Big Country Rehabilitation - Douglas

 
 

We offer various services including outpatient and inpatient care as well as in-home care, public school services and early childhood. Our Douglas clinic provides a comprehensive outpatient facility, including a fitness center available to the general public. In addition to staffing the outpatient clinic, our therapists provide services in home care, early childhood center and their public schools. 

Some of the services we provide include: Orthopedic and sports medicine treatments, spinal cord and extremity joint mobilization, postural re-education, core strengthening, kineso-taping, aquatic and pool therapy, wound care, orthotic fitting and casting, custom extremity splinting, spinal cord and neuro rehab, work hardening, functional capacity evaluations, myofascial release (including dry needing), TMJ evaluations and treatments.

Our occupational therapy staff provides a state recognized driving program designed for helping patients return to independence. They also offer outpatient and inpatient bedside swallowing evaluations to individuals with swallowing disorders.

Pediatric Department Info

307-358-9464  Send Email Address: 111 South 5th Street #1, Douglas, WY 82633
Hours: Mon - Fri: 7AM - 5:30PM
Fax: 307-358-9330

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Services Offered

Latest News & Info

What You Should Know if You Are a First-Timer for Douglas, WY Physical Therapy

August 22, 2018

What You Should Know if You Are a First-Timer for Douglas, WY Physical Therapy
Are you getting ready to go to physical therapy in Douglas, WY for the first time after suffering an injury? You might be wondering what you can expect and how you can prepare for your first appointment.
The first thing you should do is plan to move, so you’ll want to be sure you wear comfortable clothing, as recommended in this Angie’s List article on going to physical therapy.
Here are some other tips you’ll want to keep in mind if you are a physical therapy first-timer.

The Evaluation

During your first session, your physical therapist will ask you about your medical history. There could be issues there that relate to any musculoskeletal problems you might be having. The physical therapist will also perform objective testing to make an accurate diagnosis of your injury, which will help determine the best course of treatment. Range of motion, strength, flexibility, and posture will all be evaluated during the testing.
There will also be an overall screening that will include taking your blood pressure and measuring your height and weight.
All of this information will enable your physical therapist to develop a treatment plan for you. In addition, this will enable your physical therapist to have a baseline against which to measure improvement in the coming weeks.

The Beginning of Treatment

After the initial questions, information, and testing is completed, be prepared to start with physical therapy on the first day you go in. This is the beginning of your rehabilitation process. Although physical therapy isn’t intended to be painful, it can sometimes be challenging to move parts of your body that have been injured.
Just keep in mind that depending on the complexity and severity of your injury, physical therapy will take a bit of time, so be patient. It’s also important that you are consistent with physical therapy, so stick with it once you start.
Many people might wonder if they can recover from an injury without physical therapy. The answer to this question is complex. Sometimes injuries can and do heal on their own. But keep in mind that physical therapy can dramatically improve the healing timetable of your injury and make the healing more thorough.
Many people make the mistake of Googling their injuries in an attempt to self-treat, but this often brings on additional problems. With the help of a physical therapy treatment plan that is tailored to your body and your injury, you will be able to feel better and function at a higher level than you would without physical therapy. Physical therapy is frequently part of a thorough treatment plan for an injury.
If you have suffered an injury and are slated to try physical therapy, North Platte is your go-to local physical therapist in Douglas, WY to provide the services that will get you feeling better and stronger. Our expert staff is respected throughout the Wyoming and Nebraska areas for providing superior and customized physical therapy services. We can handle any of your physical therapy needs. Fill out our contact form to get started and to find a location near you.
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Changes to Improve Your Health and Using Physical Therapy in Douglas, WY

May 17, 2017

Changes to Improve Your Health and Using Physical Therapy in Douglas, WY

When it comes to feeling better and possibly losing weight, did you know how much food and exercise comes into play? As you work on ways to improve your health, there some so top things you can do. From tips to quality, healthy eating and benefits of exercising regularly to incorporating premier physical therapy in Douglas, WY, try some of these tips to improve your overall health.

Tips for Healthy Eating

Sugar is a culprit for health issues, diabetes, heart problems and much more. Did you know sugar is added to most of the foods you eat every day? Not only is sugar in most of the sweets you consume, but also added to everything from sauces to packaged foods. By cutting back or eliminating added sugar, you may feel better, have skin issues clear up, have more energy and much more. By eating a diet of lean protein, fats and vegetables, you may also eliminate digestive issues and many other problems you are having. Many of the foods today have additives that leads to inflammation in the body. This can create a variety of problems. By cutting back or eliminating these foods, you will notice a major difference how you feel. For more tips on food, read Health’s 10 Easy Ways to Slash Sugar from Your Diet.

