The Road To Better Balance Starts with Physical Therapy Our clinicians at 5 Star Physical Therapy Specialists are trained in a variety of treatment options for vestibular rehabilitation and balance training. Our sense of balance is controlled by our vestibular system (inner ear), vision (our eyes) and proprioception (our sense of touch and awareness of where we are in space). Experiencing deficits in any of these areas can impact our independence and safety by increasing dizziness, weakness and a risk of falling. One cause of dizziness that is very treatable is Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). This will cause a room spinning sensation and can be quite severe. There are a few maneuvers we can perform on patients that will eliminate these symptoms in just 1 or 2 sessions. Our clinicians will develop individualized treatment plans to minimize your risk of falling by incorporating strength and balance training, vestibular rehabilitation and postural stabilization. Factors That Increase Risk of Falling:
Utilizing a smart reaction training platform, clinicians at 5 Star Physical Therapy Specialists can decrease fall risk by improving:
Not all physical therapy is created equal! What is O.M.P.T.? Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy is a certification requiring over two years of additional training beyond entry level physical therapy education. It is an advanced and comprehensive style of examination and treatment procedures that offers patients the best solutions to their problems. The goal is to treat and correct the source of the problem rather than simply focusing on masking symptoms and pain, which is not a long term functional solution.
There are many health care providers who are capable of stretching, manipulating, or adjusting the spine. At 5 Star PT Specialists, we do not approach this treatment technique casually and take extra caution to provide the safest and most effective spinal manipulations possible. Our manipulations are performed with precision and accuracy to target problematic areas in the spinal joints to improve mobility and restore function. Utilizing O.M.P.T. treatment techniques, our patients have had significant improvements with range of motion, reduction in pain, and have not sustained injuries or side effects that are consistent with more aggressive manipulative procedures.
When managing injuries or chronic conditions it is important to understand the minutiae of exercise interventions. Physical therapists and other health care providers instruct patients in exercise interventions routinely. However, mistakes can be made with poor exercise selection and lack of supervision to correct errors with performance. At 5 Star PT Specialists we rely on comprehensive examination to determine the appropriate exercise dosing and precise movement patterns that will lead to functional recovery.
IASTM is a manual therapy technique that involves the use of precision crafted stainless steel instruments specifically designed to contour areas of our body to mobilize muscle and soft tissue layers. This has been shown to be effective in facilitating healing and reducing pain for various soft tissue injuries and conditions.
Dry needling is a procedure that involves the insertion of a thin filament needle into soft tissue, muscle, or peripheral nerves to promote a healing effect that leads to decreased pain and improved tissue function. This procedure is not acupuncture, although the needles are similar. Dry needling is based on known neuroanatomy and the physiologic effect of therapeutic lesions that are created when thin filament needles are inserted into our body's tissue. This is a great tool to assist in effectively treating many conditions including chronic pain, fibromyalgia, radicular pain from the neck or low back, muscular strains, and trigger points. Dry needling is a great option for patients who have not had successful physical therapy in the past or have had increased pain with prescribed exercise and manual therapy.
Blood flow restriction (BFR) therapy is a brief and intermittent occlusion of blood flow using a tourniquet while exercising. Exercising with occlusion of blood flow allows for much lighter resistance during a particular exercise with significant strength gains that are typically the result of much higher intensity activity. This can be used in cases where challenging an arm or a leg with external resistance or load is either painful or not allowed due to post surgical limitations. We utilize a FDA approved medical device (Delfi personalized tourniquet system) to customize the amount of tourniquet pressure to each patient. The results of BFR therapy include strength gains, increased muscle size, increased release of growth hormone for healing, and pain relief.
We assist in the recovery of many orthopedic surgeries including but not limited to joint replacements, spinal surgery, various arthroscopic knee and shoulder procedures, rotator cuff repair, management of post-operative fractures, acl reconstructions, and many others. It is critical to conservatively and appropriately manage post-operative conditions to facilitate optimal recovery and restoration of function. We will work with your surgeon's post operative protocols as needed to ensure optimal healing and protection of surgically repaired structures.
Biomechanical taping is a procedure that is used to offload or support structures including tendons, muscles, and joints throughout the body. This tape is quite strong to provide structural support but has elasticity to allow full motion in normal daily activity or sport participation. Examples of use for dynamic tape include ankle sprains, achilles tendon injuries, over-active muscles of the lower back or neck area, tennis elbow, patellar tendinitis and shoulder instability. Biomechanical taping is a great compliment following exercise and manual therapy during a physical therapy session.
Dynamic cupping is a combination of massage and the use of suction cups to improve soft tissue mobility, decrease pain, and improve range of motion in various areas of the body. Unlike traditional cupping, dynamic cupping involves movement of a suction cup on the body, movement of the body with a suction cup in place, or a combination of these. This is an effective treatment for myofascial pain, generalized muscle spasms in the back or extremities, and various conditions involving nerve irritation such as sciatica and cervical radiculopathy.
Falls are a very serious problem, especially in our older adult population. Fall prevention education and treatment is necessary to reduce the risk for traumatic falls that can often cause serious injury or death. We provide education on fall prevention, gait and balance exercise to reduce fall risk, and functional strengthening exercises to improve independence at home and in the community.
Ultrasound is used for a variety of different applications in physical therapy for pain reduction. It can be used to improve circulation and heat up layers of muscle and soft tissue that are either superficial or deeper in the body. Ultrasound can also assist with reduction of local tissue swelling.
Electrical stimulation is an option to assist with pain reduction, management of post surgical swelling, and facilitation of muscle contraction. There are uses for electrical stimulation to promote muscle recovery as well. Post operative ACL rehab and cases involving foot drop are examples that may be appropriate for use of this type of electrical stimulation.
