Physical Therapy Services
Our
Physical Therapists work with individuals to optimize function and mobility,
relieve pain, and prevent/limit permanent physical disability of
those suffering from injury or disease. The goal of physical
therapy is to improve how an individual functions at home, work, and
school.
Physical
Therapists (PT) work with individuals who are impaired with
disabling conditions such as head injuries, Down's Syndrome, cerebral
palsy, Torticollis, developmental disabilities, or who are accident
victims. PT's utilize therapeutic exercise and activities to improve
flexibility, strength, endurance, balance, coordination, and mobility.
PT's address gross motor skills, developmental disabilities, gait
abnormalities, and other physical impairments.
Physical Therapists
also teach patients to use assistive and adaptive devices (durable
medical equipment) such as walkers or wheelchairs.
Does my
child need physical therapy? Click
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Some more specific areas
of PT include the following:
Physical Therapy
Physical Therapy provides services for those with delays in gross
motor skills, limitations in functional mobility, gait deficits,
decreased coordination, decreased balance, loss of range of motion
or extremity function, or recovery from surgery.
Gross Motor Skills
Gross motor skills are activities that involve movement of large
muscle groups of the body. It includes activities such as
kicking, jumping, throwing, and catching.
Functional Mobility
Functional mobility is the body's ability to move from one position
to another. This includes bed mobility and transfers.
Physical therapists can assist patients in developing or regaining
independence with these activities such as getting in and out of bed
or moving to and from a sitting position from the floor or standing.
Gait
Gait is walking. Physical therapists can analyze and treat
deficits in gait caused by developmental disability, injury, or
disease.
Coordination
Coordination is the property of movement characterized by smooth and
harmonious action of groups of muscles acting together to produce a
desired motion.
Balance
Balance is the ability to maintain a functional posture, such as
sitting, standing, or walking through motor actions to keep the
body's weight distributed evenly over our center of gravity.
Range of Motion
The path of motion a joint can move in any one direction. This
includes all joints in the arms, legs, neck, and back.
Torticollis is a special case of loss of range of motion.
Torticollis is a shortening of the sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM)
in the neck which limits movement of the neck. It is often
caused by positioning in the womb, injury during birth, or of
unknown cause. Babies with torticollis present with their
necks tilted or turned primarily to one side. Parents will
often notice that their baby only likes to turn his/her head one
direction. If left untreated, infants may develop
flattening of the head on one side and in some cases, surgery is
required. Physical Therapy provides therapeutic activities
and exercises, working closely with the parents on a home
positioning and stretching program to lengthen and strengthen
the neck muscles providing better positioning of the head and
minimize the complications associated with torticollis.
Extremity Function
Physical
therapists can help develop the function of extremities (arms and
legs) in cases
where a child has motor delays or to restore function after
injury, disease, or recovery from surgery.
Durable Medical Equipment (DME)
DME is equipment
that can be used repeatedly over time to assist those with an injury
or disability. Some examples of DME are walkers, wheelchairs, and
special seating systems that help properly position a child for
activities like feeding. Physical therapists work with families to
determine what DME may be available to optimize a child’s
performance at home and in therapy.
Please feel free to contact us at
281-379-4373 or
e-mail us
for more detailed information or to schedule a free consultation.
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