Youth sports in Bend is huge and extremely popular. Many kids, ours included, are spending multiple hours on the fields and courts exercising and performing repetitive movements.   Although we want our kids to be active and engaged in sports, we want them to be safe and keep them from injuries that might affect their sport or worse, plague them later in life.

At Hands On Physical Therapy, having our own kids involved with numerous sports, we know all too well the stresses placed on their growing bodies.  Fortunately for our kids we are quick to identify the issues and jump on treatment and prevention.   We want to be able to do the same for your children!

There are a number of factors that can make your child at a higher risk for injury… to name a few, feet malalignment, Muscle imbalances, posture issues, etc.

It is important to identify risk factors early and correct what you can before there is a problem.

As the saying goes “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”
Our Therapists can teach you about the importance of proper footwear and how to assess if a child may need custom orthotics, how to set up proper ergonomics for iPad and computer use. We can evaluate your child for areas of muscle imbalances and teach them specific stretches and strengthening exercises for these imbalances.

Be sure to keep your eyes and ears open for common child complaints such as heel pain, knee pain, hip popping, neck and back pain.  Seek treatment with the symptoms are in the early phases and save your child from more long lasting and troublesome pain and injury.

Please don’t ignore those complaints of pain and chalk it up to “growing pains” 

We are happy to work with individual coaches and teams to help insure safe and effective warm-up and strengthening exercises. We can screen kids for common youth diagnoses such as Snapping hip syndrome, Osgood Schlaters Disease, Patello femoral tracking dysfunction,  Sever’s disease, Achilles tendonitis, Posterior tibialis Tendonitis etc.  Mention our clinic to your coach and if interested contact Hands On Physical Therapy to schedule.

The surgery is over, but there may be  weakness, limited range of motion, swelling, difficulty performing ordinary tasks and possibly pain.  Rehabilitation is where the work begins.  Don’t go it alone!  Schedule your Physical Therapy as soon as your Doctor gives you clearance to do so. Advocate for yourself if your doctor has not recommended Physical Therapy. Almost all people, following orthopedic surgery, can benefit from even a few Physical Therapy treatments.  A Physical Therapist can teach you specific exercises for your individual needs, and make certain you are regaining proper strength and range of motion.

At Hands On Physical Therapy, we make the Rehabilitation as painless and fun as possible.  Our Physical Therapists are well trained in Post operative care and have specialized training in a number of techniques and modalities to help with the pain.

And, as a standard part of our evaluation and treatment at Hands On Physical Therapy we will be looking for and treating some of the biomechanical deficits you may have had prior to surgery that may have made your body more vulnerable to injury or arthritic development.  This will enhance outcomes and speed up recovery.

Sometimes Motor Vehicle Accidents can lead to injury.  They can also awaken a dormant injury you thought was well healed.  The jarring motion that occurs in the accident can cause muscle spasm, neck or back strain, muscle tears, nerve pain, even fractures.

If you are hurting, see your doctor and seek help.  Research shows the sooner you receive treatment after an injury the faster you will recover.  At Hands On Physical Therapy we are experts in a wide variety of manual therapy techniques.  This is important as often there is muscle spasm accompanying the injury and some people require more gentle techniques to calm the nervous system down.  Whatever your symptoms we can utilize a wide variety of either modalities or techniques to help ease your symptoms and help you recover faster.

Are you a runner wanting to do your best to prevent injury? Or, are you a runner who is taking a hiatus due to prior injury?  Are you eager to return to the sport but nervous?  Maybe you are a runner currently dealing with pain? In all of these scenarios we can help you!

We will assess your running form on a treadmill using a slow motion recording device. We will assess for biomechanical imbalances, muscle weaknesses and loss of range of motion. We will provide treatment through manual therapy, taping techniques, shoe wear recommendations, and specific exercise instruction based on your needs. We often incorporate triplane exercises and traditional exercise instruction. And for those that need more instruction in these useful but complex exercises, we offer classes for further instruction and guidance.

If you don’t have insurance or have a very high deductible and will not be able to access your benefits, you should please read on to learn about our monthly running clinics and seasonal running programs

Back pain is common and can occur for a number of reasons.  Everybody is unique and presents with different “co-morbidities” even when they may have the same diagnosis.  For this reason, we do not take a cookie cutter approach when we treat those with spinal conditions. 

The Physical Therapists at Hands On Physical Therapy will approach your back issue as a problem that is unique to you. They will draw from advanced training in multiple different proven techniques to help with spine pain and dysfunction. What they won’t do is put you on a “one size fits all”  back program or on Med-ex equipment expecting THAT to solve your individual problem.

Don’t be surprised if you also receive treatment for areas away from the spine.  And don’t be surprised if you find this to be the missing link when other strategies have failed.

Call now to make an appointment and see how we can help.

It is wonderful news that the “wait and see” approach that has been the predominant method for treating Scoliosis in the United States is quickly changing.

More Physical Therapists are undergoing advanced training in Physiotherapy Scoliosis Specific Exercises (PSSE). Physicians are learning about these specific exercise approaches and are referring more patients.  Patients and families are taking a more proactive approach to their own healthcare and well being and seeking out new techniques.

Since 2011, Hands On Physical Therapy has been leading the way in Bend, offering such progressive and empowering exercise approaches.  Lisa Kennedy-Leary, PT became the first Physical Therapist in Oregon to offer the Schroth Method  after undergoing her C1 certification in 2011.  She has gone on to become C2 certified in the Schroth method and has additional training in a functional exercise method founded in Italy, known as the SEAS method. 

Since adding Jennifer Wardyga, PT, DPT ( who is also C1 certified ) to our team, there is no longer a long wait to be seen.

