Category: Physical Therapy

Why does elevating a sports injury help it heal?
If you play sports, you may have experienced a sports injury. If you’ve played for many years, you may know some methods to help your injury heal. However, you may not know why elevation helps a sports injury heal.

One reason elevating a sports injury helps it heal

One reason elevation helps sports injuries is that it helps reduce swelling. Swelling is the increased movement of fluid and white blood cells to a specific part of the body. While it can occur for many reasons, swelling is usually an important part of the body’s natural inflammatory response to tissue damage, such as from an injury. What your body is telling you is to not use the injured area so it can work toward healing it.

Unfortunately, swelling can also cause pain. This is because swollen tissue presses against nerves that send pain signals to your brain. By elevating that part of the body, gravity works to help drain some amount of excess fluid from the injury site, which may reduce pain and speed up healing.

In order to get the best results from elevation, you should raise the limb above the level of your heart. If you can’t, simply raise it as high as possible.

Besides elevation, there are also other treatment options that may help reduce swelling and inflammation, including:
- Icing
- Compressing injured area with a bandage
- Resting the injured body part as much as possible
Our team at Crane Physical Therapy & Spine often recommends rest, ice, compression and elevation (RICE) in the first few days after a sports injury in addition to seeing a physical therapist as soon as possible. Once this initial healing period is over, we can start to work on a personalized therapy plan designed to strengthen the injured area and prevent injuries in the future as best we can.

Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.
April 10, 2019
How can physical therapists help with geriatric rehab?
As we grow older, our bodies often face new challenges. For this reason, understanding how physical therapists can help with geriatric rehab is vital for aging adults.

At Peak Performance, our team is ready to help older patients find all the help and support they need. One reason our services are so helpful is our team works to communicate clearly with you. For one thing, we always make sure you have all the information you need to know about your therapy. We also take the time to listen to your concerns and goals for your therapy. Our team uses the information we gather during our communications with you to help build a more effective therapy plan. This focus on communication is especially important when our physical therapists are helping you with geriatric rehab.

How our physical therapists can help with your geriatric rehab

Our team at Peak Performance wants to help you learn how our physical therapists can help you with geriatric rehab.

One way our team can help is if you’ve injured yourself. We know injuries can take longer to heal as you get older. However, our team has many therapies at our disposal that may benefit you. For instance, we offer aquatic therapy that’s easier on your body than land-based methods.

We may also be able to help you find ways to deal with arthritis. Our team knows that natural wear and tear on your joints may cause you to develop arthritis as you age. In fact, arthritis may cause you a significant amount of pain and drastically affect your quality of life. It may even cause you to limit how much you move every day. However, our team can create a therapy program for you that may help get you moving again.

Another issue our therapists may be able to help you with is balance and gait issues. We’ve found that older people tend to have more trouble maintaining their balance. Our team has also noticed that the way you walk, or your gait, may degrade as you age. Our team can help you build a plan to tackle loss of muscle condition, joint instability and other issues that may be affecting your balance and gait.

These are just a few of the issues our Peak Performance team may be able to help you deal with as you get older. In fact, you may get many benefits from using our therapy services for these problems, such as:
- Decreased recovery time from injury
- Reduced levels of pain
- Improved flexibility
- Increased mobility
All these benefits may be possible with the geriatric rehab services offered by our physical therapists. However, the biggest benefit you may get from your therapy with us is a better quality of life. If you’re ready to turn to Peak Performance for help with your age-related issues, there’s only one step you’ll need to take.

Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.
April 10, 2019
Physical therapy treatments to look for in Creve Coeur, MO
If you live in Creve Coeur, Missouri, you may not know what physical therapy treatments are locally available. Our team at Excel Sports & Physical Therapy can help you find treatment options for many types of pain.

At Excel Sports & Physical Therapy, we’ve been helping patients in Creve Coeur find physical therapy for more than 30 years. During that time, we’ve developed therapy plans to treat many types of injuries and medical conditions. Our plans are successful with so many issues primarily because they’re personalized to you. Our team also builds your plan with the intention of helping you meet your personal therapy goals. For these reasons, you should turn to our team in Creve Coeur if you’re looking for physical therapy treatments.

