Mobility in St. Ann, MO. Our bodies are designed to to make walking and other movements easy. But sometimes, we sustain an injury or other condition that prevents us from our favorite activities, or even just being able to carry out or daily live pain-free. While losing your independence because of losing your mobility can affect our mental health as well, Axes Physical Therapy in St. Ann, MO offers safe, effective, and evidence-backed solutions that are customized specifically to you, your age, and your desired activity level. Regardless of whether your mobility limitations are the result of acute trauma, a disease, or an impairment in your musculoskeletal structure such as sciatica, begin your journey to your best possible mobility and comfort now by scheduling a free evaluation with Axes today or calling the the one of our multiple locations most convenient for you.

The dictionary defines mobility as, “the ability to move… freely and easily.” For some St. Ann, MO residents that may mean rolling over in bed without pain, while others need to get back to serving an ace on the tennis court. Whatever it means to you, if can’t complete the activities you want to speak with a physician about professional physical therapy and movement health services.

Functional Mobility in St. Ann, MO

Functional mobility is the capacity one has to safely and efficiently move around in their home environment. This includes anything from rolling over in bed or getting in and out of the shower safely. In general, 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 — Whether or not you can walk, and can do so while carrying things.

If you cannot currently complete some or all of the tasks above without the aid of a person or assistive device, the St. Ann, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes are committed to getting your freedom back. Whether the condition affecting you is 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 guide you through your journey to the best possible mobility. Part of your treatment will likely be simple and safe strengthening, balance, and flexibility exercises. Our therapists are also highly trained in vestibular therapy to help with vestibular disorders that cause dizziness and vertigo.

The seven level Functional Independence Measure (FIM) is the main way to determine functional mobility in St. Ann, MO:

1. Complete independence, meaning you can complete a specified task without risk of injury and in a relatively normal amount of time
2. Modified independence, meaning you need a device such as a walker to complete the task
3. Stand-by assist, meaning you can perform the movement by yourself but need someone to monitor you so you don’t hurt yourself
4. Minimal assistance, meaning you can do 75% or more while a physical therapist helps you the rest of the way
5. Moderate assistance, meaning you can perform about 50% of the work required
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 could lead to you becoming hurt

At Axes Physical Therapy in St. Ann, MO, your customized treatment plan may include safely taking you from the first level to the highest level possible. All of our treatment plans 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 evaluation of your health to ensure that the treatment modalities we use are safe for someone in your exact condition.

Beyond Functional Mobility in St. Ann, MO

Needless to say, many of us desire a higher level of movement health than just being to move between furniture without limitations. There are pickleball leagues to dominate, fun activities to share with your family, and the vocational tasks you need to perform every day so that you can put food on the table for your St. Ann, MO family. At Axes, we offer comprehensive physical and occupational physical therapy that can help any athlete, worker, or family member improve mobility they need to get back to the activities they love. We also offer:

• Occupational therapy — Our St. Ann, 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 St. Ann, MO community and supporting your family as you want to. Our advanced work rehabilitation includes Functional Capacity Evaluations to ascertain if you are ready to return to your job.
• Sports therapy — The last thing anyone who loves playing sports wants to experience is an unexpected fall or collision that keeps them inactive and limited for anywhere from a couple weeks to a year. If you suffer an ACL tear, rotator cuff tear, or other sports injury, Axes Physical Therapy in St. Ann, MO will help you restore your mobility and get you back on the field or court as soon as is safely possible. Our Certified Athletic Trainers also specialize in 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 team up with the doctors recommending and performing your surgery to give you piece of mind, and develop a successful strategy to restore optimal mobility.

However limited you currently are in your mobility, and the level of movement health you desire, consult with your St. Ann, MO doctor about whether or not physical therapy is a good option for you, or come see us for a no-risk, no-obligation injury screening from a clinically experienced physical or occupational therapist.

How a Physical Therapist in St. Ann, 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. Having proportionately strong muscles around joints is vital to preventing injury and improving your mobility.
• 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:
  • Problems with vision
  • A vestibular disorder, or something in your inner ear
  • Your proprioceptive system, the sense of awareness ingrained in our muscles and joints

A licensed physical therapist in St. Ann, MO will determine what is causing your mobility issues and come up with a safe and effective treatment plan to get you back to the activities you love. 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 teaching good posture

If required, a physical therapist in St. Ann, MO can also mold your very own medically accepted assistive devices including splints, braces, crutches, or canes in order to aid you in your mobility and reduce risk of injury.

How Physical Therapy in St. Ann, 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. Your evidence-based 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 stimulating the body’s natural way of healing itself
• 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 the best postures for improved mobility
• Encouraging you to maintain an active lifestyle, carries with it the benefits of increased energy, decreases your odds of developing cardiovascular disease, helps control weight, improves your mood, and promotes better sleep

Other services we offer in St. Ann, 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 St. Ann, MO | Axes Physical Therapy

Whether you need hand therapy in order to make it easier for you to do basic everyday things, are looking for meaningful pain management for arthritis, or want to get back on the field after a sports injury, Axes’ team of licensed physical and occupational therapists is here to help you get back to what you love doing most. We take a client-centered approach. To get back your independence and active lifestyle, request an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today or reach out to the location nearest for you.