Dubuque Physical Therapy | Sports & Orthopedic PT

Are You Curious How Physical Therapy
Are You Curious How Physical Therapy Can Improve Your Overall Wellness?

Everyone aspires to live a healthy, active, and powerful lifestyle – or they should, at least!

However, this type of lifestyle is not always simple to maintain, particularly for people who suffer from chronic pain. Physical therapy, fortunately, is an excellent resource for relieving pain and achieving fitness goals.

Give Dubuque Physical Therapy a call today if you want to start living a healthy lifestyle but aren’t sure where to begin. We’ll tailor a treatment plan to your specific needs so you can achieve your objectives using the most effective approaches.

The importance of leading a healthy lifestyle

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle takes effort, but it becomes a lot simpler once you get into the swing of things.

One of the simplest methods to boost your health is to eat nutritious foods (although we know those sweets are hard to kick.) Physical activity is the most difficult part to develop a habit of, especially if you are hampered by chronic pain.

Some people take anti-inflammatory or pain-relieving medicines to disguise their symptoms, while others give up on the idea of being active completely. Fortunately, with the help of a physical therapist, you may restore your pain-free, healthy lifestyle and resume your favorite hobbies!

Major benefits of seeing a physical therapist for improved health

Whatever your reason for obtaining physical therapy services, the goal remains the same. Perhaps you’re still dealing with the effects of an injury. You might be recovering from surgery and trying to regain your range of motion. Maybe your joints aren’t what they used to be, and you’re seeking a way to feel better. Whatever the case may be, physical therapists are committed to reducing your discomfort and restoring your physical health to its previous state.

A physical therapist is a movement specialist, educated in analyzing mobility issues with walking, running, jumping, bending, stretching, and almost every other form of physical activity. Your physical therapist can pinpoint problem areas and create a customized treatment plan aimed at improving those areas.

Through in-office sessions and at-home exercises, patients strengthen their muscles and joints, improve their balance, build endurance, and experience pain relief, all without the unwanted harmful risks of drugs or surgery.

What should I expect with physical therapy?

Pain alleviation, strengthening, and functional integration are the three main components of physical therapy. Some people fear physical therapy because they assume it may cause pain and be hard to take part in, however, this is usually not the case!

Physical therapy aims to relieve pain and build muscles, and your physical therapist will ensure that your treatment plan does not cause you any discomfort. This is accomplished using a variety of therapeutic options, including ice and heat therapy, stretching, bracing, and ultrasound.

Movement is also necessary for an active lifestyle. Your physical therapist will build a treatment plan for you based on particular movements that will improve your strength, flexibility, balance, and overall mobility. Many of these exercises will be assisted by him or her, but he or she will also supply some basic ones that you can do at home.

Physical therapy allows you to live the life you want, free of severe limits. This can only happen if you apply what you’ve learned in your therapy to the real world. Your physical therapist is just as committed as you are, and he or she will push you to achieve all of the goals you set out for yourself at the start.

Call our clinic today for help

Every patient is unique, and we recognize that at our clinic. That’s why we tailor each treatment plan to the individual needs of each patient. When you come in for your first visit, you’ll have some diagnostic tests done to help your physical therapist figure out where to start with treatments.

Your pain levels, balance, range of motion, and overall function will all be assessed throughout these examinations. In addition, your physical therapist will inquire about your medical history. Following the collection of all of this information, your physical therapist will develop a specific treatment plan to assist you in achieving your health goals.

If you are looking to improve your health, strength, and physical activity, look no further. We can help you get there – even if you’re dealing with pain. To get started on the path toward a healthier and happier lifestyle, call our office today to schedule your consultation!

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Feeling Off-Balance
Feeling Off-Balance? A Stronger Core Can Help Steady You

Do you sometimes feel weak, or like you just can’t get your footing under you? There are several reasons why this might be happening, and a weak core is one of them.

A weak core might make you feel unbalanced and shaky. Physical therapy can help you strengthen your core and improve your balance as a result.

Physical therapy should include core strength training. Your core muscles play an essential part in keeping you balanced whether you’re sitting, standing, or sprinting. The muscles in your core assist in anchoring your center of gravity, allowing you to maintain balance.

Are you trying to find a way to improve your balance? If that’s the case, get in touch with us right away to learn more about how our core strengthening services might help you.

How are balance and core strength related?

It’s crucial to know where your core muscles are before you can focus on strengthening them. Many folks mistakenly believe they are working their core muscles when working their upper abdominal muscles. These muscles are vital for core strength, but they’re not the ones you’re after!

Your exclusive core muscles are in your pelvis, hips, and lower back, along with the transversus abdominis muscles that make up the “pelvic corset.” These core muscles serve as your body’s natural stabilizers, making constant adjustments in response to nerve cells called “proprioceptors,” which give you your sense of spatial awareness.