Three physical therapy treatment options you’ll find at our Creve Coeur clinic

There are many issues physical therapy plans can be designed to treat. In particular, there are three physical therapy treatments you may be looking for in Creve Coeur, and you’ll find these treatments available at Excel Sports & Physical Therapy.

Back pain treatment is one option you’ll find at our clinic. Back pain affects millions of people every year, and it can be caused by many different things. Sports injuries such as herniated discs are one common cause of back pain. Also, car accidents can cause injuries that result in pain in your back. Additionally, back pain can be caused by poor sitting or standing posture.

Another type of treatment our clinic has available is neck pain and headache treatment. In fact, you may be surprised to learn that your headaches may be rooted in a neck problem. The neck and head are connected by a bundle of eight nerves, and this nerve bundle is called the cervical plexus. Due to this connection of nerves, there are a number of neck issues that can also cause headaches. For example, whiplash from a car accident can cause pain in both your neck and head.

Our team also offers physical therapy-based treatment for joint pain. Joint pain can come from several issues. For instance, you may have osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, and these issues can cause inflammation and pain in your joints. Injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) will result in knee joint pain. Even playing tennis can lead to pain in your elbow or shoulder joints.

To combat these three types of pain, our team can build you a personalized physical therapy plan. Some of the benefits you may get from our plans include:
- Reduced levels of pain
- Improved mobility
- Increased stability
- Increased muscle strength
- Higher quality of life
Do you need physical therapy treatment for one of these pain types in Creve Coeur? Excel Sports & Physical Therapy has a clinic in your area that offers treatment for them. Getting started with your therapy may even be easier than you think.

Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.
April 7, 2019
How to relieve a sore neck
If pain and stiffness has left you searching for sore neck treatment, you’re in good company. Neck soreness is among the most common orthopedic issues that people face. The neck (cervical spine) features a complex structure of small bones, nerves and muscles that work together to facilitate movement and support the weight of the head, which weighs about as much as a bowling ball! Actions as seemingly minor as sleeping in an awkward position or staring at a computer screen for too long can lead to the need for sore neck treatment, as can common musculoskeletal issues like muscle strains, whiplash, osteoarthritis and bulging discs.

What does sore neck treatment involve?

Each patient’s ideal course of treatment will vary according to his or her overall health and the underlying cause of symptoms. Some patients can find adequate symptom relief through simple self-care measures, including:
- Periodic rest
- Hot/cold therapy with heating pads and ice packs
- Gentle stretching
- Over-the-counter pain medications
If your neck pain persists or worsens despite a few days of trying self-care measures, or if it is accompanied by numbness or tingling sensations, it’s time to consult with a medical professional. Many neck pain treatment plans include physical therapy to strengthen and stretch the muscles that support the neck and help correct alignment issues.

Our approach to sore neck treatment

Panther Physical Therapy provides comprehensive sore neck treatment from compassionate and experienced physical therapists. We utilize therapeutic exercises, manual therapy techniques and other evidence-based methods to encourage proper neck alignment and promote overall musculoskeletal health. Through our conservative approach, we are able to help patients of various ages overcome their symptoms without potent medications or invasive surgery.

Don’t allow your symptoms to become a pain in the neck. Turn to Panther Physical Therapy for the expert sore neck treatment you need and deserve. Contact us today to schedule an initial appointment.
April 7, 2019
Physical therapies for work injuries
You may think that a physical therapy clinic can’t help you with injuries you got at work. However, that’s not true. In fact, there’s a team that uses many types of physical therapy to treat work injuries.

Our team at Rehab Access has been providing physical therapy services to the towns of Gretna and Belle Chasse, Louisiana, and communities nearby since 1999. During that time, our team has learned some valuable lessons that we use to help you heal injuries as quickly and completely as possible. One of these lessons is that treatment plans should include many types of therapy. In fact, the combination of therapies can help you recover from an injury much more rapidly than one type alone. For this reason, our team wants to help you learn about some types of physical therapy we use for work injuries.

Three types of physical therapy we use for work injuries

One therapy we use is cold therapy. Cold therapy involves placing a source of cold on the site of your injury. This is useful because cold therapy has been shown to help reduce inflammation and swelling. It may also help relieve the pain of an injury.

