General Orthopedic Conditions & Injuries

Our center offers a wide range of treatments for orthopedic injuries. Our rehabilitation approach emphasizes the practice of cutting edge manual techniques which offer the patient a great deal of hands-on, one-on-one time with their therapist.

Our therapists are trained in a wide range of massage techniques including effleurage, petrissage, trigger point release, myofascial release, transverse friction massage, and scar tissue massage. Massage therapy may be an important component of the rehabilitation process to manage soft tissue spasms, pain, and inflammation. Massage is often used in conjunction with other therapeutic interventions to speed recovery.

Available in our Cranston and East Greenwich offices are aquatic and Burdenko therapies which are very important in the treatment of spinal problems. Deloading takes advantage of the body’s buoyancy in water and reduces pressure on the spinal column to relieve pain. When combined with warm water therapy to relax spasmed muscles, deloading provides relief from back pain by reducing pressure on nerve roots (warm water therapy is only available in the Cranston location).

Other treatment modalities useful for treating back pain and sciatica include ultrasound, cold laser, electrical stimulation, moist heat, and ice therapy. These modalities are especially useful for the treatment of tendonitis, bursitis, muscle strains or spasms, and ligament sprains. In addition to pain management, our therapists develop stretching, strengthening, and endurance exercises. We offer postural education and body mechanics training programs to rebuild the muscle groups that hold the spine in good alignment. This helps to reduce the reoccurrence of back and sciatic pain.

Exercise is an important part of the rehabilitation process. We design individualized exercise programs that strengthen the affected muscle groups and stretch the muscles and their connective tissues to help regain a full range of motion. Particularly after prolonged hospitalizations, conditioning exercises can be an important part of the rehabilitative process. Our centers’ gyms offer a full range of exercise equipment including treadmills, stationary bikes (including a recumbent bike), an elliptical stepper, an upper body ergometer (bike for the arms), and a full range of weight training equipment including free weights and circuit equipment for resistive training.

Many different therapeutic treatments are available for treating back and neck conditions, depending on the underlying problem that’s causing the pain. Sometimes a muscle spasm is the primary source of neck and back pain. Sometimes the muscle spasm is a symptom of another condition such as an alignment problem, a herniated disk, or possibly a ligament problem. In these situations, the muscles that surround the spine react to the underlying condition. Our physical therapists will treat both the primary and secondary conditions to reduce the pain and prevent it from reoccurring.

Other techniques used to relieve back and neck pain include joint mobilization therapies. Craniosacral therapy is a very light pressure treatment that works with the Dural material and cerebro-spinal fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. This therapy helps to reduce chronic and acute pain throughout the body.