Photo: MHS Physical Therapist, Jacob Loucks works with Calita Niland (seated).
Winter is a time for working out in the gym. You stretch, you lift, you run, you exercise, yet something doesn’t feel quite right. You don’t know what it is or what to do about it. Maybe it is time to schedule an appointment with a physical therapist at Memorial Health System (MHS).
MHS physical therapists are trained to treat joint and muscle problems, neck pain, back pain, and other ailments that can make moving difficult. “Basically, physical therapists help with strength and motion,” MHS Physical Therapist, Jeff Sanborn said.
“We treat people of all ages, with a variety of needs. Baby boomers find that they are not moving the way they used to and are unsure of what to do about it. Young athletes find themselves in need of physical therapy due to sports related injuries and elderly patients often have balance and gait related issues we can address,” explained Sanborn.
At your first appointment, you can expect to undergo an assessment that may include an examination of strength, range of motion, flexibility, and/or balance. The results of these tests will help your physical therapist determine a plan of care. Together, you and you therapist will set goals and a timeline for these goals to be met. You will be given some exercises that will be designed to address your issues.
Your physical therapist might also use some modalities on you such as electrical stimulation, heat, ice, ultrasound, traction, and/or manual therapy. It will be important that you also do your home exercises as well to help facilitate your progress.
“There is significant evidence that physical therapy can be more effective than surgery for problems such as low back pain or degenerative knee pain, but avoiding surgery does not mean you will have it easy, or that just a few visits to physical therapy will cure you,” Sanborn said. Patients should consistently attend scheduled physical therapy appointments and work hard on their home exercise program.
“At MHS Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, we want physical therapy to work for you, so we work with you to help design a plan that fits your needs,” Sanborn said.
For more information about the benefits of physical therapy, or to schedule an appointment, please call (785) 263-6664.