Mobility in Woodhine Heights, MO. Our bodies are meant to to make walking and other movements easy. But sometimes, we sustain an injury or other condition that keeps us from the activities we love. While experiencing pain and other factors that affect mobility can affect our mental health as well, Axes Physical Therapy in Woodhine Heights, MO offers solutions that have been proven to be successful and that are customized specifically to getting you back to the life you want to live. Regardless of whether your mobility is limited because of an injury, a degenerative condition, or a musculoskeletal problem such as sciatica, begin your journey to optimal mobility and a pain-free daily life now by requesting a free evaluation with Axes today or calling the the one of our multiple locations nearest you.

The dictionary definition of mobility is, “the ability to move… freely and easily.” For some of us that looks like walking up the stairs comfortably, while others need to get back to serving an ace on the tennis court. Whatever it means to you, if can’t complete the activities you want to speak with your doctor about professional physical therapy services.

Functional Mobility in Woodhine Heights, MO

Functional mobility refers to a person’s ability to complete daily tasks. This can be anything from 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 another, 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.

While the injury or condition affecting your functional mobility may mean that you currently rely on assistance in order to complete basic tasks, the Woodhine Heights, MO physical and occupational therapists at Axes are committed to helping you regain your independence. Whether your currently limited functional mobility was caused by an ACL tear, arthritis or other joint pain, or even a degenerative condition like Parkinson’s disease, we’ll create a personalized plan that has been proven to help people like you return to optimal mobility. Most treatment plans include strengthening, balance, and flexibility movements. Our therapists are also experts vestibular therapy for people who have a debilitating vestibular disorder.

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

1. Complete independence, meaning you are able to achieve specific mobility thresholds without assistance 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 independently but need someone to monitor you so you don’t hurt yourself
4. Minimal assistance, meaning you can do 75% or more while a physical therapist 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 are unable to put in a quarter of the effort required, or that even testing whether or not you can do it could lead to you becoming hurt

At Axes Physical Therapy in Woodhine Heights, MO, your tailor-made treatment plan may include gradually allowing you more and more independence until you get the highest level you can. All of our treatment plans 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 thorough evaluation of your health to ensure that the treatment modalities we have in mind for you are safe for someone suffering from the same ailment you are.

Beyond Functional Mobility in Woodhine Heights, MO

Obviously, many of us desire a higher level of movement health than just being to move between furniture independently. There are pickleball leagues to dominate, your children to pick up, and the job-related tasks you need to perform every day so that you can earn a living for your Woodhine Heights, MO family. At Axes, we offer comprehensive physical and occupational physical therapy that 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 Woodhine 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 Woodhine 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 an unexpected fall or collision that keeps them off the field or court for anywhere from a couple weeks to a year. Our Woodhine Heights, 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 can also educate you on the specifics of 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 give you piece of mind, and formulate an effective strategy to restore optimal mobility.

However limited you currently are in your mobility, and the extent to wish you want to improve it, consult with your Woodhine Heights, MO doctor about what physical therapy can do for you, or come see us for a complimentary injury screening from a professional physical or occupational therapist.

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

The four determinants 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 helps to make sure no muscle is stronger or weaker than it should be in relation to the muscles around it. Having equal muscle balance around joints is imperative in preventing injury and reaching optimal movement health.
• Flexibility and range of motion — To achieve optimal movement health, 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 — Problems with balance are usually caused by:
  • Vision issues
  • A vestibular disorder, or a problem in your inner ear
  • Your proprioceptive system, the sense of awareness ingrained in our muscles and joints

A clinically experienced physical therapist in Woodhine Heights, MO will find the root of your mobility issues and develop a safe and effective treatment plan to improve your movement health. Beyond therapeutic 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 good posture education

If required, a physical therapist in Woodhine Heights, 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 Woodhine 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. Your proven treatment plans:

• Pain relief, whether from an injury or pain that is chronic in nature without having to use painkillers or opioids
• If applicable, the opportunity to avoid a surgical procedure by motivating your body to heal on its own
• Movement health education, including exercises you can do in the comfort of your own home with no risk to injury, injury prevention techniques, and correct posture
• Encouraging better physical health, carries with it the benefits of enhanced energy, decreases your risk of heart disease, contributes to a healthy weight, improves your mood, and encourages your body to get a full 8 hours of sleep

Other services we offer in Woodhine Heights, 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 Woodhine Heights, MO | Axes Physical Therapy

Whether you need hand therapy in order to make it easier for you to use a computer, 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 will develop and implement the treatment plan that works best for you. We employ a an approach that focuses on personalized treatment. To restore the level of mobility you deserve, request an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today or find the location most convenient for you.