Manual therapy is a hands-on treatment by clinicians to treat muscle aches, joint pain, and limited range of motion. It encompasses a variety of techniques including soft tissue mobilization of muscles, specific joint mobilization, and joint manipulation.

The three most notable forms of manual therapy are:

• Manipulation is the application of a rapid force into a joint(s). Manipulation is often associated with an audible popping sound called cavitation.
• Mobilization is a slower, more controlled process of articular and soft-tissue stretching intended to improve joint mobility.
• Massage is typically the repetitive rubbing, stripping or kneading of muscle and fascia tissues to facilitate healing.

Manual therapy has been proven to be an important part of an overall conservative treatment plan for a variety of conditions including:

• Adhesive capsulitis
• Shoulder impingement
• Shoulder stiffness/limited range of motion
• Tennis elbow
• Golfers elbow
• Pinched nerves
• Limited joint range of motion
• Capsule tightness
• Postsurgical stiffness
• Much more.

Manual therapy is typically part of a complete treatment plan that is customized for your specific needs. Give us a call to learn how we can incorporate manual therapy into your rehabilitation program.

If you are a youth, collegiate, elite, or professional athlete, when you are injured, you need a physical therapist with experience rehabilitating sports-related injuries.

Athletes place higher demands on the muscles and joints and also require sport-specific training to recover speed, power, and agility. This is the specific training that our therapists provide.

Our physical therapists have years of experience rehabilitating athletes with:

• Postsurgical rehabilitation of the knee, shoulder, ankle, hip, and spine
• Shoulder & rotator cuff injuries
• Ligament sprains
• Muscle strains
• ACL, PCL, MCL, LCL rehab
• Tendonitis/bursitis
• Post-fracture rehab
• Tennis elbow
• Overhead sports injuries (throwing, swimming, etc.)
• Running & cycling injuries

A Personalized Recovery Process

The process starts with a thorough evaluation of your condition and your personal goals. We then provide a custom program including the following:

• Control of Pain & Inflammation
• Recovery of Range of Motion
• Hands-on Techniques
• Neuromuscular Retraining
• Core & Extremity Strengthening
• Balance & Proprioceptive Activities
• Speed, Endurance, & Power Training
• Sport-specific Retraining

Optimizing the Recovery Process

Injuries are an unfortunate side effect of sports but they don’t have to sideline you indefinitely. With the application of the latest clinical research, we can work hand-in-hand with your referring physician/surgeon to optimize the recover process so you can reach your full potential.

Give us a call today to learn more about our sports rehabilitation program.

Recent Blog Posts From Our Office Of Physical Therapy Madison Heights MI

The Importance of a Proper Warm-Up Routine

It’s easy to skip the warm-up and get right into your workout, but you might not realize how important a proper warm-up routine is. A warm-up routine is a series of stretches and exercises to increase blood flow and muscle temperature. Beginning your workout without a proper warm-up can lead to injury because your muscles might not be ready for intense action. Plus, warming up can help improve sports performance, similar to Physical Therapy Madison Heights MI. 

What To Include In a Good Warm-Up

Warming up before your workout helps in many ways; it effectively preps your body for more intense exercise. A good warm-up doesn’t have to belong; only five to ten minutes of prep is all your body needs to get ready. Additionally, finishing your workout with a brief ‘Cool-Down’ routine similar to your warm-up can help prevent muscle soreness.

Some exercises you could include in a warm-up are:

• Push-ups
• Squats
• Leg lunges
• Jumping jacks
• A few minutes of brisk walking

These are all Dynamic exercises, meaning that their actions are similar to those in your workout but are less tiring. Physical Therapy Madison Heights MI, can help you learn more healthy dynamic warm-up routines. Our sports medicine program will create a tailor-made plan for you to help you reach your athletic potential. 

Dealing with Workout Related Injuries

Failing to warm up can lead to muscle soreness and an increased risk of sports-related injuries. Our pPhysical Therapy Madison Heights MI, can help you recover from various sports-related injuries. Static Stretching can help muscle soreness when done at the end of a workout, as it helps your body cool off and your muscles relax. This is called static stretching because most of your body is not moving, besides the one area you are focused on. If done correctly, it can help increase flexibility, however, if you stretch too much before a workout, it can put additional strain on your muscles. 

Some healthy stretches to include are:

• Lying hamstring stretch
• Hip flexor stretches
• Triceps stretches
• Touching your toes
• Arm circles

Empower Physical Therapy Madison Heights MI

Keep in mind that these should be done for the cool-down period of the workout when your muscles are warmed and pliable. Our Physical Therapy Madison Heights MI can teach you more healthy workout routines, along with personalized medical care to deal with any related injuries. Visit our website for more information.

Should I Get Physical Therapy Treatment For My Shoulder Pain?

You may not realize how many everyday activities you utilize your shoulders until you start experiencing shoulder pain. Everyday tasks such as brushing your hair, reaching into a cabinet, or exercising can become daunting and can have a significant impact on your daily life. The pain can cause a great deal of discomfort and hamper your ability to move your arm around freely. If you are experiencing shoulder pain you should consider seeking Physical Therapy Madison Heights MI. The team at Empower Physical Therapy can help you identify how the injury occurred, help you with the recovery process, and provide methods to prevent any future shoulder injuries.

Common Causes of Shoulder Pain

Due to the shoulder’s complex anatomy, there are many causes for shoulder pain. It can arise from a variety of activities such as manual labor, overuse and repetitive movement, sports, and more. Often the cause can be identified by going to Physical Therapy Madison Heights MI, and identifying the area of the shoulder in which you are experiencing pain. Common causes of shoulder pain can include:

• Arthritis
• Torn Rotator Cuff
• Dislocated Shoulder
• Pinched Nerve

When Should You Seek Physical Therapy Treatment?

While shoulder pain may be common, it is important to know when you should seek physical therapy for your injury. In many cases, you should be able to treat the pain at home with over the counter medicines, rest, and heat and ice applications. However, if you are not sure how the injury occurred, at-home care is not reducing the pain or you are experiencing severe pain, you may need to seek professional treatment. There are many signs in which you may need to seek help from a medical professional. You should consider Physical Therapy Madison Heights MI if you exhibit any of the following signs:

• Shoulder pain that persists for a few days
• Inability to raise your arm
• Swelling or bruising around your shoulder
• An injury that causes a deformity of the joint 
• Repeat shoulder pain

Contact Our Team at Empower Physical Therapy Madison Heights MI

By going to Physical Therapy Madison Heights MI, the team at Empower PT can help patients with many things. These include:

• Increase shoulder strength
• Help restore mobility
• Help patients safely return to pre-injury activities
• Provide tips to prevent any future injuries

If you are experiencing any of the above signs of shoulder pain, please contact Empower Physical Therapy to schedule an appointment today!