Physical Therapy Geriatric Services,Brooklyn

CUPPING

Cupping can treat soft tissue conditions, musculoskeletal tension, pain and sports injuries.

Treat your muscle and soft tissue problems with cupping therapy at Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Institute

Our therapists provide a manual therapy technique called cupping used — along with other therapies — to treat muscle and soft tissue dysfunction.

Available for appropriate patients, from pre-teens through adults, cupping can benefit your affected areas by:

Decreasing inflammation
Decreasing muscle spasms
Decreasing pain
Improving blood and oxygen circulation
Improving range of motion

Our physical therapists at Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Institute, use cupping to relieve conditions that cause pain.

Cupping also helps with chronic (ongoing) health issues. Cupping may ease symptoms of:

Arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis.
Back pain, neck pain, knee pain and shoulder pain.
Breathing problems, such as asthma.
Carpal tunnel syndrome.
Gastrointestinal disorders, such as irritable bowel disease (IBD).
Headaches and migraines.
High blood pressure (hypertension).

GERIATRIC THERAPY

Geriatric physical therapy can reduce the need for pain medication, promote better posture, stabilize and strengthen muscles and joints, enhance balance and coordination, and in some cases, help patients avoid surgery.

Geriatric therapy generally focuses on older adults, aged approximately between 65-90, although it can be used to address any age-related conditions experienced by an adult.

It acts as an umbrella term, as it can be used to describe treatment for a broad range of issues that people tend to face as they age.

Some common issues treated through geriatric therapy include:

Osteoporosis
Arthritis
Alzheimer’s disease
Cancer
Joint replacement
Balance and gait disorders
Neurological disorders
Incontinence

Physical therapy for the geriatric population focuses on optimizing function for the aging adult.

As we age, our bodies undergo wear and tear. Although this process is normal, it sometimes leads to pain and disability, causing patients to limit their activity or stop doing what they enjoy.

Geriatric physical therapy at Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Institute, has been found effective in improving strength, mobility and balance to help the aging individual build confidence in staying active.

There are many reasons to consult your doctor about the benefits of physical therapy.

GRASTON TECHNIQUE

This is a common technique to treat everyday muscle injuries as well as a very effective way in treating athletic injuries.

The therapy is designed to help our physical therapy practitioners identify areas of restriction and attempt to break up scar tissue.

The general goals of the therapy are to reduce our patient's pain and increase function through a combination of:

Breaking down the scar tissue and fascia restrictions that are usually associated with some form of trauma to the soft tissue (e.g., a strained muscle or a pulled ligament, tendon, or fascia).
Reducing restrictions by stretching connective tissue in an attempt to rearrange the structure of the soft tissue being treated (e.g., muscle, fascia, tendons, ligaments).
Promoting a better healing environment for the injured soft tissue.

This treatment can be beneficial for a variety of impairments and conditions. It can be beneficial for many people undergoing orthopedic surgery, people that sit for long hours in an office, and athletes after intense training or injuries.

Your physical therapist may provide you this manual therapy for impairments such as:

Limited mobility
Pain with motion
Loss of range of motion
Decreased muscle recruitments
Excessive scar tissue formation

More specific conditions that benefit from the application of IASTM include:

Plantar Fasciitis
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Neck Pain
IT Band Syndrome
Heel Pain/ Achilles Tendinitis
Ankle Sprains and Strains
Back Pain
Shin Splints
Post Surgical Hip and Knee Replacements
Musculoskeletal Imbalances
Rotator Cuff Tendinitis
Myofascial Pain and Restrictions

TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT DYSFUNCTION

Your TMJ functions as a hinge, connecting your jawbone to your skull. Dysfunction in this joint can lead to pain and discomfort, and difficulty using your jaw.

Symptoms of TMD tend to come on gradually with no specific injury or event. You may notice the pain starts after eating hard foods.

The pain typically is intermittent in nature, and it usually comes on after using your jaw to eat hard foods or opening your mouth wide, as you would during yawning.

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are disorders of the jaw muscles, temporomandibular joints and the nerves linked to facial pain.

Any problem that prevents the complex system of muscles, bones and joints from working together may result in temporomandibular disorder.

In addition to jaw pain, TMD symptoms also can include:

Ear pain
Difficulty opening or closing the mouth
Headaches
Joint sounds
Pain
Postural deficits
Teeth sensitivity

Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Institute trained, licensed physical therapists perform a comprehensive evaluation of the jaw, neck, thoracic spine and shoulder girdle to determine the cause of TMD and develop a customized therapy plan.

Assessment and treatment involve:

Temporomandibular joint
Upper cervical spine
Upper quarter musculature

TMJ therapy includes using an impairment-based approach, targeting all relevant musculoskeletal deficits in mobility, flexibility, active range of motion, strength, endurance, pain and motor control.

VESTIBULAR THERAPY

Our team of physical therapists are experienced in vestibular exercises and BPPV repositioning maneuvers. They can help you address dizziness and related issues, such as nausea, lightheadedness, imbalance, oscillopsia (visual blurring) and motion sensitivity.

