Mobility in Sappington, 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 the activities we love. While that loss of physical mobility can affect our mental health as well, Axes Physical Therapy in Sappington, MO offers solutions that have been proven to be successful and that are customized specifically to you, your age, and your desired activity level. No matter if your mobility is limited because of an injury, a degenerative condition, or a musculoskeletal issue such as sciatica, begin your journey to optimal mobility and comfort now by requesting a free evaluation with Axes today or calling the the one of our 15 locations nearest you.

The dictionary defines mobility as, “the ability to move… freely and easily.” For some people that is as simple as picking up their grandchildren comfortably, while others need to get back to making a diving catch in their softball league. Whatever mobility means to you, if you can’t live the life you want pain-free consult with a physician to see if physical therapy is the right choice for you.

Functional Mobility in Sappington, MO

Functional mobility refers to a person’s ability to complete basic tasks. This includes anything from comfortably laying down in bed each night or carrying a cup of coffee to the next room and sitting on the couch. Fundamentally, functional mobility can be broken down into three categories:

1. Bed mobility — Whether or not you can to scoot, roll, and get in and out of bed comfortably.
2. Transfers — Whether or not you are able to switch between places, for example from a bed to a chair.
3. Ambulation — If you can walk on your own while having objects in your hands.

If you cannot currently complete some or all of the tasks above without a person or assistive device helping you, the Sappington, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes are committed to helping you regain your autonomy. 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 create a tailor-made plan that safely and correctly helps you reach the best possible movement health. We will guide you in strengthening, balance, and flexibility training. Our therapists are also experts vestibular therapy to help with vestibular disorders that cause sensory dysfunction.

Sappington, MO physical therapists often rely on 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 assistance and in a relatively normal amount of time
2. Modified independence, meaning you can perform specific movements but only with an assistive device
3. Stand-by assist, meaning you can perform the movement independently but need someone to monitor you so you don’t hurt yourself
4. Minimal assistance, meaning you can do 75% or more while someone else helps you the rest of the way
5. Moderate assistance, meaning you can perform about 50% of the work needed
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 can complete less than 25% of the task, or that even testing whether or not you can do it is not safe

At Axes Physical Therapy in Sappington, MO, your tailor-made treatment plan may include safely allowing you more and more independence until you get the highest level you can. 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 ensure that the treatment modalities we have in mind for you are safe for someone suffering from the same ailment you are.

Beyond Functional Mobility in Sappington, MO

Needless to say, 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, fun activities to share with your family, and the job-related tasks you need to carry out every day so that you can earn a living for your Sappington, MO family. At Axes, we offer comprehensive physical and occupational physical therapy that can help any individual achieve the activity level they desire. We also offer:

• Occupational therapy — Our Sappington, MO occupational therapists are crucial to your recovery when an injury or condition does not allow you to carry out the tasks of your job. We serve as an integral member of your workers’ compensation team so you can get back to being an integral member of our Sappington, MO community and providing for your family as you always have. Our advanced work rehabilitation includes Functional Capacity Evaluations to determine what activity level you can safely carry out.
• Sports therapy — Every athletes worst nightmare is a sudden pop or crack that sidelines them and keeps them from what they love for weeks, months, or longer. Our Sappington, 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 can also educate you on the specifics of injury prevention to help you reduce the risk of having to go through an injury again.
• Pre/post surgical rehabilitation — Surgery is a complex and nerve-racking procedure for anyone. 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 proven game plan to restore optimal mobility.

However limited you currently are in your mobility, and the extent to wish you want to improve it, consult with your Sappington, MO doctor about what physical therapy can do for you, or come see us for a complimentary injury screening from a qualified physical or occupational therapist.

How a Physical Therapist in Sappington, 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 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 vital to preventing injury and reaching optimal movement health.
• Flexibility and range of motion — To achieve optimal movement health, 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 — Balance issues are usually caused by:
  • 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 clinically experienced physical therapist in Sappington, MO will determine what is causing your mobility issues and come up with a safe and effective treatment plan to improve your movement health. Beyond restorative strength, flexibility, and core exercises, other evidence-backed techniques may include:

• Soft tissue mobilization
• Kinesio Taping®
• Trigger point dry needling
• Blood flow restriction training
• Posture correction and good posture education

If your doctor and therapy team agree, a physical therapist in Sappington, 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 Sappington, MO Helps Beyond Mobility

The benefits of physical therapy go beyond just getting around easier, getting back to work, or getting back on the field. As we work to improve your 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
• 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 physical therapy techniques you can safely do at home, injury prevention techniques, and the best postures for improved mobility
• Motivating you to maintain an active lifestyle, which leads to enhanced energy, lowers your odds of developing cardiovascular disease, contributes to a healthy weight, improves your mood, and promotes better sleep

Other services we offer in Sappington, 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 Sappington, MO | Axes Physical Therapy

Whether you need hand therapy in order to make it easier for you to type, are in need of meaningful pain management for sciatica, 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 the activities you love. We take a client-centered approach. To restore the level of mobility you deserve, request an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today or find the location that works best for you.