Physical Therapists are trained to recognize impairments in the movement system. By watching you move, we can determine where deficits or imbalances lie. We then use tests to make sure we are correct. And we can give you exercises that are specific to your injury and your goals.
For example, we can watch you walk. We might see that your stride length is shortened. We then do some tests to see if it’s because you lack hip mobility, or ankle flexibility. We will use manual therapy to help improve the mobility, then give you exercises to follow up at home. The diagnosis you came in with might have been knee pain, or back pain. But the problem is often due to stiffness at another joint, causing an overuse and pain.
Another example is when you come in shoulder pain. We will watch you raise your arm up. We might notice that your shoulder blade doesn’t move well. We will do tests to verify if your shoulder blade doesn’t move enough. If your shoulder blade isn’t rotating with the humerus bone, it will cause impingement or strain in the shoulder joint. So the rotator cuff might be injured, but the problem may arise from stiffness or weakness in the scapula.
And that’s why you can’t just google knee pain or shoulder pain. Each individual person has a unique muscle imbalance that is causing them to have pain. And we can help you fit the puzzle together so that you can reach your goals and live a pain-free life!!