15% of the population will have symptoms of dizziness at some point in their life. But, where does dizziness come from and what is the Vestibular system, and what is vestibular dysfunction?

Your vestibular organ is a special structure in your inner ear. You have two of them: one on the left side and one on the right.

Your vestibular organs are responsible for telling your brain the position of your head and then coordinating your eye movements based on your head position.

Sometimes problems with the vestibular system can cause symptoms that limit your ability to safely move around.

Symptoms of vestibular problems may include:

Dizziness
Whooshing sensations
Difficulty maintaining upright balance
Difficulty stabilizing your eyes on objects
Fogginess in your head
Headache
Nausea

Physical therapy for vestibular dysfunction provides specific exercises to help retrain the connection between your vestibular, vision, and somatosensory systems so your brain is no longer getting misinformation.

These exercises strengthen your vestibular ocular and vestibular spinal reflexes.

PERSONAL TRAINING

Our physical therapy and personal training programs include manual therapy that includes hands-on techniques like massage therapy. Our advanced training in anatomy and pathology helps us improve your muscle and joint strength, mobility, and function – for long-term pain relief and health.

At Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Institute, your training program will be designed precisely for your body and your goal – whether it's building strength, endurance, health, muscle definition, or confidence.

In your first appointment, our team will use a pre-exercise screening to identify how your body moves and areas that need improvement. Your program may include free weights, barbell movements, resistance bands, weight machines, medicine balls, and suspension equipment.

Whether you are a competing athlete, a dedicated exerciser, or a beginner, the foundation to achieve physical goals is appropriate nutrition.

Your physical therapist will give you guidance on nutrition for you – your goals, sport, metabolism, and long-term health.

Physical therapy will assist with any muscle weakness, and changes in the nervous system.

It's common to be discharged from physical therapy, but still be unable to return to your normal exercise routine.

Our team has backgrounds affiliated with the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), Titleist Performance Institute (TPI), and more to uniquely design and implement a program that’s customized for you.

Because Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Institute´s team has medical backgrounds in Physical Therapy (PT, DPT), and Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA), each personal training program can be tailored for injury reduction of ACLs, sports hernias, throwers injuries, running and cycling.

POSTURAL CORRECTIONS

Our physical therapists will take you on a gradual step-by-step approach through a Physiotherapy posture correction program to regain your optimal posture and ensure that it lasts a lifetime.

Poor posture, also known as postural dysfunction, is defined as the spine being positioned in unnatural positions that place stress on the vertebra, joints, and surrounding muscles.

Poor posture can result in:

Back pain
Neck pain
Changes in breathing
Difficulty walking
Poor balance
Lack of endurance
Poor athletic performance
And more

Physical Therapy to Improve Posture: Best Posture Exercises

Here are some of the types of physical therapy exercises for posture that you may come across in your physical therapy treatment.

STRETCHING EXERCISES

Based on a physical assessment by your physical therapist, stretching exercises can be used to increase your flexibility and reduce potential strains to your spine, joints, and surrounding muscles.

STRENGTHENING EXERCISES

Based on a physical assessment by your physical therapist, strengthening exercises can be used to strengthen atrophied muscles that are contributing to your poor posture.

Postural restoration as a form of Physical Therapy treatment is meant to address, diagnose, and treat the primary contributions of postural kinematic movement dysfunction.

Essentially, these treatments get to the root of the problem and aim to correct the dysfunction, rather than simply masking the symptoms.

KINESIO TAPING

Kinesio Taping is a therapeutic technique in which a specially designed tape is strategically applied to the body to provide support and improve function.

Many people visit a physical therapist when they have problems with mobility. Problems with mobility are especially common in joints like the knees and shoulders.

Kinesio taping may provide you with the relief you are looking for.Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Institute, offers this type of therapy to help relieve pain, promote recovery, increase mobility, improve range of motion, and most importantly get you back to doing the activities you love!

What Can I Gain With Kinesio Taping?

Kinesio taping aids in the restoration of function by repairing damaged connections between the skin and the muscles, joints, and tendons beneath it. It works by preventing pain receptors from reaching the brain.

If these pain signals are not received, the muscles in the affected area will relax and the risk of spasms will decrease dramatically. Pressure limits blood flow and movement in the affected area, but once the pain is relieved, blood flow and movement are restored.

There are many reasons why Kinesio taping may be useful to you in your healing journey!

These include, but are not limited to:

Swelling reduction

It helps to decrease swelling caused by surgery, injury, or overuse by limiting the pressure between the skin and the tissues underneath.

Pain relief

The brain no longer receives painful messages from the affected area because pain receptors are suppressed, allowing the muscles to relax. This allows for more mobility, quicker recovery, and a more relaxing treatment experience overall.

Joint stabilization

Some conditions may make it difficult for joints to stay in place. Kinesio taping can help stabilize and provide support for these joints, while still allowing them to move around their intended range of motion.

Scar tissue management

Healing from trauma can cause a thick band of scar tissue to develop around the affected area, which can obstruct movement signals. It can stretch your scar tissue, making movement signals more easily communicated and therefore increasing your mobility.

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