What Is Physical Therapy?

Physical therapy’s unique contribution to health care stems from its advanced understanding of how the body moves, what ailments prevent it from moving properly, and how to restore mobility.

Physical therapy is dedicated to:

  • Preventing and managing pain, physical impairments, disabilities and limits to physical activity.
  • Improving and maintaining functional independence and physical performance.
  • Promoting fitness, health and wellness.

What Can Treatment Involve?

Some treatment options:

  • Strengthening and therapeutic exercise programs
  • Mobility and flexibility improvement
  • Improvements in muscle imbalances and alignment
  • Balance retraining and movement coordination
  • Manual therapy: intervention to reduce pain and stiffness and improve circulation
  • Electrical modalities such as TENS (electrical nerve stimulation) or ultrasound
  • Gait retraining and general conditioning regimes

Physical therapists are primary care practitioners for musculoskeletal and neuromuscular disorders, and they offer direct access to physical therapy services without the need for a physician’s referral. It is important to note, however, that some health insurance plans require a physician’s referral in order to reimburse you for claims.

What Should I Expect At Physical Therapy?

Initially, your physical therapist will undertake an assessment of your injury. This will include taking a detailed history of your problem and what symptoms it produces. Once your physical therapist has a full subjective history of your injury, they will begin a physical exam including assessment of your movement, strength, flexibility, and joint/soft tissue integrity. Furthermore, they will examine any relevant scans, laboratory tests and medical records necessary to aid diagnosis.

After diagnosis and explanation of your injury, your physical therapist will formulate a treatment plan to address patient-focused goals. Depending on your diagnosis, several treatment approaches may be used:

  • Strengthening and therapeutic exercise programs
  • Mobility and flexibility improvement
  • Improvements in muscle imbalances and alignment
  • Balance retraining and movement coordination
  • Manual therapy: intervention to reduce pain and stiffness and improve circulation
  • Electrical modalities such as TENS (electrical nerve stimulation) or ultrasound
  • Gait retraining and general conditioning regimen

Greendale Physical Therapy, offers a team highly skilled and experienced physical therapists. With these treatment approaches along with education about your problem and how to manage it, our physical therapists will improve your quality of life and promote independence for individuals with even the most chronic conditions.

How Does Physical Therapy Work?

Physical therapy involves a variety of techniques to help your muscles, joints, heart and lungs work to their full potential. Physical therapists work in partnership with individuals of all ages to break down barriers impeding physical function.

Physical therapy can help individuals living with many debilitating conditions, such as congenital or chronic diseases. But it can also assist in the recovery of traumatic events: surgery, illness; neurological conditions; injury; industrial or motor vehicle accidents; or age related conditions. The practice of physical therapy is drug-free.

Fundamental to a physical therapist’s approach is an appreciation of their patient’s role in his or her own care. Physical therapists work with you to integrate your care into your lifestyle. They are skilled in providing treatment, preventative advice, rehabilitation and care for people with long-term or terminal illness. Physical therapists develop a full treatment plan to suit your unique needs.

Physical therapists are university-educated, regulated health professionals that play an important role within your health care team.

What Do Physical Therapists Do?

Physical therapists assess a patient’s level of mobility, strength, endurance and other physical abilities to determine the impact of their illness or injury on their physical function. After diagnosing the condition, physical therapists design a treatment plan to restore movement, reduce pain, and to return a patient to healthy mobility. In addition to treating the condition, they help their patients understand its effect on their function.

They measure their patient’s progress regularly and adjust the treatment accordingly. They also advise the patient on how to manage their condition independently, with the intention of preventing avoidable recurrences and complications. Physical therapists can also advise you on ways to prevent potential health problems from occurring before they arise.

  • Orthopedics
  • Back and neck pain
  • Sports injuries
  • Repetitive strain injuries (carpal tunnel, tennis elbow)
  • Motor vehicle accidents
  • Post surgical rehabilitation (i.e.: hip or knee replacement)
  • Neurology
  • Stroke
  • Balance and Dizziness
  • Spinal cord injury
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Head injuries
  • Parkinson’s
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Post-surgical rehabilitation (i.e.: cardiac, thoracic or abdominal)

Physical therapists also work in areas that span all three practice, such as women’s health (including pre and post natal care, and other women’s health issues), incontinence, pediatric and senior care. They also help manage the physical complications of cancer and its treatment, and care for physical symptoms associated with arthritic conditions.

