PHYSICAL THERAPY SERVICES
Treatment begins with a detailed assessment to identify the most effective combination of treatment options to best support each patient in achieving and maintaining Whole Body Health. Specific goals, defined programs and careful session monitoring integrate the right set of Manual Therapy techniques with exercise and modalities for immediate relief and best results.


Relief of Acute Conditions: For recent onset of pain, discomfort, stiffness, soreness, aching, pulling, burning of any muscles or joints throughout the body.

Injury Recovery and Prevention: For injuries related to car accidents (such as whiplash), sports injuries, sprains and strains. Prevention includes postural strengthening and education, ergonomics education, activity specific strengthening and conditioning.

Sports Screening: For high school, college and professional athletes, weekend warriors, and other sports enthusiasts.

Pre and Post Surgical Rehabilitation: Presurgical rehabilitation for people who may need surgery but may benefit from Physical Therapy intervention prior to surgery for strengthening and conditioning of the surrounding musculature of the injured structure. Post surgical rehabilitation for procedures including but not limited to ligament repairs, meniscal repairs, joint replacements, fusions, laminectomies, rotator cuff repairs, etc.

Women's Health: Our women's health program addresses many specific health concerns that women face: incontinence, pelvic/ vaginal pain, prenatal and postpartum musculosketelal pain, osteoporosis, fibromyalgia, rehabilitation following breast surgery, education prevention, wellness and exercise. Our therapists use every facet of their physical therapy training to evaluate and treat female clients, promoting and enhancing health through the life span.

Stress and Sleep Problems: For those who feel that stress and lack of sleep are contributing to physical discomfort and for those whose pain makes it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep.

Structural Improvement to Restore Optimal Mobility: To address muscles and joints including the spine and pelvis that have limited or restricted movement that affect your overall well-being.

Strengthening Vitality for Older Adults: For those who feel that they are lacking in strength and energy, preventing them from being as active as they would like to be.

Types of Manual Therapy Techniques:

Primal Reflex Release Technique (PRRT™) click for more information on PRRT page

STRAIN-COUNTERSTRAIN
Originally developed by Lawrence Jones, D.O., FAAO, this technique is defined as "a passive positional procedure that places the body in a position of greatest comfort, thereby relieving pain by reduction and arrest of inappropriate proprioceptor activity that maintains somatic dysfunction." This technique is uniquely different from other manual techniques as it is considered an indirect technique as positioning occurs opposite the restricted barrier and is thus very comfortable for the patient, even in the acute stage.

SOFT TISSUE MOBILIZATION (STM) / MYOFASCIAL RELEASE (MFR)
STM: restoration of muscle play, breaking fascial restrictions between muscles and decreasing hypertonus that is associated with muscle tightness. Specific directional manual force is used in the direction of fascial restriction. Functional STM combines active lengthening of the muscle tissue with manual work at the same time. MFR: similar to STM, but a larger area of tissue is targeted as opposed to very localized primary restrictions.

NEUROFASCIAL RELEASE (NFR)
This is a light pressure palpation procedure that uses several inherent body forces. The neurofascial release procedure acts rapidly to normalize structural/functional relationships in the body. It uses a direct palpatory communication between the operator and the inherent healing power of the body, as manifested in fascial response to the physician's intentful palpation. Like many other osteopathic paradigms, neurofascial release identifies and harnesses a normal, ongoing physiological homoeostatic process and fashions it into a therapeutic tool. It stands on the shoulders of other osteopathic explorers who also discovered how to use a physiological mechanism in a therapeutic way.

MUSCLE ENERGY TECHNIQUE (MET)
Originally developed by Fred L. Mitchell, Sr., D.O., FAAO and T. J. Ruddy, D.O., this technique is defined as a "direct manipulative procedure that uses a voluntary contraction of the patient's muscles against a distinctly controlled counterforce from a precise position and in a specific direction. This is considered an active technique, as opposed to a passive technique where only the clinician does the work. In contrast to joint mobilization, this technique engages the joint restriction barrier but does not stress it. MET may also be used to lengthen shortened muscles, reduce localized edema, and mobilize restricted joints."

JOINT MOBILIZATION
The AAOMPT, APTA, and IFOMT define this as "a manual therapy technique comprised of a continuum of skilled passive movements to joints and/or related soft tissues that are applied at varying speeds and amplitudes, including a small amplitude/high velocity therapeutic movement." It is described by Grieves as "the attempt at restoration of full, painless joint function by rhythmic, repetitive, passive movements within the patient's tolerance and within the voluntary and accessory range, and graded according to examination findings." Joint mobilization may affect a whole vertebral region or may be localized to a single segment, including high velocity / low amplitude passive therapeutic movement.

REFLEX RELAXATON™
We are pleased to offer Reflex Relaxation™, or Reflax™, developed by Ernie Quinlisk, P.T. after working with patients with varying diagnoses for over 20 years. This work has been directly influenced by the significant contributions of John Iams, P.T. (www.theprrt.com) and Robert Scaer, M.D. (www.traumasoma.com) to the study of pain and somatic dysfunction.

A Reflax™ treatment typically takes about 30 minutes or it can be done in conjunction with other treatments. We frequently use Reflax™ to help a patient relax prior to using other physical therapy techniques in as little as 5 minutes.

To learn more about the Reflex Relaxation technique, please click on the article link here, or at left.

Other modalities used:
Ultrasound, Electrical Stimulation, Biofeedback, Infrared Light Therapy, Cervical Traction, Iontophoresis.