While your physical therapy program may begin in our office, your physical therapy success ends at home. There are many things that will help you find the results you are looking for from physical therapy. While sessions in our clinic are an important part of that, what you do afterwards is just as important, if not more important to your success.
Your physical therapist will partner with you to help you achieve the results you are looking for. He or she will tailor a treatment plan that may include a combination of education, ergonomics, and exercise to help you succeed. Success is based on an achievement of the physical therapy goals you set for yourself and a return to the quality of life that you experienced prior to your injury or onset of the pain.
The information and materials that your physical therapist will provide you, along with ergonomic support at home or at work, plus a home exercise program will all work together to help you succeed. Together with your physical therapist, implementing each one of these things will lend itself to your physical therapy success.
A physical therapist understands how the body moves and how those movements may be impacting your condition, symptoms, or pain. He/she will help you understand this. They are your partner to help you feel better. The information that your physical therapist gives you will help equip you for healing.
Whether this information comes in the form of conversation in the clinic or handouts to take home, make notes of the important points to remember. This information gives you a better understanding of the “why” behind the “what”. When you understand why your physical therapist is outlining the program for you that they are, it will help you to take action on those recommendations.
Ergonomics refers to how well an environment, usually a workspace, fits you and lends itself to efficiency, productivity, and reduces stress on your body as you complete your work or tasks. Your environment should fit you, not the other way around. When we conform our bodies to fit into an environment (think work environment, such as a desk) it can cause pain and injury, and additional stress on our bodies.
With proper ergonomics, your body should remain in a neutral position. For example, at a work desk this means that your chin is parallel to the floor, your feet are flat on the floor, with elbows bent at a 90 degree angle. You should also have proper back support. Proper ergonomics will reduce stress on the body, prevent injury, and will also help you maintain the results of your physical therapy program.
Your home exercise program is just as important as your physical therapy sessions in our clinic. A home exercise program will help you obtain the best results. The goal of physical therapy, as well as your home exercise program, is to return you to the quality of life you once enjoyed as much as possible. As you progress, your home exercise program may need updated so continue to check-in with your therapist as needed.
Physical therapy success is achieved through a combination of things. Your physical therapist will partner with you to provide education about the “why” and “what” of your condition. Proper ergonomic equipment, tools, and resources will help to maintain the results you have worked so hard to achieve. A home exercise program will keep you on the right track.
Whether it is due to injury, pain, or another condition, a physical therapist at Contact Physical Therapy can help tailor a program that is right for you.
There are many benefits of direct access physical therapy in Arizona, yet many patients are not aware of this option. Direct access means that you are able to seek care and treatment from a practitioner, such as a physical therapist, without first needing a referral from your primary care physician to do so.
In other words, you do not need a referral from another medical specialist in order to see a physical therapist.
Physical therapists are required to complete a state licensing exam. A physical therapist is a trained healthcare professional and expert. They can evaluate you and recommend a treatment plan. Then, they will help you carry out your treatment plan. You do not have to wait for or pay for another appointment first. Also you do not have to wait for a referral. If physical therapy is not an appropriate course of action, they will let you know as well. If this is the case, your physical therapist can refer you to the appropriate healthcare practitioner.
Your physical therapist is an advocate for you and your health and can help improve your healthcare outcomes. Your physical therapist can be the first line of defense when it comes to any pain affecting the muscles, bones, ligaments, tendons, and more. Visiting a physical therapist first can save you time and money by accessing them directly instead of waiting on a referral.
Now that you know more about the benefits of direct access physical therapy in Arizona, for an evaluation by a licensed physical therapist contact us today.
If you are experiencing pain along the side of your thumb or if your thumb feels like it “sticks” from time to time, you may be interested to know about hand therapy for de Quervain’s tenosynovitis.
Long-term overuse of the fingers, hand or wrist can cause this. This condition is most likely caused by activities that require repetitive motions such as lifting a child, gardening, golfing, racket sports, carpentry, typing, or piano playing. It can also be caused by rheumatoid arthritis or injury where scar tissue has restricted tendon function.
All of this can have an impact on the tendons found on the side of your thumb and your wrist. When this happens, you may begin to experience symptoms such as pain, swelling, inflammation, and/or difficulty or pain when using your thumb and wrist or trying to grasp hold of or pinch something.
Catching this condition early can help allow hand therapy to be more effective and prevent it from getting worse. If this condition worsens, it can spread to your forearm. The worst case scenario, if left untreated, is that this can lead to permanent damage, or lead to the tendon sheath bursting. Treatment is important.
Your tendons have been overworked and need to rest as much as possible. Your hand therapist will have suggestions on how to use your thumb, wrist and hand in a way that does not aggravate the condition. He or she will want you to avoid movements that aggravate it. They will also encourage you to take breaks during repetitive motion, such as typing. The wrist may need to be splinted to keep the thumb and hand in a neutral position.
Hand therapy will focus on strengthening exercises. This can help to prevent the condition from getting worse, decrease inflammation, improve mobility of the thumb and prevent this condition from recurring.
If you have already had surgery for this condition, physical therapy can aid in your recovery. Whether it is recovery from surgery, or enlisting the help of hand therapy for de Quervain’s to avoid surgery, you will benefit from working with a hand therapist who can show you ways to treat the condition or prevent it from getting worse.
If you find yourself experiencing any of the symptoms of de Quervain’s listed above, contact the team at Contact Physical Therapy to find a course of therapy that is right for you.
After surgery, it is recommended that you have physical therapy for total knee replacements (TKR). Physical therapy will start soon after TKR.
The most common reason for a total knee replacement is osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is a condition in which the cartilage in your joints deteriorates. Often, this happens in the knee. When it does you may notice pain, stiffness, and swelling. Rheumatoid arthritis and/or being overweight may also contribute to the need for a total knee replacement.
What can I expect during physical therapy for total knee replacements?
Physical therapy is important to your recovery from TKR. It will focus on strengthening the muscles in your leg. It will also help you get used to the new knee by teaching it to move and helping you learn to walk on it. Physical therapy will also walk you through climbing stairs again.
Your physical therapist will have you complete exercises to increase range of motion, strengthen the muscles in your leg, and keep the blood flowing throughout your body. Exercises might include quadriceps sets, straight leg raises, ankle pumps, and knee straightening exercises, supported knee bends and unsupported knee bends.
Physical therapy will also focus on soft tissue treatments to prevent issues with being able to fully extend the knee and help minimize scar tissue.
If your condition is caught early enough, physical therapy can help prevent or delay the need for surgery. However, after surgery physical therapy is an important part of your recovery and healing from a total knee replacement.
Our physical therapy team is experienced in physical therapy for total knee replacements and has several convenient locations in the valley to help you through the rehabilitation process after surgery.
To learn more about physical therapy for total knee replacements, or begin your program after surgery, contact us today.