Physical Therapy Services

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Be touched!
The therapeutic power of touch has been known throughout time.

At Accurate we offer both physical therapy and massage.

Physical Therapy

Our physical therapists provide assessment and management of many physical ailments that impair mobility and function. These skilled therapists can help provide relief of pain stemming from cervical and lumbar disc disease as well as injuries involving the joints, especially shoulders, hips and knees. Mobility and strength can be improved .

Myofascial Release (MFR) is a special technique offered by Ulrike Naresth, one of our physical therapists. MFR is a manual technique which addresses soft tissue restrictions and guarding and bracing patterns. These restrictions put an enormous amount of pressure on nerve sensitive tissue, which results in pain. Frequently, muscle imbalances (which is different from weakness) are also present. These imbalances  may affect any joint, but are particularly detrimental when they occur in the low back or neck.


Physical Therapy Assessment

A physical therapy assessment is an examination where the following things listed below are tested and measured to provide the patient, therapist and physician information about the tissues and structures that are damaged or weak and contributing to the patient's pain and disability.

Muscle Strength:  
Individual muscles are tested when the therapist puts the patient's body in specific positions that isolate a specific muscle.   The patient has to push against the resistance provided by the therapist, and the amount of force a patient can generate is given a grade between 1 & 5.

Flexibility:  
Neck, low back, and limb movements are all measured using a tool called a goniometer.   This tells the therapist and physician where the patient has movement limitations.

Combined Movement Testing:  
These are movement patterns that the therapist puts the patient through based on where the patient's injury is.   The therapist analyses the movements and looks for abnormal movement patterns and painful arcs of motion.

Accessory Joint Mobility Testing:  
This is when the therapist moves the patient's joints without any help from the patient to test the glide of each joint. This allows an assessment of what problems each joint may have.

Palpation:  
The therapist feels the patients' muscles for spasm, tightness and trigger points and areas that are tender to touch pressure.

 

When these tests are completed, the therapist applies the findings to create a map of what tissues and structures are involved in the pain. This provides the therapist with the means to guide and instruct the patient in aspects of body mechanics that will give the patient insights and methods to reduce their pain. These methods may include alternative ways of performing certain activities as well as specific stretching and strengthening exercises tailored to meet the individual needs of the patient. The therapist discusses these results with the patient at the end of the assessment and a full report is sent to the patient's physician.  

It is also an excellent opportunity for the patient to ask questions regarding the physical management of their pain.

The assessment session typically takes 60-90 minutes and allows the patient to get an updated look at the overall condition of their musculoskeletal system.  
For those patients who prefer to work on their own and not pursue further sessions, guidelines for an independent therapeutic program will be provided.

 

Now is the time.