Physical Therapy
At Cornerstone Wellness Center, the highly skilled therapists in our Physical Therapy Department are at your service to help you recover from an injury, rehab from surgery, or build strength and flexibility to maintain an active, healthy lifestyle. Physical therapy is a key component to achieving optimum results whether you’ve been injured in an automobile accident, sustained a sports injury, or pulled your shoulder lifting a heavy object.
Our physical therapists specialize in identifying the root cause of pain and also assessing weaknesses that can lead to future injury.
What is Physical Therapy?
A physical therapist is trained to evaluate deficiencies such as muscle imbalances, overuse issues, and chronic and acute injuries of the body. The cause of pain or restricted range of motion isn’t always evident and requires a trained specialist to not only identify the problem, but also develop a program for rehabilitation. Once identified, a plan specific to you and your issue will be created, but will likely include targeted exercises to:
- Increase core strength
- Improve flexibility
- Correct muscle imbalances
- Increase spinal stability
- Improve coordination
In addition to constructing an exercise plan to restore motion and reduce pain, physical therapy may include the use of specialized equipment, depending on the specifics of the patient’s injuries or goals.
What is it good for?
There are two types of injuries for which physical therapy is a useful method of treatment: acute and chronic.
Acute pain is perhaps the most common complaint we hear from our patients. Because it comes on fast and demands all of our attention, it compels the injured to seek treatment. It is most often the result of an injury or accident. This can be anything from an auto accident to pulling a muscle while exercising: You know when you did it and have a good idea of what happened. The only question is what will it take to help the body recover? That’s what a physical therapist specializes in.
Chronic pain can be a little sneakier. It is surprising how much pain our bodies will endure before we seek treatment. Because these aches and pains have persisted for a long time, they make it much harder to pinpoint their source. These can be degenerative issues in the muscle, joint, or bone. Or they can be issues that developed over a long period due to an untreated structural imbalance. However, through a series of evaluations, our physical therapist can identify the source of pain or injury and make a plan for rehabilitation and conditioning.
What about after surgery?
Although we seek to avoid surgery through the use of chiropractic care, there are several reasons you may have to undergo a surgical procedure. Most, if not all, surgical patients benefit from a proper post-operative physical therapy regimen. In cases of many joint replacement surgeries, physical therapy is mandatory.
Physical therapy following surgery will always be directed by your surgeon. At Cornerstone Wellness Center, we work hand-in-hand with surgeons to construct proper post-operative therapies.
Can physical therapy be used as a preventative treatment?
Not only can physical therapy be useful in preventing injuries, but it can also be used during the time before surgery to help speed up recovery. Following a proper assessment, our physical therapist will provide you with all of the keys to creating and maintaining strength, endurance, and mobility through a three-part program that includes:
- Stretching
- Conditioning
- Strengthening
As we age, our bodies will naturally become less flexible and our range of motion will decrease. And yet, we all want to age not only gracefully but also healthfully. Remaining healthy, flexible, and active are all key benefits of a physical therapy regimen. Let us construct a plan, that when followed, will help you maintain a strong foundation with maximum range of motion and minimum risk for future injury.
What can be gained from physical therapy?
With a proper physical therapy program, aided by a skilled therapist, you can expect to:
- Reduce recovery time following surgery
- Reduce pain from injury or accident
- Increase strength, flexibility, and balance
- Maintain functional independence
- Remain active and vibrant
MEET JENNIFER LEACH, PT, DPT, CSCS
Dr. Jennifer Leach is a Physical Therapist committed to helping people heal and function to their fullest. When treating patients, she looks at the person as a whole rather than individual joints or parts of the body that may be causing pain. She has worked in the field of Physical Therapy for 20 years and is trained in a wide variety of techniques including Dry Needling, Cupping, Kinesiotaping, Visceral and Neural Mobilization, Strain-Counterstrain, and joint mobilization. She is certified in Vestibular and Concussion management as well as being a Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach. She uses specific movements and breathing to help activate the nervous system to help patients minimize their pain and move more easily.
She is passionate about her field and frequently pursues new opportunities to learn more and to further her skills and ability to help others. She is passionate about living a life that honors God by serving others and in her free time you can find her riding a road or mountain bike, learning something new, or helping her two awesome boys achieve their goals.
