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 near Pontiac, MI

Should I Consider Physical Therapy near Pontiac, MI 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 near Pontiac, MI, 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 near Pontiac, MI, 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 near Pontiac, MI, 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 near Pontiac, MI

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 near Pontiac, MI, please visit our website. 

How Can Manual Therapy Help Ease Chronic Pain?

Those suffering from chronic pain often chalk it up to just being a normal part of the aging process and view it as something to be managed rather than eliminated. However, it is never normal to be living in a state of constant pain. Luckily for you, manual therapy can help.  If you or a loved one is suffering from chronic pain and is interested in beginning Physical Therapy near Pontiac, MI, look no further than Empower Physical Therapy. Our skilled team has the experience and resources to make your pain a thing of the past!

What is Physical Therapy near Pontiac, MI?

The term manual therapy refers to hands-on treatment that can be used to treat both aches and pains and restore range of motion. Manual therapy is typically divided into the following three subsections:

• Manipulation
• Mobilization
• Massage

Manipulation refers to the rapid movement of a joint that often produces a loud popping sound (cavitation). When manipulating the joint moves to its anatomical limit in an effort to restore its full range of motion. Mobilization often consists of slower movements that stretch soft tissue to improve the mobility of the joint. It also involves movements of varying speeds. Lastly, a massage is the repetitive hands-on manipulation of a muscle through rubbing or kneading, designed to reduce tension and promote healing. 

Why Should Manual Therapy Interest Me?

Perhaps the biggest strength of manual therapy as a treatment method is that it is widely customizable and is incredibly specific to your condition. No two manual therapy patients have the same exact problem, and manual therapists are trained to be able to tailor treatment to your unique circumstance. Aside from its ability to match your exact condition, here are some of the other proven benefits of manual therapy.

• Muscle relaxation
• Breaks up scar tissue
• Improves Flexibility
• Improves range of motion
• Reduces muscle spasms 

Seeking Physical Therapy near Pontiac, MI?

If you or someone you know is looking to start Physical Therapy near Pontiac, MI our team at Empower Physical Therapy has it under control. Our two convenient locations are filled with state of the art equipment and staff of experts that will help you return to full health as quickly as possible. Contact us today to set up an appointment!

Contact Us For Physical Therapy near Pontiac, MI