Work Hardening

Work hardening combines physical conditioning, job simulation, and education to prepare the worker to return to work safely. Work hardening programs, which are multi-disciplinary in nature, use real or simulated work activities designed to restore physical, behavioral, and vocational functions. The patient performs job simulation tasks to prepare to return to his specific job. Physical conditioning, which consists of strengthening and cardiovascular exercises, is an important component of the program. The following equipment is available for this purpose: Treadmill, upper body ergometer, multi-station gym, stationary bike and a Total Gym.

Our work hardening program is an intensive four-week program. Initially a physical capacities evaluation is performed to determine current functional limitations. A job-specific program is then developed for the patient. The work hardening patient is seen five days per week for up to eight hours a day. Initially the patient will be seen two to three hours per day and works up to eight hours per day by the end of program.

• Attend all your scheduled visits as if you were going to work daily.
• Give your best effort to try and improve so you can return to work in a safe and efficient manner.
• Keep an open discussion with your physical therapist about how the program is going.

Return the injured worker to gainful employment as safely and efficiently as possible. We will achieve this goal through direct communication with referring physicians, vocational rehabilitation counselors, case managers, insurance adjusters and the patient. We will ensure that all parties are working toward the goal of case resolution.

Anodyne Therapy

Peripheral neuropathy is a serious problem that affects over 70% of the diabetic population to some degree, and generally it was thought to be progressive and irreversible. It can cause the following:

1. Chronic intractable pain, initially in the feet which can progress into the hands, resulting in the inability to sleep, exercise, and even to work in some cases.
2. Loss of sensation, resulting in the inability to feel foreign objects or trauma to the feet. This can limit the ability to drive and may also produce loss of balance and frequent falls.
3. Loss of sensation and diminished circulation to extremities can lead to partial foot amputations.
4. Poor or non-healing wounds, which can result in long term wound care and amputations.

The anodyne therapy system has positive results for treatment for all of the above symptoms. Anodyne is a non-invasive, drug free intervention which uses infrared energy that is directly absorbed by hemoglobin, causing the release of a powerful molecule called nitric oxide. The end result is improved blood flow and nutrition to the nerves and tissues in the extremities.

Published outcomes have shown that anodyne helps non-healing wounds to close, improves sensation, decreases pain, and improves balance, gait, and decreases fall risk when combined with 10 to 24 visits of supervised physical therapy.

In physical therapy, we educate you and teach you an exercise program designed to improve circulation, strength, and balance, as well as progressing you into standing or weight bearing exercise at a rate that is individualized according to what your symptoms and activity levels dictate when you start your treatment.

Aquatic Therapy

Water is the ideal environment for proactive therapy. Aquatic therapy combines stress- reduced muscle strengthening with maximum freedom of movement. Rehabilitation specialists now view aquatic therapy as an important adjunct to land-based physical therapy. Due to the unique advantage of exercising in the water, aquatic therapy is used for the rehabilitation of a wide range of pathologies, injuries, and disabilities such as:

1. Spine Injuries
2. Hip, knee and shoulder replacements
3. Orthopedic surgeries
4. Arthritis
5. Fibromyalgia
6. Osteoporosis
7. Stroke victims
8. Athletic injuries
9. Multiple sclerosis
10. Balance disorders

• Experts agree that rehabilitation exercises in the water may improve and accelerate healing time and reduce the potential for re-injury.
• Flexibility and stretching exercises are performed more easily in the water than on land, where gravity is a limitation
• During all exercise, the resistance of the water matches the applied muscle force. This dramatically reduces the likelihood of re-injury caused by exceeding tissue tolerance levels.
• Rhythmic movements in the water (both swimming and walking/running) provide a gentle and non-impact environment for improving cardiovascular fitness.
• Aqua therapy is especially suited to the rehabilitation of neck and back injuries and recovery from orthopedic surgery.

Aquatic therapy provides an exceptional and unique environment for promoting normal movement patterns and building strength, usually with pain reduction while minimizing the risk of further injury. Aquatic therapy in many cases is the only alternative for rehabilitation when land-based programs have not provided adequate results.

Hand Therapy

Our hands allow us to hold the hand of a child, to plant beautiful gardens, to perform activities which support our communities and our families, to make a living and enjoy life. When injuries occur, we quickly realize how often we take our hands for granted.

Work injuries, sports injuries, arthritis, post surgery or repetitive injuries (i.e. carpal tunnel, trigger finger, etc.) often cause us to lose flexibility, strength/grip, and sensation (numbness and tingling). They can also cause severe pain and decrease our ability to care for ourselves or our families. It becomes more difficult to do the things we need to do during the day or to do what we enjoy.

During your physical therapy treatment you will receive the highest quality of care through one-on-one treatment to help you regain joint mobility, strengthen your muscles/grip, and decrease your pain level. You will be taught how to protect your hands to help avoid injuries in the future. Our hand rehabilitation program will help you get back to the life you enjoy.

Headache Treatment

At Columbia Physical Therapy our headache program includes a variety of approaches to aide in the reduction of your headaches and the pain associated with them. First, we identify individuals whose headaches are appropriate for treatment by a physical therapist. Next, we focus on locating areas that may be contributing to your headaches. Once a thorough evaluation has been completed you will be given an individualized treatment program that is right for you. Treatment options often include self management techniques, postural education, exercises, cervical traction, and a variety of hands on techniques to help you get control of your headaches and restore your quality of life.<\p>

MVA and Whiplash Services

After a person is in an automobile accident or sustains a whiplash injury their symptoms can become intense. Feelings of neck pain, headaches, muscle weakness, and fatigue often occur.

