Robin

physical therapist performs Neck Pain Treatment Technique

Therapy For Neck Pain

by

Neck pain can be debilitating, and it’s tempting to rush to an orthopedic doctor to get help. But wait – physical therapists are skilled at evaluating and treating most neck pain problems. What’s more, they are trained to assess whether your condition requires more diagnostic evaluation. Seeing a physical therapist first saves valuable time and expense for the majority of neck pain conditions. At Saunders, our approach entails:

Musculoskeletal Evaluation: A thorough evaluation will be performed on your initial visit to assess for possible muscle imbalances, myofascial restrictions, joint dysfunction, and nerve involvement that may be contributing to your symptoms.

Manual Therapy: Our therapists all have advanced training in manual therapy which is a hands-on approach that addresses restrictions in the soft tissue, myofascial system, and/or the spinal joints to facilitate proper alignment and healing.

Spinal Stabilization and Exercise: Studies have shown that deep muscles which control spinal movement are inhibited with your first episode of neck problems. These muscles do not automatically return to proper function when the pain subsides, leaving you vulnerable to further injury. You will be shown specific exercises to activate these muscles properly, decreasing the likelihood of future neck pain episodes.

Postural Education and Body Mechanics: Our physical therapists will teach you body awareness and you will learn mechanics and postures that decrease load and stress on the spine, relieving your neck pain.

Neck Pain Treatment Technique

Physical Therapy Neck Pain Techniques

Physical therapists can immediately decrease neck pain with manual therapy, myofascial techniques, postural training, and restoring muscular length and strength through specific exercise.

 

work hardening client using wrench to tighten unistrut

How Often Do I Attend Work Hardening? How Long is Each Session?

by

The goal of Work Hardening is to simulate the intensity of real work. Therefore, your program will usually increase from a minimum of 2 hours per session, up to a maximum of 8 hours per session. We often increase to 5 days per week in the last week of the program. Sometimes, full days aren’t needed, especially if your work doesn’t require constant physical activity, or if you are supplementing Work Hardening with part-time work. Your Work Hardening Team will plan your program WITH you to design the right combination of hours and days per week.

work hardening client squatting to lift bread crates for job simulation

How Long is a Typical Work Hardening Program?

by

Your Work Hardening team works with YOU to identify goals and barriers and develop a comprehensive plan to help get you back to work. In some cases, a short 2-3 week Work Hardening program is enough to put the “finishing touches” on your physical rehabilitation. The goal of this shorter program is to improve strength, endurance, and confidence so that you’re physically and mentally ready to jump back into the job. If you’ve been off work for a long time, have a complicated injury, or have been experiencing chronic pain, the program can be as long as 6-10+ weeks. We will plan your program together to make sure it works for you.

work hardening client sorting medium sized boxes

Work Hardening – What Exactly Will I Do?

by

Most people who are referred for Work Hardening have physical barriers that prevent them from reaching their work goals. Examples of these are stiffness, weakness, poor balance, or poor endurance. We stress general fitness, endurance, and work simulation, as well as specific muscle and joint work as needed. The exact combination of these physical restoration elements is customized for each client. Work simulation is one of the most important elements of your rehabilitation, and is something you may not have experienced in your previous physical therapy sessions.

In addition, many clients who have been off work for a long period of time are struggling with non-physical issues such as ongoing pain limiting their function, fear, anxiety, and even anger. If you are experiencing these challenges, we can help. In addition to all the same physical conditioning and job simulation activities, we use an evidence-based, neuroscience approach that involves pain neuroscience education (PNE) and progressive exposure to activities identified as painful/problematic. Our staff is specifically trained to distinguish between “hurt” and “harm” and we will help you know when it’s safe to work through symptoms, and how to use your body more effectively. We find that this approach of gradual exposure to painful activities has great success with long-lasting pain syndromes or fear of return to function. Most clients experience a significant increase in ability to work, even if their symptoms don’t completely go away.

occupational therapist chatting with smiling client carrying box

What is the Work Hardening Evaluation?

