Physical Therapy

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is a great first-line treatment for most muscle and joint problems. Clinically proven to reduce pain and dysfunction, physical therapy also saves you time and money too. Although other kinds of practitioners will offer some of these treatments as “physical therapy,” it’s important for you to know that physical therapy can only be provided by qualified and licensed physical therapists.

The cornerstones of physical therapy treatment are:

  • Patient Education
  • Therapeutic Exercise
  • Functional Training
  • Hands-on Manual Therapy

Depending on the particular needs of a patient, physical therapists may also “mobilize” or “manipulate” a joint (that is, perform certain types of movements at the end of your range of motion) or perform certain soft tissue techniques to muscles to promote proper movement and function.

Pelvic Health

Pelvic Health

Many women have unique pelvic floor conditions that significantly impact their lives and don’t know where to turn. In many cases there is a solution.

Our experts have helped many women with pelvic pain and dysfunction by implementing our unique treatment methodology of patient education, manual techniques, therapeutic exercise, and modalities to achieve fast and long-lasting results for our patients.

We understand and have successfully treated a variety of pelvic floor conditions affecting women. We specialize in the comprehensive evaluation and treatment of the following:

  • Abdominal Adhesions/ Pain
  • Back Pain
  • Bladder Dysfunction
  • Bowel Dysfunction
  • C-Section/ Episiotomy Scar Pain
  • Chronic Low Back Pain/ Sciatica
  • Coccydenia (Tailbone Pain)
  • Dyspareunia (Painful Intercourse)
  • Endometriosis
  • Hip Pain
  • Interstitial Cystitis
  • Pelvic Pain/ Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
  • Pelvic Organ Prolapse (Cystocele and Rectocele)
  • Piriformis Syndrome
  • Post Prostatectomy
  • Pre-Natal/Post Natal Care
  • Sciatica
  • Urinary Frequency/ Urgency/ Incontinence
  • Urinary Retention
  • Vulvodynia & Vaginismus

Manual Therapy

Manual Therapy

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:

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

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 (Lateral Epicondylitis)
  • Golfers Elbow (Medial Epicondylitis)
  • Pinched Nerves
  • Limited Joint Range of Motion
  • Capsule Tightness
  • Postsurgical Stiffness
  • Much More

Wellness

Wellness

Every day you have a choice on what level of effort you want to put into your wellness. This full body focus affects your daily activity, nutrition, and hydration and takes a role in your active wellness. 

Physical therapists are uniquely qualified to prevent injury and disability, and we fully support role that healthy lifestyles, wellness, and injury prevention play in your daily life. There are a couple of options that we offer in terms of wellness that might benefit you:

  • Wellness can be important as you make the transition from no longer needing physical therapy services regularly, but still want guidance on what to do next.
  • Wellness can be a great alternative to a person who might not need regular physical therapy services. Instead you might need a little bit of help with daily activities or nutrition.

For more ways that we can help with wellness, request a wellness appointment below to meet with a member of our team.

*Our prices are subject to change

Dry Needling

Dry Needling

Dry Needling is also known as intramuscular stimulation (IMS) and trigger point dry needling (TDN). It is a safe, effective and efficient treatment used to:

  • Relax myofascial trigger points, and
  • Restore normal muscle tones, muscle length, coordination, function and strength

Dry needling involves the insertion and repetitive manipulation of a “dry”, solid filament needle in a trigger point in order to produce an involuntary spinal cord reflex, also known as a local twitch response (LTR). This results in lasting muscle relaxation due to the release of shortened bands of muscle fibers for overactive (tight) muscles or the activation of under-active (weak) muscles. Deactivation of the trigger points can bring immediate relief of symptoms, so the therapist can immediately train the muscles to work with the newly gained pain-free range of motion (ROM).

Dry needling has successfully been used to treat a variety of conditions including:

  • Head and Neck Pain – including whiplash and headaches / migraines, degenerative joint disease, degenerative disc disease or osteoarthritis
  • Shoulder Pain – including rotator cuff muscle tears, bursitis, adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder), tendonitis and impingement syndrome
  • Elbow Pain – including lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) and medial epicondylitis (golfer’s elbow)
  • Hand and Wrist Pain – including gamekeeper’s thumb, DeQuervain’s syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, degenerative joint disease and osteoarthritis
  • Back Pain – including lumbar degenerative disc disease, arthritic changes and herniated discs
  • Hip Pain – including iliotibial band syndrome (IT band syndrome), piriformis syndrome, sciatica and arthritis
  • Knee Pain – including sprained or strained ligaments, cartilage tears, tendonitis and osteoarthritis
  • Shin / Ankle / Foot Pain – including shin splints, gout, metatarsalgia and Morton’s neuroma
  • Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Pain)
  • Acute and Chronic Tendonitis
  • Athletic and Sports-related Overuse Injuries
  • Post-surgical Pain
  • Post-traumatic Injuries, Motor Vehicle Accidents (MVA), and Work-related Injuries
  • Other Chronic Pain Conditions – including osteoarthritis and myofascial pain / myofascial pain syndrome (MPS)

Yoga & Pilates

Yoga & Pilates

Many are involved in or are interested in starting a Pilates exercise program. Indeed, one of the advantages of the Pilates method is that it works so well for a wide range of people.

