Mobility in Wickes, MO. Our bodies are meant to be on the go. But sometimes, our bodies don’t work the way they should and it prevents us from the activities we love. While losing your independence because of losing your mobility affects us in more ways than just physically, Axes Physical Therapy in Wickes, MO offers safe, effective, and proven treatment plans that are tailored specifically to you and your needs. No matter if your mobility is limited because of an injury, a degenerative condition, or an impairment in your musculoskeletal skeleton such as sciatica, take the first steps in your best possible mobility and a pain-free daily life now by requesting a mobility and injury analysis 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 may mean getting in and out of a chair comfortably, while for others it may mean making a diving catch in their softball league. Whatever it means to you, if you can’t live the life you want comfortable speak with your doctor about professional physical therapy services.

Functional Mobility in Wickes, MO

Functional mobility is the capacity one has to safely move around in their home environment. This includes simple tasks such as getting in and out of bed or getting in and out of the shower safely. In general, functional mobility is typically though of in three different ways:

1. Bed mobility — Whether or not you can to scoot, roll, and get in and out of bed pain-free.
2. Transfers — Your ability to move from one surface to a different one, 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 cannot currently complete some or all of the activities above without a person or assistive device helping you, the Wickes, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes are dedicated to helping you restore your independence. Whether you currently lack full functional mobility because of an ACL tear, arthritis or other joint pain, or even a central nervous system disorder like Parkinson’s disease, we’ll develop a personalized plan that safely and correctly helps you reach optimal movement health. Most treatment plans include strengthening, balance, and flexibility exercises. Our therapists are also experts vestibular therapy for people who have a debilitating vestibular disorder.

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

1. Complete independence, meaning you can achieve specific mobility thresholds safely 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. Supervision, 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 does the rest
5. Moderate assistance, meaning you can perform about half of the work needed
6. Maximal assistance, meaning you can put in a quarter of the work of the task yourself
7. Total assistance or not testable, meaning you can complete less than 25% of the task, or that the activity is not safe to test

At Axes Physical Therapy in Wickes, MO, your customized treatment plan may include gradually 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 at your first appointment with your professional physical therapist, they will perform a comprehensive examination of your health to ensure that the treatment modalities we have in mind for you are safe for someone in your exact condition.

Beyond Functional Mobility in Wickes, MO

Of course, simply being to move between chairs independently 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 physical demands of the job you carry out every day in order to provide for your Wickes, MO family. At Axes, we offer comprehensive physical and occupational physical therapy that can help any individual achieve the activity level they desire. Our services also include:

• Occupational therapy — Our Wickes, MO occupational therapists are essential to your return to work when an injury or condition limits the mobility needed to to do your hob. 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 Wickes, MO community and supporting your family as you want to. Our advanced work rehabilitation includes Functional Capacity Evaluations to ascertain what functional capacities you are capable of.
• Sports therapy — The last thing anyone who loves playing sports wants to experience is an unexpected injury that keeps them off the field or court for anywhere from a couple weeks to a year. Our Wickes, 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 are big believers in teaching injury prevention to help you stay off the sidelines.
• Pre/post surgical rehabilitation — Surgery and your recovery from it are delicate matters that make anyone nervous. 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 help you feel confident in your treatment, and formulate an effective 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 Wickes, MO doctor about whether they think getting you a prescription for physical therapy is right for you, or come see us for a complimentary injury screening from a professional physical or occupational therapist.

How a Physical Therapist in Wickes, 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 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 crucial in preventing injury and reaching optimal movement health.
• Flexibility and range of motion — To achieve optimal movement health, our muscles, ligaments, 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 are:
  • Problems with eyesight
  • A vestibular disorder, or a problem in your inner ear
  • Your proprioceptive system, the sense of awareness ingrained in our muscles and joints

A licensed physical therapist in Wickes, 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 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 your doctor and therapy team agree, a physical therapist in Wickes, MO can also mold your very own medically accepted assistive devices including splints, braces, crutches, or canes in order to help you achieve the best possible mobility.

How Physical Therapy in Wickes, 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 enjoy:

• Pain relief, whether from an injury or pain that is chronic in nature without having to use prescription medications
• If applicable, the potential to avoid a surgical procedure by stimulating the body’s natural way of healing itself
• Movement health education, including physical therapy techniques you can safely do at home, injury prevention techniques, and the best postures for improved mobility
• Motivating better physical health, which leads to increased energy, decreases your risk of 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 Wickes, 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 Wickes, 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 arthritis, or want to return to your active lifestyle following acute trauma, Axes’ team of licensed physical and occupational therapists is here to help you get back to what you love doing most. We pride ourselves on our an approach that focuses on personalized treatment. To restore the level of mobility you deserve, request an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today or reach out to the location that works best for you.