Physical Therapy
Providence Physical Therapy
Providence Physical Therapy offers a wide variety of outpatient physical therapy services at four locations in Southwest Washington.
Who are Physical Therapists?
Physical therapists are health care professionals who are licensed by the State of Washington. All licensed physical therapists have graduated from an accredited college program and have passed a national examination. Most of our physical therapists have a master’s degree in physical therapy, and some of our most recent graduates have doctorates. Furthermore, all of our therapists have attended extensive continuing education courses after college graduation.
How Do I Become a Patient?
Our patients usually come to us through a referral from a physician or other medical professional. While such a referral is not necessary for physical therapists to treat patients, at this time most insurance companies will not pay for physical therapy services without one.
At the first visit, the patient is asked to fill out a general medical history form, which contains questions about the specific reason for coming to physical therapy. Following this paperwork, our therapists perform an extensive evaluation of the patient. The purpose of the evaluation is to determine the level of dysfunction and the possible causes. The therapist will measure strength, range of motion of the affected body part, and may ask the patient to perform everyday tasks to determine how these are accomplished.
Team Approach
The most effective treatment involves a team including the patient, therapist, and referring physician. During the evaluation, the therapist will explain what he/she is doing and will answer any questions that the patient may have about the injury/condition and the treatment plan. At the end of the evaluation, the patient and the therapist should have a good understanding of the situation and the patient’s functional goals. Finally, the therapist will notify the physician of the findings and send the treatment plan for the physician to review and approve.
What is a Typical Physical Therapy Treatment?
All physical therapy treatments are unique to the patient and to the situation. Treatments are designed to help the patient regain full function in order to perform usual daily activities. Often, a physical therapy treatment will include some of the following activities:
- Manual Therapy. All of our therapists are skilled at many forms of manual (“hands-on”) therapy, including joint mobilization, myofascial release, soft tissue mobilization, and muscle stretching.
- Strengthening/Conditioning. With most injuries or long-term conditions, the patient will experience a loss of strength in a body part. The therapist will determine the level of muscle loss and will begin a strengthening program to correct the situation.
- Range of Motion. Many patients will have limited motion of a body part because of injury or pain. The therapist will work with the patient to regain that motion in the clinic, and will instruct the patient in a stretching program to perform at home.
- Heat or Cold Modality. There are several ways to either warm up tissues or cool them down. Heat helps to relieve pain and also brings fresh blood into the area, which helps carry added oxygen and nutrients to the injured tissues. Cold is an anesthetic agent and numbs the injured body part. The choice of modality depends upon the injury/condition and the patient’s tolerance to either heat or cold.
What Kind of Injury/Condition is Appropriate for Physical Therapy?
The most common type of patient that we treat is a person who has experienced an injury to muscles, bones, or joints. Our patients include injured workers trying to return to full employment, athletes recovering from a recent injury or surgery, retirees trying to regain strength and motion in order to remain active, and people experiencing a physical condition that limits their ability to enjoy life.
In addition to injuries, some of our patients are learning how to deal with amputations, fibromyalgia, arthritis, neuromuscular diseases, and strokes. There is a group of patients who may be best treated by the therapists within Providence Centralia Hospital. They have the expertise and the resources available to properly treat a certain population of patients. During the initial phone call to our clinics, our staff will help the patient determine which clinic will be able to provide the most appropriate treatment for that particular diagnosis.
Whatever the situation, we work with our patients to develop a plan of treatment that will best suit their lifestyle and condition. Our therapists are committed to helping our patients set and reach realistic rehabilitation goals.
What Other Services are Available?
In addition to regular physical therapy services, we provide the following:
- Sports Medicine Coverage - athletic training services to local high schools and colleges in both Thurston and Lewis counties.
- Performance Testing - for those active people who are trying to improve their physical ability to participate in sports. We have specific programs designed for golfers, skiers, and for the prevention of knee injuries in high school female athletes.
- Work Hardening and Work Conditioning - specific programs that are created to return a patient to work as soon and as safely as possible.
- Ergonomic Assessments - on site review of the relationship between the worker, the work station, and the work environment.
- Job Analysis - assessment that identifies the physical demands required of a particular job.
- Therapeutic Pool - exercises performed in a therapeutic pool are easier to perform because of the buoyancy and the warmth of the water.