Mobilizing joints throughout the body to restore full range of motion at the joint level. Joints include vertebral joints (Spine), sacroiliac, shoulders, elbows, wrists, fingers, hips, knees, ankles, and feet.

Through advanced massage techniques, the therapist can reduce or eliminate spasm, fibrotic soft tissue, and stretch tight muscles.

Exercises that are prescribed by the therapist that are specific to your condition. The exercises are designed to increase strength, restore normal function, and reduce disability.

Training for athletes designed to return you back to your full potential in the sport and position that you play. Pre-employment screening for companies who are looking to reduce workers compensation claims by examining a possible new hire to see if they can actually perform the essential functions of the job being offered.

The challenges Physical Therapists face when it comes to analyzing and retraining gait are numerous; gait training employs strength, coordination, and balance training to improve stability and body perception. This is usually needed with the presence of certain neurological conditions i.e Stroke. The overwhelming task is to coordinate musculoskeletal functioning and motor control with mental attentiveness and sensation.

Gait is uniform among patients in that it consists of the stance phase and swing phase, and incorporates the transfer of body weight from one foot to another, but cadence and speed can vary widely. Deviations from normal gait can be a result of numerous affected body parts, particularly the ankle, foot, knee, hip, or pelvis, or from conditions that cause muscle weakness, tightness, spasticity, loss of sensation, pain, or other alteration to function.

When a gait problem presents, PTs must first effectively and accurately analyze the situation, in terms of that specific patient and their definition of normal. After analysis, an appropriate training method must be developed and used to get patients back as close to “normal” as possible.

Specturm Physical Therpay utilizes some of the most comprehensive clinical assessment tools available to assess for balance dificits. Sensory integration, gaze stability, static and dynamic balance, and gait tasks are rendered to simulate a wide variety of commonly encountered daily activities. Performance values, as well as diagnostic results, are analyzed to determine the most appropriate form of balance therapy. We use conventional balance therapy methods as well as incorporating the Wii Fitness program. We have found increased compliance, more interaction, and patients allowing longer treatment sessions with the Wii Fit.

Graston Technique® is an innovative, patented form of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization that enables clinicians to effectively break down scar tissue and fascial restrictions. The technique utilizes specially designed stainless steel instruments to specifically detect and effectively treat areas exhibiting soft tissue fibrosis or chronic inflammation. Originally developed by athletes, Graston Technique® is an interdisciplinary treatment used by more than 15,000 clinicians worldwide—including physical and occupational therapists, hand therapists, chiropractors, and athletic trainers.

For more than 25 years, Kinesio Taping has been breaking new ground in the fields of sports performance, pain management and physical therapy. The Kinesio Taping Method is designed to facilitate the body’s natural healing process while allowing support and stability to muscles and joints without restricting the body’s range of motion. It is used to successfully treat a variety of orthopedic, neuromuscular, neurological and medical conditions, such as muscle spasm, muscle wekness, joint stability, edema control, lymphatic drainage, mechanical corrections, functional correction, etc…

Pain in the jaw that accompanies movement or clenchingThe temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is where the skull’s temporal bone connects to the lower jaw. This joint opens and closes like a hinge and slides forward, backward, and side to side. Temporomandibular joint dysfunction occurs as a result of anatomic problems within the joint or tension in the muscles surrounding the joint or in the neck area.
Signs and symptoms of TMJ dysfunction include:

• Decreased range of motion in the jaw
• Noise during jaw movement
• Headache

Spectrum Physical Therapy’s Approach to Treating TMJ dysfunction:
Manual therapy to increase joint mobility and range of motion in the TMJ region, recapture the displaced TMJ disc, decrease muscle tightness and trigger points around the joint and cervical region to restore pain-free mobility
Neuromuscular re-education in proper movement of the jaw that is progressed at an appropriate rate so that deviation, clicking, and painful movement is avoided.

Education and Home Exercise Program on proper posture and movement to reduce clicking and inflammation within the joint, improve function and range of motion, and stabilize the bite.

A wellness program is provided to patients who have finished physical therapy and do not want to venture into a gym for exercise. It is designed for patients who would like to continue with an exercise program to maintain or further improve their strength, flexibility, endurance, and functional ability. The maintenance program is $70 per month.

Common hand dysfunctions that we treat include: Repetitive/ overuse injuries i.e. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Lateral and Medial Epicondylitis, Ulnar Neuropathy, Trigger finger, and DeQuervains. In addition, tendon repairs / tenolysis, tendinitis, arthroplasty, contractures, fractures, fusions, ligament / dislocation, nerve repairs, neural compression syndromes, replantation, pain and RSD.At Spectrum, we can deliver physical therapy care for patients with injuries to the hand, wrist, forearm, elbow, and shoulder. Out of seven therapists currently, we have three that are very competent in treating hand dysfunctions.

Treatment options for your patients include: paraffin bath, moist heat, cryotherpay, ultrasound, manual soft tissue mobilization, myofascial release, Graston technique for scar mobilization, joint mobilization, tendon gliding, neural flossing and mobilization, prom/aarom, arom for contractured joints and tissue, splinting off premise, cryotherapy, neuromuscular re-education, therapeutic exercise specific for each patient.

Pre-employment/Post-offer screens, Return to Work Screens, Back education training, reducing strains & sprains injury training, Job site analysis, and return to work rehabilitation.

Dr. Welch is a certified functional capacity evaluator with many years of experience performing functional capacity evaluations, pre-employment screens, return to work screening, training to reduce the most common strain and sprain injuries, and job site analysis. Pre-employment screens are designed to simulate the essential tasks of a job. The screen helps determine if the potential new employee can in fact perform the job duties required of that position. If the potential new hire cannot perform the essential tasks then HR is notified of this. Retrun to work screens are similar, but performed when an employee is returning to work after an injury, whether the injury was on the job or not. The employer should know whether this employee is capable of performing the essential tasks of their job.  The bottom line is that it reduces work related injuries and lowers workers compensation costs.   If you are an employer and have any questions with regards to these servicesdon’t hesitate to contact Dr. Welch. A meeting can be set up at your office to discuss the services and potential to offer these services for your company.