Heat therapy is another therapy we typically use on people who’ve been injured at work. Heat therapy is often done with a heating pad or hot water bottle, and the heat can help soothe tense muscles and relieve the pain they cause. To perform this therapy, our therapist will place the heat source on the body part in pain.

A third therapy type that can be used for work injuries is therapeutic stretches. Often, injuries to one area of the body cause us to rely more heavily on other parts of it. For instance, people who injure one ankle or knee often place more weight on the opposite ankle or knee. However, this can lead to tense muscles in the heavily used body part.

Also, muscles may build up more tension when holding a body part in an unusual position. One example would be holding your foot off the ground when using crutches for a sprained ankle. Therapeutic stretches can be used to relieve this tension, and may help increase blood flow to the injured area and reduce pain.

While these three therapies are ones we often use with work injuries, there are other therapies we may build into your therapy plan, too. For instance, we may include helpful therapies such as:
- Kinesio taping
- Aquatic therapy
Are you ready to find out more about physical therapies that can help your work injury? Rehab Access is ready to help you. Getting our help is easy because you’ll only have to take one step to get started.

Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.
April 5, 2019
A trusted provider of chronic pain treatment in Harmony, PA

If chronic pain has left you searching for treatment, Panther Physical Therapy is here to help. Our physical therapy center in Harmony, Pennsylvania, provides hope to patients who require treatment for chronic pain from a variety of neurological and musculoskeletal sources, and has proudly done so since our founding in 2003.

What does chronic pain treatment entail?

“Chronic pain” is defined as pain that lingers for more than 12 weeks. Unlike acute pain that typically points to a specific injury, the source of chronic pain is sometimes much less clear. Because of this, the first step of treatment is often finding its source. Several techniques may be used to diagnose chronic pain, such as neurological and physical examination, blood work and various imaging tests. Patients may also be asked about how their feelings factor into their symptoms, as many types of pain have an emotional response.

The specifics of pain treatment will vary from patient to patient. Based on each individual’s diagnosis and symptoms, the physical therapists at our center in Harmony, Pennsylvania, may suggest evidence-based techniques like therapeutic exercise and manual adjustments, and conservative methods like ultrasound therapy and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), to reduce or eliminate pain and maximize mobility. This approach helps our patients avoid potentially addictive narcotics and other medications that are temporary fixes.

Do I need chronic pain treatment?

Many people tend to give up on finding relief from their chronic pain and simply accept their symptoms as a normal part of life. At Panther Physical Therapy, we believe this should never be the case. Even if a patient’s chronic pain cannot be completely cured, there are several steps that can be taken to effectively manage symptoms and enjoy a better quality of life.

We encourage you to contact our center in Harmony, Pennsylvania to learn more or to schedule an initial appointment. We would be happy to provide you with more information about our practice, therapists and conservative approach to chronic pain treatment.

April 5, 2019
Nonsurgical treatment for ankle pain
When you’ve hurt your ankle, it’s important to visit a health care professional for treatment. Your ankles are too important to your ability to move and do the things you love to ignore the pain and wait for it to go away.

Ankle injuries are very common. More than two million people each year suffer from a sprained ankle. Half of those are likely to suffer further ankle injuries in the future. One way to treat ankle pain and reduce the chances of a recurring ankle injury is with physical therapy.

Why visit a physical therapist for ankle pain?

Physical therapists are licensed health care professionals who specialize in treatments for the bones, muscles, soft tissue and joints in your body. Physical therapy treatments do not require the use of drugs and are completed without the use of surgery. This is beneficial because medication causes side effects and surgery is painful and takes a while to recover from.

