Orthopedic / Sports Physical Therapy
Orthopedic Conditions We Treat
Health Check Physical Therapy provides comprehensive one-on-one treatment and rehabilitation services for all of the following orthopedic and sports injuries and conditions.
Listed below are additional treatment and rehabilitation services for orthopedic and sports injuries and conditions. These services are available both with and without a prescription. Please refer to Direct Access Physical Therapy for more information.
Post Surgical Rehabilitation
Surgical repair of a ligament such as reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the knee or of any of the tendons and muscles that comprise the rotator cuff in the shoulder are but two of the many surgical procedures that require post-surgical rehabilitation. In order to promote healing following these and other surgical procedures, the staff at Health Check Physical Therapy employs massage therapy coupled with scar mobilization. This serves to help reduce swelling and the formation of excessive scar tissue, both on the skin’s surface and below. In addition, the staff mobilizes joints and stretches muscle tissue in the affected area. This serves to help you regain both range of motion and strength.
Joint Replacements
Knee replacements, total or partial, hip replacements and ankle replacements are amongst the most common joint replacements and serve to reduce pain and restore range of motion, strength and function. While the surgical procedure involves implantation of a metal and plastic prosthetic device, physical therapy involves manually stretching the affected joint and strengthening surrounding muscles. At Health Check Physical Therapy, our staff helps you restore range of motion, strength and function.
SI Joint Dysfunction / Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction
SI joint dysfunction or sacroiliac joint dysfunction, a very common condition, can be quite painful and even debilitating. Many bones comprise your pelvis (or pelvic region). At the base of your spine you find your sacrum. On either side of your sacrum are two large bones known as ilium. When younger or prior to injury, these bones are held together by ligaments and muscles. When older or following an injury these ligaments and muscles may no longer function well enough to keep your spine properly aligned.
Improper alignment of your spine may cause excessive pressure on the discs that cushion the bones of your spine. Often excessive pressure causes discs to affect neighboring nerves. This pressure that may cause the back pain you feel. This same pressure may cause “referred pain” or pain felt far from its source. Often you sense referred pain in your buttocks or down your legs.
Those who suffer from SI joint or sacroiliac joint dysfunction often rely on periodic injections of steroids. While generally helpful, pain relief is usually temporary. At Health Check Physical Therapy, we address the actual cause of the pain you feel through a combination of manual therapy and strengthening exercises.
Lower Back Pain
Approximately 80 percent of Americans suffer with lower back pain or sciatica yet these conditions are treatable and often preventable. The staff at Health Check Physical Therapy has the knowledge necessary to identify the cause of your lower back pain and the skill necessary to relieve your symptoms through a combination of manual therapy and strengthening exercises.
Sciatica
Sciatica, often viewed as a form of lower back pain, results from causes that generally originate with the spine. Such causes include a herniated (bulging) disc, degenerative disc disease or spinal stenosis (a narrowing of the boney channels through which nerves must pass). Regardless of the specific cause, irritation of the sciatic nerve, is the source of pain. This nerve, the largest in the human body, originates in the lower back and passes down through the pelvis, both buttocks and both legs. Symptoms, including the location and nature of pain, vary significantly. Often patients describe tingling, aching, weakness and burning. In addition, they commonly note that the pain affects only one side of the body. Unpleasant sensations attributed to sciatica range from mild to debilitating.
Since myriad causes give rise to sciatica and sciatic pain, the staff at Health Check Physical Therapy must complete a thorough assessment before recommending a treatment plan.
Neck Pain and Mid to Upper Back Pain
Neck pain (cervical pain) or mid to upper back pain (thoracic pain) often occurs due to poor posture when sitting or performing work-related activities. Examples include spending long hours sitting in front of a computer or driving a vehicle. The staff at Health Check Physical Therapy will relieve your pain through a combination of manual therapy, range of motion exercises and strengthening exercises. In addition, we will discuss how to improve your posture in order to help you avoid a recurrence of the problem.
Sports Injuries
Participation in any number of sports too often leads to injuries. Whether treating the student athlete, the professional athlete or the “weekend warrior”, you are generally dealing with an essentially healthy individual highly motivated to return to normal activities. In such a case, treatment may require collaboration between a physician and a physical therapist. Optimal treatment outcomes, however, often require participation by a certified athletic trainer as well. At Health Check Physical Therapy, we are fortunate to have Tom Suspenski, our owner, who is both an experienced physical therapist and a certified athletic trainer. Tom’s rather unique qualifications allow him to get you and athletes at all levels “back in the game”.
Work Injuries
At Health Check Physical Therapy, we provide timely treatment to work related injuries in order to reduce swelling, inflammation and pain. While undergoing treatment, both your employer and your insurance company require prompt reporting of your progress. Prompt reporting serves to help ensure that you receive the income to which you are entitled while unable to work. In addition to timely treatment and prompt reporting, Health Check Physical Therapy offers individualized work conditioning programs designed to help you make the safest and most timely transition back to work.
Work Conditioning Programs
Following rehabilitation of a work related injury it is often prudent for you to participate in a work conditioning program. A work conditioning program focuses on restoring or improving strength, range of motion, endurance, posture and coordination. Such a program often reduces the risk of re-injury.
It is worth noting that a work conditioning program differs from a work hardening program.
Motor Vehicle Accident Injuries
Tom Suspenski and the team at Health Check Physical Therapy have extensive experience working with local trauma centers. In addition, they understand the intricacies of healing muscle strains, bone fractures and more. As an accident victim, you can rely on them to help and guide you through the rehabilitation process so that you may return to a productive life as soon as possible.
Other Orthopedic Conditions We Treat
Please refer to Direct Access Physical Therapy for a description of other orthopedic conditions we treat. These include less severe but no less painful conditions like muscle strains and joint sprains. Also included are chronic conditions like arthritis.
Health Check encourages you to request an appointment for the treatment you deserve.
Address
Health Check Physical Therapy
797 E Lancaster Ave. Suite 2
Downingtown, PA 19335
phone: 610.269.5070
fax: 610.269.5074
Hours
- Sun: Closed
- Mon: 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM
- Tue: 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM
- Wed: 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM
- Thu: 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM
- Fri: 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM
- Sat: Closed