Mobility in Maplewood, MO. Our bodies are meant to be on the go. 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 affects us in more ways than just physically, Axes Physical Therapy in Maplewood, MO can develop solutions that have been proven to be successful and that are built specifically to you and your needs. Whether your mobility limitations are the result of acute trauma, a disease, or an impairment in your musculoskeletal skeleton such as sciatica, begin your journey to your best possible movement health and meaningful pain relief now by setting up a free evaluation with Axes today or calling the location nearest you.

The one definition of mobility is, “the ability to move… freely and easily.” For some of us that looks like walking up the stairs comfortably, while for others it may mean sprinting down the basketball court on a fast break. Whatever you need to improve your movement health for, if your mobility is severely restricted speak with your doctor to see if physical therapy is the right choice for you.

Functional Mobility in Maplewood, MO

Functional mobility is the capacity one has to safely get around their home. This includes anything from getting in and out of bed or walking up a flight of stairs. In general, there are three types of functional mobility:

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 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 currently need assistance to be functionally mobile, the Maplewood, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes are committed to getting your independence back. Whether you currently lack full functional mobility due to a sports injuryan rotator cuff tear tear, arthritis or other joint pain, or even a central nervous system disorder like Parkinson’s disease, we’ll create a personalized plan that has been proven to help people like you return to the best possible mobility. We will guide you in strengthening, balance, and flexibility training. We also offer vestibular therapy for people who have a debilitating vestibular disorder.

The seven level Functional Independence Measure (FIM) is the main way to evaluate functional mobility in Maplewood, MO:

1. Complete independence, meaning you can move in a certain way without assistance and in a relatively normal amount of time
2. Modified independence, meaning you can perform specific movements but only with a walker, a cane, or crutches
3. Stand-by assist, meaning you can complete the task independently but need someone standing by for safety
4. Minimal assistance, meaning you can do 75% or more while someone else does the rest
5. Moderate assistance, meaning you can perform about 50% of the work necessary
6. Maximal assistance, meaning you can put in a quarter of the work of the task without assistance
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 could lead to you becoming hurt

At Axes Physical Therapy in Maplewood, MO, your customized 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 when you and your licensed physical therapist first meet, they will perform a thorough examination of your health to ensure that the treatment modalities we use are safe for someone suffering from the same ailment you are.

Beyond Functional Mobility in Maplewood, MO

Of course, simply walking up the stairs comfortably does not define optimal movement health for many of us. There are corners to burn on the football field, your pets to play with, and the physical demands of the job you carry out every day in order to earn a living for your Maplewood, MO family. At Axes, we offer comprehensive physical and occupational physical therapy that can help any individual improve mobility they need to get back to the activities they love. We also offer:

• Occupational therapy — Our Maplewood, MO occupational therapists are vital to your recovery when an injury or condition limits the mobility needed to to do your hob. We team up with you and your physician, insurance carrier, workers’ compensation lawyer and employer so you can get back to being an integral member of our Maplewood, MO community and supporting your family the best way you can. Our advanced work rehabilitation includes Functional Capacity Evaluations to ascertain what activity level you can safely carry out.
• Sports therapy — The last thing any athlete wants to experience is an unexpected fall or collision that keeps them off the field or court for anywhere from a couple weeks to a year. Our Maplewood, 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 are big believers in teaching injury prevention to help you stay off the sidelines.
• Pre/post surgical rehabilitation — Surgery is a complex and nerve-racking procedure for anyone. 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 formulate an effective game plan to get the best possible outcome from your procedure.

However limited you currently are in your mobility, and lifestyle you are trying to get back to, consult with your Maplewood, MO doctor about whether they think getting you a prescription for physical therapy is right for you, or visit one of our locations for a no-obligation injury screening from a qualified physical or occupational therapist.

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

The four determinants of mobility are 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. Having equal muscle balance around joints is essential in preventing injury and improving your mobility.
• Flexibility and range of motion — To improve our mobility to the highest level we can, 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 — Frequent causes of balance issues are:
  • Problems with eyesight
  • A vestibular condition, or something in your inner ear
  • Your proprioceptive system, the receptors in our muscles that monitor length, tension, pressure and noxious stimuli

An experienced physical therapist in Maplewood, MO will be able to identify the source of your mobility issues and come up with a treatment plan, based on evidence to get you back to the lifestyle you enjoy most. Beyond therapeutic strength, flexibility, and core exercises, your treatment plan may also include:

• 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 Maplewood, MO can also fit you for medically accepted assistive devices such as splints, braces, crutches, or canes in order to best facilitate movement.

How Physical Therapy in Maplewood, MO Helps Beyond Mobility

Physical therapy does more than just increase strength and flexibility. 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
• If applicable, the opportunity to avoid a surgical procedure by encouraging the body’s own healing methods
• Patient education, including exercises 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 increased energy, decreases your risk of cardiovascular disease, contributes to a healthy weight, makes you feel better, and promotes better sleep

Other services we offer in Maplewood, MO include:

• Shin Splint Treatment
• Direct Access Physical Therapy
• Gait Analysis
• Pelvic Floor Therapy
• Dry Needling Near Me
• Tendonitis Treatment
• Manual Physical Therapy
• Orthopedic Rehab Near Me
• Beginner Running Program
• Chronic Pain Treatment

Mobility in Maplewood, MO | Axes Physical Therapy

Whether you need hand therapy in order to make it easier for you to do basic things around the house, are looking for meaningful pain management for arthritis, or want to return to your active lifestyle following acute trauma, Axes’ team of licensed physical and occupational therapists will develop and implement the treatment plan that is safe and affective. We take a client-centered approach. To restore the level of mobility you deserve, request an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today or reach out to the location nearest for you.