Physical Therapy Aids Patient Recovery

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is a method of rehabilitation most often used to help restore function and health in patients after surgery, injury or illness. Outpatient physical therapy also can help patients prepare for surgery, prevent an injury or treat a health condition such as Parkinson’s disease or pelvic floor dysfunction. Advanced physical therapy includes specialized services for amputees, stroke patients, joint replacement patients and others who have unique needs. .

The Rehabilitation Center offers physical therapy at 20 rehabilitation centers throughout Central Pennsylvania. Our centers are staffed by quality physical therapists who develop individually tailored programs for our patients. Our physical therapists provide both inpatient and outpatient physical therapy, as well as work with patients in their homes through our Community Nurse program. Our physical therapy centers are equipped to treat a large variety of patients, including those with orthopedic and neurologic conditions, arthritis and musculoskeletal issues.

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Who Benefits from Physical Therapy?

Physical therapy is used to treat many different types of conditions stemming from an injury, surgery or chronic disease. It may be used to prevent injury, prepare for surgery, or during recovery. Physician therapy often is used along with other treatments, such as medication or surgery. Or, you may choose to have physical therapy in place of other treatments. Your physician may refer you to physical therapy for:

Sports injuries, such as concussion, rotator cuff tears and stress fractures
Chronic or acute back pain
Neurological conditions, such as stroke and Parkinson’s disease
Women’s health issues, such as urinary incontinence
Swelling after cancer surgery (called lymphedema)
Overuse injuries, including carpal tunnel syndrome and tendinitis

What Types of Treatment are Used in Physical Therapy?

At the Penn Highlands Rehabilitation Center, our expert physical therapists evaluate each patient and develop individualized treatment plans to help achieve your goals. Depending on your rehabilitation goals, your physical therapist might use some combination of the following treatments:

Controlled exercise, using a treadmill, stationary bike and weight machines
Functional exercises, using physio balls, balance boards and exercise bands
Ultrasound heat treatments
Electrical stimulation
Manual therapy
Traction
Massage
Aquatic therapy
Whirlpool

How Quickly will I See Improvement with Physical Therapy?

How long it will take to see improvement in your condition depends on your injury or condition as well as your commitment to performing the exercises prescribed by your physical therapist. You may only need a few appointments to learn some exercises in order to prevent an injury or you may need daily intensive physical therapy to regain skills after a major surgery or illness. Your physical therapist, working closely with your physician, will provide you with a customized plan that tells you how often you need to perform physical therapy and when you can expect to start seeing results.

What is Swing Bed Therapy?

The swing bed units at Penn Highlands provide transitional care for patients who no longer need the acute care of the hospital but don’t yet feel comfortable returning home. Our swing bed units are available at many of our Penn Highlands hospitals. Eligible patients include those who are recovering from:

Orthopedic surgery, such as joint replacement
Stroke or a major surgery but do not qualify for admission to an inpatient rehabilitation center
Infection or illness affecting strength and mobility

To learn more about the Swing Bed Program, download the Swing Bed brochure located in the Resources sidebar.

Specialty and Advanced Physical Therapy Programs

Penn Highlands offers a wide range of specialty and advanced physical therapy programs to meet our patients’ needs. They include:

LiteGait: This body-weight supporting training device is used during inpatient physical therapy. It enables patients to practice walking, weight bearing, stepping and balance in a safe, supported environment. It is highly beneficial for patients who have stroke-related paralysis, spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, Parkinson’s disease, and other conditions.

Aquatic Therapy: Aquatic therapy involves performing exercises in water. This type of physical therapy promotes muscle relaxation, increases strength and circulation, reduces pain and increases ease of movement. Aquatic therapy is often used with patients recovering from orthopedic injuries or traumatic accidents. Our physical therapists offer aquatic therapy at Penn Highlands DuBois.

Ergonomic Program: Our physical therapists help patients maximize productivity, long-term health, and safety in the workplace by identifying risks, suggesting changes and providing resources.

Urinary Incontinence/Pelvic Pain Program: This type of physical therapy treats pelvic pain and dysfunction as well as urinary incontinence.

Vertigo and Vestibular Treatment Program: Designed to decrease dizziness, increase balance, and increase general activity levels in patients with vestibular (inner ear) disorders.

PACE Program: This circuit-training program combines strength training and aerobic exercise in one 30-minute workout to help improve fitness and conditioning. It is available at the Brockway clinic and open to the public.

Massage Therapy: Performed by our licensed massage therapist for soft tissue manipulation and pain relief. Our massage therapy is offered only for patients, not the general public.

Community Services: Our physical therapists provide a variety of services to the community, including conducting health fair screenings, speaking at special events and administering work-site evaluations.