| Conditions |
| |
| Arthritis |
Osteoarthritis is the condition where the cartilage between the joints is wearing out. This occurs
for a variety of reasons including prior joint injuries or harsh repetitive work for many years
causing "wear and tear". These joints slowly deteriorate, eventually becoming increasingly
painful and swollen. Osteoarthritis may occur in either the joints of the arms, legs, or spine. Severe conditions often lead to surgical procedures, such as joint replacements for the hip or knee.
Rheumatoid Arthritis is a condition where the tissues around the joint become painfully inflamed, eventually affecting the cartilage lining of the bones. The small joints of the hands and feet are frequently first involved, but rheumatoid arthritis may eventually affect all of the body's joints. |
| |
| Bursitis |
| Inflammation of small, fluid filled cushioning sacks. These structures usually protect the tendons from excessive rubbing over boney areas. It is common for bursitis to occur at the shoulder, elbow, hip, or knee. |
| |
| Cervicogenic Headaches |
| Headaches which are usually generated by loss of motion or severe muscular guarding in the upper cervical spine, sometimes described as "tension" headaches. Often originates with sustained forward reaching, poor posturing, or sprains/strains, such as those caused by falls or whiplash injuries. |
| [Top] |
| Dislocations |
| A dislocation is the separation of two bones where they meet at a joint, resulting in an injury to both the bone and the connective tissue structures. A lesser version of this condition is called a subluxation. At times this may also involve damage to the nearby nerves. |
| |
| Muscular Imbalances |
| Muscle imbalances may occur due to injuries, nerve encroachments, surgical conditions or immobilization, or chronic postural deficiencies. We tend to adapt to a painful situation allowing the development of compensations that overwork some areas while inhibiting other muscles. Frequently, the adaptations occur at areas well above or below the actual injection sight. Muscular imbalances also occur with conditioning or strengthening programs where there was not enough attention paid to the opposite side or supportive musculature. |
| [Top] |
| Nerve/Disc |
Injuries or encroachments on the nerves usually produce tingling, pain, numbness, or loss of
strength. The fluid center of a spinal disc can bulge into the adjacent spinal nerve creating radicular symptoms into the arms or legs. Disc injuries can also be the result of degenerative processes or micro-tears to the outer fibers, creating localized pain at the spinal segment. Other injuries to the nerves may be directly caused by repetitive motion activities, like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (wrist) or Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (neck, shoulder, or arm). |
| |
| Post-operative Conditions |
| After fracture or cartilage repair, joint replacements, tendon or ligament repairs, spinal conditions causing nerve damage, or following prolonged hospitalizations, your body has undergone a very physical and sometimes emotionally stressful situation. Strength endurance, balance, or flexibility most likely has been compromised. You may need to perform exercises to safely restore your ability to return to your daily life activities, including proper joint protection and ergonomics. |
| [Top] |
| Radiculopathy |
A more severe encroachment to the nerve where there is noticeable loss of strength or sensation
in the arm or leg. It may be the result of direct trauma or impingement caused by a disc
herniation. Some of these conditions can only be resolved by surgical methods while others can
be alleviated with conservative measures including specific postural and strengthening exercises. |
| |
| Repetitive Motion/Overuse Conditions |
Certain activities require frequent, or continuous use of our arms and legs, slowly producing
"micro-strains" which become increasingly painful. Frequent causes include the use of hand or power tools performing the same motion, assembly or mechanical jobs, and computer or gaming activities. |
| [Top] |
| Running/Throwing |
As an integral part of most sporting activities, the arms and legs frequently develop "soreness"
which may subsequently develop into painful conditions. Plantar fasciitis, shin splints, knee tendonitis, hip strains, and bursitis are common complaints among runners. While some of these conditions result from direct contact, most occur over a period of time. Injuries can be related to "flat feet," poor flexibility or strength imbalances. Inadequate, improper or worn footwear, as well as dramatic changes in a training routine or terrain can also contribute to these conditions.
