Mobility in Union, MO. Our bodies are built to move. But sometimes, our bodies don’t work the way they should and it prevents us from our favorite activities, or even just being able to carry out or daily live comfortably. While that loss of physical mobility also have an impact on our emotional well-being, Axes Physical Therapy in Union, MO can implement treatment plans that have been proven to work and that are built specifically to getting you back to the life you want to live. No matter if your mobility is limited because of acute trauma, a chronic condition, or an impairment in your musculoskeletal skeleton such as sciatica, start on the road back to optimal mobility and meaningful pain relief as soon as possible by scheduling an appointment with Axes today or calling the location nearest you.

The one definition of mobility is, “the ability to move… freely and easily.” For some Union, MO residents that is as simple as walking up the stairs without pain, while for others it may mean making a diving catch in their softball league. Whatever mobility means to you, if you can’t live the life you want pain-free speak with your doctor about professional physical therapy services.

Functional Mobility in Union, MO

Functional mobility refers to a person’s ability to safely and efficiently get around their home. This can be simple tasks such as rolling over in bed or carrying a cup of coffee to the next room and sitting on the couch. In general, functional mobility is typically though of in three different ways:

1. Bed mobility — Whether or not you are able to 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 one chair to another.
3. Ambulation — Your ability to walk freely without the need of assistance. This also includes walking while being able to carry objects.

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 Union, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes are committed to helping you regain your self-sufficiency. Whether the condition affecting you is 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 the best possible mobility. We will guide you in strengthening, balance, and flexibility movements. We also offer vestibular therapy for people who have a debilitating vestibular disorder.

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

1. Complete independence, meaning you can complete a specified task safely and without taking an excessive amount of time
2. Modified independence, meaning you can perform specific movements but only with an assistive device
3. Supervision, meaning you can complete the task by yourself but need someone to monitor you to prevent risk of injury
4. Minimal assistance, meaning you can do 75% or more while a physical therapist does the rest
5. Moderate assistance, meaning you can perform about half of the work needed
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 a quarter of the work required, or that the activity is not safe to test

At Axes Physical Therapy in Union, MO, your personalized treatment plan may include gradually taking you from the first level to the highest level you are able to achieve. All of our treatment plans are based on what research says works best for you, and your dedicated physical therapist will begin your mobility treatment with a comprehensive examination of your health to confirm that the exercises we use are safe for someone in your exact condition.

Beyond Functional Mobility in Union, 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 perform every day so that you can provide for your Union, MO family. At Axes, our occupational and physical therapists can help any individual reach the optimal movement health they need to get back to the activities they love. Our services also include:

• Occupational therapy — Our Union, MO occupational therapists are an essential part of getting you back to work after a work-related injury. We team up with you and your physician, insurance carrier, attorney and employer so you can get back to being an integral member of our Union, MO community and supporting your family as you want to. 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 anyone who loves playing sports wants to experience is a sudden injury that keeps them off the field or court for anywhere from a couple weeks to a year. Our Union, 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 avoid re-injury.
• Pre/post surgical rehabilitation — Surgery makes anyone anxious. 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 an effective strategy to get the best possible outcome from your procedure.

However limited you currently are in your mobility, and the extent to wish you want to improve it, consult with your Union, MO doctor about whether or not physical therapy is a good option for you, or come see us for a no-obligation injury screening from a professional physical or occupational therapist.

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

The four tenets 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 to make sure no muscle is stronger or weaker than it should be in relation to the muscles around it. Surrounding our joints with healthy and equally strong muscles is vital to 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 — Balance issues are commonly due to:
  • Problems with eyesight
  • A vestibular issue, or something in your inner ear
  • Your proprioceptive system, the receptors in our muscles that monitor length, tension, pressure and noxious stimuli

A professional physical therapist in Union, MO will determine what is causing your mobility issues and develop a treatment plan, based on evidence to get you back to the lifestyle you enjoy most. In addition to restorative 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 Union, MO can also create custom medically accepted assistive devices such as splints, braces, crutches, or canes in order to best facilitate movement.

How Physical Therapy in Union, 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 reach optimal movement health, you’ll also see the following benefits:

• Pain relief for both acute and chronic conditions without having to use prescription medications
• If applicable, the potential to avoid a surgical procedure by stimulating the body’s own healing methods
• Movement health 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 enhanced energy, lowers your risk of heart disease, contributes to a healthy weight, makes you feel better, and encourages your body to get a full 8 hours of sleep

Other services we offer in Union, MO include:

• Back Pain Treatment
• Neck Pain Treatment
• 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

Mobility in Union, MO | Axes Physical Therapy

Whether you need hand therapy in order to make it easier for you to do basic things around the house, are looking for meaningful pain management for joint problems, 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 practice a client-centered approach. To restore the level of mobility you deserve, request an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today or call the location most convenient for you.