Orthopedic Physical Therapy

If you have an injury or illness that affects your bones, joints, muscles, tendons, or ligaments, you may benefit from the skilled services of a physical therapist trained in orthopedic physical therapy.

Conditions in Orthopedic Physical Therapy 

Orthopedic physical therapy focuses on treating conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system, which is made up of your joints, muscles, bones, ligaments, and tendons. Orthopedic injuries and conditions may include:

• Fractures
• Muscle strains
• Ligament sprains
• Post-operative conditions
• Tendonitis
• Bursitis

An injury to a bone, joint, tendon, ligament, or muscle may cause pain, limited functional mobility, and loss of strength or range of motion. These impairments may prevent you from enjoying your normal work or recreational activities. The focus of orthopedic physical therapy is to help your injury heal properly and improve your strength, range of motion, and overall functional mobility.

After surgery, you may have specific limitations that your surgeon wants you to adhere to. Your orthopedic physical therapist can help guide you through your post-operative rehab program to get you back to your normal lifestyle quickly and safely. After your therapy is complete you may decide that a post-therapy program is something you want to continue. Comber Physical Therapy and Fusion Chiropractic offers a Post Therapy Program for only $50/month. 

Tools of the Trade 

Your orthopedic physical therapist uses specific tools to help you during your rehab. These may include:

• Therapeutic modalities like heat, ice, ultrasound, or electrical stimulation
• Assistive devices, such as walkers or canes
• Orthotics and prosthetics
• Exercise tools and equipment
• Evaluation and assessment tools
• Mobilization or soft tissue massage with Graston Technique or Gua Sha

While your PT may use various instruments and tools to help you move better and get better, exercise is often your main tool to help you recover fully and prevent future orthopedic problems. Exercises in orthopedic physical therapy often involve:

• Strengthening exercises
• Stretching and flexibility exercises
• Exercises to improve range of motion
• Balance exercises
• Functional mobility exercises
• Endurance exercises
• Plyometric and jumping-type exercises

Your orthopedic physical therapist can teach you the right exercises for your specific condition that can help you regain your normal mobility. The exercises you do in an orthopedic physical therapy may also be done at home as part of a home exercise program.