Physical therapy is a form of health care that prevents, identifies, corrects, and alleviates acute or prolonged physical disabilities.

Physical therapy can help restore motion, relieve pain, prevent injury, strengthen muscles, and promote healing. The ultimate goal is recovery and re-entry into the community, home, and work environment at the highest level of independence and self-sufficiency possible.

Who Can Benefit
Physical therapy is indicated for a wide variety of conditions and diseases, including sports injuries, neck pain, back pain, arthritis, stroke, nerve injuries, sprains and strains, bursitis and tendonitis, frozen shoulders, cerebral palsy, amputations, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, total joint replacements, wounds, and various balance disorders.

The Team
Our experienced full-time staff of registered physical therapists and assistants works with your physician and other members of the health care team to develop an individualized treatment program for each person referred to our department.

The Treatment
To initiate a program of physical therapy, the physical therapist consults the patient's medical record, examines the patient and identifies problems, confers with the physician or other health professionals involved in the patient's care, establishes objectives and treatment goals which are consistent with the patient's needs, and determines the methods for accomplishing objectives. To accomplish these goals, the physical therapist may use some of the following techniques:

• Postural Re-education - Prevents and relieves pain and decreases possible abnormal wear on joints.
• Therapeutic Exercise - Patients exercise in the department and are taught how to exercise at home. The goal of therapeutic exercise is to strengthen weak muscles, increase endurance, improve coordination, and stretch tight muscles.
• Wound Care - Physical therapists participate as part of a comprehensive wound care team providing treatment such as whirlpool, debridement, dressing changes, electrical stimulation, and ultrasound to promote healing of wounds.
• Ambulation Training - A fall/balance assessment may be performed, and instruction is given in use of assistive devices (walkers, canes, and crutches). Activities to increase balance and coordination may be included. Transfer training improves patients' abilities to stand up from a chair and to get in and out of bed.
• Joint Mobilization and Range of Motion Exercises - Increases movement in a joint and in the associated extremity.
• Joint Replacement Rehabilitation - For elective joint replacement surgery, pre-operative training is often given. After surgery, physical therapy involves exercise, transfer training, and ambulation training.
• ASTYM System – The ASTYM System is a rehabilitation treatment that provides a breakthrough in the way soft tissue injuries are treated. The System identifies and treats abnormal soft tissue, tapping into the body’s natural healing process to enable rapid return to activity, free from pain and limitation.
• Other treatment - Treatment may require the use of some of the following: traction, ultrasound, therapeutic massage, electrotherapy, cryotherapy, hydrotherapy, biofeedback, hyperbaric oxygen chamber, extremity compression pump, orthotics, and teaching of back education and lifting techniques.
• Patient Education - Patient education is an essential element in the treatment program. Involving patients in their own care speeds and helps maintain recovery. In many instances, the patient's family or other caretakers are involved in the educational program by providing emotional support or physical assistance as needed. These activities evolve into a continuum of self-care when the patient is discharged from the physical therapy program.

Referrals
In addition to treating hospitalized patients, the Physical Therapy Department at Tipton Hospital accepts referrals for outpatient treatment from any licensed physician. Services are provided to residents of Autumnwood Extended Care Services. Qualified home-bound patients receive services through Home Health Services. Treatment is available to patients of all ages.

Hours of Operation
Outpatients can be treated between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; and between 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday. Appointments should be scheduled by calling (765) 675-8561.