Manual therapy is a hands-on treatment by clinicians to treat muscle aches, joint pain, and limited range of motion. It encompasses a variety of techniques including soft tissue mobilization of muscles, specific joint mobilization, and joint manipulation.

The three most notable forms of manual therapy are:

• Manipulation is the application of a rapid force into a joint(s). Manipulation is often associated with an audible popping sound called cavitation.
• Mobilization is a slower, more controlled process of articular and soft-tissue stretching intended to improve joint mobility.
• Massage is typically the repetitive rubbing, stripping or kneading of muscle and fascia tissues to facilitate healing.

Manual therapy has been proven to be an important part of an overall conservative treatment plan for a variety of conditions including:

• Adhesive capsulitis
• Shoulder impingement
• Shoulder stiffness/limited range of motion
• Tennis elbow
• Golfers elbow
• Pinched nerves
• Limited joint range of motion
• Capsule tightness
• Postsurgical stiffness
• Much more.

Manual therapy is typically part of a complete treatment plan that is customized for your specific needs. Give us a call to learn how we can incorporate manual therapy into your rehabilitation program.

If you are a youth, collegiate, elite, or professional athlete, when you are injured, you need a physical therapist with experience rehabilitating sports-related injuries.

Athletes place higher demands on the muscles and joints and also require sport-specific training to recover speed, power, and agility. This is the specific training that our therapists provide.

Our physical therapists have years of experience rehabilitating athletes with:

• Postsurgical rehabilitation of the knee, shoulder, ankle, hip, and spine
• Shoulder & rotator cuff injuries
• Ligament sprains
• Muscle strains
• ACL, PCL, MCL, LCL rehab
• Tendonitis/bursitis
• Post-fracture rehab
• Tennis elbow
• Overhead sports injuries (throwing, swimming, etc.)
• Running & cycling injuries

A Personalized Recovery Process

The process starts with a thorough evaluation of your condition and your personal goals. We then provide a custom program including the following:

• Control of Pain & Inflammation
• Recovery of Range of Motion
• Hands-on Techniques
• Neuromuscular Retraining
• Core & Extremity Strengthening
• Balance & Proprioceptive Activities
• Speed, Endurance, & Power Training
• Sport-specific Retraining

Optimizing the Recovery Process

Injuries are an unfortunate side effect of sports but they don’t have to sideline you indefinitely. With the application of the latest clinical research, we can work hand-in-hand with your referring physician/surgeon to optimize the recover process so you can reach your full potential.

Give us a call today to learn more about our sports rehabilitation program.

Recent Blog Posts From Our Office Of Physical Therapy in Franklin, Michigan

The Importance of Strength Training for Athletes

One of the most physically demanding jobs today is being an Athlete. For an athlete, it is important to be both mentally and physically strong. Strength training plays an important role in an athlete’s career and not only does strength training build stronger muscles but increases your overall athletic performance. Here at Empower Physical Therapy, not only can we help you recover from an injury but we will work with you to improve your athletic performance. With our two facilities, Empower Physical Therapy in Franklin, Michigan, through the use of the latest technology, will work to fulfill your healthcare goals and needs. 

Benefits of Strength Training

As an athlete, maintaining a strong healthy body can allow you to perform your athletic activity without the feelings of fatigue and a good way to prevent injury. Strength Training can help:

• Build healthy muscles and bones  
• Maintain body weight
• Develops good posture
• Boost energy and mood
• Prevent injuries
• Decreases fatigue

Why Train at Empower Physical Therapy in Franklin, Michigan?

While strength training can help prevent injuries, it can be very easy to get injured while training. Training here with Empower will ensure you get that one-on-one training to avoid any possible injuries. 

Here are some tips to help you prevent any injuries:

• Start slow and gradually build up your workout intensity
• Allow your body to recover
• Make sure to listen to your body if you feel any discomfort or pain
• Making sure you use proper techniques
• Rest in between sets 
• Go to a Trainer

Common Sports Injuries We Treat Here At Our Franklin Facility

No matter if you are a youth, collegiate, elite, or professional athlete, our physical therapists have had years of training to not only get your body back in shape but work to achieve even better results than before. Injuries may include:

• Post-surgical rehabilitation
• Shoulder rotator cuff
• Ligament and Muscle strain
• ACL,PCL,MCL
• Tendonitis
• Overhead sports injuries

Check out our website for more information on the other services we can offer you.

When Should You See a Professional

Most of the time, people only tend to seek out a professional once they are already injured. Here at Empower Physical Therapy in Franklin, Michigan we will not only help you recover from an injury but also fit your needs to improve sports performance. Meeting with one of our Physical therapists can help you make sure you are properly training to avoid any future injuries as well as making sure you are on track with your fitness goals.

Request An Appointment For Physical Therapy in Franklin, Michigan

Contact us today to learn more about how we can cater to your specific needs in each of our locations in the Michigan area. Empower Physical Therapy in Franklin, Michigan is here to help you recover from your sports injuries and get you back to feeling your best. 

Should I Get Physical Therapy Treatment For My Shoulder Pain?

