How orthopedic therapy works

The orthopedic specialists at Sunshine Physical Therapy are ready to help you get back into the action. Whether you’re overcoming a sports-related injury or recovering from a recent surgery, let our knowledgeable team develop a personalized Orthopedic rehabilitation plan just for you.

What is Orthopedic Therapy?

Orthopedic Therapy is a form of physical therapy that aims to improve weakened or injured components within the musculoskeletal system through non-invasive treatments such as exercise and stretching. This type of therapy works with all of the bones, joints, tendons, ligaments, and muscles throughout the body. Commonly used in sports medicine to improve recovery, orthopedic physical therapy is an important part of post-surgery rehabilitation. Orthopedic therapy also helps ease symptoms of chronic joint or bone ailments such as arthritis.
Sunshine’s physical therapists have expertise in post-surgical rehabilitation, overuse injuries, and inflammation from chronic conditions such as arthritis. Your visit begins with a complete assessment of your current condition so that our skilled clinicians can develop an individualized therapy plan to make the most of your orthopedic rehab.

Areas of Treatment

We treat a broad range of orthopedic conditions, including injuries that occur at work, on the field, or as a result of an automobile accident. We also work with patients dealing with post-surgical recovery, chronic pain, and more. Schedule an appointment to find out how we can help you with:

  • Total Knee Replacement (TKR)
  • Total Hip Replacement (THR)
  • Total Shoulder Replacement (TSR)
  • Total Ankle Replacement (TAR)
  • Joint Replacement
  • Plantar Fasciitis
  • Low back pain and neck pain
  • Cervical and lumbar radiculopathies
  • Sciatica
  • Neuropathies
  • Whiplash
  • Chronic pain
  • Overuse syndromes including tendonitis
  • Sports-related injuries for competitive athletes, weekend warriors, and more
  • Sprains / strains
  • Fractures including Open Reduction Internal Fixation (ORIF) and external fixators
  • Workers’ Compensation No-Fault/MVA
  • Arthritis / rheumatoidism
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Fibromyalgia / chronic fatigue syndrome
  • Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ) syndrome

Schedule your treatment plan today with an Orthopedic physical therapy specialist at an Sunshine Network location near you.

Q: What is Orthopedic Therapy?

Orthopedic Therapy usually refers to a specialty area of physical therapy. While all physical therapists are trained to completely evaluate and treat orthopedic injuries and surgeries, the term Orthopedic Therapy may mean that the therapist is board certified in orthopedics. Orthopedics refers to bone, joints, and soft tissue such as muscles, tendons and ligaments.

Q: What's the difference between orthopedic and physical therapy?

All physical therapists are very skilled - either a masters or doctoral level - in orthopedic physical therapy. If someone earns the OCS credential, meaning a board certified orthopedic physical therapist, the therapist has completed advanced training, education, and has specific experience in orthopedics, as well as successfully completing a rigorous test in orthopedic physical therapist. Any PT can treat orthopedic cases; OCS physical therapists specialize in this area of PT.

Q: I'm in need of post-surgical care. Is Orthopedic Therapy right for me?

Orthopedic Physical Therapy is the best plan for anyone recovering from orthopedic surgery. The orthopedic physical therapist has extensive experience and advanced training in post surgical recovery. People who undergo other types of surgery - for gastrointestinal surgery, or breast cancer treatment, or even plastic surgery - will benefit from physical therapy services to manage swelling, pain, and restore movement and muscular function.

Q: What sort of orthopedic therapy plans exist at Ivy? Will my therapist customize the right plan for me?

Every orthopedic therapy plan is customized for all of the factors related to an individual patient - work and home life, age, underlying or co-existing conditions, previous therapy and medical history, movement, strength, reflexes and neurological assessment, swelling, posture, and so much more. Physical therapy programs are developed for every body part and for the whole patient, in conjunction with the patient's goals and needs. Treatment techniques range from manual therapy to dry needling and depend on every patients' individual injury.

Q: Is Orthopedic Therapy appropriate for sports-related injuries?

Orthopedic physical therapy and sports injury physical therapy go hand in hand. The same manual therapy techniques and diagnostic procedures are used for full recovery. Sports - related injuries often require sports - specific training strategies, which orthopedic physical therapists can also perform with expertise.