Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is an allied health care profession. Physical therapists treat injuries or illness through physical means such as heat, cold, electricity, water, exercise, sound waves, traction and massage. Physical therapy is used to decrease pain, strengthen muscles, increase motion and retrain individuals in functional skills such as walking. The overall goal of physical therapy is to maximize physical independence.
What to Expect
All Physical Therapy patients receive an evaluation on their initial visit. A treatment plan is then devised, based on this evaluation and the attending physician's diagnosis. Changes in the treatment plan may be made depending on the patient's response to the therapy and changes in the physician's course of treatment.
Physical Therapy is available on an in-patient, out-patient or in-home basis. The therapy staff also provides services to area nursing homes and businesses. People of all ages utilize the skills of the Physical Therapist. The Physical Therapy staff works closely with other members of the health care team, including: Occupational Therapists, Speech Therapists, Prosthetics Specialists, Occupational Health Nurses, Social Workers and Counselors.
Physical Therapy attempts to provide care to the patient as a whole, using all resources available to ensure quality care. In addition, the Physical Therapy staff works in close conjunction with physicians throughout Central Iowa to ensure continuity of care and constant communications concerning the progress of the patient.
What You Could Encounter at a Physical Therapy Appointment
Therapeutic Exercise
Specific training used to increase strength and/or range of motion of a joint or of large muscle groups. This is a broad term to describe all active movements performed by patients as instructed by the therapist.
Passive Range of Motion/Manual Stretching
Used when a patient is unable to move a joint through its full range of motion. This is performed by the therapist in order to stretch ligaments, tendons and muscle tissues surrounding a joint in an effort to restore normal mobility.
Active Range of Motion
These skills are performed by the patient, usually without weight or resistance. This is used in order to re-establish normal movement and muscle sequence in and around a specific joint.
Active Assisted Range of Motion
Used when a patient is unable to or is not allowed to move a joint through its full range of motion. This requires some muscle activation from the patient along with assistance from the therapist or the patient's unaffected limb.
Balance/Proprioception Training
Skills used to re-establish a sense of balance throughout the body or re-establish the balance pertaining to a specific joint (knee or ankle). This is especially important after a soft-tissue injury (to a ligament, joint capsule, or tendon) in which a joint has lost stability and needs to be reinforced by nerve endings that give the joint a sense of its position in space.
Postural Correction
Modified to an individual patient's current postural abnormalities, may involve stretching, strengthening and an awareness of the position of body parts relative to one another.
Education on Body Mechanics/Work Ergonomics
Important for those patients with physically demanding jobs in which they are more vulnerable to injury. This is crucial to preventing work related injuries and remaining pain-free. Education on work ergonomics also includes instruction on proper workstation set-up (computer height, placement of keyboard, etc) which is necessary to prevent injuries sustained from maintaining incorrect postures and work habits.
Cardiovascular Exercise/Conditioning
Specific training which seeks to improve the condition of the heart and lungs. A strong cardiovascular system is important to prevent disease and maintain a higher quality of life. We use a variety of equipment to train patients' cardiovascular systems including treadmill, stationary bike, upper body ergometer and stair climber.
Gait Training
Instruction by the therapist to re-establish a normal pattern of walking, either with or without an assistive device.
Modalities
Techniques and machines used for a variety of purposes. Some of these are to increase circulation, promote tissue healing, calm muscle spasm, decrease muscle tightness, etc.
Soft Tissue Mobilization/Massage
Performed by the therapist to increase circulation, improve tissue extensibility of soft tissues, and decrease pain. This is a gentler form of massage that targets more superficial muscles, tendons, etc. and may include myofascial release.
Deep Tissue Mobilization/Massage
Performed by the therapist and targets deeper tissues in order to improve tissue extensibility, increase circulation, minimize muscle spasm, and decrease pain. This is a more aggressive form of massage and is very effective in restoring normal tissue length and function.
Joint Mobilization
Techniques performed by the therapist in order to re-establish movement within a joint and its structures. Joint mobilizations can range from gentle to forceful, depending on the joint, precautions and long-term goals.
Sport-Specific Rehabilitation
Exercise programs designed specifically for the athlete. This type of rehabilitation emphasizes those movements and skills that are needed for each patient's sport and tends to be more aggressive than the typical rehabilitation program.
Job-Specific Rehabilitation/Functional Restoration
These terms refer to exercises that strengthen the specific joints and muscles that the patient will need to perform when he or she returns to work. Focus is placed on proper movement patterns and enforcing proper body mechanics with all movements in order to prevent re-injury.
Home Exercise Program
Designed specifically for each patient which allows the patient to continue with his or her rehabilitation on their own. Written instructions with photos are issued to each patient along with suggested number of repetitions, frequency, etc. These home exercises are a vital aspect of almost every patient's recovery.
Conditions We Treat
Physical therapists treat a variety of conditions. Some of the most common conditions utilizing physical therapy are:
- Strokes and other neurological problems
- Back and Neck Pain
- Limitations in joint range of motion
- Industrial and Work related injuries
- Sports and recreational injuries
- Burns
- Post operative orthopedic patients
Business Health and Safety
The Physical Therapy staff provides specialized services to area employers through the Occupational Health program at Hansen Family Hospital. Working with company physicians and Occupational Health nurses in the area, the Physical Therapy staff performs on-site training and evaluation programs.
Back care and prevention programs are available to help reduce work related injuries on the job. Ergonomics, the study of how work tasks are performed, and on-site evaluations are provided to identify potential harmful work habits and poor body mechanics. When workers are injured, the staff works with the employers and employees to develop an aggressive plan of action that accelerates the employees’ return to work.
The Physical and Occupational Therapy staff at Hansen Family Hospital work together closely to provide a team approach to the care of the industrial worker. In addition, counselors and other health care workers are utilized to meet the objectives of the workers’ therapy program. The Physical Therapy staff also works with the Educational Team to develop industrial wellness programs for area industry and businesses.
Meet Our Staff
Scott Krueger, DPT, Director
Scott graduated from Simpson College with a B.A. in Biology in 2007. He earned his Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Des Moines University in 2010. Scott uses primarily manual therapy; and holds a special interest in shoulder rehabilitation and sports injury recovery.
Dan Garnes, DPT
Dan graduated from Iowa State University in 2014 with a B.S. in Exercise Science. He attended Clarke University in Dubuque, IA and graduated with a Doctorate of Physical Therapy in 2019. Dan has a strong interest in chronic pain management, gait mechanics and running-related injuries, and helping to alleviate low back pain.
Kris Grimes, PT
Dan graduated from Iowa State University in 2014 with a B.S. in Exercise Science. He attended Clarke University in Dubuque, IA and graduated with a Doctorate of Physical Therapy in 2019. Dan has a strong interest in chronic pain management, gait mechanics and running-related injuries, and helping to alleviate low back pain.