Athletes and dancers love it, as do seniors, women rebounding from pregnancy, and people who are at various stages of physical rehabilitation.

Pilates was created with a specific focus on the following:

  • Strength
  • Flexibility
  • Breathing
  • Posture
  • Increased mind/body awareness

While no exercise results in drastic improvements immediately, if you do it on a regular basis, you will definitely notice great changes in both your body and lifestyle.

The purpose of yoga is to build strength, awareness and harmony in both the mind and body.

While there are more than 100 different types, or schools, of yoga, most sessions typically include breathing exercises, meditation, and assuming postures (sometimes called asana or poses) that stretch and flex various muscle groups. 

The relaxation techniques incorporated in yoga can lessen chronic pain, such as lower back pain, arthritis, headaches and carpal tunnel syndrome. Yoga can also lower blood pressure and reduce insomnia. Other physical benefits of yoga include:

  • increased flexibility
  • increased muscle strength and tone
  • improved respiration, energy and vitality
  • maintaining a balanced metabolism
  • weight reduction
  • cardio and circulatory health
  • improved athletic performance
  • protection from injury

Breast Cancer Rehab

Breast Cancer Rehab

Cancer recovery is a complex, extremely challenging and emotional process filled with uncertainty. The good news is that when it comes to post-surgical rehabilitation, we can help.

Our physical therapists know what you are going through and regularly work with women who are in need of rehabilitation services.

Patients diagnosed with breast cancer that undergo surgical mastectomy and/or reconstruction often experience:

  • Scarring and adhesions
  • Swelling
  • Axillary webbing
  • Lymphedema
  • Limited range of motion of the neck or shoulder
  • Problems with strength in the neck, chest, shoulder, and arm
  • Loss of endurance – deconditioning of the cardiorespiratory system is common

All patients start the rehabilitation process with a thorough initial evaluation. We will ask you questions about your health history, current condition, limitations with daily activities, and rehabilitation goals. We then perform a gentle physical examination to identify muscle, joint, skin, and lymphatic dysfunction.

  • Based on our assessment, we will share with you a personalized physical therapy treatment plan. Treatment may consist of one or more of the following:

    • Manual Lymph Drainage mobilizations to stimulate lymph drainage and reduce swelling
    • Bandaging, bracing, or compression garments to reduce lymphedema swelling
    • Exercise to help reduce swelling, recover range of motion, and/or improve strength
    • Skin care to reduce the risk of infection and maintain soft tissue health
    • Referral for fitting of a compression garment to maintain edema reduction
    • Education of the patient, family, and caregivers on a home program.
    • ASTYM as a specialized technique used to address scar tissue and adhesions
    • Pilates as a form of exercise during and after the rehabilitative phase of treatment

Cupping

Cupping

Cupping is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practice that involves placing cups on the skin to create suction. This practice dates back over 2,000 years but has received recent attention due to its use by world-class athletes for injury relief.

The cups used in cupping are typically made of bamboo, glass, or earthenware.

It’s believed that the effect of suction on the skin helps increase blood flow and promotes healing; however, the way in which cupping may have an effect on the body is unclear.
A study in PLoS One researchers concluded that cupping could be effective in treating the pain and disability associated with chronic neck pain and chronic low-back pain in the short term.

Cupping is generally safe for healthy people when performed by one of our trained health professionals.

Free Injry Screening

Free Injury Screening

Call us today today or click here to request an appointment for a free injury screen. As a patient you do have a choice. You can go directly to a licensed physical therapist for evaluation and treatment, as well as injury prevention and fitness promotion, without a physician’s referral or prescription for up to 21 days or 10 treatment visits, whichever occurs first. This is know as “Direct Access”.

Since the Public Act 260 of 2014 became effective January 1, 2015, people in Michigan have been empowered to take more control over their health by directly accessing the services of a licensed physical therapist. This could potentially help you avoid delays of health care services that may otherwise result in additional costly medical tests and treatments. Let us help you get the pain relief you need and help you quickly get back to the activities you love to do.

Before making an appointment for physical therapy treatments, be sure to check with your insurance carrier to find out if direct access is covered or if a physician referral is required. Medicare patients will need their physicians to sign their plans of care (POC) in order for the physical therapy services to be covered. However, self-pay patients can receive our help without having to worry about any imposed limits.

Lymphedema

Lymphedema

Lymphedema refers to swelling that generally occurs in one of your arms or legs. Sometimes both arms or both legs swell. Lymphedema is most commonly caused by the removal of or damage to your lymph nodes as a part of cancer treatment.

