Physical Therapy

The proper and effective delivery of manual therapy is a highly perfected skill. The knowledge and experience your Physical Therapist has in delivering specific manual therapy techniques can make the difference between success and failure in physical therapy. Our Physical Therapists hold advanced degrees and certifications in orthopedics and manual physical therapy. In addition to our Physical Therapists obtaining advanced degrees in Manual Therapy, they teach professionally and teach physical therapy continuing education courses throughout the United States. Our physical therapists integrate the latest research into their treatments and clinical practice to maximize the recovery of every patient. Research has shown that the best treatments for orthopedic conditions and musculoskeletal injuries are a combination of manual therapy and targeted exercise. These principles are consistent when treating most conditions including neck pain, back pain, sports injuries, and chronic pain. 

Dry needling, also known as Trigger Point Dry Needling, is a specific therapeutic skill that has evolved from physicians performing trigger point injections. Trigger point dry needling uses a thin solid needle inserted into irritable spots in muscle to decrease excessive muscle tone. These irritable spots are known as trigger points. It is called dry needling because no medicine is injected into the trigger point. Physical Therapists dry needle muscles to improve the function of the involved muscle that has excessive tone or tightness. Excessive tone in muscles is often a result of a traumatic injury, overuse injury, or degenerative condition. Trigger point dry needling can decrease pain, improve motion, decompress joints, decrease stress placed on nerves, and decrease pain perception. All VTFC’s physical therapists are Certified in Trigger Point Dry Needling. Our therapists are not only experts in trigger point dry needling treatments but are professional educators that teach healthcare providers around the country through continuing education courses.

Active Release Technique (ART) is a soft tissue system/movement based massage technique that treats problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and nerves. The goal of ART as a form of physical therapy treatment, is to restore optimal texture, motion, and function of the soft tissue by releasing muscular restrictions and release any entrapped nerves or blood vessels in over-used muscles.

The patient is often required to actively move the affected tissue in prescribed ways while the practitioner applies pressure. Involvement of the patient is seen as an advantage of ART, as people who are active participants in their own health care are believed to experience better outcomes.

Bracing in physical therapy refers to an external supportive device used to assist in stabilizing a joint or body part. Many patients utilize braces following an injury or surgery to help support an injury or protect their surgical area from unwanted stress or movement. Theoretically, binding the muscle or body part with a clasp, band, or brace should limit expansion and thereby decrease the contribution of force production by muscle fibers proximal to the band or brace.

Cupping is a manual therapy technique performed by physical therapists for treatment of skin, soft tissue and muscles. It is used to soften tight muscles and muscle attachments, loosen adhesions, and lift connective tissue. Cupping therapy is a versatile technique that compliments additional physical therapy techniques and can be incorporated into a patient’s treatment plan.

Once a muscle has been released, a joint’s true mobility can be assessed. The neutral zone of a joint can be determined without influence from excessive force closure (myofascial compression/tension). Similar to strain and counterstrain, joint mobilizations and manipulation have been proven to inhibit muscular tension through reflexes between the spinal cord, muscle spindles, and golgi tendon organs. Joints that prevent mobility through articular restrictions often have varying degrees of directions limiting movement. Therefore, varying grades of joint mobilization are used by physical therapists depending on the acuteness or chronicity of restriction, irritability of the joint, or type of joint dysfunction.

Kinesio tape is a non-medicated cotton tape that is applied to the body in areas of strain or to improve performance following an injury. The tape has a very specific elasticity built into the weave pattern of the cotton fabric, which mimics the elasticity and thickness of human skin, allowing it to integrate, support and stabilize without adversely affecting healthy ranges of motion. Though the focus seems to be on athletes, Kinesio Taping is an effective modality for the non-athletic patient population as well. When properly applied, the tape works to help weak areas of the body both structurally and by recruiting underlying muscles for support.

Laser therapy is a proven, non-invasive technique that applies a therapeutic dose of light to injured or dysfunctional tissue. The class VI laser energy creates a cellular response that leads to reduced pain and inflammation and faster healing for musculoskeletal conditions. This lasting pain relief treatment has been cleared by the FDA since 2003 and offers a safe alternative to medicine and surgery.

Myofascial release is a manual soft tissue therapy used to treat pain and improve range of motion. The restricted tissues are manipulated to promote normal sliding and gliding movements of muscles and fascia. Relaxing restricted tissues promotes increased circulation and allows stimulation of the muscles and fascia.

Soft Tissue Mobilization includes manual therapy techniques that are designed to relieve pain derived from muscle, tendons, and ligaments. Such techniques are tailored to our patients specific needs and may include myofascial release, cross friction massage, effleurage, pettrasage, deep tissue strumming and broadening, strain and counter strain or active release techniques. It is one of the most commonly utilized interventions in physical therapy clinics.

The strain and counterstrain approach to physical therapy treatment is an effective intervention choice for acute soft tissue dysfunction because it is gentle, atraumatic, and can be used without contraindications. When using strain and counterstrain, the patients’ body is moved slowly in non-painful directions until the therapist identifies positions of decreased muscular tension, reported relief, and palpable trigger points.

Traction is a treatment technique often used by a physical therapist to reduce/relieve pressure of joints. It is most commonly used to relieve pressure on the spine for lower back pain and neck pain. Spinal traction can be performed either manually or mechanically. It is used to treat herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, compressed nerves by “stretching” the spine, thereby taking pressure off overly compressed intervertebral discs by reversing the effects of gravity on the body. By eliminating painful pressure the body is able to improve its ability to heal itself.

Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT) is a conservative approach for treating dizziness and balance difficulties. Vestibular Therapy refers to treatments carried out by a specially-trained physical or occupational therapist to improve the function of the inner ear following injury or illness. Our team is composed of Competency-Certified Vestibular Rehabilitation Specialists who have received specialized training and certifications in the field of Vestibular Rehabilitation.