Manual Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy
We specialize in Non-operative & Post-operative Sports & Orthopedic Rehabilitation
Knee ACL, PCL, MCL, Meniscus, & Patello-Femoral Injuries
Spine Care- Cervical, Lumbar, Thoracic & Rib
Hip FAI & Labral Tears
TMJ Dysfunction
Shoulder and Rotator Cuff Injuries
Pre-Habilitation if you are anticipating Sports or Orthopedic Surgery
Foot & Ankle Injuries, Achilles Tendon Injuries
Total Joint Replacement: Knee, Hip, Shoulder & Ankle
Orthopedic Manual Therapy
This is a care system designed through attentive listening & precise testing to identify the specific tissues involved in your injury and the altered movement patterns that are either the cause and/or the result of your injury. From that information our clinicians utilize scientific & clinical reasoning as well as their artistic creativity to develop a clinical framework to help you heal and achieve your goals. We then utilize a combination of hands-on techniques such as soft tissue mobilization, joint mobilization & therapeutic exercise to decrease pain, improve mobility, optimize the healing of your injured tissues and hone your movement patterns. While many physical therapy practices advertise that they perform “manual therapy techniques”, very few have Residency & Fellowship trained Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists.
All of our physical therapists are trained and/or teach at this elite level. We are a mentorship and course site of post-doctoral professional development for The Ola Grimsby Institute Residency & Fellowship of Manual Orthopedic Physical Therapy. www.olagrimsby.com
Soft Tissue Mobilization (STM)
Soft tissue mobilization is a specific assessment and treatment of muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia as they relate to pain, posture and joint dysfunction. The purpose of STM is to evaluate and treat soft tissue dysfunctions that precipitate pain, that require stimulation for healing following damage, that inhibit normal myofascial function, proprioception, and normal mechanical movement. Being able to implement STM techniques requires a significant amount of training in human anatomy, physiology, histology, physics, as well as a deep understanding of how manipulating the tissues will very specifically impact tissue healing and musculoskeletal function.
Joint Mobilization
These are passive procedures where the therapist assesses the biomechanics of the joint systems to identify any alterations and treats to restore normal joint motion, proprioception, and inhibit pain. As taught by our world renowned mentor, Ola Grimsby, we refer to joint mobilization as “a quiet communication between the mechanoreceptors of the PT and yours.”
Therapeutic Exercise
While we have many tools in our exercise tool box, at Pacific THERx we mainly focus on practicing two philosophies. First, Norwegian based Scientific Therapeutic Exercise Progressions (STEP) as developed by the OGI. Second, Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation as brought to orthopedic rehabilitation by Robert Moore ( PT, ATC) and Byron Wildermuth (PT), both disciples of Herman Kabat (MD) and Margaret Knott (PT) from Kaiser Permanente Vallejo. Exercise for pain and injury recovery is different than a general exercise program. We will design a program tailored specifically to the stage of your condition that will precisely control dosage in repetitions, sets, range of motion, load, and progression. As you advance, we will adjust your program to assist in optimizing tissue healing, developing proper movement patterns as well as improving your coordination, balance, endurance, speed, strength and power.
Orthopedic Sports Physical Therapy
If you aspire to participate at an optimum level or return following injury to any athletic endeavors, we have the skill and experience to provide a customized plan for injury prevention, injury management, rehabilitation and performance enhancement in order to enable or maximize that participation. Our staff has decades of experience caring for a spectrum of athletes of all ages and levels, from our local adolescent athlete to the serious adult competitor. Plus we work with local clubs & teams like the Olympic Club of San Francisco and World & Olympic champions & athletes from the NFL, MLB, WTA, PGA, LPGA, NCAA and many more. We have the professional depth and experience to communicate with our athletes, their coaches and parents, and the sports physicians in Silicon Valley and throughout the US.
At Pacific THERx in addition to our exceptional clinical skills, we are at the forefront of utilization of proven technologies to enhance your sports readiness, rehabilitation, fitness level, training recovery, and sports performance. These include Sportsmetrics ACL Prevention training, the Alter-G Treadmill anti-gravity system, Owens Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) rehabilitation training, Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) collaboration, Functional Movement Systems (FMS) Testing, Y-Balance Testing (YBT), Biomechanical Video Analysis for any sport or movement pattern, GameReady Vasoneumatic Cold Therapy, Normatec Recovery Systems, & Custom Orthotic Fabrication.
Direct Access
Pacific THERx Licensed Physical Therapists (PT) and Certified Athletic Trainers (ATC) are great problem solvers at addressing your sports injury needs. Each PT and ATC is available to act as a primary clinician in their appropriate professional realm to guide and refer patients through the complex medical system. All our associates are experts through both their formal education and their clinical training and experience to evaluate your condition, assess your physical therapy and sports medicine needs. And if appropriate, to safely and effectively begin treatment. We are also thoughtful and skillful to recognize when patients demonstrate conditions, signs and symptoms that require evaluation and diagnosis by other health care professionals before physical therapy is instituted. We are well known for our collaboration with top tier physicians in the San Francisco Bay. Direct Access serves to expedite your recovery and pave your way to the most optimal medical specialist for your condition.
