Mobility in Black Jack, MO. Our bodies are designed to be on the go. But sometimes, our bodies don’t work the way they should and it impedes us from the activities we love. While experiencing pain and other factors that affect mobility also have an impact on our emotional well-being, Axes Physical Therapy in Black Jack, MO offers treatment plans that have been proven to work and that are customized specifically to you and your needs. No matter if your mobility limitations are the result of acute trauma, a chronic condition, or an impairment in your musculoskeletal structure such as sciatica, begin your journey to optimal mobility and a pain-free daily life now by setting up a mobility and injury analysis with Axes today or calling the location nearest you.

The dictionary definition of mobility is, “the ability to move… freely and easily.” For some of us that is as simple as getting in and out of a chair without pain, while others need to get back to serving an ace on the tennis court. Whatever mobility means to you, if can’t complete the activities you want to speak with your doctor to see if physical therapy is the right choice for you.

Functional Mobility in Black Jack, MO

Functional mobility is the capacity one has to safely move around in their home environment. This includes simple tasks such as comfortably laying down in bed each night or walking up a flight of stairs. In general, there are three types of functional mobility:

1. Bed mobility — Your ability to scoot, roll, and get in and out of bed with ease.
2. Transfers — Your ability to switch between surfaces, for example from one chair to another.
3. Ambulation — Your ability to walk freely without the need of assistance. This also includes walking while being able to carry objects.

If you cannot currently complete some or all of the activities above without the aid of a person or assistive device, the Black Jack, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes are devoted to getting your freedom back. Whether the condition affecting you is a sports injuryan rotator cuff tear tear, arthritis or other joint pain, or even a a progressive disorder like Parkinson’s disease, we’ll develop a customized plan that safely and correctly helps you reach optimal mobility. Most treatment plans include strengthening, balance, and flexibility training. Our therapists are also specialists vestibular therapy to help with vestibular disorders that cause sensory dysfunction.

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

1. Complete independence, meaning you can achieve specific mobility thresholds without assistance and in a relatively normal amount of time
2. Modified independence, meaning you need a device such as a walker to complete the task
3. Stand-by assist, meaning you can complete the task independently but need someone to monitor you to prevent risk of injury
4. Minimal assistance, meaning you can do 75% or more while someone else does the rest
5. Moderate assistance, meaning you can perform about half of the work needed
6. Maximal assistance, meaning you can complete about 25% 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 Black Jack, MO, your customized treatment plan may include gradually taking you up through the seven levels, or at least to the highest level you are able to achieve. 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 comprehensive evaluation of your health to confirm that the exercises we use are safe for someone suffering from the same ailment you are.

Beyond Functional Mobility in Black Jack, MO

To be sure, many of us desire a higher level of movement health than just being to move between furniture pain-free. 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 Black Jack, MO family. At Axes, we offer comprehensive physical and occupational physical therapy that can help any individual achieve the activity level they desire. We also offer:

• Occupational therapy — Our Black Jack, MO occupational therapists are an essential part of getting you back to work after a work-related injury. We serve as an integral member of your workers’ compensation team so you can get back to helping our Black Jack, MO community and providing for your family as you want to. Our advanced work rehabilitation includes Functional Capacity Evaluations to ascertain if you can safely go back to work either fully or in some capacity.
• Sports therapy — The worst-case scenario for any athlete is a sudden pop or crack that keeps them off the field or court for anywhere from a couple weeks to a year. Our Black Jack, 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 also specialize in injury prevention to help you reduce the risk of having to go through an injury again.
• Pre/post surgical rehabilitation — Surgery makes anyone anxious. Whether your surgery is elective or medically necessary, we’ll work with your physician and surgeons to form a complete surgical team to help you feel confident in your treatment, and formulate a successful game plan to get the best possible outcome from your procedure.

Whatever the current level of mobility, and the level of improved mobility you desire, consult with your Black Jack, MO doctor about what physical therapy can do for you, or visit one of our locations for a no-risk, no-obligation injury screening from a professional physical or occupational therapist.

How a Physical Therapist in Black Jack, 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. Achieving proportionately strong muscles around joints is vital to preventing injury and reaching optimal movement health.
• Flexibility and range of motion — To achieve optimal movement health, our muscles, tendons, and other soft tissue need to be able to lengthen so that the joints they control and protect can function properly.
• Balance — Balance issues are usually caused by:
  • Problems with eyesight
  • A vestibular issue, or something in your inner ear
  • Your proprioceptive system, the receptors in our muscles that monitor length, tension, pressure and noxious stimuli

A professional physical therapist in Black Jack, MO will determine what is causing your mobility issues and develop a safe and effective treatment plan to improve your movement health. 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 teaching correct posture

If necessary, a physical therapist in Black Jack, MO can also fit you for medically accepted assistive devices including splints, braces, crutches, or canes in order to aid you in your mobility and reduce risk of injury.

How Physical Therapy in Black Jack, MO Helps Beyond Mobility

Physical therapy does more than just increase mobility. Your customized treatment plans:

• Pain relief, whether from an injury or pain that is chronic in nature without the need of prescription medications
• If applicable, the opportunity to avoid surgery by stimulating the body’s own healing methods
• Patient education, including physical therapy techniques you can do in the comfort of your own home with no risk to injury, injury prevention techniques, and the best postures for improved mobility
• Encouraging better physical health, carries with it the benefits of increased energy, decreases your risk of heart disease, helps control weight, improves your mood, and promotes better sleep

Other services we offer in Black Jack, 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 Black Jack, MO | Axes Physical Therapy

Whether you need hand therapy in order to make it easier for you to type, are in need of meaningful pain management for sciatica, or want to return to your active lifestyle following acute trauma, Axes’ team of licensed physical and occupational therapists is here to help you get back to the activities you love. We take a leads to positive patient outcomes. To restore the level of mobility you deserve, request an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today or call the location most convenient for you.