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 Harrison Township MI

Physical Therapy for Basketball Injuries

Playing basketball is a great way to exercise and stay active during the year. You can play the sport outside in the warmer months and indoors all year round. However, playing basketball leaves you at risk for certain injuries. Here at Empower Physical Therapy Harrison Township MI, we understand that enduring an injury due to basketball can be tough, but we strive to lead you towards rehabilitation. We focus on tailor-made physical therapy treatments to get you feeling your best and back to playing the game you love. If you or someone you know is suffering from a basketball-related injury visit our website to find out how physical therapy can help you!

Common Basketball Injuries 

When it comes to any sport stretching and warming up are key in order to prevent injuries. However, it doesn’t mean that you still can’t obtain injuries even if you are stretching properly. Basketball is a tough sport to play that takes a toll on your entire body. Some common basketball-related injuries are as follows:

• Ankle Sprains
• Jammed Fingers
• Knee Injuries
• Deep Thigh Bruising
• Facial Cuts
• Foot Fractures
• ACL Tear
• Jumper’s Knee 
• Achilles Tendinitis

Treatment Methods for Basketball Injuries 

Depending on the severity of a basketball injury you may need medical attention. But a common way to help alleviate some pain is the “RICE” method which is:

• Rest 
• Ice
• Compression 
• Elevation

If your injury is more serious it is very important that you get the medical treatment you need to understand your injury and start a treatment plan with a medical professional. 

How Physical Therapy Can Help Basketball Related Injuries

If your basketball-related injury is more severe such as Achilles tendonitis or jumper’s knee, physical therapy is a great treatment option to help rebuild strength and get you back to playing basketball. Physical therapy is also used to help patients recover after surgery for injuries such as an ACL tear or torn tendons. The main focus of physical therapy is to help patients at their rate to strengthen their muscles and overall body, improve mobility, and achieve their goals of rehabilitation. At Empower Physical Therapy Harrison Township MI our expert physical therapists pride themselves on making a treatment method that is tailor-made to the needs of their patients to get back to being healthy and strong. Physical therapy is a great treatment option for basketball-related injuries. We work hard with athletes to have them playing the sports they love again at their best ability. 

Empower Physical Therapy Harrison Township MI

Enduring a basketball-related injury shouldn’t have you fearing you won’t be able to play the game again at the same ability. At Empower Physical Therapy we understand the needs of athletes and our patients. Our physical therapist makes our patients’ recovery process their number one priority. To find out more about Empower Physical Therapy Harrison Township MI click or call at (586) 868-7000.

Physical Therapy Treatment for Overuse Injuries

If you are in need of Physical Therapy Harrison Township MI, our team at Empower PT & Fitness is here to help you! Contact us today to learn more! 

Injury can occur in tissue that you use too often. Whether this is from your occupation, activities, or just everyday life, paying attention to these types of injuries is important to prevent decrease usability of the affected tissues.

Common overuse injuries are:

• Tennis Elbow
• Swimmers Shoulder 
• Achilles Tendinitis
• Runner’s Knee

Causes of Overuse Injuries

Many activities and occupations can cause an overuse injury. Below are some common causes of this type of injury: 

• Exercising too frequently or too rigorous can lead to an overuse injury. This can be from lifting weights too often, improperly, or that are too heavy.
• Lifting heavy objects improperly, or repeatedly, can result in micro-damage to bodily tissue. This can be in your back, arms, neck, and legs. Practicing proper lifting techniques can prevent putting a massive strain on your tissues, lessening the chance of developing
  an overuse injury.
  

Treatment for Overuse Injuries

Empower PT & Fitness offers Physical Therapy Harrison Township MI and we have seen a lot of cases of overuse injuries. This has given us the chance to increase our knowledge of them, and understand the best way to treat these injuries. Treatment for these injuries can range from rest to surgery. The most common forms of treatment are:

• For minor injuries, resting the injured tissue and allowing the body to heal itself naturally can be the best course of treatment.
• Over the counter medication such as Ibuprofen, or prescription medication such as Naproxen can relieve the pain associated with these injuries. These medications also reduce inflammation, allowing the injury to heal properly.
• Physical Therapy Harrison Township MI can be provided by Empower PT. We have many specialized techniques that we can perform to speed up recovery and ensure full use of the injured tissue.
• Surgery would be the most aggressive form of treatment, usually reserved for the most severe cases of overuse injury. This would be a step we would explore after rest and Physical Therapy Harrison Township MI.

Empower Physical Therapy Harrison Township MI

Empower PT & Fitness offers Physical Therapy Harrison Township MI, and we have been treating patients with overuse injuries since 2008. Occupation, sports, and other activities that can put an excessive amount of strain on the body have been the leading cause of these injuries. There are many treatments for these injuries, including physical therapy.

Contact Us For Physical Therapy Harrison Township MI