Mobility in Old Monroe, MO. Our bodies are built to move. But sometimes, our mobility is impeded and it impedes us from the activities we love. While experiencing pain and other factors that affect mobility affects us in more ways than just physically, Axes Physical Therapy in Old Monroe, MO can provide you with treatment plans that have been proven to work and that are tailored specifically to getting you back to the life you want to live. No matter if your mobility limitations are the result of acute trauma, a chronic condition, or an impairment in your musculoskeletal structure such as sciatica, begin your journey to optimal mobility and comfort as soon as possible by scheduling an appointment with Axes today or calling the the one of our multiple locations nearest you.

The dictionary defines mobility as, “the ability to move… freely and easily.” For some Old Monroe, MO residents that looks like rolling over in bed without pain, while others have more active lifestyle desires like making a diving catch in their softball league. Whatever mobility means to you, if your mobility is severely restricted consult with a physician to see if physical therapy is the right choice for you.

Functional Mobility in Old Monroe, MO

Functional mobility refers to a person’s ability to safely get around their home. This includes anything from moving around in bed or bringing a cup of coffee to the living room and sitting down. Fundamentally, there are three types of functional mobility:

1. Bed mobility — Whether or not you can 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 a chair, bed, or sofa to another.
3. Ambulation — If you can walk on your own while having objects in your hands.

While the injury or condition affecting your functional mobility may mean that you currently rely on assistance in order to operate in your daily life, the Old Monroe, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes are devoted to helping you restore your self-sufficiency. Whether you currently lack full functional mobility as a result of an ACL tear, arthritis or other joint pain, or even a central nervous system disorder like Parkinson’s disease, we’ll guide you through your journey to optimal movement health. Most treatment plans include strengthening, balance, and flexibility training. We also offer vestibular therapy to help with vestibular disorders that cause dizziness and vertigo.

Old Monroe, MO physical therapists often utilize the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) of seven levels to determine someone’s functional mobility:

1. Complete independence, meaning you can move in a certain way without risk of injury and without taking an excessive amount of time
2. Modified independence, meaning you can perform certain movements but only with a walker, a cane, or crutches
3. Stand-by assist, meaning you can perform the movement 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 helps you the rest of the way
5. Moderate assistance, meaning you can perform about half of the work required
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 effort required, or that the activity is not safe to test

At Axes Physical Therapy in Old Monroe, 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 your dedicated physical therapist will begin your mobility treatment with a comprehensive evaluation of your health to confirm that the exercises we use are safe for someone in your exact condition.

Beyond Functional Mobility in Old Monroe, MO

To be sure, simply being to move between chairs 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 vocational tasks you need to perform every day in order to earn a living for your Old Monroe, 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 Old Monroe, 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 helping our Old Monroe, MO community and supporting your family the best way you can. 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 — The last thing any athlete wants to experience is an unexpected pop or crack that sidelines them and keeps them from what they love for anywhere from a couple weeks to a year. Our Old Monroe, 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 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 a proven strategy to restore optimal mobility.

However limited you currently are in your mobility, and the level of movement health you desire, consult with your Old Monroe, MO doctor about whether or not physical therapy is advisable, or come see us for a free injury screening from a licensed physical or occupational therapist.

How a Physical Therapist in Old Monroe, 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 ensures that no muscle is disproportionately strong or weak. Having proportionately strong muscles around joints is crucial in preventing injury and reaching optimal movement health.
• Flexibility and range of motion — To reach the movement health and lifestyle we desire, 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 condition, 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 Old Monroe, MO will find the root of your mobility issues and develop a treatment plan, based on evidence 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 necessary, a physical therapist in Old Monroe, MO can also create custom medically accepted assistive devices including splints, braces, crutches, or canes in order to help you achieve the best possible mobility.

How Physical Therapy in Old Monroe, 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 painkillers or opioids
• If applicable, the potential to avoid surgery by stimulating the body’s natural way of healing itself
• 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
• Encouraging you to maintain an active lifestyle, which leads to enhanced energy, lowers 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 Old Monroe, 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 Old Monroe, MO | Axes Physical Therapy

Whether you need hand therapy in order to make it easier for you to use a computer, are in need of 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 will develop and implement the treatment plan that works best for you. 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 most convenient for you.