Physical Therapy

Patients and physicians are demanding the talents of physical therapists for the appropriate management of a wide variety of conditions. In many cases, patients are being sent to physical therapy instead of more aggressive medical treatments, such as surgery and medication. When a physical therapist sees a patient for the first time, he or she examines that individual and develops a plan of care that promotes the ability to move, reduces pain, restores function, and prevents disability. Therapeutic exercise and functional training are the cornerstones of physical therapy treatment. Physical therapists may use other techniques such as electrotherapy, ultrasound (high-frequency waves that produce heat), hot packs, and ice in addition to other treatments when appropriate.

The Best Choice in the Area for Real Results

Our customers know that our physical therapy services can be life changing. With the aid of our professional team, numerous athletes, young adults, and senior citizens, have been able to overcome sports injuries and other problems quite quickly. At Purcellville Orthopedic, we like to think that we're in the business of ensuring things like life, liberty and the pursuit of anything that might require full range of motion!

Spinal Injury and Dysfunction:

80% of adults suffer from some form of spinal pain, injury, or dysfunction. Our therapists are educated in evaluating muscle imbalances and joint position to assess the underlying cause of your spinal pain. Posture misalignment and weakness needs to be addressed to properly recover from the daily stresses we place on our spines.

Headache Therapy:

Headaches can come in many forms and have many different causes. Our myofascial approach addresses common muscle injuries that lead to "tension headaches." These are often the result of a combination of poor posture, stress, and in some cases, acute injuries. There are often simple strategies to help optimize proper posture and eliminate the prolonged stresses we place on our head and neck. The human head weighs approximately 14 pounds. If not properly supported by the neck and shoulder muscles, the load can easily increase 4-5 times its normal weight. That's 70 pounds of force on your head and neck! No wonder your head hurts!

Tendonitis and Bursitis:

By definition, tendonitis is the inflammation of a tendon as it attaches a muscle to the bone. Bursitis is the inflammation of the fluid-filled sac that lubricates the tendons at the bone attachments. These "itises" often go hand in hand and are common in repetitive motion activities – whether it be throwing a ball, lifting at work, or just poor sitting posture. Muscle weaknesses throughout the body often lead to these cumulative stress injuries resulting in tendonitis or bursitis. Very common areas are the rotator cuff, elbow, hip and knee. Elbow tendonitis, or epicondylitis, is often referred to as "tennis elbow" or "golfers elbow."

Sprain/Strain Recovery & Prevention:

These terms refer to ligament and muscle injuries. Trauma causes most ligament sprains and muscle strains. Our clinics are well equipped with the most commonly practiced modalities such as ultrasound, electrical stimulation, iontophoresis and heat/ cold applications. Research has shown these therapies to be beneficial in the acute healing process. Modality coupled with early intervention exercise is the best approach to timely healing from acute traumatic injuries. Our knowledge of proper muscle activity and therapeutic exercise training can help you avoid unforeseen injury by optimizing muscle strength and endurance.

Rotator Cuff Programs:

The rotator cuff is the major muscle mover of your shoulder. The rotator cuff is made up of four muscles: the supraspinatus, teres minor, infraspinatus, and the subscapularis. These muscles are subject to stress from repetitive movements, overhead activities and poor posture. At rest, your rotator cuff is responsible for holding your humerus bone in the joint space. Therefore, if you are upright your rotator cuff is at work. This is why a rounded shoulder/forward head posture can often be responsible for the development of rotator cuff dysfunction. Knowledge of proper muscle strengthening and supportive muscles such as your upper back are integral in the development of a sound rehabilitation program for rotator cuff problems.

Pre/Post Surgery Rehabilitation:
Our therapists and clinicians are educated in the most up-to-date rehab protocols that will speed your recovery and return you to pain free activity whether you are a competitive athlete, weekend warrior or stay at home mother of 2! We will also work closely with your surgeon on any specific protocols that she or he might order.

Osteoarthritis Therapy:

Osteoarthritis is the inflammation and degeneration of your joint surfaces. More commonly referred to as arthritis, this condition affects most of us especially as we age. Our joints are subject to normal wear and tear and these forces are compounded by poor joint alignment secondary to muscle weakness. Thus much of arthritis can be prevented or eased by increasing strength of those muscles, which cross joint lines. Our therapists are skilled in the management of many forms of arthritis and can help you learn to manage this often life altering condition.

TMJ Dysfunction Treatment:
TMJ is defined as your temporo-mandibular joints, more commonly known as your jaw joints. In the medical community, TMJ is now more appropriately referred to as TMD or dysfunction to describe the many influences that affect the forces on your jaws. Poor posture and improper bite can cause myofascial pain and contribute to TMD. A comprehensive approach to restoring joint position by addressing your muscle spasm and weaknesses as well as corrective and joint protection strategies is often necessary to diminish the symptoms of TMD. We work with local dentists, orthodontists and oral surgeons to help develop a proactive patient-centered approach to the management of your TMD.

Soft Tissue Manual Therapy:

Myofascial Pain Syndrome: A regional pain syndrome with discreet areas of pain and dysfunction, mainly short term in nature. MPS is characterized by relatively brief increases and decreases in pain and spasm for a period of one to six months. Causes can range from acute injury to postural dysfunction.

Fibromyalgia: Chronic multiregional syndrome of acute to unknown origin that is characterized by chronic pain with acute exacerbations. FMS can have physical, emotional and spiritual components. Symptoms can range from chronic pain to chronic fatigue syndrome to sleep disorders. Our physical therapist has vast experience in treating both the MPS and FMS patient with acupressure, dry needling, manual techniques, exercise, and modalities.

Scoliosis Treatment Programs:
Did you know that scoliosis is most common in adolescent females and can be prevented? This idiopathic scoliosis is mostly related to weakness throughout the hip and pelvis musculature. If your hips and abdominal muscles are weaker on one side, they can result in a compensatory curvature of your spine. This form of scoliosis can be prevented and even corrected with the proper exercises. Coupled with poor posture and heavy backpacks this age group is often suffering with back or neck pain.