Greendale Physical Therapy, LLC helped me regain the strength in my ankles and feet to keep me walking and continue to exercise and golf. The staff are all well skilled, pleasant, and supportive. I would highly recommend them to my friends for PT. They are a great group!

Clinton Patient

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provider

Shrewsbury Clinic

280 Boston Turnpike
Shrewsbury, MA 01545

T: 508-753-7780
F: 508-459-5900

Worcester Clinic

120 Gold Star Boulevard
Worcester, MA 01545

T: 508-459-5000
F: 508-459-5900

Clinton Clinic

145 Church Street
Clinton, MA 01510

T: 978-598-3155
F: 508-459-5900

Marlborough Clinic

435 Lakeside Avenue
Marlborough, MA 01752

T: 508-488-4110
F:508-459-5900

Fitchburg Clinic

28 Ashby State Road,
Fitchburg, MA 01420

T: 978-400-3690
F:508-459-5900

Aquatics

766 Main Street Worcester,
MA 01610

T: 508-459-5000
F: 508-459-5900

Physical Therapist Assistants

Kim Barrow

MS, BS, PTA, Aquatics Director

Education
Southern Connecticut State University, Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Exercise Science
MassBay Community College, Associate of Science in Physical Therapist Assistant

Areas of Clinical Interest
lower back pain and disk conditions, aquatics, chronic pain, post surgical rehab, balance issues

Certifications + Trainings
Certified ACE Personal Trainer, Craniosacral Level I, Graston Technique Levels I & II.

Trained in Burdenko Method, Aquatic Therapy Rehab Institute (ATRI), Kinesiotaping, Biosynchronistics, Maitland Technique, Mulligan Concept, Functional Movement Assessment (FMA), Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA), Muscle Energy Techniques of the Spine and Extremities

Ross Beaudette

BA, PTA, CSCS, Worcester Clinic Manager, Center Coordinator of Clinical Education (CCCE)

Education
Worcester State University, Bachelor of Education
New England Institute of Technology,  Associates Degree in Physical Therapist Assistant 

Areas of Clinical Interest
sports rehab, injury prevention, ergonomics, post-surgical, footwear assessment and prescription

Certifications + Trainings
Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), Matheson Functional Capacity Evaluation certification, Matheson work hardening certification, ACE personal trainer, Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM), Active Release Technique (ART), Mulligan technique, McKenzie Technique, myofascial release, Muscle Energy Techniques of the Spine and Extremities

Nicolette Bender

BS, PTA

Education
University of Massachusetts, Bachelor of Exercise Science
Becker College, Associates Degree in Physical Therapist Assistant 

Areas of Clinical Interest
Rehab Pilates, pre and post natal, postural re-patterning, injury prevention, stability training

Certifications + Trainings
STOTT PILATES, NSCA-CPT, TRX, Biosynchronistics, Core Integration, Craniosacral therapy (CST Level 1 & cervical spine), Total Barre, CORE Athletic Conditioning, Diaphragm Release Techniques, Myofascial Release Therapy, Mulligan Techniques for the Extremities, Muscle Energy Techniques for the Spine and Extremities. ISP (injury and special population) focus that includes pre and post natal, scoliosis programming, & breast cancer rehabilitation. 

Alexandra "Allie" Hagan

PTA

Education
Salem State University, Bachelor of Athletic Training
Bay State College, Associates Degree in Physical Therapist Assistant 

 

 

John Hannon

PTA

Education
New England Institute of Technology, Associates Degree in Physical Therapist Assistant 

Areas of Clinical Interest
Back pain, footwear/gait assessment, balance/fall prevention, total joint replacement, workplace ergonomics/postural re-ed, injury prevention, aquatics

Certifications + Trainings
Summit certification in evidence-based assessment and treatment for TMJ, Blood Flow Restriction Training, cervical spine dysfunction, and headaches/post concussion

 

Katharine Osborne

PTA

Education
Mount Wachusett Community College, Associates Degree in Physical Therapist Assistant

Areas of Clinical Interest
Manual therapy, myofascial release, lower back pain, shoulder and knee injuries, neck pain, kinesiology, trigger point therapy, patient education

Certifications + Trainings
Graston Technique M1-Basic Training

855-459-5000