Mobility in Sunset Hills, MO. Our bodies are built to to make walking and other movements easy. But sometimes, our mobility is impeded and it prevents us from doing what we love most. While that loss of physical mobility can affect our mental health as well, Axes Physical Therapy in Sunset Hills, MO can develop safe, effective, and evidence-backed treatment plans 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, take the first steps in your best possible mobility and a pain-free daily life as soon as possible by requesting a free evaluation with Axes today or calling the location nearest you.

The dictionary definition of mobility is, “the ability to move… freely and easily.” For some Sunset Hills, MO residents that may mean 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 your doctor about professional physical therapy and movement health services.

Functional Mobility in Sunset Hills, MO

Functional mobility refers to a person’s ability to complete basic tasks. This includes simple tasks such as 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 is typically though of in three different ways:

1. Bed mobility — Your ability to easily move around in bed, including rolling, scooting, sitting up, and lying down.
2. Transfers — Your ability to move from one place to a different one, 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.

If you currently need assistance to be functionally mobile, the Sunset Hills, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes are devoted to getting your autonomy back. Whether your currently limited functional mobility was caused by an ACL tear, arthritis or other joint pain, or even a a progressive disorder like Parkinson’s disease, we’ll guide you through your journey to optimal movement health. We will guide you in strengthening, balance, and flexibility training. Our therapists are also highly trained in vestibular therapy to help with vestibular disorders that cause dizziness and vertigo.

Sunset Hills, MO physical therapists often use the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) of seven levels to determine someone’s functional mobility:

1. Complete independence, meaning you are able to complete a specified task safely and without taking an excessive amount of time
2. Modified independence, meaning you can perform certain movements but only with an assistive device
3. Supervision, meaning you can perform the movement independently but need someone to monitor you to prevent risk of injury
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 exert 50% of the effort 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 carries the risk of injury

At Axes Physical Therapy in Sunset Hills, MO, your personalized treatment plan may include safely allowing you more and more independence until you get the highest level you can. All of our methods are proven to be safe and effective through extensive clinical studies, and your dedicated physical therapist will begin your mobility treatment with a thorough evaluation of your health to confirm that the exercises we have in mind for you are safe for someone in your exact condition.

Beyond Functional Mobility in Sunset Hills, MO

To be sure, simply walking up the stairs comfortably does not define optimal movement health for many of us. There are doubles to hit in your softball league, your children to pick up, and the physical demands of the job you carry out every day in order to provide for your Sunset Hills, 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 Sunset Hills, 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 Sunset Hills, MO community and providing for your family as you want to. Our advanced work rehabilitation includes Functional Capacity Evaluations to determine if you can safely go back to work either fully or in some capacity.
• Sports therapy — The worst-case scenario for any athlete is a sudden pop or crack that sidelines them and keeps them from what they love for weeks, months, or longer. Our Sunset Hills, 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 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 give you piece of mind, and develop a successful strategy to get the best possible outcome from your procedure.

However limited you currently are in your mobility, and lifestyle you are trying to get back to, consult with your Sunset Hills, MO doctor about whether they think getting you a prescription for physical therapy is right for you, or come see us for a no-obligation injury screening from a clinically experienced physical or occupational therapist.

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

Our mobility is based on 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 essential in preventing injury and improving your mobility.
• Flexibility and range of motion — To reach the movement health and lifestyle we desire, not only do our muscles need to have the strength to control bones, but our muscles, ligaments, 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 — Problems with balance are commonly caused by:
  • Problems with vision
  • A vestibular issue, or a problem in your inner ear
  • Your proprioceptive system, or the network between your sensory receptors and your nervous system

An experienced physical therapist in Sunset Hills, MO will find the root of your limitations in mobility and develop a treatment plan, based on evidence to get you back to the activities you love. Beyond restorative 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 teaching good posture

If required, a physical therapist in Sunset Hills, MO can also mold your very own medically accepted assistive devices such as splints, braces, crutches, or canes in order to best facilitate movement.

How Physical Therapy in Sunset Hills, 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 painkillers or opioids
• If applicable, the opportunity to avoid surgery by encouraging the body’s natural way of healing itself
• Patient education, including exercises you can safely do at home, injury prevention techniques, and the best postures for improved mobility
• Encouraging you to maintain an active lifestyle, which leads to increased energy, decreases your risk of heart disease, helps control weight, makes you feel better, and promotes better sleep

Other services we offer in Sunset Hills, MO include:

• Stroke Rehabilitation
• Hip Replacement Physical Therapy
• Workers Comp' Physical Therapy
• Migraine Relief
• Sprain and Strain Treatment
• Geriatric Physical Therapy
• Injury Rehabilitation
• Pain Management Services
• TMJ Treatment
• Herniated Disc Treatment

Mobility in Sunset Hills, MO | Axes Physical Therapy

Whether you are looking for hand therapy in order to make it easier for you to write, are in need of meaningful pain management for sciatica, or want to return to your active lifestyle following acute trauma, Axes’ team of licensed physical and occupational therapists will develop and implement the treatment plan that is safe and affective. We employ a leads to positive patient outcomes. To restore the level of mobility you deserve, request an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today or find the location nearest for you.