Benefits of Regular Exercise

Many associate exercise with weight loss, but exercise should be incorporated into your weekly routine for a variety of reasons. While it can help with weight loss, regular exercise will help reduce your risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer and a variety of other conditions. Even just 20 minutes a day of exercise will help to reduce your risks. Regular exercise will also build up your strength and over time will help to give you more energy. This can help in a variety of ways. In addition, exercising on a regular basis is one of the best ways to get better sleep at night. You may also notice that you feel more positive and are able to accomplish more throughout the day.

Incorporating Physical Therapy

If you are a person that deals with pain on a regular basis, exercise might be difficult if it is painful. This is where incorporating local physical therapy can help. Working with a physical therapist can help you create a plan personalized to you and your situation. Whether you have bursts of pain or chronic pain, they can assess your situation. From here, they will work with you on ways to improve your quality of live. Through various exercises, you will work to improve strength and your overall wellbeing.

If you are looking for a go-to physical therapist to help you combat your chronic pain or feel better overall, North Platte Physical Therapy can help. We have a variety of services to help you with a variety of issues.  Don’t let pain and discomfort persist, get help from a physical therapist. Get started to learn how physical therapy can improve your health and contact North Platte Physical Therapy!

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Benefits of Joint Physical Therapy in Douglas, WY

April 26, 2017

Benefits of Joint Physical Therapy in Douglas, WY
For many, the weather impacts them in a variety of different ways. It can alarm your allergies, make your hair frizzy or bring discomfort to your joints. Some notice joint pain before it rains, while others might struggle once it begins to get cold. Did you know there is a connection between the two? Learn about the correlation between weather and joint pain, tips for coping with weather related changes in your body and the overall benefits of physical therapy in Douglas, WY.

Correlation Between Weather and Joint Pain

If you start to feel aches and pains before weather changes, you aren’t alone. How is this possible? It’s possible because the barometric pressure, also known as atmospheric pressure, changes. For an in-depth look into barometric pressure, read Britannica’s Atmospheric Pressure. For many, when these changes happen and the weight of air presses the earth’s surface, it causes a variety of problems for people from headaches to aches and pains. Physical therapy can help with this type of discomfort.

Tips to Coping with Pain Due to Weather Changes

There are a variety of symptoms for those who experience pain when the weather changes. For some, it’s headaches and migraines. For others, joint pain plays a huge role. There are even some individuals to have muscles tighten. If you experience pain, it’s important to speak with your doctor. They can also go over with you if you have any vitamin deficiencies. While seeing your doctor is a top priority to manage pain, there are additional things you can do as well like increasing the amount of time spent warming up before exercising. You can also use a heating pad as well. Next, make sure you’re getting proper nutrition and be aware of food groups that may not agree with you. Consuming these foods plus changes in barometric pressure can make things worse.

Benefits of Physical Therapy

If you experience joint pain, working with a physical therapist can help. You can meet with a physical therapist to discuss any triggers and techniques to help cope. A physical therapist will also help you develop proper form and posture for you to carry out with exercising or just every day normal tasks. Together, you will develop a plan for treatment in hopes to make pain management a little easier. They can also go over additional methods for pain management in addition to physical therapy, such as diet and how to properly use heat and cold. Once you have been working with a physical therapist for some time, you may find some relief when the winds of change come and the weather changes.

If you are experiencing any type of joint pain, whether it is general or you think there is a correlation to the weather, North Platte Physical Therapy located in Douglas, WY can help. To learn more about when you would help ease joint pain with cold or heat, be sure to read our article Treating Pain with Ice vs. Heat, What’s the Difference? To get started on your treatment plan, contact us today!
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Physical Therapist in Wyoming Explains the Difference Between Stretching and Warming Up

March 22, 2017

Physical Therapist in Wyoming Explains the Difference Between Stretching and Warming Up
If you’re an active person, you’ve probably heard that you need to stretch and warm up before a workout, but do you know why? Many people assume that stretching and warming up are the same, but according to a physical therapist in Wyoming, they’re actually quite different. Here’s what you need to know about both of these activities:

Stretching

Stretching on a regular basis can help improve your flexibility and increase your range of motion. Additionally, stretching can relieve tension that you may be holding in your muscles and make you feel less stressed out. It can also help you keep your muscles loose so you don’t feel any aches or pains after a tough workout. If you are experiencing pain related to bad posture, stretching can also help you realign your body so you can correct your posture problems and prevent future pain.

