Physical therapists are health care professionals who diagnose and treat people of all ages who have medical problems, injuries, or other health related conditions that limit their ability to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives. The physical therapist will work with you to develop a treatment program to meet your needs. You will be assigned a physical therapist who will work with you one-on-one for the course of your treatment.
St. Vincent Healthcare Outpatient Rehabilitation offers several specialized physical therapy services:
Balance Rehabilitation:
Our physical therapists help people improve balance by identifying and addressing limitation affecting balance, including strength, flexibility, balance reactions, and balance in a variety of standing and moving scenarios. This may include:
- Work on specific activities in the clinic gym, on equipment, and outside
- Instruction in exercises and activities to be performed in the home
- Home evaluations
- Recommendations for appropriate equipment and/or assistive devices
Vestibular Rehabilitation:
This specialized approach addresses a person's dizziness and balance problems resulting from a malfunction in the vestibular system which is located in certain areas of the brain and in the inner part of the ear. When this system is not working correctly, a person may feel dizzy like they are spinning, especially with head movements. Vestibular rehabilitation is often needed for the following diagnoses:
- Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
- Vestibular Neuritis
- Labyrinthitis
- Acoustic Neuroma
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Stroke
- Neurological diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis
- Frequent falls
Lymphedema Rehabilitation:
Lymphedema is an abnormal accumulation of fluid that causes swelling, most often in the arms or legs. Treatment by physical therapists certified in lymphedema management includes:
- Manual lymph drainage
- Compression bandaging
- Exercise to stimulate lymphatic drainage
- Teaching family to assist with care at home
- Compression garments to maintain limb size
- Education regarding prevention techniques, precautions and activity modification, and skin care
Incontinence Therapy
If you are suffering from involuntary urine leakage, you are not alone. Twenty-two percent of all adults suffer from some form of incontinence. Physical therapy for this condition includes:
- Education on pelvic floor anatomy and function
- Pelvic floor and abdominal strengthening exercises
- Behavioral techniques to retrain the bladder
- Suggestions regarding dietary modifications and general conditioning
Medical Exercise Program
This program is designed for persons who may have medical conditions such as cardiopulmonary disease, arthritis, strokes and obesity. Our exercise physiologists evaluate each person and design an exercise program suited for those needs. The goal is to help everyone achieve a higher level of physical and emotional well-being through exercise and companionship. Customized classes are also offered.
Motion Analysis
We utilize video recording technology and Dartfish software to analyze movement patterns and improve performance and function. This analysis of the activity may include noted deviations, compensations or injury risks. The digital recordings and software allow us to provide immediate and precise visual feedback for the participant as well as provide recordings for use with coaches or therapists. We can also perform recordings in series to document progress or compare you to an ideal form and motion pattern.
Examples of areas that motion analysis is being used include:
- Golf
- Running
- Weight lifting
- Plyometrics
- Body mechanics
- Gait training