North Platte Physical Therapy - Wheatland

Injuring your knee and tearing your ACL can impair your ability to stand, walk, and fulfill your daily routines or favorite activities. However, physical therapy treatments can effectively relieve the symptoms of ACL tears. If you are experiencing a knee injury, you should learn about the ACL tear treatments that premier Wyoming physical therapists can provide.

ACL tears are one of the most common injuries incurred by professional athletes and people who engage in physical activities. The best Casper physical therapy services can help identify and treat ACL tears. The ACL, or Anterior Cruciate Ligament, is an essential ligament of tissues that stabilize the knee by connecting the shin bone to the thigh bone. Many causes can facilitate tears in the ACL ligament. You can encounter the injury from twisting your leg in an awkward manner while your foot is firmly planted on the ground, from running fast and then suddenly and abruptly stopping, or from absorbing a hard blow on the leg. Additionally, at the time of the injury you also typically hear a loud and clearly audible popping or snapping sound. Certain symptoms usually accompany the injury, including severe pain, immediate swelling around the knee, and a loss of functioning in the affected leg.

The top Wyoming physical therapists can conduct an evaluation of your knee and determine whether or not you need surgery. The therapy experts can utilize many tests to assess the degree of the injury. The tests often enable the therapist to gently pull, bend, and maneuver your knee to assess the response of your leg. Common tests include the anterior drawer test, the lachman test, the pivot shift test, and the timed hop test. The experts then consider the results of the tests to determine if you need surgery. Many ACL patients can recover with physical therapy treatments and do not require surgery. However, some patients might require surgery if the symptoms are severe or if the injury keeps recurring. Patients that require surgery should still participate in physical therapy programs after the surgery to assist and accelerate the recovery process.   

Many physical therapy treatments can help alleviate the symptoms of ACL tears. Premier Casper physical therapy services can implement a wide variety of ACL exercise treatments.  Strengthening exercises can rebuild the leg muscles so your knee can support the joints in your leg and the weight of your body. Balancing exercises can also help you maintain stability while standing, walking, and running. Flexibility exercises are very beneficial for ACL tears. The flexibility exercises can help expand your range of motion, increase the mobility of your knee, and restore the proper functioning of your leg. 

The body mechanics advice of physical therapy experts can also help treat ACL injuries. The therapists can teach you the correct knee movements and effective leg techniques that you should use to fulfill your favorite activities and to avoid incurring knee injuries in the future. Additionally, physical therapy experts can also treat ACL tears with many technological modalities. Electrical stimulation devices are commonly used for knee injuries and ACL tears. The electrical stimulation process can restore the strength of your quadriceps muscles, stabilize your knee, and allow you to properly straighten and bend your leg.

Contact North Platte Physical Therapy to treat your knee injury. Our expert staff is revered throughout the Wyoming and Nebraska areas for providing superior and customized physical therapy services. We can handle any of your physical therapy needs, we have access to the best treatments on the market, and we would be glad to treat your ACL tear to restore the functioning of your leg and to maximize the performance of your body.
 

So you’ve signed up for your first physical therapy appointment...now what? You might be wondering what to expect, what to bring, who you will see, and what paperwork will be involved. If you have never been to our offices or to any physical therapy, you might be curious about what to expect. Here at North Platte Physical Therapy, we want all your experiences at our clinics to be easy, straight-forward, and comfortable. Rest assured that we will do our best to welcome you, make you feel at ease, and get you on your way to restored health in a timely manner. 
 
Before your visit, please download and print the intake forms, fill them out prior to your appointment, and bring them with you to your first visit. This will save you time in-office, and you can take as much time as you need to fill them out. See our first time physical therapy visit page and click on the appropriate forms button to correspond with your location. Also bring your doctor’s referral with you (your prescription for therapy) and any relevant diagnostic reports you may have (x-ray, MRI, etc.).
 
