Physical Therapy in Ann Arbor

Physical Therapy at On Track Physiotherapy

If pain or injuries are limiting your mobility and quality of life, the licensed physical therapists at On Track Physiotherapy can help. Read on to discover how personalized physical therapy empowers you to move better, heal faster, and restore your active lifestyle.

Who Can Benefit from Physical Therapy?

Physical therapy is for anyone looking to relieve pain, recover from injury faster, improve balance issues, manage a chronic condition, or return to activities they love like sports, travel, gardening, playing with kids/grandkids, exercising, or hiking. At On Track Physiotherapy, we specialize in helping patients regain function and get back to living a fulfilling, active lifestyle.

How Physical Therapy Helps You Move Better and Feel Better

Physical therapy addresses the root cause behind pain, stiffness, and movement impairments using a combination of hands-on manual therapy techniques, targeted therapeutic exercises, and patient education.

Rather than just treating surface symptoms, your physical therapist conducts a thorough evaluation to understand the source of your issues and then crafts a personalized treatment plan to help you:

• Decrease pain
• Restore mobility and range of motion
• Rebuild strength, balance, coordination, and flexibility
• Speed up recovery from injury or surgery
• Promote long-term health through self-management strategies

Regular physical therapy can help you move with greater ease and less discomfort as well as prevent complications from musculoskeletal conditions down the road.

The Benefits of Working with a Licensed Physical Therapist

Physical therapy offers many advantages over pain medications, surgery, or passive treatments. Benefits include:

1. Lasting Reduction in Pain and Improved Function

Your physical therapist will provide hands-on manual therapy using gentle techniques like massage, joint mobilization, passive stretching, and myofascial release to relax muscles, restore alignment, increase blood flow, and quickly reduce pain in areas like your back, knee, neck and shoulders. They may also use modalities like heat/ice therapy, electrotherapeutic techniques, or ultrasound to relieve pain. Combined with targeted exercises to build support and stability, you’ll experience less pain and move with much greater comfort and ease.

2. Faster Recovery and Safe Return to Activity After Injury or Surgery

Following an injury, surgery, or hospitalization, physical therapy plays a crucial role in restoring movement and getting you back to your desired activities as quickly and safely as possible.

Your therapist will create a customized exercise program taking into account your unique needs and limitations to help you systematically:

• Regain range of motion
• Rebuild strength
• Restore balance, coordination and gait mechanics
• Progress activity levels appropriately

With earlier physical therapy intervention, you may avoid unnecessary immobilization and experience better outcomes including a faster return to sports, recreation, or work.

3. Improved Management of Chronic Conditions

Ongoing conditions like arthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic back pain, osteoporosis, sciatica, joint replacements, neurological disorders, and vertigo can greatly limit function and quality of life.

Your physical therapist teaches you targeted exercises, pain relief strategies, activity modifications, assistive devices, and home programs so you can better manage symptoms and complications. This promotes long-term well-being and allows you to remain as active as possible despite the chronic condition.

4. Reduced Fall Risk and Improved Balance

Impaired balance frequently arises from aging, orthopedic problems, neurological conditions, ear disorders, medications, poor vision, or thyroid dysfunction. Physical therapists are experts in balance, mobility, and gait training. They conduct in-depth balance and gait assessments then provide manual therapy, custom exercises, education on safe movement strategies, appropriate assistive devices like canes or walkers, and fall prevention home programs. These evidence-based interventions can significantly improve stability, build confidence in your mobility, and prevent dangerous and debilitating falls.

Physical Therapy FAQs

Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about working with a physical therapist:

What conditions do you commonly treat?
Our physical therapists have experience treating all types of musculoskeletal problems including back and neck injuries, osteoarthritis, fractures, sprains and strains, temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ), plantar fasciitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, sciatica, fibromyalgia, vertigo, and headaches as well as issues related to stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, cerebral palsy, post-polio syndrome, and other neurological disorders. We also frequently work with individuals preparing for or recovering from orthopedic surgeries like knee, hip or shoulder replacement; arthroscopic procedures; and spinal surgery.

What is the job of a physical therapist?
Physical therapists are movement experts who diagnose and treat musculoskeletal disorders, activity limitations, and movement dysfunctions. We spend extensive one-on-one time with you to evaluate your condition, pinpoint the source of dysfunction/pain, educate you on anatomy/dysfunction, design specialized exercise/manual therapy programs to treat the disorder, and empower you with the knowledge/tools to prevent complications or recurrence of problems in the future. Our goal is to help you live pain-free and fully participate in meaningful activities.

What are the main types of physical therapy treatment techniques?
Every patient is unique so your licensed physical therapist tailors your treatment plan based on your specific injury, health status, test results, goals, and more. But in general, the four main types of physical therapy include:

1. Manual therapy – Hands-on techniques like spinal manipulation, massage, and stretching to improve joint/tissue mobility, reduce pain, and increase range of motion
2. Therapeutic exercises – Carefully selected exercises targeting flexibility, strength, balance, coordination, endurance, and function
   
3. Modalities – Physical agents like cryotherapy, thermotherapy, ultrasound, traction, electrical stimulation, biofeedback, cups, lasers, assistive devices
   
4. Education – Learning proper movement mechanics/posture, activity modification, self-care strategies, and prevention programs

Make an Appointment Today

If you’re tired of living in pain, have an injury or chronic condition causing movement limitations, or want to improve balance and prevent dangerous falls, consider physical therapy.

The skilled physical therapists at On Track Physiotherapy are experts at conducting thorough evaluations and providing customized treatment plans to help you get back to the activities important for your life. We accept most insurance and are conveniently located in Ann Arbor.

Book your appointment online here or call us to schedule a consultation. Discover how personalized physical therapy can help you move better, heal faster, and fully participate in the activities you love.

About The Author

Dr. Greg Schaible is a licensed Physical Therapist specializing in Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist and Sports Rehab. With years of experience in the field, Dr. Greg Schaible has dedicated his career to helping patients achieve their maximum physical potential and improve their quality of life. Currently practicing at On Track Physiotherapy in Ann Arbor, Dr. Greg Schaible employs a patient-centered approach, combining cutting-edge techniques and personalized care plans to address a wide range of physical conditions.