Frequent problems for the arms include rotator cuff impingements and strains, elbow tendonitis, and hand or wrist symptoms. Compensations for poor balance, previous injuries, core weakness, or shoulder blade instability are the underlying cause for many running or throwing injuries. |
| |
| SI (Sacro-Iliac) and Pelvis Imbalances |
| The pelvis, is comprised of three primary bones, the sacrum and two iliums. The bones are joined together by special joint structures including an abundance of ligaments. The hips support it from below and the pelvis, in turn, supports the spine. Falls, vehicle accidents, and childbirth are the most frequent reasons for pain in this area. Pelvic torsions may create a leg length discrepancy which will eventually involve the lumbar spine or hips. |
| [Top] |
| Spinal Conditions |
| Degenerative conditions including ostcoarthritis and osteoporosis may deteriorate the supportive quality of the spine, potentially affecting the adjacent nerves causing loss of motion or strength. Falls or motor vehicle accidents may affect the spinal structures, producing sprains, strains or nerve symptoms. |
| |
| Sprains/Strains/Tears |
| Injuries sustained to the connective tissues supporting our bone and organ structures. These include ligaments, muscles, tendons, joint capsules, fascia, and skin. |
| [Top] |
| Tendonitis |
| Tendonitis implies an inflammation or injury of the muscle tendon. Tendons attach muscle to bone and give us the capability of movement by transferring muscle power to the joints. Shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knees, and ankles are commonly affected sights. |
| |
| Total Joint Replacement |
| Severe osteoarthritic or trauma may eventually lead to crosion of the joint surfaces with resulting pain and swelling. A joint replacement procedure may be considered when conservative treatment fails to control pain or improve function. This is typical for the hip and knee, although shoulder, elbow, and ankle replacements are becoming more common. Following a total joint replacement, specific exercise and training protocols are followed to ensure the best results. |
| [Top] |
| Vestibular/Balance disorders |
| Balance disorders can arise from a disruption in one of the systems that relay information to our brain. The brain processes information through nerves from the joints, skin, eyes, and inner ear. Disruptions can be a result of disease, injury, or normal aging. Vestibular disorders refer to a dysfunctions of the vestibular apparatus located in the inner ear, which results in dizziness, unsteadiness and balance loss, and occasionally nausea. |
| |
| Whiplash |
| Injury to the cervical spine which may occur during contact sports or falls but are most often associated with car accidents. Impact or momentum cause the sudden backward --> forward head thrusting, causing an initial harsh compression to the neck joints. This is followed by excessive forward flexion producing sprains to the ligaments and strains to the musculature. Common complaints include painful loss of neck motion, headaches, dizziness, nausea, muscle and nerve pain. |
| [Top] |
| Back to Services Page |
|
|
| Treatments |
| |
| Body Mechanics/Functional Training |
| Education on proper body mechanics will allow you to move safely and avoid abnormal stresses on the body during daily activities. Often, learning proper body mechanics is incorporated in functional training as we focus on exercises that train the body for the activities you perform in your daily life. |
| [Top] |
| Education/Home Exercise Program |
| An individual home program consisting of postural, strengthening, or flexibility exercises will be developed based upon your specific needs. Your home exercise program will include education about the factors affecting your current condition with the goal of recovery from current complaints and prevention of future injuries. |
| |
| Electrical Stimulation |
The application of a mild electrical current for the purpose of pain control, edema reduction, or
muscular re-learning. |
| [Top] |
| Fall Prevention |
| A series of stabilization and balancing exercises to promote steadiness and reduce the risk for falls in your home and community. A review of potentially dangerous home items or conditions will be discussed for possible removal or modification. |
| |
| Gait Training |
The process of learning how to properly support and propel ourselves, especially following an
injury or surgical procedure. Specific strengthening and flexibility exercises are incorporated with the skills of balancing to promote an efficient walking or running activity. |
| [Top] |
| Iontophoresis |
A technique to introduce an anti-inflammatory compound through the use of mild electrical
current. Iontophoresis is most frequently used with certain tendonitis conditions at the shoulder, elbow, knee, or ankle. |
| |
| Joint Mobilization |
| Small motions of variable pressure applied to the joints to facilitate deep stretching or pain control. These motions make up the subtle movements necessary for proper joint mobility. |
| [Top] |
| Neuromuscular Re-education |
| The use of specific co-ordination exercises to restore normal movement patterns. |
| |
| Orthotics |
Custom footwear inserts to support and realign structures throughout the foot, foreleg, knee, hip,
and back. Various materials are used to fabricate the devices, suitable to your particular needs. Proper footwear or insoles will be combined with home exercises addressing flexibility and strength deficits to achieve the optimum results.
|
| [Top] |
| Soft Tissue Mobilisation/Myofascial Release |
| A variety of massage like techniques used to facilitate pliability of the musculature or fascia. Soft to firm pressure is applied to connective tissues where a restriction has been identified. |
| |
| Spinal Traction |
| Either manually or mechanically applied decompression of the spine to facilitate improved motion or pressure reduction on the spinal nerves. |
| [Top] |
| Therapeutic Exercises |
| Individualized exercises designed to promote tissue healing and improve posture, strength, flexibility, or balance. We make every effort to utilize equipment available to you at your home or your fitness facility. |
| |
| Ultrasound |
| The use of sound waves to deliver warmth into deeper tissues. Ultrasound may be used to facilitate healing of acute injuries by enhancing the blood flow to the involved area or to improve tissue pliability prior to applying a specific stretching technique. |
| [Top] |
| Back to Services Page |
|