For your appointment, wear comfortable clothing that will allow the physical therapist access to the body part for which you are being seen. We suggest that you arrive 10 – 15 minutes before the start of your first scheduled appointment to complete the registration process. When you arrive, we will take your filled-out paperwork, any diagnostic reports, and get a copy of your insurance card and driver’s license. After that, the first part of your initial evaluation involves an interview, where you will meet with your therapist to discuss your medical history, the story of what brings you into therapy.
 
Be prepared to answer questions such as:

• What types of symptoms are you experiencing?
• How long have you been experiencing these symptoms?
• What aggravates and eases these symptoms?
• How did it start?

Please be sure to tell your physical therapist about any previous physical therapy treatment you may have had, as well as the results. Come ready with questions! This is your time to ask whatever questions you may have. The next step will be your examination.  
 
After your interview and evaluation, we will explain our assessment of your condition and your individual plan of care. After that, we will begin your treatment. And since you will only spend two to three hours a week receiving treatment with us, follow-through with your home exercise program will help you attain your goals much faster. After your appointment, please remember to check in with our receptionists on your way out. They will coordinate your follow-up treatments.
 
Thank you for choosing North Platte Physical Therapy. We suggest you browse through our common physical rehabilitation questions page, and check out our locations page for directions to the facility that is most convenient for you. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
 

If you have random aches and pains, it can be a nuisance. But when do you know when an ache and pain is more than just a minor pain? When do you know your pain is actually osteoporosis? Osteoporosis is a bone disease, and while it can make life a little harder for you there are things you can do to make things a little easier - including physical therapy.

What is Osteoporosis? 
Osteoporosis is a bone disease that causes bones to become brittle and thin - resulting in painful and injuries. Many women develop osteoporosis, including those with a thin frame or who are progressing through the aging process. However, physical therapists can help you treat and overcome the condition. If you or someone you know has developed osteoporosis, it can help to understand the many treatments that physical therapists can provide.

Prevention
While injuries from osteoporosis won’t ever be 100% preventable, some of the best physical therapists in and around the Wyoming area can help you prevent injuries through physical therapy.
Weak bones can impair your ability to function properly, inflict you with many bone fracture injuries, and prevent you from performing basic tasks. As a result, the preventative treatments of physical therapy are especially beneficial for osteoporosis patients. The therapy experts can provide advice to help you avoid injuries while maintaining a productive life and fulfilling daily functions. For instance, the professionals can teach you how to use proper body mechanics, rotate your body, and lift objects without straining your spine. The sessions would also substantially improve your balance. The therapists can help you maintain a steady and balanced posture, use proper walking techniques, and avoid falling down while standing or walking. 
 
Exercises
There are a few different types of exercises that you can do that will help you to overcome the symptoms and struggles of osteoporosis. Physical therapy can teach you a diverse range of stretch routines. The stretches can help treat the condition by relieving the pain, rehabilitating past injuries, and by increasing your flexibility to avoid future injuries. Several aerobic, resistance, and spine exercise routines can also help treat osteoporosis. The experts can guide you through exercise routines during the sessions and teach you routines that you can perform at home. The exercises provide many benefits. For instance, exercise routines can help strengthen your bones, build your muscles, and improve your ability to complete tasks without incurring injuries. Each osteoporosis patient requires a different routine that addresses their specific issues. As a result, physical therapy experts can develop and customize exercise routines according to what would be most conducive for your body and most effective for your condition.
 
If you believe you are in need of osteoporosis treatment, be sure to contact North Platte Physical Therapy. Our award-winning staff is proud to provide exceptional and personalized physical therapy treatment throughout Wyoming and Nebraska. We can implement comprehensive treatments to help you rehabilitate from injuries, overcome the symptoms of osteoporosis, and maintain a happy and productive life.
 

Knee pains - they can be overwhelming and even scary if you’re an athlete. No matter what the cause, knee pains can affect anyone no matter the age or gender. What makes knee pains a little complicated is that knee pains can be attributed to a horrific injury, a slight tweak, or even a medical condition. While we cannot diagnose anyone via internet, here are some common knee injuries and their symptoms.

