Our treatment philosophy is directed toward returning the patient to their optional level of functioning, whether that be returning to work, the playing field or improving activities of daily living.

Acutely, treatment may be centered around care to control pain, swelling and inflammation. Modalities, gentle manual therapy and light exercises may be used. As your condition improves, your program progresses into the "corrective" phase. In this phase, aerobic conditioning, flexibility, and resistive exercises become the focus of your rehabilitation. We rely heavily on the patient's active involvement and patients are expected to follow their personalized program for work or home.
 

Our clinics welcome people with a wide variety of acute and chronic musculoskeletal diagnoses. Evidence suggests that prompt physical therapy intervention for acute conditions, such as back injuries, reduces recovery time and results in less time lost from work. Our approach to chronic conditions adopts active rehabilitative protocols that are well established in the scientific literature. Some conditions we successfully treat include:

Spinal dysfunction- research supports prompt physical therapy intervention in acute spinal injury; chronic spinal dysfunction is treated with specific exercises, general physical conditioning and traction when indicated. Your condition may also respond to the McKenzie Method or Mulligan Techniques.

Sprains and strains- prompt treatment of acute trauma is imperative to decrease pain and swelling - and consequently dysfunction - associated with injury; chronic sprains and strains benefit from proprioceptive training and muscle strengthening, which provides the body with the means to better protect itself.

Headaches- tension and cervicogenic headaches can improve significantly with proper physical therapy; even patients with migraine-type headaches often find relief from gentle exercise, postural awareness training, cervical traction, and manual therapy.

Foot pronation-related disorders- our modern foot orthosis casting technique and foot force plate analysis provide unparalleled arch support to block over-pronation and rehabilitate the numerous associated conditions such as plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonosis/tendonitis, retrocalcaneal bursitis, and chronic knee pain.

Osteoporosis- Aerobic conditioning, resistance exercise and weight-bearing exercise provide whole-body activity to promote healthy bones. In addition, postural exercises and breathing exercises have been demonstrated as effective.

Fibromyalgia- gentle, progressive aerobic conditioning and resistance exercise combined with stretching and manual therapy can aid a reduction in symptoms.

Osteoarthritis (OA)- it is well documented that as surrounding muscle strength increases, pain and dysfunction related to OA decrease at the corresponding joint; active strengthening exercises are the key to treating these patients.

Overuse syndromes- a variety of overuse or repetitive stress injuries such as tendonitis/bursitis at the knee, elbow, or shoulder, can benefit from modalities such as iontophoresis with the gradual increase of activity following strengthening and stretching programs.

Deconditioning- general muscle weakness that could impair activities of daily living or independence is a recognized diagnosis. Our programs strengthen weak muscles and improve patient's functional activity levels.

Postural dysfunction- selective strengthening and stretching combined with postural awareness training will correct postural abnormalities that lend themselves to disorders such as back and neck pain, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, and headaches. Ergonomic postural training may also be beneficial.

Pre/Post-operative orthopedic conditions- increasing patient conditioning prior to surgery (e.g., knee) better prepares patients for recovery; post-operative care optimizes outcomes by closely monitoring and treating common post-surgical complications such swelling, stiffness, muscle atrophy, and general deconditioning.

Urinary Incontinence- Bladder control problems may be significantly improved with physical therapy interventions such as pelvic floor muscle strengthening exercises, dietary and fluid modifications, biofeedback, and bladder retraining. In 1996, the Agency on Health Care Policy and Research cited such interventions as the recommended "first line" of treatment for urinary incontinence. Literature reveals a 54-87% success rate with this type of approach to the treatment of incontinence; we boast an 80-90% success rate amongst our patients.

Pelvic Floor Dysfunction- Conditions such as: pelvic pain, vulvodynia, dyspareunia (painful intercourse), coccydynia (painful tailbone), pelvic organ prolapse, and fecal incontinence are all amenable to physical therapy treatment. Patients are taught how to relax and coordinate their pelvic floor muscles for optimal function, and dietary factors and lifestyle habits that may be contributing to the problem are addressed as well. Research has shown success rates ranging from 50-90% for improvement of quality of life and pelvic muscle function.

Neurologic patients- Patients who have suffered neurologic damage can benefit from our program which focuses on helping individuals regain the ability to better perform function tasks including: walking, stair climbing, bathing, and dressing. These individuals may also benefit from our specially designed Balance and Fall Prevention Program.
 

We accept most major insurance plans including Worker's Comp and Auto carriers. The following is a partial list of specific insurance plans.
 

Simply call the office manager at the First Choice location which is most convenient to you. The office manager will be happy to answer any questions you may have such as insurance questions or facility hours.
 

Your first visit will last 1-1½ hours. Please bring or wear loose-fitting garments such as a tank top and shorts, baggy t-shirt, or sweat pants without elastic bottoms. You will need to arrive at least 20-25 minutes early to allow time complete pain and function surveys. Please turn off cellular phones and pagers upon arrival to maximize efficient use of your time at the clinic.

You will want to bring the following:

• New Patient Form.
• Written referral for physical therapy.
• Appropriate insurance authorization (if necessary).
• Any applicable co-payments
• Change of clothes (if not already wearing loose-fitting clothes)
• Any x-ray or MRI interpretations from recent tests (no need to bring the actual images)

The evaluation will mostly occur in a private, comfortable examination room. The physical assessment will be through and will begin by discussing your medical history, onset of the problem, and lifestyle and work-related habits. Please know the names of the medications you are currently taking.

The next portion of the exam will include posture and movement assessment, special test, and palpation of specific structures related to your complaint in an effort to determine the cause of the problem.

After the examination, the physical therapist, will discuss with you what the problem is and describe your plan of treatment.