What are they?
Issues with strength are defined as anything that causes your strength to be less than it should be. This could be a decrease in strength, a lack of coordination of strength, or the inability to fully utilize your strength.
Information on what causes them?
Strength issues and deficits can be caused by a variety of factors. These include a muscle injury, inflammation, a nerve injury or deficit, or larger issues such as central nervous system disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis, Guillain-Barre, or Parkinson’s.
The signs and symptoms?
The signs and symptoms of these issues could be many different things. When looking at why we have strength deficits the signs and symptoms could be weakness, pain, swelling, numbness, tingling, lack of endurance or energy, just a few to name.
Treatment?
Physical therapy will initially focus on the decreasing and eliminating any pain and swelling that may be present. Once these are under control or eliminated, we will then work on improving any range of motion issues. Next, basic strengthening will begin, and these steps will be based what caused your strength deficits to start and how you are progressing with your physical therapy program. The final stage will be working on your functional strength and stability and this will be based what your needs and goals are and what needs to be done to reach your maximum potential. Finally, a comprehensive home program will be set up to make sure you have the tools you need to maintain your gains and avoid this injury again in the future.
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.