The American College of Sports Medicine recommends that you stretch at least two times per week, and even more if you are elderly or exercising on a daily basis. It is best to think of stretching as something that should be part of your everyday life instead of limiting it to only before and after workouts. Learn how to stretch here.

Warming Up

Although many athletes often say they injured themselves because they forgot to stretch prior to a workout, they could be mistaken. Many injuries are actually caused by not properly warming up. What is warming up? Before engaging in any type of physical activity, you should get your body ready by starting off slow to gently engage each group of muscles and prepare them for a more strenuous workout. When you warm up, your heart rate starts to increase, which means your muscles will receive more nutrients and oxygen. Warming up also increases your body temperature, which leads to your muscles becoming more pliable, and thus lowering the risk of injury.

Although stretching and warming up both increase the flexibility of your muscles, warming up goes one step further by getting your whole body prepared for the workout. So, the next time you plan on working out, start off with low intensity cardio by speed walking or going for a slow jog. It’s best to warm up for about 10-15 minutes so your heart rate and temperature have enough time to increase and get your body ready for the work ahead. Getting into the habit of warming up before you exercise can keep you healthy and injury-free!

At North Platte Physical Therapy, we’re dedicated to helping clients prevent injuries as they enjoy their favorite physical activities. But accidents happen, so if you do injure yourself while exercising or because of an accident, contact North Platte Physical Therapy to learn more about how we can help you recover. Our staff is praised throughout the Wyoming, and Nebraska areas for our commitment to our clients. We can fulfill comprehensive physical therapy services, and would be happy to customize a treatment plan for your personal needs.
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How Children With Autism Benefit From Physical Therapy in Cheyenne WY

March 15, 2017

How Children With Autism Benefit From Physical Therapy in Cheyenne WY
When you think of physical therapy, images of older or injured adults recovering from surgery probably come to mind. However, physical therapy is not just for those who are aging or injured. In fact, special needs children such as those with autism can greatly benefit from regular physical therapy in Cheyenne WY. Here’s how:

Imitation Skills

Children who have autism often do not develop imitation skills on their own. What are imitation skills? When children are young, they often imitate what they see people around them doing. These skills will eventually help children socialize and learn to speak, so they are crucial to a child’s development. If your child has not mastered his imitation skills, a physical therapist can help. For example, trained physical therapists can use fun songs such as “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes” to help children learn how to mimic movements. Learn more about imitation skills.

Motor Skills

Children with autism typically have limited motor skills, which makes it difficult for them to navigate through their daily lives. A physical therapist can work one-on-one with affected children to help them improve their balance and develop the muscle strength they need to perform daily activities. After attending regular physical therapy sessions, children with autism may see improvements in their ability to sit upright, walk, run, and jump without assistance.

Physical therapists can also help children learn how to use these motor skills to play on their own or with others. For example, therapists can work with kids to help them understand how to climb on a playground or kick a ball in a game of soccer. They can also help them improve their motor planning skills. For instance, kids with autism may be able to climb into a swing, but they still might not be able to figure out how to pump their legs to get the swing to move. In this case, a physical therapist can focus on motor planning to fine tune these skills, which will help the child become more socialized as he learns how to play with others.

Posture

If you’ve ever seen a physical therapist after an injury, you know the importance of good posture. Practicing good posture can prevent painful injuries caused by slouching your shoulders or hunching your back. Unfortunately, children with autism often suffer from generalized joint hypermobility (GJH), which can cause weak muscles, and therefore bad posture. A physical therapist can help by correcting any misalignments that are often found in the postures of children with autism and teaching them the importance of sitting up straight to elongate their spines.

At North Platte Physical Therapy, we’re dedicated to helping clients of all ages and abilities. If you’re curious about physical therapy, contact North Platte Physical Therapy to learn more about how we can help you and your children live healthier lives. Our staff is praised throughout the Wyoming and Nebraska areas for our commitment to our clients. We can fulfill comprehensive physical therapy services, and would be happy to customize a treatment plan for your personal needs.
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