Physical Therapy for Acute Injury and Surgical Rehabilitation

It is bound to happen. At some point you will sprain, strain, tweak or twist some part of your body. At Valley Sports Physicians we are equipped with the know-how to get you on the road to recovery, from the first few days of symptom control, right through the eventual return to you prior level of activity.

Physical therapy for acute injuries and recovery from surgery typically has 3 phases.

• Phase I focuses on reduction of pain and swelling. Modalities such as ice, heat, ultrasound, and electrical stimulation may be used, in addition to manual techniques such as stretching or massage.
• Phase II seeks to restore full pain-free range of motion and begins to build your strength and endurance back.
• Phase III is dedicated to return-to-play or prior activities. Focus is directed to enhancing (and even improving) sport-specific or job-specific skills.

It is common practice in other clinics for therapists to treat two, three or even four patients at the same time, or you may never see the same therapist twice. One thing that sets us apart from most other facilities is the one-on-one approach we take with our patients. We do not double-book our appointments. In other words, you will be the only person we will be working with when you are here, and you will work with the same therapist at every visit. This enables us to see you for fewer visits, and helps our therapy be more successful.

Of course, no therapy will be successful without patient cooperation. Think of your therapist as your rehabilitation “coach.” You will get treatment while in the office, but just as importantly, and sometimes even more importantly, is the work that your therapist asks you to do on your own at home. If you do not do your part, you will be disappointed with your therapy results.