North Texas Physical Therapy

Services

Cancer Care

Americans are surviving cancer and living longer due to advances in cancer care. However, the physical demands on the body can impact the quality of life of cancer survivors following treatment. Physical therapists are highly trained to treat many of the musculoskeletal and functional impairments commonly associated with cancer and its treatments. A comprehensive physical rehabilitation plan, developed in conjunction with the survivor's physician, can help the survivor in the process of physically recovering from cancer. Our Cancer Care program provides services designed to enhance the quality of life and improve the functioning of individuals and families affected by cancer by addressing: pain, decreased range of motion, fatigue, deconditioning, postural changes, soft tissue dysfunction (scar tissue/adhesions).

Adhesions, scar tissue, or other inappropriate fibrosis within soft tissue (muscles, tendons, ligaments) can result from surgery, radiation, or immobilization. Soft tissue dysfunction may interfere with movement and pain even months or years after cancer treatment.

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Augmented Soft Tissue Mobilization (ASTYM)

The ASTYM system allows the clinician to stimulate the body's own capacity for healing in patients with soft tissue dysfunction, scarring, and fibrosis. ASTYM uses ergonomically designed instruments as an extension of the clinician's hands. The ASTYM system is a non-invasive treatment which can help to maximize range of motion, tissue mobility, and functional levels. For additional information click www.astym.com

ASTYM New Treatment for an Old Injury

What is the ASTYM system?
The ASTYM system is an evidence-based rehabilitation process designed to effectively treat chronic tendon disorders, scar tissue and fibrosis. The goal of the ASTYM treatment is to stimulate the body's healing response, resulting in the resorption and remodeling of scar tissue and the regeneration of degenerative tendons. This effective therapy incorporates a customized program of stretching and exercise, which positively influences the alignment of the new collagen.

How can the ASTYM treatment benefit my patients?
The ASTYM system optimizes your patients' ability to regain function and return to normal, active lifestyles. The system offers many benefits:

Resolves tough, chronic conditions, even where other treatments have failed.
Rapidly resolves pain and increases functional ability (in just 4- 5 weeks).
Delivers long-term results.
Encourages patients to stay active in their work, sport or activity.
Offers positive and predictable results, supported by outcomes.
Evidence-based process that is supported by extensive research.

Diagnoses that respond well to the ASTYM treatment:

Post-surgical Scarring
Post-traumatic Scarring
Lateral Epicondylosis
Medial Epicondylosis
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
DeQuervain's Tenosynovitis
Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy
Plantar Fasciopathy
Chronic Ankle Sprains
Achilles Tendinosis
Shin Splints
Anterior Knee Pain
Patellar Tendinosis
Hamstring Strains
IT Band Syndrome
Hip Pain/Trochanteric Bursitis
SI/Low Back Pain
Most Chronic Tendinopathies

What can the patient expect?
The ASTYM System program begins with a thorough evaluation. The clinician then administers a 10 to 15 minute treatment addressing the entire kinetic chain. A regimen of specific strengthening and stretching exercises is prescribed, customized to the patient's need. Patients experience a decrease in pain and rapid improvement in function which results in high patient compliance and satisfaction.

How effective is the ASTYM system?
Clinical outcomes from across the country indicate that 88% of all patients treated with the ASTYM system achieve improved function and decreased pain; even if the condition is chronic and previous treatment has been unsuccessful.

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Sports Rehab

Sports Rehabilitation involves the return to sport for any level of athlete from recreational to competitive. North Texas Physical Therapy assists in determining an athlete's preparedness for returning to sports after an injury with a thorough sports history and biomechanical analysis of involved area. Our goal is to identify the involved structures, causes and correct the sources of the problem. We use an integrative approach to sport performance that includes: plyometrics, dynamic stretching, proprioception, speed & agility, functional strength & power, aerobic conditioning and nutrition.

Each year in the United States, 1 in 100 female high school and 1 in 10 collegiate female athletes will sustain a serious knee injury each year. Knee ligament injury rates are 2-10X higher in female than in male athletes, therefore one of the most important things an athlete can do is to prevent the factors that lead to injury. North Texas Physical Therapy is certified Sportsmetrics site for the nationally recognized Injury Prevention Program developed out of Cincinnati Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center. The Sportmetrics program is designed to identify those athletes that have risk factors that may lead to serious knee injury. The program involves taking a history of prior injuries, video analysis of jumping/landing, single leg function hop test, vertical jump assessment, and hamstring flexibility test. North Texas Physical Therapy works with the athletes in three different ways:

Injury Prevention Program
Rehabilitation after an Injury
Foundations for Building Sport-specific Skills

For additional information click www.sportsmetrics.net

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Orthopedic Pre- & Post-Operative Rehabilitation

Orthopedic Pre- and Post-Operative Rehabilitation of the patient involves evaluation of pain, swelling, range of motion, strength and functional abilities. North Texas Physical Therapy communicates directly with the physician regarding the surgery performed and precautions to be considered in the rehabilitation process. Education of the patient is one of therapist's most important roles for the patient to have a successful recovery.

Sports Rehab We use various tools to assist the patient in achieving muscular control after a surgery. One of these tools is Surface EMG. Surface EMG is a technique in which electrodes are placed on (not into) the skin overlying a muscle to detect (measure) the electrical activity of the muscle.

