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Why Physical Therapy?

One-on-one treatments

Each treatment tailored to your unique body and goals.

Hands-on care

Get pain relief.

Same & next day appointments

Don’t wait to get care.

What Is Physical Therapy?

Physical therapy helps restore normal function after injury or surgery, and teaches strategies for injury prevention. We want you to get back to the activities you enjoy!  At Therapydia, you are the focus. You will work one-on-one with a physical therapist who will listen to your concerns, conduct a thorough examination, and develop a plan specific to your needs and goals.

Physical Therapists have three years of graduate education, and since 2015, receive Doctorate Degrees.  PTs are uniquely qualified to treat musculoskeletal (MSK) issues, and since 2019, you can see a PT with or without a referral from an MD in all 50 states.   So recognition and awareness of the important role of Physical Therapists in the U.S. healthcare system is on the rise.  

 

Learn more:

• Topics

• Your First Visit

• FAQ

 

 

Manual Therapy

Manual therapy is a physical therapy technique utilizing hands-on movements to diagnose and treat soft tissues and joint structures. A physical therapist physically kneads and manipulates your joints, muscles, and tissues in order to diagnose biomechanical injuries, reduce pain, and promote proper healing. Being skilled in these muscular techniques is what sets physical therapists apart from other health care practitioners. Since there are many different types of manual therapy techniques, a physical therapist will be able to determine which technique best fits your needs.

Soft Tissue Mobilization
Soft tissue mobilization is a hands-on therapeutic technique that is designed to restore mechanical movement and increase range of motion by releasing tension within fascia. Fascia are sheets of fibrous tissue that surround and support muscles by separating them into layers. Following some kind of trauma or injury fascia and muscles may shorten and restrict movement and blood flow. Depending on where your restrictions are located, your physical therapist will apply different directions of pressure to break down muscle adhesions.
Joint Mobilization
Physical therapists will use these manual mobilization techniques when joint structures are somehow limiting the normal motion (i.e sliding, pivoting, etc.) of your joints. Using small and specific movements, a physical therapist manually moves a target synovial joint through natural levels of resistance. These motions stretch and strengthen the tissue surrounding the joint bone—normalizing joint motion, reducing spasms, and controlling pain.
Muscle Energy Technique
Muscle energy is an active technique used to reposition a dysfunctional joint and treat the surrounding muscles. It can be used to lengthen a shortened or spastic muscle or mobilize a joint that is stiff our restricted. The patient is guided through performing a specific muscle contraction against a resistive barrier, the physical therapist’s manual contact with the joint. Your physical therapist continues with this process until your muscle stretches further each time and range of motion improves.
Strain/Counter Strain
A physical therapist utilizing strain/counterstrain techniques will look for specific “tender points” in the body that indicates which fascial structure is involved. The technique is mainly used to reduce chronic and acute muscle spasms anywhere in the body. Once your physical therapist locates the fascial structure involved in the spasm, they position your body for a certain amount of time (i.e. 90 seconds to 5 minutes) so the muscle is shortened and relaxed. By subduing the spasm, major muscle groups are able to return to pain free functions.

Recover With Therapydia

During your initial evaluation, your physical therapist will listen to your concerns to gather information about your symptoms, goals, and lifestyle. They will perform a variety of movement-based tests to understand your limitations and develop a plan of care to help you heal. We believe in empowering our patients with information about their diagnosis and what to expect from their treatment. Our programs are built on patient feedback and progress – your plan of care will evolve with you. Your physical therapy treatment may include manual techniques, movement-based therapies or a combination of different methods that will best address your specific needs.

Jessica Jones

Physical Therapist

Jessica recently moved to Seattle from Boston, MA and is excited to join the Therapydia team. Her treatment experience includes orthopedics, sports medicine, pediatrics, and vestibular therapy. Jessica received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Northeastern University in Boston, MA in 2016. She has completed the Pediatric Physical Therapy Residency at Boston Children’s Hospital and is in the process of completing a Comprehensive Vestibular Rehabilitation certification. Jessica believes in empowering and inspiring patients to take control of their health through education, movement, and exercise. She enjoys treating patients of all ages and levels while utilizing soft tissue techniques, neuromuscular re-education, balance training as well as therapeutic exercise. In her free time, Jessica enjoys yoga, dancing, kayaking, and hiking with her dog!

 

Move Better with Physical Therapy

Same-day or next-day appointments are available for new patients.

If you are looking for an appointment at any of our California, D.C., Hawaii, Seattle, or Denver Locations, please visit therapydia.com/schedule

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