Each of our physical therapists has a strong sports background, significant experience working with high-level athletes, and an ongoing commitment to their own active lifestyles today. This passion for athletics is what makes Spirit Physical Therapy exceptional at getting athletes back onto the field after injury or surgery. As you progress through your physical therapy treatment, we are happy to work with you, your physician, and your coach to determine the appropriate timing for your return to practice and competition.

surgically repaired fractures. We have good working relationships and occasionally observe surgical procedures with many area surgeons. While surgical procedures may be similar, we at Spirit Physical Therapy understand that each patient is unique. We continuously identify and address the biggest factors impacting your mobility, strength, and function so that you can return to the activities you love as quickly as possible. Whether it's being able to play a round of golf, pick up your grandkids, or go on a hike, we tailor our treatment each session to your goals and specific needs.

Physical therapy treatment prior to a joint replacement or other orthopedic surgery may aid in faster and easier post-op recovery and is being recommended more and more by orthopedic surgeons. Our physical therapists can prepare you for a smooth post-surgical course by addressing weak or tight musculature, muscle strength imbalances, or poor movement patterning before you go in for surgery.

There are various sources of low back pain and "sciatica," a general term that describes leg pain caused by a problem in the lower back. Understanding and addressing the specific source of your symptoms is vital for successful physical therapy treatment. Lucky for you, our physical therapists are up to the task with their advanced training to help tease out the root cause.

Neck pain, with or without radiating symptoms into the arm, typically responds well to manual therapy and proper neck strengthening exercises. Spirit Physical Therapy has helped numerous individuals avoid expensive, painful, and risky neck injections and surgeries.

Headaches, especially when associated with neck pain, are very treatable with manual therapy and proper exercises. Even if you have suffered for years, seen multiple physicians, and tried every other possible treatment, give physical therapy a chance if you have not done so already. You may be surprised!

Wear and tear is inevitable. Our bodies undergo natural changes with aging, inside and out. One of these changes often includes the thinning of smooth cartilage at the end of our bones that allows our joints to glide effortlessly as they move. This can occur at large joints, such as the hips, knees, and shoulders, as well as small joints such as in the spine and fingers. When severe, the underlying layers of rough bone come into contact with each other, causing increased friction (thus, the term "bone on bone"). When inflammation occurs as a result of this friction, or any other trauma to the joint, we call this arthritis. There is no cure for structural degeneration except to remove and replace the surfaces of two adjoining bones with artificial parts that glide smoothly again (a joint replacement surgery). However, this inflammatory component of arthritis can be managed or even greatly improved by placing the proper stress on the proper soft tissues around a joint. Our physical therapists have excellent success treating stubborn arthritis.

Soft tissues such as ligaments, tendons, muscles, and joint capsules are common culprits for joint pain and stiffness, even if your bones appear healthy on an x-ray. On your first day at Spirit Physical Therapy, our therapists will ask for specific details about the behavior of your symptoms to determine the true source of your pain and dysfunction, which cannot always be seen in an image. Treatments are then administered to encourage your body's natural process for repairing your soft tissue... a process which often stalls out in individuals over the age of 30.

As we age, it is common for us to become less confident and stable on our feet. Medical research tells us that exercise is the primary way to prevent this loss of balance over time. For those who already find themselves to be unsteady, physical therapy can help decrease your fall risk through specific training regimens for your balance and coordination.

With every passing year, it becomes more and more difficult to maintain our flexibility, strength, and endurance. While this is a natural part of aging for all, for some it can lead to a sedentary lifestyle and an increased risk of falling. These are major risks to a person's health and well-being. Because our therapists can devote more one-on-one attention to patients in our aging population, Spirit Physical Therapy is the perfect place to regain or maintain independence with mobility and daily activities.

Vertigo is a type of dizziness that is often triggered by the vestibular system, located in your inner ear. This can be a normal by-product of spinning or twirling (such as on roller coasters), but when you can’t get out of bed in the morning because your vestibular system is suddenly impaired, it's a very scary thing. Fortunately, our therapists have experience treating a common form called benign paroxysmal position vertigo (BPPV). It is common for BPPV to resolve after 1-2 quick treatment sessions at Spirit Physical Therapy.

Concussions are treatable, but understanding the different types and the appropriate treatment strategies for each is critical. Our understanding of concussions has changed significantly in the past 10 years. Gone are the days of isolating patients in a quiet room until their symptoms resolve. Dr. Patrick Rich, through his post-graduate training with ImPACT, employs the most up-to-date methods of concussion management. Whether it happened on the soccer field, in the workplace, or in a car accident, he is prepared to help you overcome your concussion and get back to life.