At H&D Physical Therapy, our number one priority is getting you, our patient, back to your prime physical state before whatever injury you sustained threw you off your path. In our physical therapy in Midtown East NYC, we have experience treating just about any form of ailment in need of physical therapy. We offer everything from orthopedics to anything involving sports injuries, chronic pain, pelvic pain, pregnancy, postpartum care, and the list.
Range of Motion
Perhaps the most quintessential aspect of recovery from an intense physical injury is restoring your range of motion to its condition before the injury. Range of motion is simply the normal rhythm of how a certain joint moves. A sports injury (or any type of physical injury) can disrupt the normal function of how certain joint moves and operates. If an injury prevents the joint from moving in the normal direction and/or rhythm it usually does, it’s time to seek medical attention.
This type of injury usually only affects joints that only move in one direction, like the elbow. This would not apply as much to something like the shoulder because that moves in multiple different directions, whereas the elbow only has one move. The specific types of injuries and/or symptoms that can damage your range of motion include swelling, scar tissue, weak and/or strained muscles, tight ligaments, a tear in the tissues, and abnormalities in the bone structure.
Improving Range of Motion
You are significantly more likely to sustain a repeat injury if your range of motion is not properly restored to its normal function. Our physical therapy in Midtown East NYC has the tools and protocols necessary to combat this. Even the smallest change in one’s range of motion should be taken very seriously and critically. For example, if your ROM is off by maybe 5 degrees, it may not seem like a huge difference.
However, even being off by a mere 5 degrees will open up the chances of the other ligaments getting worn out much faster. While it’s often highly recommended to refrain from any activities that cause pain after any type of surgery, this is one of the very few examples of making an exception to that rule. A physically proactive regiment is highly recommended to restore all mobility.
There are three types of ranges of motion; an active range of motion, active-assistive range, and passive range. The main types of physical therapy that have been highly effective in treating this are hot and cold therapy, massage therapy, specific exercises, and changes to your daily activities. Hot and cold physical therapy relieves physical pain and can also reduce the tenseness in the muscle. Massage therapy is highly effective in restoring the elasticity in the muscle tissue, which, in turn, helps return it to normal mobility. This type of therapy also significantly relaxes the muscles, making them easier to stretch, which is a key component in restoring their mobility.
Stretches
In our physical therapy in Midtown East NYC, we’ll also recommend various stretches that can greatly improve one’s ROM. These stretches include dynamic stretches, consisting of keeping both feet around shoulder length apart and shifting your weight to an object (we recommend a chair) in front of you. While doing this, slowly lift one leg off the ground, slowly swing it around your body in one direction, and then slowly back the other way.
You should perform this around ten times at about a 45-degree angle for both legs. The other types of stretch are static stretches. These are more of respiratory stretches. While lifting your arms up over your head, inhale and exhale deeply and slowly several times.
Contact us For Physical Therapy in Midtown East NYC
If you have any questions about these programs and regiments, please visit our website or give us a call at 212 – 499 – 0904. Schedule an appointment with H&D Physical Therapy in Midtown East NYC. Our team can help you recover.
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