These are invaluable tools for precisely measuring muscle activity during functional exercises to ensure the execution of exercise. Surface EMG units are powerful and flexible enough that they can be used for relaxation training of tense muscles, re-education of injured muscles necessary to improve squatting, bending, sitting and walking. The sEMG is critically important in post-surgical cases and after trauma. The Steens Sweedish Pulley System provides the opportunity for low weighted incremental active assisted range of motion for post-operatively rehab without injuring the healing tissue.

The Shuttle strength trainer is another device is designed for athletic development and lower extremity rehabilitation. The oversized footplate provides a safe landing area for jumping drills. The sled glides smoothly providing neck and back support during closed chain squatting exercises. The upright extensions allow for versatility of the shuttle to be utilized in Pilates style core strengthening.

Pneu-lift on Treadmill unweighting system uses pneumatic power to support the patient. The unweighting range from 0-360lbs allows the patient to perform low impact kinetic exercises in an upright functional position. Activities such as walking, running, stair climbing, jumping, and balance may all be performed safely while unweighted. The center of the unweighting system is the pneu-vest which effectively grips the body to support the patient's weight. The amount of unweighting will vary form 30-50% of body weight depending on the condition. During the unweighting, the individual is putting weight on the injured tissue sooner without re-injury while performing a functional activity. The patients that use our system range from elite athletes to seniors.

The Pneu-lift unweighting system can be used for:

Acute and Chronic Back Pain
Sciatica
Disc Herniations
Post-surgical Conditions - Arthroscopy, Total Hip or Knee Replacements
Osteoporosis
ACL Tear/Reconstruction
Osteoarthritis
Ankle Fractures/Sprains
Overweight Patients
Gait Dysfunctions
Neurological Patients - Strokes

The unweighting advantage, why not just use the pool? The pneu-weight system allows for a precise pound of unweighting that can be progressively altered as the patient's condition improves. It is convenient, cost-effective, and versatile.

Pregnancy and Post-partum

Pregnancy and Post-partum The incidence of Low Back pain in pregnancy prevalence is about 60%(Kristiansson 1996). Pain considerably hampers movement related activities such as working, caring for children & infant, and running a household. At North Texas Physical Therapy our mission is to provide education during and after the pregnancy to the mom on how to manage daily life in as pain free fashion as possible. Pregnancy and Post-partum This entails: assessing biomechanical changes in the lumbar and sacroiliac spine, identifying risk factors for pain, identifying physiologic changes and the impact on daily activities, providing ACOG guidelines for exercise during pregnancy, and most importantly working in collaboration with the OB/Gyn for patient response to physical therapy.

Indications for a referral to physical therapy are: high risk anteparturm patient, comfort measures, patient education, gestational diabetes, sacroiliac joint pain during functional movements, need for assistive devices, bed positioning education, education needs on exercise during pregnancy, pelvic floor weakness.

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Senior Rehab

The media inundates us with information on seniors as the fastest growing segment of the population because people are living longer and the baby-boomer generation reaching retirement. As a result the utilization of health care for seniors has grown as well. The most common musculoskeletal problems that physical therapist address in seniors are decrease in flexibility, arthritic changes in weight bearing joints, and decreased muscle mass. These factors may impact balance and the incidence of falls and are the core component of the assessment at North Texas Physical Therapy. We address the issues surrounding orthostatic hypotension as well as hypertension and follow the American College of Sports Medicine Guidelines for aerobic exercise and strength training in seniors. As rehabilitation specialists for the elderly, we maximize treatment interventions by emphasizing functional outcomes to maintain independent living.

Osteoarthritis, degenerative joint disease, osteoarthritis, arthritis are all terms used to describe joints that have thin cartilage. Cartilage acts as a shock absorber during standing, walking, running and squatting. When the cartilage is compromised, the result is having achy and stiff joints. Physical therapy can be instrumental in providing education and techniques to improve shock absorbing capacity. A thorough evaluation is performed to determine the most effective techniques for our patients.

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Work Injuries

Pain the elbow, wrist and hand can impair individuals even with the simplest of tasks such as typing on a keyboard, gripping a tool, or lifting a box. Our physical therapists are skilled in evaluating and identifying what tissue may be involved with the injury such as tendon, muscle, bone or ligament. The tissue identified will determine the course of re-building the source of the problem. We work in collaboration with the patient, physician, employer, case manager, and physical demands of the job to determine the fastest recovery to full work duties.

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Spine Rehabilitation

Sciatica, neck and back pain are some of the most common diagnoses that are referred to physical therapy. In order to bridge the gap of understanding with patients, our physical therapists discuss and teach the basic anatomy with pictures and models in a way the patient can understand their unique condition. A clear and accurate image is drawn so that the patient visualizes the diagnosis.

Our physical therapists work in collaboration with your physician to obtain any diagnostic reports such as X-rays, MRI, CT Scans to obtain the most information about your diagnosis. At the initial evaluation, a detail analysis of your biomechanics, flexibility, strength and functional limitations and your personal goals are determined so that an individualized treatment program may be developed. We utilize a variety of manual spine therapy techniques to correct the biomechanical dysfunction and develop a personalized exercises prescription that is reinforced with a home exercise program. Probably the most important component of our spine management program is behavior change strategies which allow long-lasting achievement of goals.

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