Mobility in Festus, MO. Our bodies are meant to move. But sometimes, our bodies don’t work the way they should and it keeps us from the activities we love. While losing your independence because of losing your mobility can affect our mental health as well, Axes Physical Therapy in Festus, MO can implement safe, effective, and evidence-backed solutions that are customized specifically to getting you back to the life you want to live. No matter if your mobility limitations are the result of an injury, a disease, or an impairment in your musculoskeletal structure such as sciatica, take the first steps in your best possible mobility and meaningful pain relief now by requesting a mobility and injury analysis with Axes today or calling the the one of our multiple locations nearest you.

The dictionary definition of mobility is, “the ability to move… freely and easily.” For some of us that looks like walking up the stairs without pain, while for others it may mean making a diving catch in their softball league. Whatever you need to improve your movement health for, if your mobility is severely restricted speak with a physician about professional physical therapy services.

Functional Mobility in Festus, MO

Functional mobility is the capacity one has to safely and efficiently move around in their home environment. This can be simple tasks such as getting in and out of bed or getting in and out of the shower safely. In general, functional mobility is typically though of in three different ways:

1. Bed mobility — Your ability to easily move around in bed, including rolling, scooting, sitting up, and lying down.
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 complete basic tasks, the Festus, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes are devoted to helping you restore your independence. Whether the condition affecting you is an ACL tear, arthritis or other joint pain, or even a a progressive disorder like Parkinson’s disease, we’ll guide you through your journey to optimal mobility. Part of your treatment will likely be simple and safe strengthening, balance, and flexibility training. We also offer vestibular therapy for people who have a debilitating vestibular disorder.

Festus, MO physical therapists often utilize the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) of seven levels to determine someone’s functional mobility:

1. Complete independence, meaning you can achieve specific mobility thresholds without assistance and without taking an excessive amount of time
2. Modified independence, meaning you need a device such as a walker to complete the task
3. Supervision, meaning you can perform the movement independently but need someone to monitor you for safety
4. Minimal assistance, meaning you can exert 75% of the effort needed to complete the task or more while a physical therapist does the rest
5. Moderate assistance, meaning you can exert 50% of the effort necessary
6. Maximal assistance, meaning you can complete about 25% 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 could lead to you becoming hurt

At Axes Physical Therapy in Festus, MO, your personalized treatment plan may include gradually taking you from the first level to the highest level you are able to achieve. All of our treatment plans 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 confirm that the treatment modalities we use are safe for someone in your exact condition.

Beyond Functional Mobility in Festus, MO

To be sure, many of us desire a higher level of movement health than just walking up the stairs independently. There are doubles to hit in your softball league, your pets to pick up, and the physical demands of the job you perform every day in order to put food on the table for your Festus, MO family. At Axes, our occupational and physical therapists can help any athlete, worker, or family member reach the optimal movement health they need to get back to the activities they love. We also offer:

• Occupational therapy — Our Festus, MO occupational therapists are essential to your return to work when an injury or condition limits the mobility needed to to do your hob. We serve as an integral member of your workers’ compensation team so you can get back to helping our Festus, 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 — The last thing anyone who loves playing sports wants to experience is an unexpected fall or collision that keeps them off the field or court for weeks, months, or longer. Our Festus, 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 also specialize in 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 team up with the doctors recommending and performing your surgery to help you feel confident in your treatment, and develop a proven plan of action to restore optimal mobility.

Whatever the current level of mobility, and lifestyle you are trying to get back to, consult with your Festus, MO doctor about what physical therapy can do for you, or come see us for a no-obligation injury screening from a professional physical or occupational therapist.

How a Physical Therapist in Festus, 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 helps to make sure no muscle is stronger or weaker than it should be in relation to the muscles around it. Achieving equal muscle balance around joints is essential in preventing injury and reaching optimal movement health.
• Flexibility and range of motion — To improve our mobility to the highest level we can, 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 commonly caused by:
  • Vision issues
  • 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 professional physical therapist in Festus, MO will determine what is causing your limitations in mobility and develop a safe and effective treatment plan to get you back to the activities you love. Beyond restorative 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 good posture education

If your doctor and therapy team agree, a physical therapist in Festus, MO can also create custom medically accepted assistive devices including splints, braces, crutches, or canes in order to best facilitate movement.

How Physical Therapy in Festus, 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 reach optimal movement health, you’ll also see the following benefits:

• Pain relief for both acute and chronic conditions without needing to depend on costly and potentially habit forming prescription drugs
• In some cases, the opportunity to avoid surgery by encouraging the body’s natural way of healing itself
• Movement health education, including physical therapy techniques 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 odds of developing cardiovascular disease, helps control weight, makes you feel better, and promotes better sleep

Other services we offer in Festus, 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 Festus, 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 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 take 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 reach out to the location that works best for you.