Mobility in Oakville, MO. Our bodies are built to to make walking and other movements easy. But sometimes, our mobility is impeded and it impedes us from our favorite activities, or even just being able to carry out or daily live comfortably. While losing your independence because of losing your mobility also have an impact on our emotional well-being, Axes Physical Therapy in Oakville, 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. Regardless of whether your mobility is limited because of acute trauma, a chronic condition, or a musculoskeletal condition such as sciatica, begin your journey to optimal movement health and comfort now by setting up an appointment with Axes today or calling the location nearest you.

The dictionary definition of mobility is, “the ability to move… freely and easily.” For some people that may mean getting in and out of a chair without pain, while others need to get back to serving an ace on the tennis court. Whatever you need to improve your movement health for, if you can’t live the life you want pain-free consult with your doctor about professional physical therapy services.

Functional Mobility in Oakville, MO

Functional mobility refers to a person’s ability to safely and efficiently move around in their home environment. This includes simple tasks such as moving around in 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 — Whether or not you can to scoot, roll, and get in and out of bed with ease.
2. Transfers — Whether or not you are able to move from one place to another, for example from a bed to a chair.
3. Ambulation — Whether or not you can walk, and can do so while carrying things.

If you currently need assistance to be functionally mobile, the Oakville, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes are devoted to helping you restore your independence. Whether you currently lack full functional mobility due to a knee injury, arthritis or other joint pain, or even a central nervous system disorder like Parkinson’s disease, we’ll guide you through your journey to the best possible movement health. Part of your treatment will likely be simple and safe strengthening, balance, and flexibility exercises. We also offer vestibular therapy for people who have a debilitating vestibular disorder.

Oakville, MO physical therapists often utilize 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 can perform certain movements but only with a walker, a cane, or crutches
3. Supervision, meaning you can complete the task by yourself but need someone to monitor you for safety
4. Minimal assistance, meaning you can exert 75% of the work needed to complete the task or more while someone else does the rest
5. Moderate assistance, meaning you can exert 50% 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 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 Oakville, MO, your customized treatment plan may include gradually taking you up through the seven levels, or at least to the highest level possible. 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 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 Oakville, MO

Obviously, simply being to move between chairs without limitations does not define optimal movement health for many of us. There are pickleball leagues to dominate, fun activities to share with your family, and the occupational tasks of the job you carry out every day so that you can provide for your Oakville, 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. We also offer:

• Occupational therapy — Our Oakville, 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 team up with you and your physician, insurance carrier, attorney and employer so you can get back to being an integral member of our Oakville, MO community and providing for your family as you always have. Our advanced work rehabilitation includes Functional Capacity Evaluations to determine what functional capacities you are capable of.
• Sports therapy — The worst-case scenario for anyone who loves playing sports is an unexpected fall or collision that sidelines them and keeps them from what they love for anywhere from a couple weeks to a year. Our Oakville, 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 are big believers in teaching injury prevention to help you stay off the sidelines.
• 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 formulate a successful strategy to get the best possible outcome from your procedure.

However limited you currently are in your mobility, and the extent to wish you want to improve it, consult with your Oakville, MO doctor about whether or not physical therapy is advisable, or visit one of our locations for a complimentary injury screening from a licensed physical or occupational therapist.

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

The four determinants of mobility are 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. Surrounding our joints with healthy and equally strong muscles is essential in preventing injury and reaching optimal movement health.
• Flexibility and range of motion — To achieve optimal movement health, 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 — Frequent causes of balance issues include:
  • Vision issues
  • 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 licensed physical therapist in Oakville, MO will determine what is causing your mobility issues and develop a treatment plan, based on evidence to get you back to the lifestyle you enjoy most. In addition to 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 correct posture education

If required, a physical therapist in Oakville, 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 Oakville, MO Helps Beyond Mobility

Physical therapy does more than just increase strength and flexibility. Your proven treatment plans:

• Pain relief, whether from an injury or pain that is chronic in nature without needing to depend on prescription medications
• Depending on the nature of your mobility limitations, the potential to avoid a surgical procedure by motivating your body to heal on its own
• Mobility education, including exercises you can do in the comfort of your own home with no risk to injury, injury prevention techniques, and the best postures for improved mobility
• Motivating you to maintain an active lifestyle, carries with it the benefits of enhanced energy, decreases your odds of developing cardiovascular 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 Oakville, 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 Oakville, MO | Axes Physical Therapy

Whether you need hand therapy in order to make it easier for you to write, 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 practice a an approach that focuses on personalized treatment. To get back your independence and active lifestyle, request an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today or call the location that works best for you.