deep tissue massage
- Manual therapy
- Electrical stimulation
At Rehab Access, we also offer aquatic therapy for lower back pain. Aquatic therapy is a series of exercises and movements in a pool of water led by a physical therapist. The water supports your body to reduce some of the pain that exercising puts on your joints. Exercising in water also provides natural resistance, which can increase the effectiveness of therapeutic exercise for lower back pain.

Visit Rehab Access for lower back pain treatment

Our physical therapists at Rehab Access are skilled in a variety of techniques for treating lower back pain. One of our team members can examine the condition of your back and determine which treatment techniques are right for you. Contact our team today to learn more about lower back pain treatment or to schedule an initial appointment.
May 2, 2019
Three reasons to see a physical therapist when you’re in pain
Pain affects everyone in different ways. Some people find it difficult to complete certain daily tasks like getting dressed or showering. Others may not even be able to get around at all. No matter the situation, anyone who has chronic pain or pain from an injury can benefit from professional health care treatment.

Physical therapists are licensed health care providers who help many people reduce their pain. Whether you have a chronic condition or are suffering from a sudden injury, there is a physical therapy treatment that can help you.

Three reasons you need to see a physical therapist if you’re in pain

Physical therapists are skilled in a variety of treatments that can treat all kinds of conditions that cause pain. At Continuum Wellness, our team takes the time to evaluate your condition and develop a personalized treatment for you.

There are many reasons you would want to see a physical therapist for treating pain. Here’s a look at three of them we think you will love:
1. Physical therapists help reduce pain — This is first on the list because reducing pain is likely the primary reason you want treatment for your condition. The main method for reducing pain in many physical therapy treatments is with stretching and exercising.
  
  Strengthening the muscles and soft tissue around the painful area improves support for the area and removes some pressure off of it. Physical therapists also use other techniques for reducing pain, including manual therapy, electrical stimulation or dry needling.
2. Physical therapists help prevent pain — Often, the treatments that physical therapists use to reduce pain also serve to prevent future pain of a similar sort. Some types of chronic pain are the result of weak and stiff muscles, so strengthening and stretching the muscles helps prevent this kind of pain from developing.
3. Physical therapists help improve your quality of life — If you’re having trouble getting around or completing certain tasks, physical therapists can help. Many physical therapy treatments include guidance for better balance and safer mobility. Physical therapists can also show you how to correctly use assistive devices like crutches or a walker if necessary.
Visit Continuum Wellness for pain treatment

If you have chronic pain or have been injured, you should talk to a physical therapist about treatment. Physical therapy treatments can help you treat pain without relying on surgery or drugs. Contact our team today for more information about physical therapy or to schedule an initial appointment
May 1, 2019
Four major benefits of treating pain with physical therapy
When you’re in pain, one of your greatest priorities is finding treatment so you can live a better quality of life again. There are different options for treating pain, but one that many people choose is physical therapy.

Physical therapy is a reliable method for treating pain because physical therapists can develop personalized treatments based on the individual’s needs. There are many benefits to visiting a physical therapist for pain treatment. Here’s a look at four of the biggest benefits we think will mean the most for you if you’re looking for pain treatment:
1. It reduces the need for drugs — It’s common to treat pain and other symptoms of chronic conditions with medications. However, medications often include undesirable side effects that can make the tradeoff of taking them not seem like it’s worth it.
  
  Physical therapy treatments can help reduce pain and improve your condition to where you can reduce the amount of pain medication you need. In some cases, it may entirely eliminate the need for pain medication.
2. It reduces the need for surgery — Surgery is usually the last resort for treating pain. Incisions through the muscles and soft tissue are painful and need a lot of time for recovery.
  
