Neck pain and/or back pain are two of the most common referral sources for physical therapy and at the Physical Therapy Center. In fact, it is the second most popular reason why persons seek medical attention from their primary medical provider (1). Seeking treatment as soon as possible from The Physical Therapy Center is an excellent option for treating back pain and neck pain, as we will explain below.

The source of neck and back pain needs to be examined by a physical therapist. A thorough evaluation by one of our physical therapists will include asking about how or when your back or neck pain started, a description of the pain you are having, with what movements you are getting pain, and what functional activities (i.e. walking, raking, work tasks, household tasks, etc.) that you are no longer able to do, or have had to adapt, to be able to cope with everyday activities. From there, the physical therapist will perform special tests, procedures and diagnostics to help pinpoint an optimal treatment strategy and describe a treatment diagnosis.

Treatment strategies are varied based on both established and newest physical therapy practices, culled from evidence-based practice research and theory. During the evaluation, the therapist may educate you about your posture, spinal alignment issues, pelvic inequities, strength deficiency or imbalance, a weak core, or lumbar and/or abdominal stabilization issues. The numerous reasons for getting back pain and neck pain cannot be fully explored in this article. Below, we have identified a few websites that may be helpful for researching back and neck pain. You may also check out our Links tab.

At Physical Therapy Center PC, we are familiar with the various ailments that can occur in the shoulder, including: frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis), shoulder joint (glenohumeral joint) sprains and strains, rotator cuff tears and strains, bicep muscle tendonitis and tendinopathies, improper shoulder blade (scapula) function, upper limb impingement and numerous other ailments. And more than treating the pain, we focus on treating the underlying cause.

Shoulder pain can be caused by overexertion, pinched nerves, dislocation, fractures, shoulder blade dysfunction and various other problems. Some of the symptoms include difficulty carrying objects, difficulty lifting the arm, loss of motion, numbness, pain, inflammation and tingling.

If you have had any of these symptoms for an extended period of time, we urge you to come in for a consultation. After a thorough examination of your physical health and medical history, the physical therapist will describe a treatment diagnosis and create a unique treatment plan that will work best for you. Treatment options include soft tissue massage, manual therapy and mobilization techniques, stretching and strength exercises, modalities and several other options depending on the cause of your shoulder pain.

Knee pain can be debilitating. Over time, it may hinder daily activities such as climbing stairs or bending your knees to pick up something off the floor. Knee pain may come from arthritis, degenerative joint disease, meniscal dysfunction, patellar cap dysfunction, weakness/ muscle imbalance or other causes.

Our physical therapists will work with you to develop a plan of care to get you back to your prior level of function and activities as safely and quickly as possible. Treatment strategies include re-training your walk pattern, therapeutic exercises, manual therapy, and modalities (i.e. electrical stimulation, hot or cold packs and ultrasound) for pain relief. So if you want knee pain relief, don’t wait any longer. Give us a call and let’s start treating knee pain together!

Our feet and ankles are very dynamic and complicated structures. There are 28 bones, over 30 joints, and over 100 muscles in the human foot! When you stop to think about the highly intricate structure and the great amount of loads we require of our feet and ankles (3 to 6 times our bodyweight loads through the leg during running), it is quite amazing that we go so often without injury!

Foot or ankle pain may be triggered by a ligament sprain or muscle strain, stress fracture, tendonitis, arthritis, nerve irritation, bursitis, plantar fasciitis, bone spurs or other mechanisms of injury. Because there are several potential causes, it is important to have foot and ankle pain properly evaluated by a physical therapist. Our staff is experienced enough to distinguish between all the possibilities and determine the underlying source of your foot and ankle pain. Treatment options vary based on the mechanism of injury and include: soft tissue massage, mobilization and manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, orthotist evaluation (available through outside provider), and modalities for pain relief, when necessary.

Kinesio tape is a non-restrictive, highly elastic type of tape that allows for full range of motion and function, unlike traditional sports tape, it can be used to provide stabilization and support during not only sporting events, but during daily activity also. Kinesio Tape is a multifaceted technique that can be used to treat any injury head to toe!

Kinesio taping alleviates pain and promotes lymphatic drainage by structurally lifting the skin. The taped portion forms convolutions in the skin, thus increasing the space under the skin where the lymph ducts are. As a result, pressure and irritation is taken off the neural/sensory receptors. Then slowly, the lymphatic system is unloaded and opened, allowing it to drain more freely. Over a bruise, Kinesio Tex Tape demonstrates the ability to increase the circulation and facilitate lymphatic flow. These results are seen within 24 hours of application.

Kinesio Taping can also be used to help normalize the function of muscles and other connective tissues.  It offers support and stability to joints and muscles while improving circulation and range of motion.   Depending on how it is applied, Kinesio tape can be used to facilitate a muscle, to inhibit a muscle or to support joint and ligaments.

Kinesio Taping works in the following ways:

• Improves contraction of a weakened muscle
• Reduce muscle fatigue and spasm
• Reduce over-stretching and over contraction of muscles
• Re– educate muscles through sensory feedback
• Help correct joint mechanics through aiding muscle function around the joint
• Relieve pain by activating the natural analgesic system in our skin receptors
• Lessen edema (swelling) through aiding the lymphatic system
• Minimize post-traumatic or post-surgical bruising through improved circulation
• Help mobilize scar tissue by enhancing glide between tissue layers

• Achilles Tendonitis
• Arthritis Pain
• Bruising
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Hamstring/Groin Injury
• Joint Pain
• Low Back Sprain/Strain
• Lymphedema
• Muscle Spasms
• Neck pain/Headaches
• Patellar Tracking
• Pre/Post Surgical Edema
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Rotator Cuff Injury
• Sprained Ankle
• Tennis or Golfer’s Elbow
• Whiplash Injury
• SI joint
• Osteoarthritis
• Severs Syndrome
• Bursitis

• 140% Elasticity
• Heat Activated Acrylic Adhesive
• Latex Free/Hypo-allergenic
• Very Comfortable
• Durable for 3-4 days/application
• Water Resistant
• Air Circulating Waves
• Same thickness as Skin
• Easy to Apply
• 100% Cotton