Mobility in Affton, MO. Our bodies are built to move. But sometimes, our bodies don’t work the way they should and it prevents us from the activities we love. While that loss of physical mobility can affect our mental health as well, Axes Physical Therapy in Affton, MO can provide you with safe, effective, and evidence-backed solutions that are built specifically to getting you back to the life you want to live. No matter if your mobility limitations are the result of acute trauma, a degenerative condition, or an impairment in your musculoskeletal structure such as sciatica, take the first steps in optimal movement health and meaningful pain relief now by scheduling a mobility and injury analysis with Axes today or calling the location nearest you.

The dictionary defines mobility as, “the ability to move… freely and easily.” For some Affton, MO residents that may mean walking up the stairs comfortably, while others need to get back to making a diving catch in their softball league. Whatever mobility means to you, if can’t complete the activities you want to speak with a physician to see if physical therapy is the right choice for you.

Functional Mobility in Affton, MO

Functional mobility refers to a person’s ability to complete basic tasks. This can be anything from moving around in bed or walking up a flight of stairs. Fundamentally, functional mobility is typically though of in three different ways:

1. Bed mobility — Your ability to scoot, roll, and get in and out of bed comfortably.
2. Transfers — Your ability to switch between places, for example from a chair, bed, or sofa to another.
3. Ambulation — Whether or not you can walk, and can do so while carrying things.

If you currently need assistance to be functionally mobile, the Affton, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes are committed to getting your self-sufficiency back. Whether you currently lack full functional mobility due to a sports injuryan rotator cuff tear tear, arthritis or other joint pain, or even a degenerative condition like Parkinson’s disease, we’ll guide you through your journey to optimal mobility. We will guide you in strengthening, balance, and flexibility movements. We also offer vestibular therapy to help with vestibular disorders that cause sensory dysfunction.

The seven level Functional Independence Measure (FIM) is the staple of how to evaluate functional mobility in Affton, MO:

1. Complete independence, meaning you can achieve specific mobility thresholds safely and in a timely manner
2. Modified independence, meaning you need a device such as a cane to complete the task
3. Stand-by assist, meaning you can complete the task by yourself but need someone close by to prevent risk of injury
4. Minimal assistance, meaning you can do 75% or more while someone else helps you the rest of the way
5. Moderate assistance, meaning you can perform about half of the work needed
6. Maximal assistance, meaning you can put in a quarter of the work of the task yourself
7. Total assistance or not testable, meaning you are unable to put in 25% of the effort required, or that the activity is not safe to test

At Axes Physical Therapy in Affton, MO, your personalized treatment plan may include gradually taking you up through the seven levels, or at least to the highest level possible. All of our methods are proven to be safe and effective through extensive clinical studies, and your dedicated physical therapist will begin your mobility treatment with a comprehensive evaluation of your health to ensure that the treatment modalities we use are safe for someone suffering from the same ailment you are.

Beyond Functional Mobility in Affton, MO

Obviously, many of us desire a higher level of movement health than just being to move between furniture without assistance. There are doubles to hit in your softball league, your children to pick up, and the job-related tasks you need to carry out every day in order to provide for your Affton, MO family. At Axes, we offer comprehensive physical and occupational physical therapy that can help any individual improve mobility they need to get back to the activities they love. We also offer:

• Occupational therapy — Our Affton, MO occupational therapists are vital to your recovery when an injury or condition limits the mobility needed to to do your hob. We team up with you and your physician, insurance carrier, attorney and employer so you can get back to helping our Affton, MO community and providing for your family the best way you can. Our advanced work rehabilitation includes Functional Capacity Evaluations to determine what functional capacities you are capable of.
• Sports therapy — The last thing anyone who loves playing sports wants to experience is a sudden fall or collision that keeps them off the field or court for weeks, months, or longer. Our Affton, MO physical therapy team knows how to help those who are sidelined because of ACL tears, rotator cuff tears, and a variety of other injuries. Our Certified Athletic Trainers are big believers in teaching injury prevention to help you avoid re-injury.
• Pre/post surgical rehabilitation — Surgery and your recovery from it are delicate matters that make anyone nervous. Whether your surgery is a matter of choice or a strong recommendation from a physician, we’ll work with your physician and surgeons to form a complete surgical team to ease your worry, and develop an effective plan of action to get the best possible outcome from your procedure.

Whatever the current level of mobility, and lifestyle you are trying to get back to, consult with your Affton, MO doctor about whether they think getting you a prescription for physical therapy is right for you, or come see us for a complimentary injury screening from a qualified physical or occupational therapist.

How a Physical Therapist in Affton, MO Can Help Improve Your Mobility

The four determinants of mobility are our strength, flexibility, range of motion, and balance:

• Strength — While physical therapy can help rebuild muscle after an injury and slow the weakening of muscles as we age, it also ensures that no muscle is disproportionately strong or weak. Surrounding our joints with healthy and equally strong muscles is imperative in preventing injury and improving your mobility.
• Flexibility and range of motion — To achieve optimal movement health, not only do our muscles need to have the strength to control bones, but our muscles, ligaments, and other soft tissue need to be able to lengthen, and our joints need to be able to perform a wide variety of movements.
• Balance — Frequent causes of balance issues include:
  • Problems with eyesight
  • A vestibular issue, or something in your inner ear
  • Your proprioceptive system, the sense of awareness ingrained in our muscles and joints

An experienced physical therapist in Affton, MO will find the root of your mobility issues and develop a safe and effective treatment plan to get you back to the activities you love. In addition to restorative strength, flexibility, and core exercises, We can help you improve your mobility with:

• Soft tissue mobilization
• Kinesio Taping®
• Trigger point dry needling
• Blood flow restriction training
• Posture correction and good posture education

If your doctor and therapy team agree, a physical therapist in Affton, MO can also create custom medically accepted assistive devices including splints, braces, crutches, or canes in order to help you achieve the best possible mobility.

How Physical Therapy in Affton, MO Helps Beyond Mobility

The benefits of physical therapy go beyond just getting around easier, getting back to work, or getting back on the field. As we work to improve your movement health, you’ll also enjoy:

• Pain relief, whether from an injury or pain that is chronic in nature without needing to depend on costly and potentially habit forming prescription drugs
• If applicable, the opportunity to avoid a surgical procedure by stimulating the body’s own healing methods
• Patient education, including exercises you can safely do at home, what you can do to prevent injuries, and the best postures for improved mobility
• Encouraging you to maintain an active lifestyle, which leads to enhanced energy, decreases your risk of heart disease, helps control weight, makes you feel better, and promotes better sleep

Other services we offer in Affton, MO include:

• Physical Therapy Clinic
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treatment
• Sciatica Treatment
• Sports Medicine
• Hand Pain Physical Therapy
• Foot & Ankle Pain Treatment
• Hip Pain Treatment
• Plantar Fasciitis Treatment
• Stroke Rehabilitation
• Hip Replacement Physical Therapy

Mobility in Affton, MO | Axes Physical Therapy

Whether you are looking for hand therapy in order to make it easier for you to do basic things around the house, are in need of meaningful pain management for sciatica, or need to return to optimal movement health following a devastating injury, Axes’ team of licensed physical and occupational therapists is here to help you get back to the activities you love. We pride ourselves on our an approach that focuses on personalized treatment. To restore the level of mobility you deserve, request an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today or call the location that works best for you.