What Does a Performance Physical Therapist Do?

What does a Performance Physical Therapist do?

Performance Physical Therapists can help with tons of musculoskeletal issues and concerns. From vertigo and headaches to herniated discs, knee pain, sciatica, and ankle sprains. We can also help with mobility and performance issues to increase performance in your sport of choice. Physical Therapists are able to use a thorough evaluation to determine the cause of musculoskeletal pain and injury to successfully lead patients and clients to a better quality of life.

Physical Therapists are highly educated movement experts. We are consultants for the human body; helping people take care of themselves long-term. Physical Therapists are required to have a Doctor of Physical Therapy and extensive education in human movement and biomechanics. We have 4 year degrees and go through 3 additional years of doctoral level education learning the ins and outs of muscles; dissecting human cadavers to fully understand human movement and function. Learning everything about muscles; their attachment points, their actions, nerves that run through them to regulate sensation and motor control…. Some clinicians pair this knowledge with strength and conditioning knowledge and expertise in a specific sport or sports.

But what does a typical evaluation or treatment look like?

STEP 1:  Physical Therapists LISTEN, get to know you, understand the ins and outs of your pain, and recognize what your pain is affecting in your daily life or in the gym. At Samson Strength & Performance PT evaluations are 1-on-1 and one hour long, so you get the undivided attention of a doctor of physical therapy.

STEP 2: Your Physical Therapist will ASSESS your movement, strength, and dig deeper into the root of your problem . You will be asked to move to record range of motion and any symptoms associated with your movement. Your Physical Therapist will then test your strength and note any deficits or connections to your pain. Finally, you will complete additional testing related to your pain.

STEP 3: After a thorough evaluation and analysis of symptoms and movement, your Physical Therapist will work with you to DECREASE pain. This may include a combination of soft issue manipulation, manual therapy and exercises. Movement is medicine, so we will always try to get you moving through painfree range of motion on your first visit.

STEP 4: HOMEWORK. At Samson Strength & Performance PT, we do not follow the traditional model of 2-3 times a week for 6-8 weeks. We create genuine connection with our patients and give undivided attention to you for the whole hour you are here to get the most out of treatment sessions. You are then sent home with homework to complete at home or in the gym in the time between your treatments. These exercises progress each visit and are dependent on what your treatments focus on.

STEP 5: Your Physical Therapist will PROGRESS loading in each session. Wolfe’s Law states that bone in a healthy person or animal will adapt to the loads under which it is placed. This is true for other tissues in the body, such as muscles and tendons, as well. Progressive loading is needed to begin to heal and return to normal activity. As you progress through treatments, your sessions will look more and more like your sport of choice.

STEP 6: RETURN to sport. At the end of your plan of care, your Physical Therapist will begin to prepare you to return to sport. This is where some traditional therapy can fall short. Make sure you are working with a Physical Therapist who is familiar with the demands of your sport and can make the transition from rehabilitation to sport seamless.

If you are ready to see a Jacksonville area performance physical therapy specialist, click to contact us!