It is not known precisely what causes Scoliosis, nor can one predict with certainty whose curve will progress.  But we do know that Scoliosis is a 3 dimensional deformity of the spine and asymmetrical forces on the spine  have the potential to worsen in childhood or adulthood.

The curve specific exercises in the Schroth and SEAS methods use muscle and joint forces to alter the asymmetric loading on the spine to minimize the progression of the curve.  In some cases a reduction of the curve may be seen.

The curve specific exercises are taught in multiple positions to challenge the body’s strengths and weaknesses.  The postural components in scoliosis are addressed.  And, when the exercises and posture are practiced consistently the spinal forces are changed and the body can achieve a more optimal position.

Research shows that when a brace is indicated, better results are achieved when bracing is combined with Physical Therapy using Scoliosis Specific exercises than when bracing is used alone.

Refer to the following sites to learn more about the Schroth and SEAS methods and Scoliosis in general:

www.srs.org   

www.sosort.mobi

www.scoliosisjournal.com

www.curvygirlsscoliosis.com  

If you are experiencing clicking in your jaw, jaw pain or fatigue, difficulty opening your mouth eating or talking, or even neck pain, you could be experiencing what is known as Temporal Mandibular joint dysfunction also known as TMD.

Physical Therapy can be very helpful with these symptoms.  The Physical Therapists at Hands On Physical Therapy will address the localized muscle or joint tightness seen in the jaw and frequently seen in the neck, thoracic spine and rib cage.  They will address any postural issues seen and teach you exercises to improve your posture as well as educate you on best ergonomics for sleeping, sitting at your desk etc.    When mouth guards are needed, they will refer you to a dentist specializing in this.

Many women will experience some level of pelvic pain, Sacroiliac joint pain, abdominal pain, urinary leakage, rectus diastasis and and some may even experience organ prolapse. This can affect woman of all ages including athletes in great condition.    Most woman are either too embarrassed to talk about it or don’t realize there is help.

Our team of Women Therapists at Hands On Physical Therapy are here to help you.   

Did you recently have a baby?  Congratulations!  You are giving birth in a new age where there are greater awareness and openness about pelvic floor dysfunction, back pain, and incontinence following childbirth.

A 2018  American College of Obstetric and Gynecology  task force is saying “its time to frame postpartum care as an ongoing process requiring personalized, cross-disciplinary approach including the use of physical therapy when appropriate” They are embracing the concept of a ‘Fourth Trimester” and the idea that mother and child need ongoing care through at least the first 12 weeks after delivery.

This is great news for women.  With this acknowledgment from the ACOG, we are hopeful that all women will be more quickly screened for pelvic floor dysfunction, pain, and incontinence and will be referred to Physical Therapy more quickly so these issues can be addressed and taken care of.

If you are not referred by your Physician yet are experiencing any of the above-mentioned problems, we can still help you.  Most insurance companies do not require a referral for coverage.  Please call for an appointment at which time you will be evaluated by one of our Physical Therapists specializing in Woman’s Health Issues.

We offer a “Restore Your Core and More Program”  with the goal of educating woman as soon after childbirth as allowed by their doctor.  We recommend the earlier the better.

Program Information

If you are experiencing vertigo, dizziness, imbalance, frequent headaches or impaired postural control you could be experiencing vestibular issues or BPPV.

Physical therapy can be dramatically effective at addressing vestibular symptoms and often with very quick results. We have Physical Therapists specifically trained in vestibular rehab which when coupled with orthopedic treatment, can be effective at addressing these vestibular issues, even when other treatments have failed.

Our vestibular trained physical therapists utilize advanced infrared goggle technology in the assessment of BPPV. In addition to aiding the therapist in the correct treatment and diagnosis, it is an effective patient education tool. It also  serves to enhance communication with the referring Physician.

The Physical Therapists at Hands On Physical Therapy are specifically trained in the mechanics and treatment of the rib cage. This area of treatment is often overlooked, and under treated. Rib cage movement issues can be the underlying cause of shoulder issues, neck issues, thoracic spine issues, respiratory issues, autonomic dysfunction, tingling or numbness in the arms or hands, headaches, jaw and TMD problems and many other peripheral problems that use the trunk as their platform.

At Hands On Physical Therapy we have Physical therapists specifically trained in the biomechanics of sports. We can develop an individualized strength, flexibility and training program around your specific needs and sports. The advantage of this specificity allows us to individually assess biomechanical compensation which may be leading to loss of power, speed, endurance or even injury.

Some of our sports specific areas of expertise are in:  Stand up Paddle boarding, youth soccer, running, golfing, dancing

Dancers are especially hard on their bodies pushing their joints into extreme ranges.  This can lead to a whole host of problems such as snapping hip syndrome, Patellofemoral tracking dysfunction, Achilles tendonitis,  to name a few. Our Physical Therapists have specialized training working with this population.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DANCE MEDICINE IN THIS BLOG POST

At Hands On Physical Therapy, we are very conservative with our recommendation for orthotics.   In our opinion these are not indicated for everyone. However, for some structural over pronators these can be a true necessity.  We will assess your foot type and biomechanics and give you our unbiased opinion whether this is something you need.  If orthotics are recommended we can take measurements and cast for the orthotics in house and send them off to the lab for fabrication.  In some situations ie, diabetics or complicated patients that may need a lot of adjustments, we will refer you to one of our favorite Orthotists or Podiatrists in town.

We no longer bill insurance companies for Orthotics and charge a flat rate of $375.00. We are happy to bill your insurance company for the evaluation and casting.  

Please scroll down on this page to see list of common orthopedic problems that we treat.