how Physical Therapy can help Mobility Disorders

October 19, 2021

What are they?

Mobility disorders are any disorder that cause abnormal movement patterns or abilities creating dysfunction for you in your daily life. These disorders can make it hard to do simple tasks such as getting dressed or cooking a meal or affect larger tasks such as going to the grocery store or being able to perform you normal work activities.

Information on what causes them?

Mobility disorders can be caused by a variety of factors. Pain, weakness, tendon or ligament abnormalities or disruption, cardiovascular deficits, neuromuscular deficits, or advanced age are just a few reasons that our mobility may become negatively affected.

The signs and symptoms?

The signs and symptoms of these issues could be acute and sudden pain, swelling, inability to bear weight without compensation, altered gait mechanics, hesitation with movement, lack of balance and proprioception, decreased motion and flexibility, decreased power, and strength, are just a few to name.  

Treatment?

Physical therapy will initially focus on finding the cause of the mobility disorder. We will then work to start correcting the cause to fix the mobility dysfunction. Treatment for these disorders can range from improving ROM and strength to working on balance and proprioception to improving coordination among the musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, and cardiovascular systems. The goal is to get you back to doing what you need and want to be doing, help you meet your goals, and to get you set up on a comprehensive home exercise program to at least maintain the gains you have already made in physical therapy.

Expectations?

At your first visit you should expect a physical therapist that is there to get to know you, your current complaints, and your goals. Using this information and the information they gather during their evaluation they will set up an individualized treatment plan that will help you reach your goals and get back to your life faster. Treatments could include modalities for pain control, manual therapy to help with muscle, soft tissue, and joint healing, and exercises to restore motion and strength.