Mobility in Kirkwood, MO. Our bodies are meant to to make walking and other movements easy. But sometimes, we sustain an injury or other condition that impedes us from the activities we love. While that loss of physical mobility can affect our mental health as well, Axes Physical Therapy in Kirkwood, MO can provide you with solutions that have been proven to be successful and that are built specifically to you, your age, and your desired activity level. No matter if your mobility is limited because of an injury, a chronic condition, or an impairment in your musculoskeletal structure such as sciatica, start on the road back to your best possible movement health and meaningful pain relief as soon as possible by setting up a free evaluation with Axes today or calling the the one of our multiple locations most convenient for you.

The one definition of mobility is, “the ability to move… freely and easily.” For some people that may mean picking up their kids without pain, while others need to get back to serving an ace on the tennis court. Whatever it means to you, if your mobility is severely restricted speak with a physician to see if physical therapy is the right choice for you.

Functional Mobility in Kirkwood, MO

Functional mobility is the capacity one has to safely get around their home. This includes anything from moving around in bed or getting in and out of the shower safely. In general, functional mobility can be broken down into three categories:

1. Bed mobility — Your ability to comfortably move around in bed, including rolling, scooting, sitting up, and lying down.
2. Transfers — Whether or not you are able to move from one place to another, for example from one chair to another.
3. Ambulation — Whether or not you can walk, and can do so while carrying things.

If you cannot currently complete some or all of the activities above without a person or assistive device helping you, the Kirkwood, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes are committed to helping you restore your autonomy. Whether the condition affecting you is a knee injury, arthritis or other joint pain, or even a degenerative condition like Parkinson’s disease, we’ll develop a customized plan that has been proven to help people like you return to optimal movement health. We will guide you in strengthening, balance, and flexibility training. We also offer vestibular therapy for people who have a debilitating vestibular disorder.

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

1. Complete independence, meaning you can complete a specified task safely and in a timely manner
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 close by for safety
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 50% of the work needed
6. Maximal assistance, meaning you can complete about 25% of the task without assistance
7. Total assistance or not testable, meaning you are unable to put in 25% of the work required, or that the activity is not safe to test

At Axes Physical Therapy in Kirkwood, MO, your customized treatment plan may include safely allowing you more and more independence until you get the highest level you can. All of our treatment plans are based on what research says can improve your mobility, and your dedicated physical therapist will begin your mobility treatment with a thorough evaluation of your health to confirm that the treatment modalities we use are safe for someone in your exact condition.

Beyond Functional Mobility in Kirkwood, MO

Obviously, many of us desire a higher level of movement health than just being to move between furniture pain-free. There are pickleball leagues to dominate, fun activities to share with your family, and the vocational tasks you need to perform every day in order to provide for your Kirkwood, MO family. At Axes, we offer comprehensive physical and occupational physical therapy that can help any athlete, worker, or family member achieve the activity level they desire. Our services also include:

• Occupational therapy — Our Kirkwood, 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 contributing to our Kirkwood, MO community and supporting your family the best way you can. Our advanced work rehabilitation includes Functional Capacity Evaluations to determine if you can safely go back to work either fully or in some capacity.
• Sports therapy — Every athletes worst nightmare is an unexpected injury that keeps them off the field or court for weeks, months, or longer. If you suffer an ACL tear, rotator cuff tear, or other sports injury, Axes Physical Therapy in Kirkwood, MO will help you regain your mobility and get you back on the field or court as soon as is safely possible. 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 elective or medically necessary, we’ll work with your physician and surgeons to form a complete surgical team to ease your worry, and develop a successful game plan to restore optimal mobility.

However limited you currently are in your mobility, and the level of movement health you desire, consult with your Kirkwood, MO doctor about whether they think getting you a prescription for physical therapy is right for you, or come see us for a free injury screening from a qualified physical or occupational therapist.

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

Our mobility is based on 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. Having proportionately strong muscles around joints is vital to 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 at their highest level.
• Balance — Frequent causes of balance issues include:
  • Problems with vision
  • A vestibular issue, or a problem 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 Kirkwood, MO will be able to identify the source of your limitations in mobility and come up with a safe and effective treatment plan to improve your movement health. 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 correct posture education

If necessary, a physical therapist in Kirkwood, MO can also create custom 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 Kirkwood, MO Helps Beyond Mobility

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

• Pain relief, whether from an injury or pain that is chronic in nature without having to use costly and potentially habit forming prescription drugs
• In some cases, the potential to avoid surgery by motivating your body to heal on its own
• Movement health 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 the best postures for improved mobility
• Encouraging you to maintain an active lifestyle, which leads to increased energy, decreases your risk of heart disease, contributes to a healthy weight, makes you feel better, and encourages your body to get a full 8 hours of sleep

Other services we offer in Kirkwood, MO include:

• Stroke Rehabilitation
• Hip Replacement Physical Therapy
• Workers Comp' Physical Therapy
• Migraine Relief
• Sprain and Strain Treatment
• Geriatric Physical Therapy
• Injury Rehabilitation
• Pain Management Services
• TMJ Treatment
• Herniated Disc Treatment

Mobility in Kirkwood, 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 joint problems, or want to get back on the field after a sports injury, Axes’ team of licensed physical and occupational therapists will develop and implement the treatment plan that works best for you. 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.