For people with cancer, the build-up of lymph fluid can be caused by:

  • Cancer surgery, especially when lymph nodes are removed
  • Radiation therapy that can damage nearby tissue that might include lymph nodes or lymph vessels
  • Infections that damage surrounding tissue or cause scarring
  • Other health conditions, such as heart or vascular disease, arthritis, and eczema
  • Gene changes or mutations that involve the lymph system
  • Injury or trauma to a certain area of the body

The first-line treatment for lymphedema is complex physical therapy. This treatment is aimed at improving lymphedema with manual lymphatic drainage, massage, and exercise.

Pre & Post Natal

Pre & Post Natal

During the prenatal period, physical and hormonal changes occur, which can affect the musculoskeletal system.  These changes include altered posture, shortened muscles, potential muscle imbalances, as well as changes in spinal mobility and bony alignment.

During the postpartum phase, fluctuating hormone levels combined with additional physical changes as a result of delivery may also result in musculoskeletal concerns, such as excessive joint mobility, potential muscle imbalances, weakness of the core stabilizers and altered spinal mobility and function. 

The goal of physical therapy during pregnancy and postpartum periods is to address spinal and pelvic joint dysfunction, instruct in exercises to address muscle weakness and imbalance, as well as provide guidance and instruction related to modification of ADLs that may be difficult during these phases of life.

Sports Therapy

Sports Therapy

Sports Therapy or sport physical therapy is a specialized area of physical therapy that deals with both acute, chronic, and repetitive injuries in professional, collegiate, high school and recreational athletes. Practice includes the thorough evaluation, treatment, transition back to sport, prevention, and performance enhancement programs.

Post-Surgical Rehabilitation
Often, sports therapists work with post-surgical athletes to help them recover their strength, range of motion, and activities of daily living. To accomplish this sports therapy specialists use techniques such as:

  • Manual Therapy – specialized hands-on techniques to facilitate movement, and functional control.
  • Therapeutic Exercise – from active range of motion (simply working against gravity), to advanced resistance protocols, sports therapists help an athlete recover the necessary strength to compete in their given sport.
  • Heat, ice, taping techniques, and electrical stimulation
  • Functional Retraining – all sports require specialized balance, movement patterns, and dynamic flexibility and stability. Sports therapy includes retraining the athlete in their given area of interest or excellence. Examples include helping pitchers recover their throwing mechanics. Assisting football players in cutting, catching, throwing, and backpedaling. Helping basketball players recover the jumping, shuffling, and shooting mechanics.
  • Dynamic Strength & Endurance Training – most sports require endurance, balance, and short burst of intense strength output. In the later stages of rehabilitation of athletes, sports therapists transition players to advanced conditioning programs that closely replicate their experience on the court or playing field.

Visceral Manipulation

Visceral Manipulation

Visceral Manipulation uses specific hand placements applying gentle forces to promote normal tone and movements within and between the internal organs.  The organs and other structures of the body have to be able to slide and glide around each other to maintain normal motion. These structures are connected through a thin layer of connective tissue called fascia. Fascia is a continuous piece of tissue that goes from your head down to your toes and wraps around all the structures in the body including muscle, ligaments, tendons, bone, nerves, and blood vessels. If a restriction forms anywhere in this network of tissue it can cause tension in other areas of the body. Restrictions are caused by inflammation, and inflammation is a result of: infection, direct trauma, repetitive movement, diet, environmental toxins, poor posture, and emotional stress. The goal for visceral manipulation is to enhance normal movement between structure as well as within them by lengthening adhesions to improve: circulation of the body, nerve flow, lymphatic flow, breathing, sleep, mood, flow through the digestive system, spasms in areas of tension, and pain levels. In 90% of musculoskeletal complaints there is a related visceral competent to it. So visceral manipulation can help with any from Musculoskeletal complaints (e.i. back pain, neck pain, hip pain, shoulder pain…), to pinched, swelling/edema, prolapses, hormonal imbalances, digestive problems (gallbladder, constipation, diarrhea), and hiatal hernias .

  • Circulation of the body
  • Nerve flow
  • Lymphatic flow
  • Breathing
  • Sleep
  • Mood
  • Flow through the digestive system
  • Spasms in areas of tension
  • Pain levels

Dizziness

Dizziness

There are more than a dozen causes of dizziness and many reasons why you might have difficulty with your balance.

Treatment of balance & dizziness disorders can be very complex. Nevertheless, we have helped numerous residents in the community cope with or recover from conditions that cause balance disorders.

The first thing your doctor will do if you have a balance problem is determine if another health condition or a medication is to blame. If so, your doctor will treat the condition, suggest a different medication, or in many cases, refer you to one of our balance disorder experts here at Impact.

Common Diagnoses We Work With Include:

  • Central Nervous System Disorders
  • Neuropathy
  • Age-Related Balance Dysfunction
  • Oculomotor (Visual) Dysfunction
  • Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
  • Labyrinthitis
  • Ménière’s Disease
  • Vestibular Neuronitis
  • Muscle Atrophy
  • Nerve Injuries

The most important part of treating a balance disorder is understanding your diagnosis, the cause of the problem, and how to manage it. That’s why we place great emphasis on patient education and coordination of care with your referring physician.