Specializations
Temperomandibular Dysfunction
Reform Physical Therapy provides a comprehensive evaluation and treatment plan for those suffering from pain and tenderness in the face, jaw region, neck, shoulders in/around the ear with chewing, speaking or mouth opening. This pain and tenderness can be associated with headaches and/or dislocation of the disc within the joint and can be a result of trauma due to whiplash, muscle tightness, stress, grinding and/or clenching. We understand that arthritic changes or rheumatoid arthritis can also cause this type of pain. We are dedicated to working closely with your doctors to help you regain your function.
Manual Therapy
The term “manual therapy” refers to hands-on treatment of muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints. Human touch is an essential ingredient in our treatment philosophy and approach, and for good reason. Patients respond positively to hands-on work when combined with exercise and education. This leads to faster recovery and less out-of-pocket expenses.
Manual therapy encompasses a broad group of sophisticated techniques performed by hand and by uniquely trained physical therapists. These may include mobilizations or manipulations of soft tissue and skeletal joints. Manual therapy techniques aim to decrease pain and increase function.
Chronic Pain Treatment
Chronic pain is pain that persists longer than it should, from months to even years, beyond explanation. It can result in severe debilitation, frustration and depression. Treating chronic pain is never a cookbook approach. At Reform Physical Therapy, interventions are hands-on, encompass the entire system, focus on manual techniques, exercises and cardiovascular work, home programs and lifestyle changes. Chronic pain takes a tremendous toll on patients, driven by the unsuccessful attempts of past interventions and medical consultations. Reform Physical Therapy therapists focus on functional restoration in an upbeat and encouraging environment, fostering confidence and offering hope.
Dry Needling Treatment
Many people suffer from Myofascial Trigger Points (MTPs). Understanding and effectively treating trigger points can improve overall physical health. Dry Needling is a relatively new and extremely effective technique added into the practice of Physical Therapy. It relies on a Western understanding of neurology and anatomy for the treatment of persistent muscle pain in any area of the body. Physical therapists are uniquely qualified to perform this technique, given their extensive knowledge of anatomy and muscle function.
Dry Needling involves multiple advances of a thin needle into the muscle in the region of a ‘trigger point’. A myofascial trigger point is a tender ropey band in a muscle, which can cause pain at a site or refer pain to a specific area related to that muscle. For example, patients experiencing pain down their leg may have a trigger point in the hip muscle that is causing that pain, which may necessitate treatment at the trigger point to decrease pain. The goal of dry needling is to relieve pain – achieved by creating a local twitch response to release muscle tension in the nervous system. When a person experiences chronic pain, often the nervous system is overall sensitive and gets ‘stuck’ in a cycle of unrelenting pain. The goal with dry needling is to essentially ‘reboot’ the nervous system, breaking the pain cycle. In addition to treating muscular and nervous systems, the technique is also performed on tendons and ligaments to decrease pain and expedite healing.