Mobility in Clearwater, MO. Our bodies are designed to to make walking and other movements easy. But sometimes, our bodies don’t work the way they should 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 Clearwater, MO can provide you with treatment plans that have been proven to work and that are built specifically to getting you back to the life you want to live. Regardless of whether your mobility is limited because of an injury, a chronic condition, or a musculoskeletal problem such as sciatica, start on the road back to your best possible movement health and a pain-free daily life as soon as possible by requesting an appointment with Axes today or calling the location nearest you.

The one definition of mobility is, “the ability to move… freely and easily.” For some Clearwater, MO residents that may mean rolling over in bed comfortably, while others need to get back to making a diving catch in their softball league. Whatever it means to you, if can’t complete the activities you want to speak with your doctor about professional physical therapy services.

Functional Mobility in Clearwater, MO

Functional mobility is the capacity one has to safely and efficiently get around their home. This includes anything from getting in and out of bed or carrying a cup of coffee to another room and sitting down. In general, functional mobility can be broken down into three categories:

1. Bed mobility — Your ability to scoot, roll, and get in and out of bed comfortably.
2. Transfers — Whether or not you are able to switch between surfaces, for example from one chair to another.
3. Ambulation — If you can walk on your own while having objects in your hands.

While the injury or condition affecting your functional mobility may mean that you currently rely on assistance in order to operate in your daily life, the Clearwater, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes are committed to helping you regain your independence. Whether you currently lack full functional mobility as a result of a knee injury, arthritis or other joint pain, or even a a progressive disorder like Parkinson’s disease, we’ll guide you through your journey to the best possible movement health. Most treatment plans include strengthening, balance, and flexibility movements. Our therapists are also experts vestibular therapy for people who have a debilitating vestibular disorder.

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

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 can perform specific movements but only with an assistive device
3. Supervision, meaning you can perform the movement 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 helps you the rest of the way
5. Moderate assistance, meaning you can exert half of the effort necessary
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 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 Clearwater, 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 based on what research says can improve your mobility, and at your first appointment with your professional physical therapist, they will perform a comprehensive evaluation of your health to ensure 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 Clearwater, MO

Of course, many of us desire a higher level of movement health than just being to move between furniture independently. There are doubles to hit in your softball league, fun activities to share with your family, and the occupational tasks of the job you carry out every day so that you can earn a living for your Clearwater, MO family. At Axes, we offer comprehensive physical and occupational physical therapy that can help any individual reach the optimal movement health they need to get back to the activities they love. We also offer:

• Occupational therapy — Our Clearwater, MO occupational therapists are essential to your recovery 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 Clearwater, MO community and supporting your family as you always have. Our advanced work rehabilitation includes Functional Capacity Evaluations to ascertain what functional capacities you are capable of.
• Sports therapy — Every athletes worst nightmare is an unexpected pop or crack that keeps them off the field or court for weeks, months, or longer. Our Clearwater, 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 can also educate you on the specifics of 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 develop a proven plan of action to restore optimal mobility.

However limited you currently are in your mobility, and the level of improved mobility you desire, consult with your Clearwater, MO doctor about whether they think getting you a prescription for physical therapy is right for you, or come see us for a no-risk, no-obligation injury screening from a professional physical or occupational therapist.

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

The four tenets of mobility are 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. Surrounding our joints with healthy and equally strong muscles is essential in preventing injury and improving your mobility.
• Flexibility and range of motion — To achieve optimal movement health, our muscles, ligaments, and other soft tissue need to be able to lengthen so that the joints they control and protect can function at their highest level.
• Balance — Problems with balance are typically due to:
  • Problems with eyesight
  • A vestibular condition, or a problem in your inner ear
  • Your proprioceptive system, the receptors in our muscles that monitor length, tension, pressure and noxious stimuli

A licensed physical therapist in Clearwater, MO will find the root of your limitations in mobility and come up with a safe and effective treatment plan to get you back to the activities you love. Beyond 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 required, a physical therapist in Clearwater, 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 Clearwater, 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. Your evidence-based treatment plans:

• Pain relief, whether from an injury or pain that is chronic in nature without the need of prescription medications
• In some cases, the potential to avoid a surgical procedure by stimulating the body’s natural way of healing itself
• Mobility education, including exercises you can do in the comfort of your own home with no risk to injury, what you can do to prevent injuries, and correct posture
• Encouraging you to maintain an active lifestyle, which leads to enhanced energy, decreases your odds of developing cardiovascular disease, contributes to a healthy weight, improves your mood, and encourages your body to get a full 8 hours of sleep

Other services we offer in Clearwater, 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 Clearwater, MO | Axes Physical Therapy

Whether you are looking for hand therapy in order to make it easier for you to type, are in need of meaningful pain management for arthritis, 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 employ a 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 nearest for you.