WHAT WE TREAT
Huntington Physical Therapy is a multi-faceted
facility offering expertise in treatment for disfunctions ranging
from orthopedic/post-surgical/sports, to treatment for the geriatric
population and the pediatric. We have experience in helping
those with neurologic disorders including, radiculopathies, neuropathies,
stroke, fibromyalgia, spinal cord injuries, developmental delays,
Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, and traumatic head injuries. We
regularly see patients who have had amputations of limb and those
confined to a wheelchair for various reasons. We often see people
who had mastectomies, abdominal surgeries or scaring for other reasons
for treatment to decrease adhesions and restrictions that cause pain
or limit motion. We have great success with TMJ disorders, headaches,
and those with balance deficits or who suffer from vertigo. Patients
who have aches and pains related to joint, muscle, or connective
tissue have had great increase in the quality of their life with
their rehabilitation here. This list is not a complete listing all
that we can help with, so please contact us or stop by so we may
talk about your specific concerns. If we can't offer you treatment
with the highest level of skill and knowledge, we will refer you
to a facility that is better equipped to treat you.
VESTIBULAR
THERAPY
Vestibular Therapy is a specialty
within physical therapy which uses manual and movement exercises
to decrease or eliminate dizziness and vertigo as well as improve
balance. There are many possible causes of dizziness and the first
step in treatment is to see a doctor, most commonly a neurologist
or an ear, nose, and throat doctor (ENT). Once a doctor determines
if the cause of your problem is central (having to do with the
brain) or peripheral (dealing with the inner ear) they may prescribe
physical therapy, or more specifically, Vestibular Therapy to treat
the problem. Not all causes of dizziness are treatable with Vestibular
Therapy and your doctor must rule out serious conditions that may
need other types of medical treatment.
Types of conditions that a physical
therapist trained in vestibular therapy may treat are: dizziness
after a stroke, inner ear infections (Labyrinthitis and Neuronitis),
Meniere's Disease, Acoustic Neuromas, or Benign Paroxysmal Positional
Vertigo. B.P.P.V., as it is more commonly called, is a type of vertigo
that is intense and always set off by a positional change, such as
lying down or rolling to the side in bed. This type of vertigo is
usually completely gone after one or two treatments.
BALANCE THERAPY
It is possible that you may have balance
problems without any associated dizziness or vertigo. You may feel
unsteady on your feet or awkward and unsafe when climbing stairs
or carrying objects. You may have already taken a fall or have started
to use a cane or a walker to feel safe. This is often a treatable
situation. By using different techniques to challenge the balance
system, such as standing on wobbly surfaces or walking while turning
your head, your body will accomodate to these increasingly difficult
tasks. Much like lifting weights strengthens muscle, challenging
the balance system makes it stronger and more effective.
