The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint, keeping the head of your upper arm bone firmly within the shallow socket of the shoulder. Rotator cuff injuries occur most often in people who repeatedly perform overhead motions (wear and tear of the tendon tissue) in their jobs or sports.

Physical therapists implement conservative management using evidence-based practices to strengthen and improve flexibility to make the muscle tissue heal faster. PT also assists patients after surgery to regain strength and range of motion to enable them to return to their previous level of functioning.

Neck pain is pain felt in the back of the neck – the upper spine area, just below the head. When certain nerves are affected, the pain can extend beyond the back of the neck to areas such as the upper back, shoulder, and arm. It is estimated that neck pain affects approximately 30% of the US population each year. The most common cause of neck and shoulder pain is injury to the soft tissues, including the muscles, tendons, and ligaments within these structures. Examples of causative factors include degenerative disc disease, neck strain, neck injury such as in whiplash, a herniated disc, or a pinched nerve.

Physical therapists manage chronic neck pain by evaluating and treating its multiple possible causes to avoid surgical intervention. The physical therapist will work with you to reduce pain, correct posture, strengthen weak or injured muscles, and improve motion.

Most people will at some point have knee or hip pain because these large joints have a demanding task: they must bear the full weight of your body while at the same time allowing for a wide range of motion. Wear and tear, injury, and simple genetic predisposition can all contribute to knee or hip pain.

Physical therapy is necessary to regain the ability to perform daily activities after replacement surgeries. The physical therapist’s individualized plan will ease pain and swelling, help with circulation (to avoid problems with blood clots), and build up strength in the joint and surrounding muscles.

Arthritis is not a single disease, but an informal term for joint pain or disease. There are over 100 different types of arthritis and related conditions. The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis). When the cartilage – the slick, cushioning surface on the ends of bones – wears away, bone rubs against bone, causing pain, swelling and stiffness. Over time, joints can lose strength and pain may become chronic. People of all ages, sexes, and races can and do have arthritis, and it is the leading cause of disability in America.

Physical therapists assist arthritic patients by designing an individualized plan to improve flexibility, strength, and coordination.  Goals of physical therapy in arthritis include improving the mobility and restoring the use of affected joints, increasing strength to support the joints, and maintaining fitness and the ability to perform daily activities.

Vertigo is the sensation of spinning—even when you’re perfectly still, you might feel like you’re moving or that the room is moving around you. Most causes of vertigo involve the inner ear (“vestibular system”). One of the most common forms of vertigo is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), an inner-ear problem that causes short periods of a spinning sensation when your head is moved in certain positions. Other possible causes are inner ear infections, migraines, tumors (acoustic neuroma), head injury, or stroke.

The specific treatment will depend on the cause of the vertigo. The physical therapist main focus is to help get you moving again and manage vertigo at the same time. Treatment may include specialized head and neck movements or other exercises to help eliminate your symptoms. Conditions such as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) have very specific tests and treatments.

A concussion is an injury to the brain that results in temporary loss of normal brain function. It usually is caused by a blow to the head. In many cases, there are no external signs of head trauma.

Physical therapists assist the patient in finding the balance of returning to normal activities with symptom management that helps the patient return to full function. Concussion management includes baseline testing, evaluation of the head/neck, and vestibular/balance/ocular motor rehabilitation.