Physical Therapy (PT) plays an improtant role in managing orthopedic conditions.  Orthopedic Physical Therapists assess, manage, and treat disorders and injuries of the musculoskeletal system as well as rehabilitate patients post orthopedic surgery.

This form of physical therapy is most oftern found in an out patient clinic setting.  It is a specialty of ours at Hope Therapy Center.  Symptoms that are treated in our orthopedic physical therapy clinic include:

• pain
  
• swelling
  
• decreased mobility, and
  
• decreased strength
  

Pain relief will be addressed with modality treatments such as:

• heat / ice
  
• ultrasound, and
  
• electric simulation
  
• "cold" water treatments, and
  
• aquatics
  

THE RESULTS:

Increased circulation, which contributes to healing the injured tissue and relaxes muscle spasm.  Unless this decreased mobility and stiffness, which occurs with the healing process, is addressed - the joint can suffer further degenerative changes.

To increase strength an mobility physical therapists prescribe:

Individualized exercises

This might include a land or pool therapy regimen, depending on the patient.

Manual Therapy

A "hands-on" specialty within Orthopedic Physical Therapy and practiced by HTC Physical Therapists is to restore normal muscle tone in the tissue surrounding the joint necessary for normal range of motion.

Orthopedic therapists are trained in the treatment of:

• post operative joint replacement
  
• acute sports injuries
  
• arthritis
  
• amputation
  
• chronic pain, and
  
• spinal conditions
  

...just to name a few.

Those who have suffered injury or disease affecting the muscles, bones, ligaments or the tendons of the body will benefit from assessment by a physical therapist specializing in orthopedics.