Recovering from an injury or illness may be more challenging than you anticipated. Fortunately, physical and occupational therapy services offered by Mohinder Chawdhry, Kristy Penick and Glennda Chawdhry of Total Health Center in Battle Creek, MI, can help ease your pain and improve your mobility.

What is the difference between physical and occupational therapy?

Physical therapy may be recommended if you have trouble moving normally after an injury, surgery, or illness. It involves exercises and treatments designed to increase range of motion and joint mobility, strengthen your muscles, ease pain, and improve your balance.

Occupational therapy helps you improve your ability to perform everyday tasks, such as brushing your teeth, turning a steering wheel, using a walker, writing with a pen, or getting dressed. Your therapist may also recommend modifications to your home, such as grab bars in the shower or levers on doors.

Depending on your illness or injury, your treatment plan may include one or both types of therapies.

What kind of treatments and services are offered?

During your treatment, you may perform carefully supervised exercises designed to strengthen your muscles and joints, reduce pain and improve your ability to move with ease. Other treatments and services offered include:

• Soft Tissue Mobilization: Soft tissue mobilization helps break up scar tissue and adhesions that restrict your movement. The hands-on therapy involves gently stretching and pushing your muscles, tissues, tendons and ligaments.
• Ultrasound: Ultrasound waves penetrate deep into your tissues and are helpful in softening scar tissue, decreasing inflammation, reducing pain and promoting healing.
• Dry Needling: Dry needling reduces pain and eases muscle restrictions caused by trigger points, hard knots that form in muscles. During the treatment, your therapist inserts a thin needle into the knot to inactivate it.
• Occupational Therapy Exercises: Your therapist may use a series of steps to help you accomplish your goals. For example, before you can wash dishes, you might regain hand strength and dexterity by forming putty into balls, stacking or sorting objects, or squeezing a soft ball.

A few of these treatments may also be part of your therapy plan:

• Cupping
• Massage
• Joint mobilization
• Myofascial release
• Gait and balance training
• Work hardening
• Gait and balance training
• Vestibular rehab
• Cryotherapy
• Herbal supplements
• Nutritional education
• Spinal Stabilization training
• Mechanical traction
• Electrical stimulation therapy

Who can benefit from physical and occupational therapy?

Visiting your Battle Creek physical or occupational therapist may be helpful if you're recovering from surgery or a sports injury, had a stroke or brain injury, or were hurt in an auto accident or fall. The therapies can also be beneficial if you have arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, headaches, back and neck pain, whiplash, sprains and strains, movement disorders, or pain in your jaw, leg, foot, shoulder, arm, or hand.

Could you benefit from occupational or physical therapy? Call the staff at Total Health Center in Battle Creek, Mohinder Chawdhry, Kristy Penick and Glennda Chawdhry, at (269) 968-0888 or (269) 962-0888 to schedule your appointment in Battle Creek.