Mobility in Weldon Spring Heights, MO. Our bodies are built to be on the go. But sometimes, our mobility is impeded and it prevents 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 Weldon Spring Heights, MO can provide you with treatment plans that have been proven to be successful and that are built specifically to you and your needs. Whether your mobility is limited because of acute trauma, a disease, or a musculoskeletal issue such as sciatica, start on the road back to optimal mobility and meaningful pain relief now by setting up a free evaluation with Axes today or calling the location nearest you.

The dictionary defines mobility as, “the ability to move… freely and easily.” For some of us that looks like walking up the stairs without pain, while others need to get back to making a diving catch in their softball league. Whatever mobility means to you, if can’t complete the activities you want to consult with your doctor to see if physical therapy is the right choice for you.

Functional Mobility in Weldon Spring Heights, MO

Functional mobility refers to a person’s ability to safely move around in their home environment. This includes anything from comfortably laying down in bed each night or walking up a flight of stairs. Fundamentally, there are three types of functional mobility:

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 a bed to a chair.
3. Ambulation — Your ability to walk freely without the need of assistance. This also includes walking while being able to carry objects.

If you currently need assistance to be functionally mobile, the Weldon Spring Heights, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes are devoted to getting your independence back. Whether the condition affecting you is 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 the best possible mobility. Part of your treatment will likely be simple and safe strengthening, balance, and flexibility training. We also offer vestibular therapy for people who have a debilitating vestibular disorder.

Weldon Spring Heights, MO physical therapists often utilize the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) of seven levels to evaluate someone’s functional mobility:

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 cane 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 exert 75% of the work needed to complete the task or more while someone else does the rest
5. Moderate assistance, meaning you can exert half of the effort required
6. Maximal assistance, meaning you can complete about 25% of the task independently
7. Total assistance or not testable, meaning you are unable to put in a quarter of the effort required, or that even testing whether or not you can do it is not safe

At Axes Physical Therapy in Weldon Spring Heights, MO, your customized treatment plan may include safely taking you up through the seven levels, or at least to the highest level possible. All of our methods are proven to be safe and effective through extensive clinical studies, and at your first appointment with your professional physical therapist, they will perform 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 Weldon Spring Heights, MO

Needless to say, simply walking up the stairs pain-free does not define optimal movement health for many of us. There are fast breaks to run, 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 Weldon Spring Heights, MO family. At Axes, our occupational and physical therapists can help any individual achieve the activity level they desire. Our services also include:

• Occupational therapy — Our Weldon Spring Heights, 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, workers’ compensation lawyer and employer so you can get back to helping our Weldon Spring Heights, MO community and supporting your family as you always have. Our advanced work rehabilitation includes Functional Capacity Evaluations to ascertain what activity level you can safely carry out.
• Sports therapy — The worst-case scenario for anyone who loves playing sports is a sudden pop or crack 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 Weldon Spring Heights, MO will help you regain your mobility and get you back on the field or court as soon as is safely possible. Our Certified Athletic Trainers are big believers in teaching 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 ease your worry, and formulate an effective plan of action to restore optimal mobility.

However limited you currently are in your mobility, and the level of improved mobility you desire, consult with your Weldon Spring Heights, MO doctor about what physical therapy can do for you, or come see us for a no-obligation injury screening from a licensed physical or occupational therapist.

How a Physical Therapist in Weldon Spring Heights, MO Can Help Improve Your Mobility

Our mobility is based on 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. Surrounding our joints with healthy and equally strong muscles is vital to preventing injury and improving your mobility.
• Flexibility and range of motion — To improve our mobility to the highest level we can, 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 — Frequent causes of balance issues include:
  • Problems with eyesight
  • A vestibular disorder, 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 Weldon Spring Heights, MO will determine what is causing your mobility issues and develop a safe and effective treatment plan to get you back to the lifestyle you enjoy most. In addition to 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 correct posture education

If necessary, a physical therapist in Weldon Spring Heights, MO can also create custom medically accepted assistive devices such as splints, braces, crutches, or canes in order to help you achieve the best possible mobility.

How Physical Therapy in Weldon Spring Heights, 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 enjoy:

• Pain relief, whether from an injury or pain that is chronic in nature without having to use prescription medications
• If applicable, the opportunity to avoid a surgical procedure by motivating your body to heal on its own
• Patient education, including physical therapy techniques you can do in the comfort of your own home with no risk to injury, injury prevention techniques, and correct posture
• Motivating you to maintain an active lifestyle, which leads to increased energy, lowers your odds of developing cardiovascular disease, helps control weight, improves your mood, and encourages your body to get a full 8 hours of sleep

Other services we offer in Weldon Spring Heights, MO include:

• 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
• Stroke Rehabilitation

Mobility in Weldon Spring Heights, MO | Axes Physical Therapy

Whether you are looking for hand therapy in order to make it easier for you to type, 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 the activities you love. We employ a leads to positive patient outcomes. To get back your independence and active lifestyle, request an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today or find the location most convenient for you.