by

Before beginning the program, each client participates in a 2-hour evaluation. We obtain a thorough injury history, work history, psychosocial screening and baseline functional assessment covering lifting, pushing, pulling, carrying, upper extremity function, and body position capabilities. During this comprehensive evaluation, we get to know your job-related goals, and we will help you identify barriers to successful return to work.  We work together with you, your physician, and others as needed (e.g., QRC or disability case manager) to develop a custom program. Saunders Work Hardening teams customize the length of the program based on the results of your evaluation, availability of light or modified duty, and program goals. If you are currently working, but with restrictions, we structure the program to supplement what you do on the job.

occupational therapist observing patient shoulder rotation exercises

Post COVID-19 Rehabilitation

by

Very little has been written about the rehabilitation needs of Covid-19 survivors after a long hospital stay or complications from the disease. Covid-19 can affect multiple body systems, including cardiac, neurological, and cognitive, and can cause mental health concerns and severe deconditioning.

Some people struggle returning to function after recovery from Covid-19. It can be difficult for patients to return to optimal activity because they don’t know how start or how to progress. Frustratingly, it’s easy to over-do exercise or activities without guidance, even if you were used to vigorous exercise before your illness. Our staff is uniquely positioned to help you regain as much function as possible, while following appropriate precautions to ensure your safety. Our approach entails:

Saunders Maple Grove Clinic

  • Cardiovascular endurance training – we start slow and progress as tolerated
  • Progressive, graded exposure to difficult activities/tasks – the key is adding a little at a time, with professional monitoring
  • Balance, coordination training – we are finding that many patients struggle with this, and we have many exercises and activities to challenge balance and coordination JUST ENOUGH, but not too much
  • Monitoring of vitals (e.g., O2, pulse, respiration, blood pressure) – we will monitor you closely to ensure good tolerance
  • Coaching on fear-avoidance; coaching on stress reduction strategies – fear and stress are a natural part of the recovery process for many of our patients
  • Other customized activities to meet identified needs (e.g., work simulation or modification/practice of activities of daily living)

Before beginning a rehabilitation program, we perform a thorough evaluation to ensure a good baseline and establish a safe program geared toward meeting YOUR SPECIFIC GOALS. We work with your physician as needed and send regular updates about your progress.

FAQs About Saunders’ Post Covid-19 Rehabilitation Programs

Q: Does my insurance cover Post Covid-19 Rehabilitation?
A: Most insurance plans cover physical therapy for functional problems like strength, endurance, pain, and cardiovascular/pulmonary problems, and these are the problems we would be treating. We can help you determine your insurance coverage if you call.

Q: Do I need a physician referral for treatment of Post Covid-19 symptoms?
A: While most insurances do not require a physician referral to start physical therapy we will verify your insurance coverage and their requirements. Please contact us to learn more. 

Q: Why is Saunders Therapy particularly well-suited for Post-Covid rehabilitation?
A: Prior to the pandemic, Saunders Therapy Centers specialized in progressive, graded exposure to painful or problematic activities, and customized training to improve function. We are experts at maximizing function. We have a large gym with a variety of exercise and job simulation equipment, with a great staff eager to help you get back to your best function. We are used to (and skilled at) working with clients with multi-factorial issues – not just a single body part.

Q: What can I expect in the evaluation?
A: At a minimum, your functional evaluation will include joint and muscle range of motion and strength testing, balance assessment, and exercise capacity assessment with a 6-minute walk test to establish a baseline. If your illness was work-related or involves significant work-related deficits, job-specific functional testing may be done. In some cases, a Work Hardening Program may be indicated.

Q: What type of treatment plan can I expect?

A: Most patients can reach full benefit by attending physical therapy sessions 2-3x/week, where you will work on a progressive program in our large gym, plus supplement in-clinic activities with a customized home exercise program. We can work with you on YOUR preferred schedule. Some people like infrequent visits and perform most of their exercises/activities at home, while others prefer (and need) more supervision with more frequent visits. You can expect to be followed by your therapist team for up to 6-8 weeks, depending upon your individual circumstances.

 

Website by Modern Web Studios