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Orthopedic physical therapy treats injuries and conditions
of the musculoskeletal system. These conditions can
occur in all ages throughout the population.
Neck and Back Pain
Most neck and back pain is the result of years of overuse,
poor
body mechanics
and
posture
,
weakness in certain muscle groups, and stiff or loose
joints. Our expert understanding of the spine and
its function enables us to help you regain proper
spinal mechanics so that you can live, play, and work
pain-free again. Today, most physicians recommend
conservative treatment, including physical therapy,
prior to surgical intervention.
Low Back Pain & Muscle
Strain
Sciatica
Sciatica
is a term used to
describe pain that is often felt in the buttock and
into the back of the leg. This pain may arise from
pressure on the sciatic nerve roots in the spine or
tightness in the buttock muscles, or both. Joint dysfunction
in the lower lumbar and sacral spine can cause repetitive
irritation to nerve roots through normal movement
such as rising from a seated position.
Piriformis
Syndrome
can also cause sciatica. The piriformis
is a deep hip muscle which when shortened or over
used can pinch the sciatic nerve. Severe, constant
symptoms below the knee, such as complete numbness
or weakness, require immediate medical attention and
may need more aggressive intervention.
Proper evaluation to determine the origin of pain is the best way
to develop a successful treatment program. An evaluation of the
alignment of joints, strength of muscles,
posture
and movement should be performed to find the source of the
sciatic
nerve
irritation. Physical Therapy treatment consists of
hands-on techniques to restore posture, joint and soft tissue mobility.
Exercises are often necessary to strengthen the deep muscles that
stabilize the low back and pelvis and use the hip properly. Learning
how to find and use these muscles while using good body mechanics
is very important. See additional
info on
sciatica
.
TMJ
TMJ (
temporalmandibular joint
)
pain can be from muscle tightness, joint problems
or
malocclusions
(jaw misalignment).
Your dentist or oral surgeon can tell you if you have
an injury or joint problem, or if you have wear patterns
on your teeth from grinding (
bruxing
).
Often the use of a splint is all that is needed to
protect your teeth and eliminate your pain. However,
if the problem is long standing, changes in the length
of your jaw, neck and facial musculature may cause
your pain to continue even
with
a night guard.
Physical therapy can help relieve the stress on your
joint and improve range of motion. Home exercises
will help you maintain range, strength and flexibility.
If you have jaw pain, ear pain, problems opening your
mouth (normal range is the ability to place 3 fingers
length-wise into your mouth), or painful popping or
clicking of your jaw, see your dentist and ask if
physical therapy is recommended.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome
is
a relatively common condition that is characterized
by a numbness and tingling sensation in the hand,
thumb, index, and middle fingers. Individuals commonly
complain of pain waking them up at night or a burning
sensation into the affected hand. These symptoms are
caused by irritation to the median nerve as it passes
across the wrist and branches out into the hand. Probable
causes of the irritation include overuse of the wrist,
or trauma such as a sprain or fracture of the wrist.
Individuals who perform repetitive wrist activity,
such as those who spend long hours with computers
or and manual labor such as picking vegetables, should
be careful to avoid excessive bending of the wrist.
Most individuals who are diagnosed with carpal tunnel
syndrome respond well to conservative treatment such
as physical therapy. Only severe cases require surgical
intervention.
Treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome includes anti-inflammatory
modalities
such as ultrasound
or electrical stimulation,
mobilization
of carpal bones if they are found to be stiff, taping
techniques, work station changes, and evaluation of
body mechanics
. A work station
set up in a fashion that causes long term or repetitive
wrist flexion can lead to or perpetuate carpal tunnel
syndrome. Sometimes weakness is determined to be a
problem. If active wrist extension is weak, flexion
may be overused. Shoulder functioning is also important
to assess. The shoulder is responsible for positioning
the hand to perform work. If the shoulder is weak,
compensations through the wrist may occur.
Shoulder Impingement
Do
you have
shoulder pain
, but you find it
difficult to identify where exactly? "It's kind of around the
front part, and also down into my arm, and sometimes my fingers
get a tingling sensation." Or sometimes, "It only happens
with certain movements, like reaching overhead, behind my back or
into the back seat of the car." With such vague symptoms it
can be difficult to know where the pain is coming from or its cause.
This type of shoulder pain may be the result of long hours at a
computer or driving, a sedentary life style, overuse of the shoulder
(
repetitive stress
), or neck and back weakness.
Poor posture, muscle imbalances, stiffness and poor range of motion
may all lead to a dysfunctional shoulder. These all may cause the
long bone of the arm to strain against tissues that are out of alignment,
creating painful
impingements
during normal
motions. This tightening may also cause excessive pressure on nerves,
causing pain or tingling down into the arm or hand. These are functional,
dynamic changes to shoulder movement and are difficult to detect
on an x-ray.
Manual therapy techniques to help restore normal shoulder
mobility and posture, combined with strengthening
to correct strength imbalances can help provide pain-free
range of motion. Results can be immediate as the person
with this condition usually feels significant improvement
after even one treatment.
Plantar Fasciitis
If you have foot pain in the area of the heel, that
is worst first thing in the morning, or upon rising
after being off your feet for a long time, you could
have a condition called plantar fasciitis.
The
plantar fascia
is a broad
band of ligament that attaches at the base of the
heel. Its role is to support the arch of the foot
and help control movement of the foot during weight
bearing activities such as walking, running or jumping.
In most cases, plantar fasciitis is the result of
overuse when the fascia becomes over-stretched due
to an increase in the stress to the fascia, either
from an increase in activity or a change in
biomechanics
.
Physical therapy is often the treatment of choice for
this condition. Relieving the stress to the plantar
fascia is necessary at first, and this may involve
an evaluation of biomechanical changes from the feet
on up to the pelvis and low back. Once the pain is
relieved, conditioning of the fascia will be necessary
to prepare it for the person's preferred activities.
Stress Headaches
There are many causes for
headaches
.
One very common cause is tension. Tight muscles through
the upper back, head and neck can cause impingement
of nerves. This can lead to a headache at the base
of the head, behind the eyes, or at the temples. Another
common complaint is a headache described as a tight
band around the head. Stress can often be the original
cause for this muscle tension. If stress is prolonged,
the muscles in the head and neck can become adaptively
shortened. This sets one up for chronic or frequent
headaches.
Another source of headaches is poor
posture
.
Rounded shoulders and a slumped back leads to positional
changes in the neck. This leads to joint compression
and adaptive shortening or lengthening of muscles
which can cause
nerve impingement
.
In physical therapy we are experts in addressing muscle
tone, joint alignment and postural problems.
Headaches accompanied by
nausea,
vomiting, blurring of vision, dizziness
, or
ringing in the ears are considered medical problems
and require a doctor's attention.
Those with
severe headaches
of sudden onset should also seek immediate medical
attention. These may be early signs of a
brain
attack
(stroke) or other serious medical condition.
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