As your core becomes stronger, you will be able to steady your balance much easier. When muscles are weak, it is more difficult to balance yourself from your center of gravity. This increases your risk for falls, and it can affect your arm and upper body movements. Back pain, difficulty standing up from a seated position, and incontinence may also indicate an unstable core.

How can my balance benefit from physical therapy treatments?

Our physical therapists are highly skilled and dedicated to helping you improve your balance through core strengthening. When you arrive for your first appointment at our physical therapy clinic, your physical therapist will conduct a comprehensive exam to assess your stance, gait, balance, and core muscles.

This will help determine the origin of the weakness and will be the foundation of your treatment plan. Treatment plans will be designed specifically for you and your individual needs. These plans for balance improvement typically include:

  • Tai chi. Tai chi is a slow-motion form of Chinese martial art. The poses and transitions done within this type of treatment can help your body develop the core muscles it needs in order to retain the necessary stability from one move to the next.
  • Gentle exercises. Depending on the severity of your balance impairment, it may be best to start off slow. Your physical therapist may suggest beginning with gentle and safe exercises, such as leg lifts or pelvic tilts. These types of exercises can help strengthen your back, pelvic, and abdominal core muscles.
  • Stability boards. Various types of physical therapy balance boards have a flat surface and a curved underside. Standing on these devices and working to maintain your stability can greatly improve your core balance.
  • Abdominal exercises. These may include sit-ups, pushups, and crunches. Abdominal exercises help strengthen the abdominal muscles that work with your core.

Sometimes, when your core is weak, it can cause you to experience added pressure on areas like your neck and back. When you improve your core strength, you are likely to also improve your posture and thereby reduce your risk of developing neck or back pain in the future. Furthermore, the exercises that help to improve core strength are often helpful in promoting weight loss, and for those who are overweight, this could also help reduce pain in your neck and the back.

Let us help you strengthen your core today

Are issues with your balance hindering your daily life? If so, don’t hesitate to contact us as soon as possible. If the problem is a weak core, a physical therapist can help you to improve your strength in no time at all! We’ll provide you with the core strengthening exercises you need to get back on your feet!

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Is A Painful Herniated Disc Throwing
Is A Painful Herniated Disc Throwing Off Your Routine? PT Could Help

Did you know the spine is made up of 24 bones? Five of such bones are found in the lower back. The spine also contains nerves and intervertebral discs in addition to these bones. Because the spine is such a complicated component of the body, discomfort might arise from time to time. Pain, on the other hand, can sometimes be the result of an underlying problem, such as a herniated disc. One of the earliest signs of a herniated disc is lower back discomfort, which can range from mild to severe.

You might also have weakness, numbness in the legs, or severe and shooting sensations. Patients have also reported losing bladder control as a result of a herniated disc in certain extreme situations.

Herniated discs occur when the jelly-like nucleus protrudes from an intervertebral disc. This happens when the cell wall of the disc is not strong enough to keep the nucleus secure, therefore allowing it to push through the outer ring and begin to bulge.

A herniated disc can develop anywhere along the spine; however, they are most common in the lower back. If you are experiencing back pain and you think it may be caused by a herniated disc, contact our office today to find out how we can help.

Signs you may have a herniated disc

If you believe you may be suffering from a herniated disc, it is important to consult your primary care physician first. Your doctor will perform a physical exam to assess muscle strength and sensation to see if your disc is herniated, and he or she may also conduct a neurological exam.

If your doctor believes your disc is herniated, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan may be done to confirm the diagnosis. From this scan, your doctor will be able to clearly see if there is a herniated disc in the lower back region.

If the disc is putting pressure on the spine, it can be detected. Your doctor will then provide you with a treatment plan, and will likely recommend physical therapy for pain relief.

How does a herniated disc occur in the first place?

Herniated discs are typically associated with aging, as the spine begins to wear down and become more brittle. This is known as “disc degeneration.” The discs in the spine contain a high water content when we’re young, but as we age that water content gradually decreases. This causes the discs to shrink. Therefore, the older we get, the more prone we become to disc degeneration. Other risk factors that can make you more prone to herniated discs include:

  • Driving frequently.
  • Being overweight.
  • Being between the ages of 20-50.
  • Being male.
  • Engaging in improper lifting techniques.
  • Engaging in a sedentary lifestyle.

Physical therapy can provide much-needed relief

Your physical therapist will design a treatment plan that is tailored to your specific needs. This will begin with passive treatments such as manual therapy, traction, ice and heat therapies, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, or hydrotherapy to relieve pain and enhance function.

After your passive treatments are finished, active treatments will commence. This could include back-strengthening core exercises, stretching, and flexibility activities to improve range of motion, and any other muscle-strengthening exercises recommended by your physical therapist. In addition to these exercises, your physical therapist will advise you on any lifestyle modifications that he or she thinks may help you avoid future pain and injury.

Call our clinic today for help

Our physical therapy office is equipped with the best resources and methods for helping you recover and get back to your life. If you are looking for a natural, safe, and non-invasive way to treat your herniated discs, look no further. Call us today to get started on the first steps toward relief!

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