This is usually referred to as a soft tissue injury, as no bones are broken, but muscle tissue and ligaments are stretched too far. These tissues can heal, however they may need special help.

Physical therapy is used to help the healing process. The treatments may include ice or heat, stretching, modalities such as ultrasound or electrical stimulation, and strengthening activities. Posture and good body mechanics play a critical role in the healing of soft tissue injuries.

Your physical therapist will help guide you through the healing by instructing you in the appropriate stretches, strengthening, and posture activities.

Sports Injury Prevention

Prevention of sports related injuries is just as important to the competitive athlete as it is to the weekend warrior. You want to be able to perform your best and avoid an injury in the process. Many sports related injuries are due to lack of preparation and can be avoided. Our physical therapists have had extensive training and we can assist you in developing a training program specifically geared to your goals. This will not only reduce your risk of injury but improve your speed, power, and agility, which will ultimately improve your overall performance. So whether you are preparing for an upcoming marathon, want to bulk up before football season, would like to increase your vertical leap to get more rebounds, or would just like to lose a few pounds; let our physical therapists set up the perfect training and injury prevention program just for you.

Unfortunately however, sports injuries do occur, and when they do, we’ve got you covered. We understand your competitive drive and your desire to get back to your activity or into the game as soon as possible. Our highly skilled physical therapists will provide you state of the art treatment and exercise programs, in a kind and compassionate environment, to promote the most rapid recovery possible and to prevent further injury. We will get you prepared for a prompt and safe return to your activity or sport.

So stay active and keep playing hard. Be sure you prepare for activity and include an ounce of prevention. However, if you do get injured, come see us right away so we can help you get right back into the game.

Surgical Rehabilitation

Physical Therapy plays an important role in your rehabilitation following surgery. Some of the most common surgeries requiring physical therapy include total and partial joint replacements of the knee, hip, or shoulder. Although all of these surgical procedures continue to improve with time and are now less invasive, patients still require early and comprehensive physical therapy for the best possible outcomes to be achieved.

In general, post-surgical physical therapy can be divided into 3 phases:

Phase 1 is usually 0-2 weeks after surgery and the primary goal is pain and inflammation control. Exercises are started as tolerated but are gentle and focus on increasing range of motion and improving circulation. Ice and electrical stimulation are often helpful during this time frame to control pain levels.

Phase 2 is generally from 2-6 weeks after surgery and the primary goal at this point is to increase range of motion to normal levels and improve overall strength. This is usually accomplished with manual stretching and progression of an exercise program. Patient education is a big part of this phase as home exercises play a critical role.

Phase 3 is generally from 6-12 weeks after surgery. The main goal of this phase is return to function and includes continued progression of exercises.

The overall time spent in physical therapy following surgery varies a great deal depending on the surgical procedure and overall fitness level prior to surgery. We treat each patient individually and will work closely with you to determine goals and ensure a complete and speedy recovery no matter what the procedure.

Work Conditioning

Work conditioning is an individualized rehabilitation program designed to prepare the injured worker for returning to work. It is an intensive work-related, goal oriented program designed specifically to restore strength, endurance, range of motion, aerobic capacity, and musculoskeletal function. Our work conditioning program is designed to provide body mechanics education and job simulation necessary to enable the worker to progress to the point of returning to work or to be as physically fit as possible to begin work hardening.

A work conditioning program typically lasts 4 to 6 weeks. The time can vary depending on the physical demand level of the job and how quickly the patient can reach their work goals. A work conditioning patient is seen 3 to 5 times per week for 1 to 2 hours per day.

• Give your best efforts to the program
• Follow the program prescribed by your physical therapist in the clinic and at home
• Attend all of your visits regularly
• Keep discussion open with your physical therapist about what is working and where you are having difficulty
The goal of our work conditioning program



Return the injured worker to gainful employment as safely and efficiently as possible. We will achieve this goal through direct communication with referring physicians, vocational rehabilitation counselors, case managers, insurance adjusters and the patient. We will ensure that all parties are working toward the goal of case resolution.

Whirlpool Therapy

Whirlpool therapy is a common physical therapy modality and is one of the oldest forms of medical treatment. Typically, a treatment will consist of placing an injured body part into the jetted whirlpool or Jacuzzi for 15 minutes. Whirlpool therapy has many healing and recuperative properties such as reducing stress, improving circulation, decreasing pain, loosening tense muscles, and promoting wound healing. The jetted water will massage the injured body part and calm and soothe your pain away.

Balance Training

Balance problems, dizziness, and vertigo can interrupt daily life and put you at an increased risk for falls. One of the services we offer is treatment to improve your balance, increase your independence and safety, and treat vertigo (if needed). One of the principles of treatment is challenging your balance in a safe environment. We offer a variety of activities including balance on foam rollers, rocker boards, rebound trampolines, and many floor exercises. As always, you will be assisted by a licensed physical therapist in progressing your activity and learning a home program to improve your balance and safety.

We also provide treatment for vertigo. This is done by a licensed physical therapist and can be highly effective in just 1 or 2 treatments.