Physical therapists have different methods for treating ankle pain. Many of our ankle pain treatments at Panther Physical Therapy include:
- Exercise — Exercises and stretches help rebuild the strength and flexibility of the muscles and tissue affected by the injury. This provides better support for the ankle during recovery and can reduce pain caused by pressure from the affected muscles and soft tissue.
- Manual therapy — Manual therapy, also known as hands-on therapy, includes methods involving the use of a physical therapist’s hands. The goal of manual therapy treatments is to reduce pain and improve range of motion through movements of the joints and soft tissue. Visit Panther Physical Therapy for ankle pain treatment.
If your ankle has been hurt due to an injury or debilitating condition, you should see a physical therapist at Panther Physical Therapy for help. Our team specializes in these methods and more to help you reduce ankle pain and restore your range of motion. Contact us today to learn more about treating ankle pain or to schedule an initial appointment.
April 4, 2019
Ten compelling reasons you should choose physical therapy
You may think physical therapy is only for people who have injured themselves playing sports. While this is one reason to seek physical therapy, there are in fact ten compelling reasons you should choose physical therapy.

At Excel Sports & Physical Therapy, our team can help you learn what these ten compelling reasons are, and we can also help you find the high-quality physical therapy you need. Our team draws its experience from the 35 years our physical therapy practice has been in business. Since we opened our first clinic in Saint Peters, Missouri, our team has gone on to open ten other locations across the greater St. Louis area.

What are ten compelling reasons you should choose physical therapy

Learning about ten of the most compelling reasons you should choose physical therapy may be very helpful for you. However, our team knows this information may not mean as much if you don’t understand what physical therapy is.

Physical therapy uses physical methods rather than medication or surgery to treat many types of injuries and medical conditions. One method we use at Excel Sports & Physical Therapy, for instance, is massage therapy. We also offer treatment methods such as manual therapy and joint mobilization. Also, our team can help you treat the symptoms of your condition or injury with dry needling, electrical stimulation or kinesio taping.

Thanks to these and other therapy methods we can offer you, there are at least ten compelling reasons you should choose physical therapy from our team. These reasons include the fact that our physical therapy may help you:
1. Avoid surgery
2. Improve mobility
3. Recover from a stroke
4. Prevent or recover from sports injuries
5. Improve balance
6. Manage fibromyalgia
7. Manage arthritis
8. Treat pelvic pain
9. Address women’s health conditions
10. Reduce pain
If even one of these reasons resonates with you, then our team at Excel Sports & Physical Therapy encourages you to get in touch with us. We’ll perform an evaluation to determine exactly what condition or injury you have and how it’s affecting your body. Our team will then create a personalized physical therapy program for you that may help improve your quality of life.

Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.
April 1, 2019
Relieve Hip and Knee Pain For Good with Physical Therapy!
Both the hips and knees are areas in the body where several muscles, tendons, and joints are joined together to help you achieve complex movement. If there is damage and subsequent pain in these areas, it can be difficult to perform daily activities. There are several specific ways that physical therapy can help relieve hip and knee pain. Call Panther Physical Therapy to find out how a trained physical therapist can help you relieve the pain in your hips and knees!

Common Hip and Knee Conditions

There are several specific conditions that often affect the knees and hips. These conditions can occur due to repetitive motion, traumatic injury, or chronic disease.
- Arthritis – Arthritis is a condition that involves inflammation of tissues that surround the joints. This condition can cause knee and hip pain. A physical therapist can teach you correct posture and proper movement techniques to protect your joints.
- Strains & Sprains – Strains happen when a muscle or tendon is stretched excessively or torn. A sprain is a stretched or torn ligament. Ligaments may even rupture, causing bruising, pain and limited mobility. A physical therapist can help you recover more quickly while showing you exercise techniques to reduce pain.
- Meniscus Tears – This is one of the most common knee injuries people experience. A torn meniscus can cause stiffness, swelling, and varying degrees of pain. This condition could be the result of a sudden injury or repetitive motions. You’re at higher risk if you’re engaging in aggressive pivoting and twisting of your legs. A physical therapist can provide non-surgical treatment for a torn meniscus.
- Bursitis – Bursitis occurs when a small sac of fluid known as the bursa becomes inflamed. This is often caused by overuse or repetitive injuries. Bursitis can occur in a variety of locations in the body including the knees and hips. Physical therapy can aid in recovery and the reduction of pain.
How Physical Therapy Can Help

