Mobility in Manchester, MO. Our bodies are built to move. But sometimes, we sustain an injury or other condition that keeps us from our favorite activities, or even just being able to carry out or daily live pain-free. While losing your independence because of losing your mobility can affect our mental health as well, Axes Physical Therapy in Manchester, MO offers treatment plans that have been proven to get results and that are built specifically to getting you back to the life you want to live. Whether your mobility limitations are the result of acute trauma, a chronic condition, or an impairment in your musculoskeletal skeleton such as sciatica, begin your journey to optimal mobility and meaningful pain relief as soon as possible by setting up an appointment with Axes today or calling the the one of our multiple locations most convenient for you.

The dictionary defines mobility as, “the ability to move… freely and easily.” For some Manchester, MO residents that looks like getting in and out of a chair comfortably, while for others it may mean sprinting down the basketball court on a fast break. Whatever mobility means to you, if you can’t live the life you want pain-free speak with your doctor to see if physical therapy is the right choice for you.

Functional Mobility in Manchester, MO

Functional mobility refers to a person’s ability to safely and efficiently get around their home. This includes simple tasks such as rolling over in bed or getting in and out of the shower safely. Fundamentally, there are three types of functional mobility:

1. Bed mobility — Whether or not you are able to to comfortably move around in bed, including rolling, scooting, sitting up, and lying down.
2. Transfers — Your ability to move from one surface to a different one, for example from a chair, bed, or sofa 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 Manchester, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes are dedicated to helping you restore your self-sufficiency. Whether your currently limited functional mobility was caused by a sports injuryan rotator cuff tear tear, arthritis or other joint pain, or even a degenerative condition like Parkinson’s disease, we’ll implement a personalized plan that safely and correctly helps you reach the best possible movement health. Part of your treatment will likely be simple and safe strengthening, balance, and flexibility movements. Our therapists are also experts vestibular therapy for people who have a debilitating vestibular disorder.

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

1. Complete independence, meaning you can move in a certain way safely and in a timely manner
2. Modified independence, meaning you need a device such as a cane to complete the task
3. Supervision, meaning you can perform the movement independently but need someone standing by to prevent risk of injury
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 half of the effort 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 a quarter of the effort required, or that even testing whether or not you can do it is not safe

At Axes Physical Therapy in Manchester, 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 at your first appointment with your professional physical therapist, they will perform a comprehensive examination of your health to verify that the exercises we have in mind for you are safe for someone suffering from the same ailment you are.

Beyond Functional Mobility in Manchester, MO

Of course, many of us desire a higher level of movement health than just being to move between furniture independently. There are pickleball leagues to dominate, fun activities to share with your family, and the occupational tasks of the job you perform every day in order to provide for your Manchester, MO family. At Axes, our occupational and physical therapists can help any individual improve mobility they need to get back to the activities they love. Our services also include:

• Occupational therapy — Our Manchester, 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 team up with you and your physician, insurance carrier, workers’ compensation lawyer and employer so you can get back to contributing to our Manchester, MO community and providing for your family as you always have. 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 — Every athletes worst nightmare is an unexpected injury that keeps them inactive and limited for anywhere from a couple weeks to a year. Our Manchester, 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 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 give you piece of mind, and develop a proven game plan to restore optimal mobility.

Whatever the current level of mobility, and lifestyle you are trying to get back to, consult with your Manchester, MO doctor about whether or not physical therapy is a good option 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 Manchester, 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 helps to make sure no muscle is stronger or weaker than it should be in relation to the muscles around it. Surrounding our joints with healthy and equally strong muscles 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 — Balance issues are typically caused by:
  • Problems with vision
  • A vestibular issue, or something in your inner ear
  • Your proprioceptive system, or the network between your sensory receptors and your nervous system

A licensed physical therapist in Manchester, 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, 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 good posture

If required, a physical therapist in Manchester, MO can also mold your very own medically accepted assistive devices including splints, braces, crutches, or canes in order to best facilitate movement.

How Physical Therapy in Manchester, MO Helps Beyond Mobility

Physical therapy does more than just increase strength and flexibility. Your evidence-based treatment plans:

• Pain relief for both acute and chronic conditions without having to use costly and potentially habit forming prescription drugs
• If applicable, the potential to avoid surgery by stimulating the body’s own healing methods
• Mobility education, including physical therapy techniques 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
• Motivating better physical health, carries with it the benefits of enhanced energy, decreases your risk of heart 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 Manchester, 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 Manchester, MO | Axes Physical Therapy

Whether you need 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 is here to help you get back to what you love doing most. 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 find the location that works best for you.