A physical therapist uses exercises to improve your mobility and movement, reduce pain, and prevent future problems. They may also use treatments based on physical stimuli such as heat, cold, electrical currents and ultrasound.
Physical therapists have the unique opportunity to build one-on-one connections with their patients. This allows them to create emotional bonds that can help people recover and lead healthier lives. Visit https://www.onpointphysio.com/ to learn more.
Whether you are a weekend warrior wanting to get back in the game, a new mom navigating an ever-changing body, or a retiree struggling with mobility issues, we believe everyone deserves a life free of pain and limitations. With our holistic approach to physical therapy, we empower patients to live a proactive wellness lifestyle. Together, we create a customized, step-by-step hands-on plan to help you achieve your health goals.
A key aspect of proactive physical therapy is teaching proper movement patterns and identifying and correcting imbalances that increase your risk for injuries. This enables you to reduce the likelihood of injury and improve your overall athletic performance. In addition to improving strength, flexibility, and biomechanics, proactive PT can also improve your ability to engage in activities with reduced risk of injury.
As an added benefit, a physical therapist can provide education and guidance on a variety of topics to prevent future injuries. This may include teaching you the best techniques to protect your body when engaging in sports, the benefits of hydration and nutrition, or strategies to deal with stress and anxiety.
Physical therapists can also work with athletes to develop a plan for managing their sport-related injury or illness. This includes providing treatment to address the initial injury, assisting with the transition back to competition and developing a prevention program. In some cases, a physical therapist can also provide massage or other therapeutic services that may aid in decreasing the risk of injury and optimizing performance.
Physical therapy is also an important part of a holistic treatment plan for neurological conditions. It can improve quality of life, decrease pain, and enhance function following a stroke or other neurological condition. Additionally, a physical therapist can assist with pain and discomfort associated with the onset of Parkinson’s disease.
With a background in musculoskeletal medicine, Tunde holds a doctorate degree in physical therapy from Mercy College and has experience in outpatient orthopedics, hospital physical therapy, and health and wellness. She is trained in LSVT Big and the Graston Technique. She is passionate about pelvic health and believes that it is essential for patients of all ages to have access to appropriate and effective treatment.
Manual Therapy
Manual therapy is a form of physical therapy that uses hands-on techniques to assess and treat musculoskeletal injuries and dysfunctions. This therapeutic approach helps restore optimum joint and soft tissue movement to alleviate pain, improve flexibility, reduce inflammation, increase strength, and enhance athletic performance.
Physical therapists use several manual techniques to decrease pain, including soft tissue manipulation, joint mobilization and stretching. These techniques work by increasing blood flow, loosening tight muscles and reducing swelling to facilitate healing and pain reduction. The constant rhythmic motion or deep powerful stroking associated with various forms of soft tissue manipulation can also stimulate large diameter superficial sensory nerve fibers to release endorphins which help decrease pain.
Joint mobilization/manipulation involves measured movements varying in speed, force, and distance (called amplitude) to twist, pull or push bones and joints back into position. During this technique, a therapist may massage a joint with varying amounts of pressure and/or apply a gentle mobilization belt to enhance the effectiveness.
The therapist may also perform active-release techniques to break up adhesions or scar tissue. During this process, the therapist applies deep tenderness at the site of injury to break up the adhesive tissue and enhance muscle/tendon flexibility. Lastly, therapists may stretch a muscle/tendon through both static and dynamic stretches, which include contraction/relax/contract cycles and utilize the natural neurological inhibition of one muscle group to enable the other to be stretched to a greater degree.
The most common injuries to the shoulder involve sprains and strains, tendonitis, or impingement. These injuries can be caused by a direct blow to the shoulder, tearing or overstretching of tendons/ligaments, poor posture, repetitive stress and overuse, and/or improper technique during sports activities. Manual therapy and specific exercises can help to speed up the recovery time from these injuries and prevent them from reoccurring. Performing these manual treatment techniques along with education and home exercise adherence is crucial to long term success in managing shoulder injuries and improving functional movement patterns. This allows athletes to return to their sport sooner with decreased pain and increased strength and agility to avoid future injuries.
Functional Training
Incorporating functional training into a fitness regimen helps to improve performance across daily tasks, enhance balance and coordination, reduce the risk of injury, and promote better posture. This type of exercise emphasizes compound movements that target multiple muscle groups, and emphasize core stability in natural movement patterns to mimic real-life actions.
Physical therapists have the unique opportunity to spend more time with patients than other medical professionals, which allows for an individualized approach and a true client-therapist connection. These one-on-one interactions give therapists the chance to get to know their clients beyond their injuries or conditions, which often leads to the discovery of goals and aspirations that may not have been fully considered before.
When developing a treatment plan, therapists work with their clients to create goals that are realistic and achievable. Often, these goals involve improving everyday activities like walking and climbing stairs or taking part in favorite hobbies without the restriction of pain or discomfort. Using a combination of treatments and techniques, therapists help their clients regain control of their lives and become more independent.
A great way to begin the physical therapy process is with a comprehensive evaluation, where your physical therapist will test your strength and range of motion. They will also ask questions about your pain, the ways that you move throughout the day, and any limitations caused by your condition.
Once the therapist has a clear understanding of your condition and its cause, they will develop a personalized treatment plan to address your needs. This plan will include a list of your personal goals, plus exercises or other treatments to help you reach them.
Unlike other forms of exercise, functional training focuses on movement patterns that mimic the body’s natural actions to foster greater balance and coordination. These movements prioritize stabilizing the body’s key muscles, thereby promoting balance and improving proprioception – the body’s awareness of its position in space.
Compared to traditional training, functional training has been shown to lead to more effective recovery in injured individuals. It’s also been found to have more of a positive impact on balance and overall mobility in older adults. This is due to the fact that functional training workouts make it easier for people to do things like walk up and down stairs or rake leaves without fear of sustaining an injury.
Education
If you’re interested in a career as a physical therapist, there are many educational opportunities to consider. Choosing the right one for you can help you achieve your dream of providing top-notch rehabilitation and potentially even running your own practice.
Physical therapists are movement experts that optimize quality of life through prescribed exercise, hands-on care and patient education. The first step on the path to becoming a PT is earning your bachelor’s degree. During this time, you should focus on taking as many science and health-based classes as possible. Many doctorate of physical therapy (DPT) programs have specific prerequisites that may include courses like anatomy, physiology, biology, chemistry and statistics. Many programs also require relevant field experience, so seeking out volunteer or paid positions during your undergraduate degree may be helpful.
After completing your bachelor’s degree, you will need to complete an accredited doctorate of physical therapy (DPT) program. This typically takes between 7-8 years, including four years of undergraduate study and three of graduate school. You will also need to earn your state license by passing the National Physical Therapy Examination.
During your DPT program, you will be exposed to different methods of physical therapy. Each method has its own benefits and drawbacks, so learning about each can help you decide which is best for your patients. Some PTs choose to specialize in a particular area of the body or type of injury, while others prefer to work with a wide range of patients.
Once you’ve earned your DPT, you can start looking for employment or pursue further education and certifications. Some PTs move up the corporate ladder and become managers in healthcare facilities, while others open their own private practices. If you plan to own your own practice, it’s important to gain business skills and familiarize yourself with the local regulatory requirements.
The PT field is a dynamic and fast-growing one, with projected growth of 15 percent through 2032. It’s an exciting opportunity to work in a rewarding and fulfilling career that can give you flexibility and options for advancement.