Physical Therapy
Physical Therapy encourages rehabilitation by reducing pain and restoring mobility and function, making daily activities easier and helping patients return to recreation.
Physical Therapy Services
- Aquatic physical therapy: Exercising in the water can assist patients when recovering from injury or chronic pain. The water can help make movements easier, provide resistance for strengthening, and reduce weight on joints.
- Dry Needling: Dry needling is a form of therapy in which fine needles are inserted into myofascial trigger points (painful knots in muscles), tendons, ligaments or near nerves in order to stimulate a healing response in painful musculoskeletal conditions. It is a modern, science-based intervention for the treatment of pain and dysfunctions such as neck pain, shoulder impingement, tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, headaches, knee pain, shin splints, plantar fasciitis, or low back pain.
- Lymphedema Therapy: Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT) involves manual lymphatic draining, compression, bandaging, garments, and exercises helping patients with poor lymph vessel development, surgery, cancer treatment, trauma, infection, and injury. Lymphedema therapy assists those experiencing swelling caused by abnormal accumulation of fluid, proteins, and cellular waste in the tissues under the skin, typically seen post-surgery and in cancer-related issues.
- Neurological Rehabilitation: We have staff that specialize in the evaluation and treatment of patients with problems due to disease or injury to the nervous system such as Parkinson's Disease, stroke, spinal cord damage, and traumatic brain injury.
- Concussion-related dizziness
- Vestibular and balance: For patients struggling with balance issues or vertigo, our skilled staff can help determine the cause of the issue and develop a treatment plan. Our staff has specialized training including inner ear (vestibular) techniques that may reduce or eliminate vertigo symptoms.
- Oncology Rehabilitation: Physical therapy plays a critical role as part of the cancer care team by intervening during all stages of care. Physical Therapy provides not only detailed assessments and interventions, but applies functional training, strengthening, fatigue-combating interventions, complete decongestive therapy (CDT), and relaxation techniques to meet the specific goals of each patient. Physical Therapy provides a uniquely supportive position within the rehabilitation treatment team as we facilitate a motivating, encouraging, and positive environment.
- Orthopedic physical therapy: Our staff brings many years’ experience in orthopedics and can assist patients with joint and overuse injuries, as well as post-operative rehab. Here is a sample of some of the more common injuries we treat:
- Elbow Injuries: Lateral Epicondylitis, Medial Epicondylitis, Collateral Ligament Strains: These issues are not just treated with modalities and exercises for the involved area, but also with strengthening and postural education for other areas that may be contributing to these symptoms.
- Foot and Ankle: our therapists are knowledgeable in the treatment of plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendon injuries, nerve entrapment issues, and shin splints in addition to the common ankle sprain and other diagnoses. Patients are also guided in decision making regarding footwear as well as recommending and fitting for orthotics.
- Hip Pain: Trochanteric Bursitis, Osteoarthritis, Gluteus Medius Tendonosis, ITB Syndrome – After evaluation patients are treated with appropriate manual therapies, exercises for flexibility and hip strengthening, and modalities. These patients often benefit from footwear recommendations as well.
- Knee Pain: From the younger athlete with tendonitis or the older adult with osteoarthritis, to the elite athlete rehabilitating after ACL reconstruction, we can help our patients return pain-free to the activities they enjoy.
- Low back pain: Interventions are chosen using the latest evidenced based practices. Patients, based on their examination, are appropriately focused into treatment based classifications that identify whether the patient will benefit most from lumbar stability training, manual therapy including joint mobilization, or directional based exercises (i.e. Mackenzie Method). Always included is patient education on posture, body mechanics, and lumbar stability training.
- Neck and Upper back Pain: These patients are treated with similar principles to those mentioned above, using the most appropriate combination of exercise, manual therapy, and patient education.
- Shoulder pain: Harris Sports Medicine brings a vast amount of experience in the treatment of orthopedic shoulder diagnoses, both in conservative management and post-operative.
- Pediatric Physical Therapy: Our staff brings a board certified pediatric clinical specialist with many years experience treating infants and young children. Parent/caregiver education is an integral part of our treatment approach.
- Spine: Our staff has extensive training in treating patients with back and neck pain caused by posture, disc problems, or stenosis of the spine. Each treatment plan is tailored to the patient’s needs and may include manual therapy, exercises, and patient education.
- Sports medicine: Our staff includes certified athletic trainers that have extensive training and background in sports medicine to help the elite athlete or the weekend warrior return to the field. We coordinate with local athletic trainers to provide education and preventative opportunities in the surrounding school systems.