Mobility in Winfield, MO. Our bodies are meant to be on the go. But sometimes, our mobility is impeded 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 affects us in more ways than just physically, Axes Physical Therapy in Winfield, MO offers safe, effective, and evidence-backed treatment plans that are tailored specifically to you, your age, and your desired activity level. Regardless of whether your mobility limitations are the result of an injury, a degenerative condition, or an impairment in your musculoskeletal skeleton such as sciatica, start on the road back to your best possible mobility and a pain-free daily life now by setting up a mobility and injury analysis with Axes today or calling the the one of our 15 locations nearest you.

The dictionary defines mobility as, “the ability to move… freely and easily.” For some Winfield, MO residents that looks like getting in and out of a chair 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 speak with a physician to see if physical therapy is the right choice for you.

Functional Mobility in Winfield, MO

Functional mobility refers to a person’s ability to complete daily tasks. This can be simple tasks such as moving around in 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 — Your ability to easily move around in bed, including rolling, scooting, sitting up, and lying down.
2. Transfers — Your ability to move from one surface to a different one, for example from one chair to another.
3. Ambulation — If you can walk on your own while having objects in your hands.

If you cannot currently complete some or all of the activities above without the aid of a person or assistive device, the Winfield, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes are devoted to helping you regain your autonomy. Whether you currently lack full functional mobility due to 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 mobility. Part of your treatment will likely be simple and safe strengthening, balance, and flexibility exercises. Our therapists are also specialists vestibular therapy for people who have a debilitating vestibular disorder.

The seven level Functional Independence Measure (FIM) is the staple of how to evaluate functional mobility in Winfield, MO:

1. Complete independence, meaning you are able to move in a certain way safely and in a timely manner
2. Modified independence, meaning you can perform specific movements but only with an assistive device
3. Stand-by assist, meaning you can complete the task by yourself but need someone next to you to prevent risk of injury
4. Minimal assistance, meaning you can do 75% or more while someone else does the rest
5. Moderate assistance, meaning you can exert 50% of the effort necessary
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 Winfield, MO, your personalized treatment plan may include gradually 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 comprehensive evaluation of your health to ensure that the exercises we use are safe for someone suffering from the same ailment you are.

Beyond Functional Mobility in Winfield, MO

Of course, simply being to move between chairs without limitations does not define optimal movement health for many of us. There are doubles to hit in your softball league, fun activities to share with your family, and the job-related tasks you need to carry out every day so that you can earn a living for your Winfield, 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 Winfield, 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 contributing to our Winfield, MO community and providing for your family the best way you can. Our advanced work rehabilitation includes Functional Capacity Evaluations to determine if you are ready to return to your job.
• Sports therapy — Every athletes worst nightmare is an unexpected pop or crack that keeps them off the field or court for weeks, months, or longer. If you suffer an ACL tear, rotator cuff tear, or other sports injury, Axes Physical Therapy in Winfield, 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 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 makes anyone anxious. Whether your surgery is elective or medically necessary, we’ll work with your physician and surgeons to form a complete surgical team to give you piece of mind, and formulate a successful game plan to restore optimal mobility.

However limited you currently are in your mobility, and lifestyle you are trying to get back to, consult with your Winfield, MO doctor about whether or not physical therapy is advisable, or visit one of our locations for a complimentary injury screening from a clinically experienced physical or occupational therapist.

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

The four tenets of mobility are 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 ensures that no muscle is disproportionately strong or weak. Surrounding our joints with healthy and equally strong muscles is vital to preventing injury and reaching optimal movement health.
• Flexibility and range of motion — To improve our mobility to the highest level we can, our muscles, ligaments, and other soft tissue need to be able to lengthen so that the joints they control and protect can function at their highest level.
• Balance — Balance issues are typically caused by:
  • Vision issues
  • A vestibular condition, 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 Winfield, MO will determine what is causing your mobility issues and come up with a treatment plan, based on evidence to get you back to the activities you love. Beyond therapeutic 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 correct posture

If your doctor and therapy team agree, a physical therapist in Winfield, MO can also mold your very own 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 Winfield, MO Helps Beyond Mobility

Physical therapy does more than just increase strength and flexibility. Your personalized treatment plans:

• Pain relief for both acute and chronic conditions without needing to depend on costly and potentially habit forming prescription drugs
• If applicable, the opportunity to avoid surgery by encouraging the body’s own healing methods
• Mobility education, including exercises you can safely do at home, 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, makes you feel better, and promotes better sleep

Other services we offer in Winfield, 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 Winfield, MO | Axes Physical Therapy

Whether you are looking for hand therapy in order to make it easier for you to do basic everyday things, are looking for meaningful pain management for sciatica, or need to return to optimal movement health following a devastating 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 an approach that focuses on personalized treatment. To get back your independence and active lifestyle, request an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today or find the location that works best for you.