No matter what condition you have, a physical therapy program can help relieve your pain. Your physical therapist will evaluate your condition and create an individualized program to meet your specific needs. Range of motion and strength measurements may be taken during the physical therapy evaluation. The following are several treatment methods a physical therapist may use to help limit or relieve both knee and hip pain.
- Manual Physical Therapy – A physical therapist might use several hands-on techniques to reduce pain in your hips and knees. This could include stretching exercises or a variety of massage techniques.
- Heat & Ice Physical Therapy – Heat is often used during physical therapy to help increase mobility and lessen pain. A physical therapist may also use ice to reduce swelling and inflammation.
- Ultrasound Therapy – A physical therapist may use ultrasound to provide deep heating in the tissues. A trained physical therapist can also more easily identify problem areas by using ultrasound.
- Laser Therapy – Laser therapy is increasingly being used in physical therapy for pain management. It can help increase circulation, improve the growth and reproduction of cells, and can reduce swelling.
- Home Exercises – A physical therapist can teach you exercises to do at home to alleviate hip and knee pain. Physical therapy techniques can be incorporated into a home exercise program that can become part of your daily routine.
Physical therapy treatment may be able to help you remain pain-free and as active as possible. A physical therapist can create a customized program to treat your particular condition.

Contact our Harmony, Allison Park or Wexford, PA offices to schedule an evaluation with an experienced physical therapist. Find out today how physical therapy can reduce or even eliminate your knee or hip pain!
February 10, 2019
Relieve Hip and Knee Pain For Good with Physical Therapy!
Both the hips and knees are areas in the body where several muscles, tendons, and joints are joined together to help you achieve complex movement. If there is damage and subsequent pain in these areas, it can be difficult to perform daily activities. There are several specific ways that physical therapy can help relieve hip and knee pain. Call Rehab Access to find out how a trained physical therapist can help you relieve the pain in your hips and knees!

Common Hip and Knee Conditions

There are several specific conditions that often affect the knees and hips. These conditions can occur due to repetitive motion, traumatic injury, or chronic disease.
- Arthritis – Arthritis is a condition that involves inflammation of tissues that surround the joints. This condition can cause knee and hip pain. A physical therapist can teach you correct posture and proper movement techniques to protect your joints.
- Strains & Sprains – Strains happen when a muscle or tendon is stretched excessively or torn. A sprain is a stretched or torn ligament. Ligaments may even rupture, causing bruising, pain and limited mobility. A physical therapist can help you recover more quickly while showing you exercise techniques to reduce pain.
- Meniscus Tears – This is one of the most common knee injuries people experience. A torn meniscus can cause stiffness, swelling, and varying degrees of pain. This condition could be the result of a sudden injury or repetitive motions. You’re at higher risk if you’re engaging in aggressive pivoting and twisting of your legs. A physical therapist can provide non-surgical treatment for a torn meniscus.
- Bursitis – Bursitis occurs when a small sac of fluid known as the bursa becomes inflamed. This is often caused by overuse or repetitive injuries. Bursitis can occur in a variety of locations in the body including the knees and hips. Physical therapy can aid in recovery and the reduction of pain.
How Physical Therapy Can Help

No matter what condition you have, a physical therapy program can help relieve your pain. Your physical therapist will evaluate your condition and create an individualized program to meet your specific needs. Range of motion and strength measurements may be taken during the physical therapy evaluation. The following are several treatment methods a physical therapist may use to help limit or relieve both knee pain and hip pain.
- Manual Physical Therapy – A physical therapist might use several hands-on techniques to reduce pain in your hips and knees. This could include stretching exercises or a variety of massage techniques.
- Heat & Ice Physical Therapy – Heat is often used during physical therapy to help increase mobility and lessen pain. A physical therapist may also use ice to reduce swelling and inflammation.
- Ultrasound Therapy – A physical therapist may use ultrasound to provide deep heating in the tissues. A trained physical therapist can also more easily identify problem areas by using ultrasound.
- Laser Therapy – Laser therapy is increasingly being used in physical therapy for pain management. It can help increase circulation, improve the growth and reproduction of cells, and can reduce swelling.
- Home Exercises – A physical therapist can teach you exercises to do at home to alleviate hip and knee pain. Physical therapy techniques can be incorporated into a home exercise program that can become part of your daily routine.
Physical therapy treatment may be able to help you remain pain-free and as active as possible. A physical therapist can create a customized program to treat your particular condition.

