Conejo Valley Physical Therapy Offers The Following Services:
We offer a variety of therapies and equipment designed to aid patients in performing tasks or movements in order speed up the recovery from injury and illness.
LYMPHEDEMA (Certified CLT Clinician)
Lymphedema is a swelling of a body part, most often in the extremities. It may also occur in the face, the trunk, the abdomen or the genital area. Lymphedema is a result of an accumulation of protein-rich fluid in the superficial tissues, which can have significant pathological and clinical consequences for the patient if left untreated. Once present, this chronic and progressive condition will not disappear by itself.
Lymphedema is classified as either primary or secondary. Primary lymphedema is caused by congenital malformations of the lymphatic system. Secondary lymphedema is more common and often the result of surgery or radiation therapy for cancer. Surgical procedures in combination with the removal of lymph nodes, such as mastectomies or lumpectomies with the removal and/or radiation of axillary lymph nodes, are a very common reason for the onset of secondary lymphedema in the United States.
There is no cure for lymphedema, therefore the goal of the therapy is to reduce the swelling and to maintain the reduction. For the majority of the patients, this can be achieved using Complete Decongestive Therapy or CDT. CDT consists of Manual Lymph Drainage or MLD which is a gentle manual treatment technique which increases the activity of certain lymph vessels and manually moves interstitial fluid. Applied correctly, a series of MLD treatments decreases the volume of the affected extremity to a normal or near normal size and is applied daily in the first phase of the therapy. In order to prevent reaccumulation of fluid it is necessary to apply sufficient compression to the affected extremity with Compression therapy. The patient is also instructed in decongestive exercises and skin care. The four components of CDT include MLD, compression therapy, exercises and skin care.
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BREAST CANCER REHAB
• manual lymph drainage
• reduction in swelling
• scar tissue mobilization
• myofascial release
• range of motion
• light strengthening
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HYPER-MOBILITY SYNDROME
The joint hyper-mobility syndrome is a condition in which the joints easily move beyond the normal range expected for a particular joint. The condition tends to run in families. Symptoms of hyper-mobility syndrome include joint pain. People with hyper-mobility syndrome are more susceptible to injury, including dislocations and sprains. Therapeutic exercises can strengthen muscles, providing stability.
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EHLERS-DANLOS SYNDROME
EDS is a genetic disorder which affects the body’s connective tissues, this includes; skin, joints, and blood vessel walls. These are all made of proteins and other substances that provide strength to your body.Symptoms of those who have EDS are hyper mobile meaning their joints are very flexible, stretchy and fragile skin, and fatty lumps at pressure points.
EDS can be treated with physical therapy. While the loose joints of EDS patients are very likely to dislocate, strengthening exercises can help to stabilize the muscles around a joint to prevent any of these dislocations and live a more active lifestyle.
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HOME EXERCISE PROGRAMS (HEP)
Positive physical therapy results are largely dependent on a person's adherence to a specific exercise regime that is established by a Physical Therapist. Individual home programs are written, taught, and monitored closely by the therapist through the duration of one's therapy with progressive modifications that are based on the individual's needs, progress and established goals.
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BALANCE / COORDINATION TRAINING
Balance is the ability to maintain the body in equilibrium with gravity both statically (e.g. while stationary) and dynamically (e.g. while walking). Persons with balance / coordination deficits due to trauma, disease, stroke or other impairment are assisted through physical therapy in improving their balance by following individual treatment plans established by a physical therapist after a thorough evaluation. Treatment plans may include balance activities, sensory training, ambulation training possibly with an assistive device, therapeutic exercise and modalities as appropriate.
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SPINE TREATMENT
You don't have to live with the pain! Providing specialized treatment to control back and neck pain related to acute and chronic spine conditions. Involves intensive rehabilitation of the spine in order to return the patient to a maximum level of function. Rehabilitation will consist of individualized exercises, training in proper posture, body mechanics, lifting techniques, and pain management.
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ORTHOTIC TRAINING
An orthosis is a device that supports weak or ineffective joints or muscles, such as a splint, brace, shoe insert, or cast. Orthotic training concentrates on the increase of motion, function, and use of a limb that requires an orthosis for support. Therapy also emphasizes balance and coordination of activities.
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THERAPEUTIC EXERCISE
A broad range of activities intended to improve strength, range of motion (including muscle length), cardiovascular fitness, flexibility, or to otherwise increase a person's functional capacity. An individualized program is established, taught and monitored by a physical therapist/assistant that is based on an initial evaluation and aimed at achieving specific goals.
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KINESIOTAPING
Kinesiotape has the ability to:
• re-educate the neuromuscular system
• reduce pain
• enhance performance
• prevent injury
• promote good circulation and healing
• muscle relaxation
• muscle facilitation
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TRACTION
The therapeutic use of manual or mechanical tension created by a pulling force to produce a combination of distraction and gliding to relieve pain and increase tissue flexibility. Indications for traction therapy include, but are not limited to, decreased sensation that temporarily improves with manual traction, increased muscle tone that is reduced with manual traction, extremity pain or tingling that is temporarily relieved with manual traction, spinal nerve root impediment due to bulging, herniated or protruding disc, and muscle spasms that are causing nerve root impingement and general hypomobility of lumbar or cervical spine regions. Electric traction units exert a pulling force through a rope with various halters and straps.
