Mobility in O’Fallon, MO. Our bodies are meant to move. But sometimes, our mobility is impeded and it impedes us from doing what we love most. While that loss of physical mobility can affect our mental health as well, Axes Physical Therapy in O’Fallon, MO can provide you with treatment plans that have been proven to work and that are customized specifically to you and your needs. No matter if your mobility is limited because of acute trauma, a disease, or a musculoskeletal condition such as sciatica, begin your journey to optimal movement health 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 one definition of mobility is, “the ability to move… freely and easily.” For some of us that is as simple as rolling over in bed without pain, while others need to get back to making a diving catch in their softball league. Whatever it means to you, if you can’t live the life you want pain-free consult with a physician about professional physical therapy services.

Functional Mobility in O’Fallon, MO

Functional mobility is the capacity one has to complete daily tasks. This can be simple tasks such as getting in and out of bed or bringing a cup of coffee to the living room and sitting on the couch. In general, there are three types of functional mobility:

1. Bed mobility — Whether or not you are able to to easily move around in bed, including rolling, scooting, sitting up, and lying down.
2. Transfers — Your ability to switch between places, for example from one chair to another.
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 O’Fallon, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes are devoted to getting your independence back. Whether the condition affecting you is a sports injuryan rotator cuff tear tear, arthritis or other joint pain, or even a a progressive disorder like Parkinson’s disease, we’ll implement a tailor-made 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 exercises. Our therapists are also specialists vestibular therapy to help with vestibular disorders that cause sensory dysfunction.

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

1. Complete independence, meaning you can complete a specified task without assistance and in a relatively normal amount of time
2. Modified independence, meaning you need a device such as crutches to complete the task
3. Supervision, meaning you can complete the task independently but need someone next to you for safety
4. Minimal assistance, meaning you can exert 75% of the work needed to complete the task or more while a physical therapist does the rest
5. Moderate assistance, meaning you can perform about half of the work required
6. Maximal assistance, meaning you can put in a quarter of the work 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 carries the risk of injury

At Axes Physical Therapy in O’Fallon, MO, your tailor-made treatment plan may include safely taking you from the first level to the highest level possible. All of our methods are based on what research says can improve your mobility, and when you and your licensed physical therapist first meet, they will perform a thorough evaluation of your health to ensure that the treatment modalities we use are safe for someone in your exact condition.

Beyond Functional Mobility in O’Fallon, MO

Obviously, simply walking up the stairs without assistance does not define optimal movement health for many of us. There are doubles to hit in your softball league, your children to play with, and the physical demands of the job you carry out every day in order to put food on the table for your O’Fallon, MO family. At Axes, we offer comprehensive physical and occupational physical therapy that can help any athlete, worker, or family member reach the optimal movement health they need to get back to the activities they love. Our services also include:

• Occupational therapy — Our O’Fallon, 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 being an integral member of our O’Fallon, MO community and providing for 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 — Every athletes worst nightmare is an unexpected fall or collision that keeps them inactive and limited for weeks, months, or longer. If you suffer an ACL tear, rotator cuff tear, or other sports injury, Axes Physical Therapy in O’Fallon, 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 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 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 strategy to restore optimal mobility.

However limited you currently are in your mobility, and the level of movement health you desire, consult with your O’Fallon, MO doctor about whether or not physical therapy is advisable, or come see us for a no-obligation injury screening from a professional physical or occupational therapist.

How a Physical Therapist in O’Fallon, 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 achieve muscle balance. Surrounding our joints with healthy and equally strong muscles 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, not only do our muscles need to have the strength to control bones, but our muscles, tendons, and other soft tissue need to be able to lengthen, and our joints need to be able to perform a wide variety of movements.
• Balance — Frequent causes of balance issues include:
  • Vision issues
  • A vestibular issue, or something in your inner ear
  • Your proprioceptive system, or the network between your sensory receptors and your nervous system

A clinically experienced physical therapist in O’Fallon, MO will find the root of your limitations in mobility and come up with a safe and effective treatment plan to get you back to the lifestyle you enjoy most. In addition to 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 correct posture education

If your doctor and therapy team agree, a physical therapist in O’Fallon, MO can also fit you for medically accepted assistive devices such as splints, braces, crutches, or canes in order to aid you in your mobility and reduce risk of injury.

How Physical Therapy in O’Fallon, 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 opportunity to avoid surgery by motivating your body to heal on its own
• Patient 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 correct posture
• Encouraging you to maintain an active lifestyle, carries with it the benefits of increased energy, lowers your risk of heart disease, helps control weight, makes you feel better, and promotes better sleep

Other services we offer in O’Fallon, 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 O’Fallon, MO | Axes Physical Therapy

Whether you are looking for hand therapy in order to make it easier for you to do basic everyday things, are looking for meaningful pain management for arthritis, 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 employ a client-centered approach. To get back your independence and active lifestyle, request an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today or find the location most convenient for you.