Contact our Belle Chasse or Gretna, LA offices to schedule an evaluation with an experienced physical therapist. Find out today how physical therapy can reduce or even eliminate your knee or hip pain!
February 10, 2019
Reasons you may need physical therapy in Ferndale, WA
Physical therapists are healthcare professionals who are skilled in treating all kinds of injuries and conditions that affect your physical condition. There are many reasons someone would want to visit a physical therapist. For example, you may need to a see a physical therapist for chronic pain or for reducing your risk of getting injured.

One of the most common reasons people need physical therapy is an injury. At Whatcom Physical Therapy in Ferndale, Washington, our team is trained and experienced in working with a variety of injuries. Below are a few of the most common injuries that we help rehabilitate.

Common injuries our physical therapists treat

These injuries are dynamic in nature. They may develop suddenly as the result of an impact, fall or similar injury. Or, they may develop slowly over time due to strain and repeated use.

Here are four common injuries that our physical therapists treat in Ferndale, Washington:
- Strained muscles — Overexerting your muscles can cause them to stretch and tear. Physical therapists can reduce the pain of a muscle tear while assisting in recovery, so you can regain use of your muscle.
- Knee injuries — There are all kinds of knee injuries that can affect you. You may suffer a fracture to the patella or you may tear one of the ligaments. In either case, physical therapists can help reduce pain and promote recovery.
- Shoulder injuries — Rotator cuff tears and tendinitis are some of the most common shoulder injuries that affect people. These injuries can limit the use of your entire arm, which makes it difficult to accomplish many tasks. Physical therapists can help you regain the use of your arm while reducing pain during your recovery.
- Ankle injuries — A sprained ankle is one of the most common injuries to athletes. There are varying degrees of sprains that can all benefit from physical therapy treatments.
Contact Whatcom Physical Therapy for injury treatment

Whether you’re an athlete or someone who had an unfortunate accident at home, physical therapy can help you if you’ve been injured. At Whatcom Physical Therapy, our team uses the latest methods and technologies in our treatments.

Would you like to learn more about how we can help you if you’ve been injured? Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.

Our Ferndale location:

5709 Hamlin Ave.
Ferndale, Washington 98248

Whatcom Physical Therapy serves residents of northwestern Washington from three different locations. Please visit our locations page if you would like to check out one of our other clinics.
February 7, 2019
The number one reason you should choose physical therapy
At Excel Sports and Physical Therapy, our team wants you to know the number one reason you should choose physical therapy. Our team knows this reason because we have many years of experience helping people with physical therapy.

We’ve been helping the residents in the greater St. Louis area find the physical therapy they need since 1984. During this time, our passion for helping patients find the benefits offered by physical therapy has only increased. Our team has been able to help many patients recover from pain and injuries thanks to our commitment to personalized therapy plans. This means we’ll create a physical therapy plan for you that addresses specific issues you’re having. Our team only uses personalized therapy for a variety of reasons, including the number one reason you should choose physical therapy.

What is the number one reason you should choose physical therapy?

Our team at Excel Sports and Physical Therapy knows there are several reasons you should choose physical therapy. We also know that, while these reasons are good, there’s also a number one reason you should choose physical therapy.

One great reason you should choose physical therapy is it may help to reduce your pain. Our therapy plans are designed to help you find ways to reduce pain naturally. We may even be able to help you avoid using potentially addictive prescription pain medications. Another reason you should consider choosing physical therapy is it may help you fight inflammation. In addition, our physical therapy plans may help to drastically reduce your recovery time. Furthermore, our therapy plans may be able to help you find ways to avoid certain injuries before they even occur.

However, the number one reason you should choose physical therapy from our team is it’s helpful for so many types of pain, injuries and medical conditions. For instance, our therapy team can help you treat:
- Back pain
- Neck pain
- Headaches
- Shoulder pain
- Hip and knee pain
- Motor vehicle injuries
- Sports injuries
- Balance and gait disorders
- Work injuries
While this list is fairly extensive, it doesn’t even come close to listing all of the issues our Excel Sports and Physical Therapy team can help you with. In fact, there are many things we can help with that aren’t in this list. You only have to take one step to find out if we can help you with your pain, injury or medical condition, though.

Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.
February 5, 2019