Injuries
While there is a wide array of injuries that can cause knee pain, here are some of the most common: 

• ACL: This one is particularly worrisome for athletes as sometimes it can be career ending. An ACL injury is when you tear the anterior cruciate ligament (a ligament in your knee that connects your thigh and shin bone). This can be extremely painful and often occurs when there is a sudden movement or change in direction.
• Meniscus: Your meniscus is a cartilage (of course also located in your knee) that helps to absorb shock - think of it as a stabilizer. Typically this can be torn if you are placing weight on your knee, and then suddenly twisting it in a different direction.
• Fractures: If you’ve broken or fractured a bone before you know the pain - but we can almost guarantee you’d certainly know! It’ll be extremely painful and often times you won’t be able to put any pressure on it.

Risk Factors
Some knee pain can be caused from medical conditions - including excess weight and a true lack of any strength or flexibility. To help mitigate this, we recommend ensuring you are active (even if it’s just walking) and try to focus on healthy eating. Your primary care physician can help you with this!

See a Doctor

• Everyone responds differently to pain and injury. While the following are decent guidelines as to when you should seek a doctor’s assistance, if you have any doubts or concerns we recommend you see a doctor or physical therapist promptly!
• Unable to full extend or bend your knee
• Have excessive swelling
• Severe pain
• Unable to put full body weight on your knee

At North Platte Physical Therapy, we are here to help meet your needs. We serve the communities of Wyoming and Nebraska with 22 clinics offering a full range of physical therapy services. Contact us today for more information.
 

Stretching and physical activity is key in physical therapy. Although you might not always need it, incorporating physical therapy exercises (particularly the stretching portion) will help improve your life more than you know! Everyone enjoys feeling their best, and light activity/stretching is the way to do so. We’ve compiled some of our favorite stretches, and why you should do them, all in one place! If you are considering getting in to a new physical activity routine, don’t hesitate to reach out to your Wyoming/Nebraska physical therapist or your primary care physician. 

The following are common stretches that we recommend, as well as things we have used with clients in the past. Give them a try - it should take five minutes!

• Runner’s Stretch - The easiest way to describe this is that it looks like a lunge, except you have a knee on the ground! Lean forward into the stretch and hold for thirty seconds. REpeat on both sides.
• Standing Toe Reach - Stand with your feet together, and bend at the waist. You’ll extend your arms straight in front of you and try to reach your toes. Hold for thirty seconds. 
• Arm Circles - This is a good way to keep moving! Hold your arms straight out so they are at your side, even with your shoulders. Next all you have to do is make 10-20 circles forward and backward. 

There are some benefits to stretching and light activity every day. Here are the two of the biggest benefits from regular stretching/physical activity.
Muscle Strength: Everyday activities can be much easier if you have some built-up muscle strength. It particularly comes in handy when performing yard work or moving boxes, but we can promise it won’t just make household chores easier! Improved muscle strength will have you feeling better and healthier in no time. 
Flexibility: This one is a big one - through regular physical activity and stretching your flexibility will increase. This too will have you feeling better, but it will also help to prevent injuries that can happen if you overexert your muscles. 

It can be hard to fit physical activity in to your schedule, we recommend the following: 

• Schedule - Create a schedule that you can stick to! For example, we have several clients who fit into a workout in the mornings around 7 am. Once you get into a habit, it’ll become easier. 
• Prioritize - Prioritizing your workout is important. It’s easy to let work, children, and household chores get in the way but if you have an hour to watch TV you have 20 minutes to get a stretch in! Do both at the same time!
• Workout Buddies - If you need to be held accountable, a workout buddy is the best way to do that! Once you start setting gym times to meet up it’ll become much easier.

If you are experiencing any pain, or are looking to get into a physical fitness routine, your primary care physician or physical therapist can help. Here at North Platte Physical Therapy, are here to help meet your needs. Physical therapy can be essential in healing from any knee-injury, and with proper care you can be back to your normal routine in no time. We serve the communities of Wyoming and Nebraska with 22 clinics offering a full range of physical therapy services. Contact us today for more information.