You may not realize how many everyday activities you utilize your shoulders until you start experiencing shoulder pain. Everyday tasks such as brushing your hair, reaching into a cabinet, or exercising can become daunting and can have a significant impact on your daily life. The pain can cause a great deal of discomfort and hamper your ability to move your arm around freely. If you are experiencing shoulder pain you should consider seeking Physical Therapy in Franklin, Michigan. The team at Empower Physical Therapy can help you identify how the injury occurred, help you with the recovery process, and provide methods to prevent any future shoulder injuries.

Common Causes of Shoulder Pain

Due to the shoulder’s complex anatomy, there are many causes for shoulder pain. It can arise from a variety of activities such as manual labor, overuse and repetitive movement, sports, and more. Often the cause can be identified by going to Physical Therapy in Franklin, Michigan, and identifying the area of the shoulder in which you are experiencing pain. Common causes of shoulder pain can include:

• Arthritis
• Torn Rotator Cuff
• Dislocated Shoulder
• Pinched Nerve

When Should You Seek Physical Therapy Treatment?

While shoulder pain may be common, it is important to know when you should seek physical therapy for your injury. In many cases, you should be able to treat the pain at home with over the counter medicines, rest, and heat and ice applications. However, if you are not sure how the injury occurred, at-home care is not reducing the pain or you are experiencing severe pain, you may need to seek professional treatment. There are many signs in which you may need to seek help from a medical professional. You should consider Physical Therapy in Franklin, Michigan if you exhibit any of the following signs:

• Shoulder pain that persists for a few days
• Inability to raise your arm
• Swelling or bruising around your shoulder
• An injury that causes a deformity of the joint 
• Repeat shoulder pain

Contact Our Team at Empower Physical Therapy in Franklin, Michigan

By going to Physical Therapy in Franklin, Michigan, the team at Empower PT can help patients with many things. These include:

• Increase shoulder strength
• Help restore mobility
• Help patients safely return to pre-injury activities
• Provide tips to prevent any future injuries

If you are experiencing any of the above signs of shoulder pain, please contact Empower Physical Therapy to schedule an appointment today!

Should I Consider Physical Therapy Before Surgery?

Are you or a loved one planning on having surgery shortly? At Empower Physical Therapy and Fitness, our expert trained physical therapists are ready to consult with you and discuss further options before and after your surgery. Whether you are recovering from an injury, want to improve your sports performance, lose weight, or just want a better quality of life, our quality Physical Therapy in Franklin, Michigan, will have you feeling better than you ever have before!

Physical Therapy Before Surgery

In retrospect, seeking help and assistance from a physical therapist before your surgery is not necessarily required. However, studies have shown that physical therapy before a procedure is beneficial. 

Physical Therapy, before having surgery, is also called prehabilitation. The goal of prehabilitation is to strengthen the muscle groups in the affected area to increase the chance of regaining normal function in that area. 

In a study taken to see if prehabilitation is beneficial in the recovery of surgery, doctors carefully monitored individuals about to undergo ACL surgery. One portion of the participants took part in a physical therapy program, while the other did not. This study showed substantial results in the group who completed the physical therapy program, outperforming the other group in the physical evaluation. 

The study also found that there was an exponential difference between the two groups returning back to sports activities. The group who participated in physical therapy before their surgery returned back to normal activities almost ten weeks before the group who did not participate in the physical therapy program. 

What Services Can We Offer You at Empower PT and Fitness?

The phases of Physical Therapy in Franklin, Michigan, intend to work on increased flexibility, range of motion, and strength before moving on to an evaluation of your progress of the program. At Empower Physical Therapy and Fitness, we are experts in the arts and sciences of evaluating and treatment of any dysfunctions in human movement. 

Some of the conditions we have successfully rehabilitated include: 

• Total hip, shoulder, and knee replacements. 
• Neck Fusion.
• Arthroscopic Surgical Repairs. 
• Rotator Cuff Repairs. 
• Subacromial Decompression. 
• ACL/PCL Reconstruction. 

Our Physical Therapists also understand the importance of communicating with your surgeon pre and post your surgery. We strive to follow the number of proper pre-surgical and post-surgical protocols and ensure their patient is taking the necessary steps to ensure they are on the proper route to recovery. 

Our Physical Therapists also will keep in close contact with the patient’s referring physician in regards to any precautions or recommendations based on the condition of the patient. Our goal of the rehabilitation process of Physical Therapy in Franklin, Michigan, is to: 

• Recover the patient’s joint mobilization. 
• Recover the patient’s strength in the affected area. 
• Pain relief in the affected area. 
• Improved function of the patient’s affected area. 
• Educate the patient on at-home care following physical therapy. 

Physical Therapy in Franklin, Michigan

It is important for the patient to keep in mind that the recovery process will vary, regardless of whether or not you decide to participate in a physical therapy program before or after your procedure. The patient may be required to have more than one visit or an extended care plan for several weeks, depending on the severity of the patient’s procedure.

Although physical therapy before your surgery is not necessarily required, it is incredibly beneficial for the recovery process. For more information about Physical Therapy in Franklin, Michigan, please visit our website. 

Contact Us For Physical Therapy in Franklin, Michigan