  Physical therapy is a noninvasive type of treatment that can reduce the need for using surgery to treat your pain. However, if you ever do need to have surgery, physical therapy can improve your recovery.
3. It helps prevent future pain — At the core of many physical therapy treatments are exercising and stretching. Building the strength and flexibility of specific muscles can improve structural support for your body. This reduces pressure off of the spine and joints or an injured area. Better support for the body also helps prevent future pain of a similar sort from developing.
4. It improves your range of motion — It’s common to have limited range of motion with the parts of your body that are in chronic pain. Physical therapists have techniques that can mobilize your joints and improve the condition of your muscles and soft tissue. This can help you resume some of your favorite activities or to walk around with less of a risk of falling.
Visit Panther Physical Therapy for pain treatment

If you’re suffering from chronic or sudden pain, you may benefit from physical therapy. Our team at Panther Physical Therapy can evaluate your physical condition and determine how physical therapy can help you. Contact our team today to learn more about physical therapy or to schedule an initial appointment.
May 1, 2019
What are the benefits of manual therapy?
Manual therapy is a fundamental part of physical therapy that involves an assortment of hands-on techniques to treat patients who are dealing with pain and limited mobility. Physical therapy can help patients who are dealing with a very wide range of problems, including injuries and progressive conditions related to the natural aging process.

If you’ve been recommended to undergo manual therapy, you may have some questions about what this treatment entails and what the specific benefits are. To help, the Armor Physical Therapy team is sharing the following helpful guide. Don’t hesitate to reach out to a member of our helpful staff if you have any questions about our treatment options.

Here’s how manual therapy helps treat a broad range of injuries

Manual therapy consists of specific techniques such as therapeutic massage, joint mobilization, soft tissue mobilization, strain-counterstrain and muscle energy methods. These treatments are performed on the patient by the therapist. Like other aspects of physical therapy, the overall goal of manual therapy is to restore functionality and relieve pain by using natural body movements.

Here are some of the specific benefits that these manual therapy techniques offer:
- Increases blood flow — Moving and stimulating the area helps deliver nutrient-rich blood to the injured area to help the healing process.
- Relaxes tense muscles — Therapeutic massage promotes a relaxation response from muscles that are often tense and spastic due to injury.
- Improves range of motion — By using gentle and precise movements to activate joints and soft tissue, a therapist can restore functionality and improve mobility.
For greatest effect, manual therapy is often combined with other modes of treatment such as strength and stability exercises and active stretching. Physical therapists can also provide guidance on safely performing exercises and administering treatments at home.

Manual therapy at Armor Physical Therapy

If you’re seeking manual therapy for any reason, trust the highly trained and certified experts at Armor Physical Therapy. We’ll provide a full evaluation so we can work together to create a physical therapy treatment plan that is right for you. We proudly serve southwest Michigan with clinics in Battle Creek, Kalamazoo, Mattawan, Plainwell and Portage.

Contact us today for more information on our treatment options and to schedule your initial appointment with a member of our team.
May 1, 2019
Here’s the science behind occupational therapy
Occupational therapy uses evidence-based practices to help people of all ages dealing with injury or disability practice meaningful activities associated with daily life. Occupational therapy is based on the discipline of occupational science, which attempts to study and draw conclusions on human occupations and how people accomplish basic tasks.

From there, an occupational therapist can apply these findings to the development of specific treatments so people in need can develop the skills to participate in everything from bathing and cooking to being able to perform the necessary functions for their career.

For example, an occupational therapist would assist with a person who has lost the use of their legs, either temporarily or permanently, in learning how to get themselves in and out of bed, operate a vehicle or other basic functions that are often taken for granted.

How occupational therapists work with physical therapists

Occupational therapy and physical therapy are separate disciplines, but an occupational therapist may work with a physical therapist to assist with rehabilitation after injury or to help develop or regain the function necessary to perform a certain activity.

A physical therapist, such as one of the highly-trained members of our team here at Peak Performance Sports and Physical Therapy, can perform an evaluation to determine how an injury or disability is affecting factors like range of motion, balance and stability. He or she can then develop a treatment plan designed to restore or develop function. Methods include:
- Manual therapy
- Ergonomic training
- Work conditioning and work hardening programs
- Therapeutic exercise
- Aquatic therapy
The type of treatment that is right for you will depend on your specific condition or injury and your individual needs and lifestyle.

Peak Performance can help you resume normal activities

If you are looking to regain or develop the functioning and quality of life you desire, the caring team of physical therapists at Peak Performance can help. We provide highly-personalized treatment plans in a friendly, one-on-one setting. Our hands-on approach and scientifically aligned, evidence-based practice set our clinical model apart. To learn more and to schedule your initial appointment, contact us today.
April 13, 2019