What will physical therapy treatment consist of?

Every physical therapy treatment is individually tailored to your specific needs from the evaluation. Treatment may include but is not limited to the following:

Soft tissue mobilization/ myofascial release This is a hands on technique that works on the connective tissue of the body called fascia. Fascia connects all the bones, muscles and organs to each other and helps everything move in relation to each other. Almost everyone benefits from some form of soft tissue mobilization when there is injury. Soft tissue mobilization can include myofascial release, friction massage, deep tissue work, scar tissue massage. The goal is to increase fluid movement, blood flow, and soft tissue flexibility to improve movement.

Joint Mobilization of the spine and extremity joints: This is a technique which is an integral part of manual therapy. It is passively taking a joint through a range to improve motion. When a joint becomes stiff, the motion of that joint as well as all the muscles and ligaments attached to that joint become compromised. This can lead to other joints having to “work harder” and in turn become irritated and inflamed. Inflamed joints lead to swelling, pain and loss of motion and eventually function. Any joint in the body can be mobilized and often, the individual experiences less pain, relaxation of muscles, improved motion and function.

Visceral mobilization: This is a hands on technique that works with the viscera (the internal organs) and the surrounding connective tissue that binds and anchors the organs to each other and to the bones of the body. Injury can cause decreased motion within connective tissue that surrounds these organs and cause pain. Gentle mobilization to these tissues can improve motion within these tissues and help decrease pain and improve the functioning of these organs.

Neuromuscular Re-education: This treatment technique is used when problems arise with the body’s neuromuscular system (examples are loss of balance, muscle awareness, increased decreased muscle tone, loss of coordination and control). The goal is to increase coordination/control and muscle and joint awareness. The treatment can be delivered by a manual hands on approach, strengthening or biofeedback.

Therapeutic Exercise: This involves instructing and supervising specific exercises and stretches that relate to your condition. The purpose is to develop and maintain strength and flexibility. These exercises can be performed with or without the assistance of the supervising therapist.

Functional Training/ Therapeutic Activity: This is a procedure where functional activities are integrated into treatment to further progress balance, coordination and enhance strength. For instance a strength program alone may not prepare someone for a specific task such as a sport, lifting, walking. The subtleties of the task may need to be broken down into components before the full task is to be achieved.

Pain Management: Pain is composed of three aspects: the physical (the actual problem, the rational (understanding the problem) and the emotional (the impact the problem has on our life). Frequently we are able to control and manage our pain when we understand where it is coming from. However when an individual has been experiencing chronic pain, the body tends to form abnormal patterns of movement, which leads to pain in areas that were not originally injured. Through a sound evaluation, education and management we can create functional goals to help you take control and improve quality of life.

Contact Hina Sheth MPT, OCS, MTC