Occupational and Physical Therapists frequently treat dysfunctions of the musculoskeletal system involving the spine, muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, and connective tissues. These dysfunctions impair normal mobility and limit daily activities. Utilizing a thorough and comprehensive evaluation process, your therapist will design the appropriate program to maximize your rehabilitation process. Therapy may involve the specialized skills of an Occupational Therapist (an upper extremity/ergonomic specialist) or a Physical Therapist. Treatment will often utilize a combination of flexibility, strengthening and stability activities, in conjunction with pain relieving modalities (as required), to improve recovery time. Patient education is also integral to both recovery and prevention of future injury or re-injury.
Some of the most common areas of orthopedic therapy are highlighted below.
Post-Surgical and Joint Rehab
Bones, joints, and tissues can be damaged such that surgical repair or replacement is required to regain their use. This damage may be the result of many factors, some of which are: stressful forces upon tissues, repetitive motion wear and tear, and chronic inflammation or degenerative conditions such as arthritis.
Corrective surgical procedures may include:
- Joint Revisions or Replacements
- Rotator Cuff Repairs and Debridement
- Carpal Tunnel Release
- Muscle, Tendon or Ligament Repairs
- Bone Fixation, Fracture Repairs
- Spinal Fusions
While hospitalized after repair, revision or replacement surgery, a patient follows the physician’s instructions for acute care and inpatient rehab therapy. Upon release from the facility, patients are directed to continue with either an outpatient rehab program, or if home-bound, an in-home rehab program. The goals of the rehab program as mutually established between physician, patient and therapist are to regain normal range of motion, strength, prior levels of function, and pain and inflammation control.
Outpatient rehabilitation offers patients greater opportunities to maximize mobility, strength, and range of motion than can usually be achieved in the home environment. As an outpatient facility, we utilize state of the art equipment for your rehab therapy program. We are quite proficient in advanced therapy skills, based on updated training in manual therapy, progressive exercise, pain management, and edema (swelling) control techniques. Additionally, our facility uses the most recent treatment protocols available to help ensure your successful recovery.
Traumatic Conditions
After suffering multi-injury trauma in events such as motor vehicle accidents or falls, many people require numerous therapy techniques and modalities during their rehab care. Rehab therapy helps improve recovery by: reducing inflammation and swelling of tissues, while decreasing pain, contusions, and muscle spasm. Therapy helps achieve tissue healing, restoring previous levels of function and mobility, and improving endurance and strength. Therapy may help minimize the risk of scar formation, subsequent tissue contracture and hardening, with a resultant loss of tissue mobility. The ultimate goal of rehab therapy is to return patients to their normal lifestyle and activities as quickly as possible.
Spinal Dysfunction
Back pain is one of the most common reasons for lost work days among adults. Statistically, 75% will experience at least one or more episodes of back pain severe enough to interfere with work or other activities. Some causes of back pain are simple and easily resolved, others can be quite complex and last a lifetime with moderate to severe repercussions on lifestyle and finances.
The spine (“back bone”) provides structural stability, yet allows an amazing degree of flexibility and mobility when healthy. Many factors within the body can adversely affect the health of the spine: aging, genetics, and disease/dysfunction (osteoporosis, arthritis, herniated disks, scoliosis, degenerative disk disease, muscular/postural deficits). External factors can also impact spinal health, such as: improper lifting and back mechanics, work activities, repetitive movements, recreational activities, and lifestyle.
Our physical therapists have extensive training and experience in evaluating and treating disorders of the spine. A complete evaluation includes all segments of the spine – cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral – for symptoms or signs of dysfunction. Treatments target specific deficits, but also incorporate many other measures to strengthen and improve the back and surrounding support structures. This comprehensive approach provides a more complete response, and less likelihood of future injury or re-injury. These treatments may include core stabilization, therapeutic exercise, postural education, manual therapy (spinal and deep tissue mobilization), traction/decompression, as well as modalities for pain control.
Repetitive Stress Injury (RSI)
RSI refers to the cumulative effects of overuse, or use while in awkward positions, of muscles, tendons and nerves usually of the neck or upper extremities. Any repetitive daily activities, whether during work or recreation, if performed with incorrect or stressed posture, or without adequate rest/stretch breaks, can eventually lead to RSI. Depending on the tissues involved, RSI conditions include tenosynovitis, bursitis, tendonitis, tennis elbow, carpal tunnel, and others. RSI is characterized by pain, swelling, weakness, numbness or tingling which worsens with prolonged sessions of the triggering activity.
Your therapist will help assess the probable causes of your pain. We will discuss posture, ergonomic options, and the prevention and treatment of current pain and dysfunction. Therapy will consist of postural related therapeutic exercises, modalities for pain management and breaking the inflammation cycle. Taking two to three minute rest and stretching breaks throughout the work day, combined with a therapeutic home exercise program will help advance your rehab process.
When it comes to RSI, knowledge is crucial. Being able to recognize the early warning signs, receiving treatment before any permanent changes occur, and taking action through ergonomic intervention may prevent RSI from prematurely ending employment or other activities
Sports Rehabilitation
With a goal of developing a healthier lifestyle, more people are becoming involved in sports activities or fitness programs. Whether a novice or seasoned professional athlete, the misfortune of injury will occasionally occur. If and when it does, you want the help of experienced professionals to relieve the pain, heal the injury, recondition and strengthen your body to prevent future injury.
Since 2003, leading orthopedic surgeons have entrusted Kernersville Rehab therapists to treat their patients. Sports rehab patients referred to KRS include novice to casual weekend warriors, Pop-Warner to high school football players, junior high to college team sports players, locally and nationally competitive gymnasts, golfers, and local professional race car drivers. All of these athletes share the same goals: to return to the top of their game, and maintain a high level of competitive activity.
Each sport places its own unique physical demands upon the body. The physical therapist’s job is to understand these physical demands and break them down into specific muscle group strengthening activities. The therapist will determine any additional rehab needs. The therapist and patient will then mutually set goals and the therapist will develop the patient’s plan of care. Adhering to the physician’s protocols, utilizing the rehab plan of care, and progressively advancing the levels of exercise will maximize the patient’s strength and endurance potential. Eventually, this may result in a step up on the competition.
Whether you are 5 or 85 years old, musculoskeletal pain or dysfunction limits your lifestyle and well being. Working with professional, highly skilled therapists at Kernersville Rehab will help you maximize your body’s performance.
