Mobility in Barnhart, MO. Our bodies are designed to to make walking and other movements easy. But sometimes, our mobility is impeded and it keeps us from doing what we love most. While experiencing pain and other factors that affect mobility also have an impact on our emotional well-being, Axes Physical Therapy in Barnhart, MO can provide you with safe, effective, and evidence-backed treatment plans that are tailored specifically to you, your age, and your desired activity level. Whether your mobility is limited because of an injury, a degenerative condition, or a musculoskeletal issue such as sciatica, take the first steps in optimal movement health and comfort as soon as possible by scheduling a mobility and injury analysis with Axes today or calling the the one of our 15 locations most convenient for you.

The one definition of mobility is, “the ability to move… freely and easily.” For some of us that looks like walking up the stairs comfortably, while others need to get back to making a diving catch in their softball league. Whatever you need to improve your movement health for, if you can’t live the life you want comfortable speak with a physician about professional physical therapy services.

Functional Mobility in Barnhart, MO

Functional mobility is the capacity one has to safely and efficiently get around their home. This can be anything from comfortably laying down in bed each night or carrying a cup of coffee to the living room and sitting on a chair. In general, there are three types of functional mobility:

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 — If you can walk on your own while having objects in your hands.

If you currently need assistance to be functionally mobile, the Barnhart, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes are devoted to helping you regain your independence. Whether you currently lack full functional mobility as a result of a sports injuryan rotator cuff tear tear, arthritis or other joint pain, or even a a progressive disorder like Parkinson’s disease, we’ll create a customized plan that safely and correctly helps you reach optimal mobility. We will guide you in strengthening, balance, and flexibility training. Our therapists are also experts vestibular therapy to help with vestibular disorders that cause dizziness and vertigo.

Barnhart, MO physical therapists often use the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) of seven levels to evaluate someone’s functional mobility:

1. Complete independence, meaning you are able to move in a certain way without risk of injury and without taking an excessive amount of time
2. Modified independence, meaning you need a device such as crutches to complete the task
3. Supervision, meaning you can perform the movement by yourself but need someone to monitor you to prevent risk of injury
4. Minimal assistance, meaning you can exert 75% of the effort needed to complete the task or more while someone else helps you the rest of the way
5. Moderate assistance, meaning you can perform about half of the work necessary
6. Maximal assistance, meaning you can put in a quarter of the work of the task independently
7. Total assistance or not testable, meaning you can complete less than 25% of the task, or that even testing whether or not you can do it carries the risk of injury

At Axes Physical Therapy in Barnhart, MO, your personalized treatment plan may include gradually allowing you more and more independence until you get the highest level you can. All of our methods are based on what research says works best for you, and your dedicated physical therapist will begin your mobility treatment with a thorough evaluation of your health to confirm that the treatment modalities we have in mind for you are safe for someone suffering from the same ailment you are.

Beyond Functional Mobility in Barnhart, MO

Of course, many of us desire a higher level of movement health than just walking up the stairs independently. There are corners to burn on the football field, fun activities to share with your family, and the occupational tasks of the job you perform every day so that you can earn a living for your Barnhart, MO family. At Axes, our occupational and physical therapists can help any individual achieve the activity level they desire. Our services also include:

• Occupational therapy — Our Barnhart, MO occupational therapists are essential to your return to work when an injury or condition does not allow you to carry out the tasks of your job. We serve as an integral member of your workers’ compensation team so you can get back to helping our Barnhart, MO community and providing for your family as you always have. Our advanced work rehabilitation includes Functional Capacity Evaluations to determine what activity level you can safely carry out.
• Sports therapy — The last thing any athlete wants to experience is a sudden fall or collision that keeps them off the field or court for anywhere from a couple weeks to a year. Our Barnhart, MO physical therapy team is experienced in helping 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 reduce the risk of having to go through an injury again.
• Pre/post surgical rehabilitation — Surgery is a complex and nerve-racking procedure for anyone. Whether your surgery is a matter of choice or a strong recommendation from a physician, we’ll team up with the doctors recommending and performing your surgery to give you piece of mind, and develop an effective strategy to restore optimal mobility.

However limited you currently are in your mobility, and lifestyle you are trying to get back to, consult with your Barnhart, MO doctor about what physical therapy can do for you, or come see us for a no-risk, no-obligation injury screening from a licensed physical or occupational therapist.

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

Our mobility is based on our strength, flexibility, range of motion, and balance:

• Strength — While physical therapy is effective at rebuilding and maintaining strength, it also ensures that no muscle is disproportionately strong or weak. Having equal muscle balance around joints is crucial in preventing injury and improving your mobility.
• Flexibility and range of motion — To reach the movement health and lifestyle we desire, our muscles, ligaments, and other soft tissue need to be able to lengthen so that the joints they control and protect can function properly.
• Balance — Frequent causes of balance issues include:
  • Problems with eyesight
  • A vestibular condition, or a problem in your inner ear
  • Your proprioceptive system, or the network between your sensory receptors and your nervous system

A clinically experienced physical therapist in Barnhart, MO will be able to identify the source of your limitations in mobility and develop a safe and effective treatment plan to get you back to the lifestyle you enjoy most. Beyond therapeutic strength, flexibility, and core exercises, other evidence-backed techniques may include:

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

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

How Physical Therapy in Barnhart, MO Helps Beyond Mobility

Physical therapy does more than just increase strength and flexibility. Your personalized treatment plans:

• Pain relief, whether from an injury or pain that is chronic in nature without the need of costly and potentially habit forming prescription drugs
• If applicable, the opportunity to avoid a surgical procedure by motivating your body to heal on its own
• Mobility education, including physical therapy techniques you can safely do at home, what you can do to prevent injuries, and correct posture
• Encouraging better physical health, carries with it the benefits of enhanced energy, decreases your odds of developing heart disease, helps control weight, improves your mood, and promotes better sleep

Other services we offer in Barnhart, MO include:

• Shin Splint Treatment
• Direct Access Physical Therapy
• Gait Analysis
• Pelvic Floor Therapy
• Dry Needling Near Me
• Tendonitis Treatment
• Manual Physical Therapy
• Orthopedic Rehab Near Me
• Beginner Running Program
• Chronic Pain Treatment

Mobility in Barnhart, MO | Axes Physical Therapy

Whether you are looking for hand therapy in order to make it easier for you to open jars, are looking for meaningful pain management for joint problems, or need to return to optimal movement health following a devastating injury, Axes’ team of licensed physical and occupational therapists will develop and implement the treatment plan that works best for you. We pride ourselves on our leads to positive patient outcomes. To get back your independence and active lifestyle, request an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today or call the location that works best for you.