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MODALITIES
Modality is a term used to identify a broad group of agents that may include thermal acoustic, radiant, mechanical, or electric energy to produce physiological changes in tissues for therapeutic purposes.
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ULTRASOUND
Ultrasound is a name given to sound waves that are of such high frequency that they are not detectable by the human ear. The sound waves when applied to human tissue are absorbed by the various tissues with the production of heat. Ultrasound does penetrate heat into human tissues deeper that any other heat modality, 4-6 cm. The benefits of heat from ultrasound include promotion of muscle relaxation, increased local metabolism, and reduction of pain by sedating nerve endings. Ultrasound waves also have non-thermal benefits resulting from vibration of molecules. These effects include increases in the flexibility of connective tissues such as joint capsules, ligaments, tendons, adhesions, scars and cellular membrane permeability that accelerates healing. Therapeutic ultrasound is a safe and effective tool for treating a variety of conditions that a physical therapist commonly encounters. Pulsed and continuous modes allow for ultrasound to be used for both acute and chronic cases, and ultrasound is most effective as part of an overall treatment plan, including stretching, therapeutic exercise, and mobilization.
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ELECTRICAL STIMULATION
Intervention through the application of electricity. Electrical stimulation of individual muscles is a means of providing exercise to muscles that the patient is unable to contract voluntarily. If the muscle has lost its physical connection with its nerve supply (is denervated), electrical stimulation can maintain nutrition of the muscle through promoting blood flow, decrease fibrotic changes and retard denervation atrophy. Electric stimulation used on muscles that have a nerve supply (are innervated) can strengthen healthy muscle, prevent or reverse disuse atrophy, maintain or improve mobility, promote peripheral circulation and prevent fibrotic changes. There are various types of electrical stimulation in use today and the type used and its specific application depends on the goals of treatment.
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TENS UNITS
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation is a generic name for a method of nerve stimulation designed to control pain. There are now a variety of TENS units designed for specific modes of application. The different modes are identified by their parameter ranges of amplitude, frequency and pulse width. The units are small, battery powered, and light weight weighing only a few ounces. Electrodes are placed on the skin near the area of pain and are attached to the TENS unit. A physical therapist/assistant instructs the patient on the positioning of the electrodes and the duration and frequency of the treatment and also sets the parameters for the amplitude, frequency and pulse width based on the patient's individual needs. The TENS unit is used at home by the patient for use as instructed as part of a comprehensive treatment program designed for the appropriate management of pain.
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MYOFASCIAL RELEASE
Fascia is the interwoven connective tissue that surrounds our muscles and internal organs. Fascia shrinks when it is inflamed, is slow to heal because of poor blood supply, and painful when inflamed because of its rich nerve supply. Myofascial restrictions occur when the fascia is disrupted or stretched by any injury, no matter how minor. Myofascial release is a therapeutic stretching technique that relies entirely upon the feedback received by the therapist from the patient nonverbally through the patient's tissues. Myofascial release removes restrictions that impede efficient movement and use of energy for daily tasks. Myofascial release is often incorporated in a patient's therapeutic treatment plan along with other exercises and/or modalities.
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LUMBAR STABILIZATION EXERCISES
The lumbar stabilization exercise program includes a range of exercises that typically progress from beginning to more advanced:
• From static (lying) to dynamic (standing or jumping)
• From resisting gravity to resisting additional outside force
• From predictable to unpredictable movements
• From individual components of a movement to the complete range of motion in a movement
At all times the neutral spine position is maintained. Progression to the next exercise generally depends on learning to maintain the neutral spine properly during the current exercise. The physical therapist or exercise therapist is trained to help the patient learn the proper technique.
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VESTIBULAR REHABILITATION AND BENIGN PAROXYSMAL POSITIONAL VERTIGO (BPPV)
Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy is specialized form of Physical Therapy that addresses primary and secondary symptoms associated with vestibular disorders including vertigo, dizziness, visual disturbance, and/or imbalance. Different types of compensatory exercises can help reduce symptoms and improve balance and stability with walking, truing,an transferring. Physical Therapy can also alleviate symptoms associated with BPPV. A Physical Therapist at CVPT can determine what time of BPPV you may be suffering from and what specific types of positioning maneuvers and associated exercises should be performed.
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MFD CERTIFIED (MYOFASCIAL DECOMPRESSION)
Myofascial Decompression or Cup Therapy, integrates the ancient form of the alternative medicine of cupping with a more modern and active approach in Physical Therapy. In a 3-5 minute session, the therapist is able to combine these two techniques to increase efficiency of motion. The use of negative pressure, along with active movement, creates space between soft tissue layers allowing for increased mobility, scar mobilization, and tissue healing. This technique is effective in recovering from sports injuries to chronic pain and many more.
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