At Northern Physical Therapy our goal is to provide the latest and most innovative techniques in patient care.  We offer a variety of treatments for many different conditions.  Patients can take advantage of the following:
 

Aquatic Therapy	Fitness Program
Functional Restoration	Neuro-Muscular Re-education
Manual Therapy	Spinal Dysfunction Therapy
	Pelvic Floor

Aquatic Therapy

When a patient’s progress on land is slow or unsuccessful, aquatic therapy can help get them moving in the right direction. It is especially beneficial in treating:

• Arthritis

• Injuries to the neck, shoulder, low back, knee or ankle

• Rehabilitation following surgery

• Chronic pain

• Muscle spasms

• Fibromyalgia

• Bone Fracture

The warmth of the water helps relax muscles and increases blood flow to injured areas. The buoyancy that water provides during aquatic therapy helps patients with mobility, promotes movement and permits greater comfort.

Water also offers resistance for exercising to build strength with less pain and is a perfect environment for no-impact aerobic activity.

Aquatic Therapy:

• Accelerates rehabilitation from surgery or injury

• Protects joints during exercise

• Reduces stress on joints and muscles

• Increases strength and endurance

• Increases range of motion and flexibility

• Improves balance and coordination

• Increases muscle tone

• Improves core stability

Water sessions and the equipment used are designed to meet the individual patient’s needs. Patients are never left unattended while in the pool and do not need to know how to swim.

SwimEx Pool
The state-of-the-art SwimEx therapeutic, temperature controlled pool in our Sparta office features resistant current. This variable resistance is an added benefit in treating a wide variety of conditions, from severe arthritis to sports injuries.

We offer Aquatic Therapy at our Sparta, and Grant locations and are happy to answer any questions you have regarding this special program of treatment.

As with any program of therapy, patients should consult their physician before beginning an aquatic therapy program.

Pool Classes
For patients who wish to continue building strength after a therapy program is complete, or for anyone who wants a great way to exercise, we offer year-round pool classes at our Grant location.

Fitness Pool Classes are led by a trained exercise instructor and participants do not have to know how to swim. The six-week long, two sessions per week classes are designed to build flexibility, strength and cardio-vascular fitness, all with less stress on joints.  Many of our former patients appreciate being able to exercise in a familiar setting with staff they already know and especially enjoy using the pool in the winter months.

Fitness Program

We also conduct our Fitness Program at all of our five locations. Patients may return to Northern after completing therapy to continue exercising and building strength. They use equipment they’re already comfortable with in a familiar environment. This makes the transition to an independent exercise program less threatening and increases the patient’s compliance after being discharged from physical therapy.

We offer low monthly rates for those who are independent in their exercise program, as well as reasonable daily fees for patients who require one-on-one assistance. Join us for:

• Expert supervision and advice

• Programs of exercise designed especially for you by professionals who have a keen understanding of how the human body functions

• An array of equipment you won’t find in a typical fitness club

• Familiar faces

• Fun, friendly atmosphere

If you want to get fit, come to Northern Physical Therapy Services. We’ll get you moving in the right direction.

Functional Restoration

People often experience loss of function following an injury or surgery. They may also unknowingly create additional problems for themselves by overcompensating or favoring the site. Functional Restoration and Retraining helps patients regain independence and reduce the risk of flare up in symptoms. Therapies are focused on exercises and education to help restore function and allow patients to resume normal activities at home, at work or on the playing field.

As trained therapists, we are able to break down functional tasks into their component parts and offer treatment accordingly.  As we work with the patient, we give ongoing verbal and tactile cueing, adding increased challenge as he or she progresses.

The rehab process typically consists of:

Functional Activities (exercises or dynamic activities) center on improving balance, coordination and strength in multiple joints and for multi-directional movement. Examples are:

• Physioball training and stabilization

• Dynamic Lumbar Stabilization

• Step downs

• Squats

• Lifting

• Overhead reaching

• Plyometrics

• Posture activities and body mechanics

As with other therapies, education is a key element in returning patients to full health. Our goal is to teach patients how to incorporate these exercises into their everyday activities to help reduce fatigue and stress on their muscles, joints and soft tissues for a lifetime.

Neuro-muscular Re-education

When a source of impairment leads to altered ”dominance patterns” of working muscles, people tend to overuse certain muscles and under-use others. This can lead to further dysfunction and injury.

We can help patients retrain their neuromuscular systems. We begin by assessing any faulty movement patterns then work with them on a combination of:

• Facilitory and Inhibitory Muscle techniques

• Balance and Coordination training

• Core Stabilization

• Dynamic Lumbar Stabilization

• Scapular Stabilization

• VMO re-training

• Sensory Motor balance training

• Cervical Stabilization

Education is critical. Patients must understand the concepts of how muscles are used if they are to be successful.

We put the patient in control by showing them how to avoid movements that produce pain and how to recruit specific muscles and use correct postural positions in everyday activities.

Manual Therapy

At NPTS, we use a variety of manual techniques to relieve pain, build strength, improve circulation and increase patients’ mobility.

