Education
 
I was referred to Total Care Physical Therapy by me primary care physician Dr. Jacqueline A. Bik, M.D. For several years, I had been burdened with restricted range of motion and discomfort within the cervical spine area, imbalance, and low back discomfort. Rheumatologists had prescribed medications to include prednisone to reduce suspected inflammation. Attempts to achieve relief and resolve at clinics, without use of medications, was pursued on multiple occasions but had not been unsuccessful.
Upon visiting Total Care Physical Therapy, my case was assigned to physical therapist Katie Brandolini, MPT. During my initial visit with Katie, she asked questions, listened, and probed suspected areas to pinpoint potential causes for situations that I was dealing with, and she communicated her thoughts. At that time, old anxieties started to dissolve. During a short period of time, following utilization of neuromuscular massage therapy, the range of motion within my neck, and dissipation of discomfort, started to become a reality that had not been enjoyed for years. Katie's professional knowledge of her skills, and experience disciplined fingers, proved there was reason for hope with positive results occurring. Balance Therapy on a fitness ball was a painless but painless challenging experience. Regardless, within a short period of time, supported by Katie's perseverance, muscles again became educated and imbalance started to wane. Low back issues are presently being pursued. Again, hope is promising to become reality.
Those exploring physical therapy clinics for a professional, experienced, caring, and compassionate therapist, who possesses ability to listen and communicate, are encouraged to interview Katie Brandolini to assist with treating your burdens.
M. Skip Doyle
Neck Pain & Limited Range of Motion
What is Physical Therapy?

Physical Therapy is the treatment of disease, injury or impairment by physical means rather than with medication or invasive intervention. It encompasses exercise and manual therapy techniques as well as electrical and thermal modalities such as electrical stimulation, ultrasound, heat and ice.

What is a Physical Therapist?

A person who is a graduate of an accredited physical therapist education program & is licensed to practice physical therapy.

Do I need a Doctor's prescription for Physical Therapy?

Yes. In the state of Florida, a person needs to obtain a doctor's prescription to be able to participate and be treated in physical therapy. This prescription can be obtained from a primary care physician or a specialist.

How do the Therapists know what to do for each patient?

Each person is evaluated for the problem or diagnosis that their physician prescribed. The Therapist then determines which weaknesses and/or impairments the patient demonstrates. Whether it be increased pain, muscle weakness, problems with walking or the inability to function at work or at home, the Therapist can work with the patient to set measurable and attainable goals toward maximal function with minimal pain. Physical Therapists possess the knowledge to determine which interventions will effectively and efficiently achieve the patient's goals. They also possess the skills to execute each intervention and measure it's efficiency.

How long will I need therapy?

Each patient is evaluated with goals set to return their function. The patients diagnosis, rate of recovery, and progress towards therapy goals helps determine therapy frequency (number of times a week) and duration (how many weeks).

Will my therapy be painful?

Making permanent and substantial changes within the body can be an uncomfortable process. However, we at Total Care Physical Therapy strive to never exceed a patient's tolerance for pain. We encourage constant communication between the therapist and patient to make the experience as pleasant as possible.

What will we do in a therapy session?

After each patient is evaluated, the therapist determines the best treatments to utilize in order to return that patients function. During each visit the patient is reassessed to see what progress they have or have not made, therefore treatments may vary. Treatments may include manual therapy, range of motion and or strengthening techniques, balance coordination, and gait (walking) training. Other non-manual therapy modalities used are ultrasound, e-stem, traction and thermal modalities (ice and heat).

Glossary:

Jones' Strain and Counterstrain: Formerly called the positional release technique, this a manual therapy technique which uses passive body positioning of spastic muscles and dysfunctional joints towards positions of comfort or tissue ease that compress or shorten the point of pain. By shortening we can relax aberrant reflexes that produce the muscle spasm. The joints influenced by the now relaxed muscle can function better, increasing range of motion and easing muscle pain. Strain and Counterstrain is an effective but extremely gentle technique because its action for treatment moves the patient's body away from the painful, restricted directions of motion.

Maitland: The Maitland Approach to management of neuromusculoskeletal conditions is a strategic use of manual therapy techniques, especially joint mobilization. It combines the therapist's clinical knowledge and the patient's unique understanding of his of her own body to ensure that each treatment is tailored to the individual. This world-renowned technique is gentle, highly effective and based on continuous assessment and communication between the patient and the therapist.

Manual Therapy Techniques: A broad group of skilled hand movements used by the therapist to mobilize or manipulate soft tissues or joints for the purpose of modulating pain, increasing range of motion, reducing or eliminating swelling, inflammation or restriction, inducing relaxation and improving tissue extensibility.

Mobilization: This technique is passive movement directed at spinal or peripheral joints or soft tissues for the purpose of relieving pain and restoring full, pain-free functional movement. It can be performed in an oscillatory manner or as a sustained stretch.

Traction: A force used to separate joint surfaces by either manual contact or by use of equipment. The purpose is to make joint motion less painful, relieve neural compression, and stimulate stretch receptors in the body.

Trigger Point of a muscle: A muscle or tissue with a point of hyperirritability that is locally tender or painful when compressed. Trigger points are activated directly by acute overload, overwork fatigue, chilling of a muscle or trauma. A muscle containing active TPS is functionally shortened or somewhat weakened.

Neuromuscular Therapy: Neuromuscular Therapy is the utilization of static pressure on specific myofascial points in order to relieve pain. This technique manipulates the soft tissue (muscles, tendons and connective tissue) of the body to balance the central nervous system.