Joint Mobilization is used when articular structures (ligaments, capsules, adhesions) limit motion. Our therapists produce the arthrokinematic slide or “mobilization” that occurs with normal motion. Techniques are graded using the Maitland scale and the therapist is able to vary the grade based on acuity and treatment goals. A Grade I mobilization can be performed immediately following surgery; a Grade IV is often used to work on range of motion in combination with active motion. Restoring joint mobility early in the treatment process will result in the patient’s quicker return to full motion.

Musculoskeletal imbalances can cause back and referring pain, resulting in limited function. Muscle Energy Techniques use the body’s muscles to generate force and correct joint and spinal dysfunction. The technique also helps strengthen the musculature, allowing patients to maintain proper alignment over time.

Mulligan Mobilizations are a gentle, pain-free mobilization with movement technique brings immediate relief and increased functional motion. They are performed with the patient bearing weight or posed in functional postures. Patients take an active role moving through available motions as the therapist mobilizes the restricted joint.

Trigger Point Release involves applying sustained pressure to the trigger point with enough force and time to slow the blood supply and force tension out of the muscle and soft tissue. The patient can be put in a comfortable, relaxed position and experiences little or no pain. Patients notice greater muscle flexibility, less weakness and increased proprioception.

Soft Tissue Release is a hands-on technique using low grade but sustained pressure on tissues. By elongating the fascial system using a series of releases, tissues become soft and pliable. Results are improved strength, motion and coordination. This manual therapy technique is used for spine and extremity dysfunction. It is often used in combination with joint mobilization and muscular re-education.

Trauma, scarring, poor postures or inflammation can create soft tissue restrictions resulting in a binding affect which can increase pressure on the nerves, muscle, blood vessels and organs.

Strain and Counter Strain is an indirect technique that places the muscle in a shortened/slackened position and allows the muscle to restore a normal firing rate. It is safe and gentle and can be used with a wide variety of patients.

Cross Friction Technique employs deep perpendicular pressure across muscles or tendon groups, is used to increase circulation, nutrition, muscle relaxation and scar remodeling.

Neural Tension Testing assesses peripheral nerve involvement caused by post-op or traumatic scarring, sciatica or nerve sheath entrapment. The therapist uses Neural Glides to gently mobilize rather than stretch neural tissues. Neural gliding flosses the nerve within the sheath to restore neural mobility, decrease adhesions and dramatically reduce symptoms.

Spinal Dysfunction

At NPTS, we believe that educating patients about their spines is key to successful recovery and prevention of re-injury later. We are realistic and know that no one can use perfect postures all of the time, but improving some postures will result in drastic improvements in perceived discomfort and a decline in repetitive neck and back strain.

Neck and Back
Neck and back related pain and dysfunction can be very limiting and frustrating. We treat many spine conditions:

• Mechanical pain—facet dysfunction

• Myositis—muscle inflammation or spasm

• Arthritis

• Stenosis

• Strain/sprain—muscle/ligament

• Discogenic/derangement

• Postural dysfunction

• Radiculopathy

• Fibromyalgia

• Post-operative spine treatment

• Laminectomy

• Discectomy

• Spinal fusion

• Anterior cervical fusion

We take an all encompassing approach in treating spine dysfunctions starting with a complete evaluation. Therapies and education are a combination of: 

• Dynamic Lumbar/Cervical Stabilization and Core Stabilization*

• Repetitive movement exercises and the McKenzie approach**

• Soft Tissue Mobilization

• Muscle energy

• Strain-counter strain

• Trigger point release

• Joint Mobilization

• Mobilization with Movement

• Segmental Facet Mobilization

• Posture re-education

• Functional training to protect the spine from daily hazards of lifting, reaching, pushing/pulling

• Flexibility and strengthening exercises

• Taping and Bio-feedback for neuromuscular re-education

• Aquatic therapy

• Return to work training and work conditioning

Post-Operative Therapy
Patients who undergo spine surgeries often benefit from therapy to assist in a quicker return to full function and resolution of symptoms. After spine surgery, we provide specific treatment based on the surgeon’s guidelines. We emphasize early re-activation of core muscles even when mobility must be kept limited. Our treatments include techniques to restore strength, flexibility, stability and function. We also perform and teach pain control techniques to assist the patient in performing daily activities with less pain, improved blood flow and accelerated tissue healing.

*Dynamic Lumbar Stabilization (DLS) is a functional approach to treating low back pain and spine dysfunctions. A stable core not only benefits the back, but it also enables the extremities to move, balance and function optimally. DLS focuses on recruiting and strengthening core muscles of the deep abdomen wall, low back and pelvic floor, providing patients with a natural “corset” which stabilizes and protects the trunk and spine.  Once learned, DLS gives the patient the tools to manage their various symptoms independently and prevent further damage during functional activities.

**We offer the McKenzie assessment and treatment approach of spine disorders, which is much more than just back extension exercises. Posture is a focus in each of the three McKenzie classification syndromes. Repeated movements are used to control symptoms. If the response is favorable, but not complete, manual techniques are added to bring about full recovery. The McKenzie approach gives accurate assessment of the condition, quick relief from pain and return to normal daily functioning. The plan of care is designed to reduce the risk of future episodes through patient education on self-management.

 

A person flexes his or her spine about 4,000 times per day.  If we can help patients improve postures by 25%, it will affect 1,000 movements every day.