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The Therapy & Wellness Center houses adult and pediatric outpatient rehabilitation therapy and wellness programs and services. The center is a 20,000 square foot building located at 2560 Colorado Blvd. in Eagle Rock, approximately one mile from the GAMC main campus.
Watch the video below to get a sneak peak inside the TWC. You'll also hear from a few therapists about the different services offered and how they approach rehabilitation and you'll hear from a patient about her experience at the TWC.
The staff is made up of accredited and licensed physical and occupational therapists, such as hand therapists, aquatic therapists as well as work hardening and conditioning specialists. Several of the Therapy & Wellness center therapists have special advanced certification titles including Orthopedic Certified Specialists (OCS), Certified Pedorthotist (CPED), Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and Certified Hand Therapist (CHT).
Physical therapists work together to help patients who suffer from many types of musculoskeletal and neuromuscular conditions including:
Occupational therapists work together to provide both hand therapy and work programs to help patients who suffer from hand disorders as well as work-related injuries including:
- Amputations
- Burn injuries
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Finger/wrist/elbow sprains
- Fractures/dislocations
- Flexor/extensor tendon injuries
- Infection
- Inflammatory and degenerative arthritis
- Pain-related syndromes
- Soft tissue injuries
- Tumors/cysts
- Vascular disorders
- Wound/lacerations
In addition, the Therapy & Wellness Center offers STEP (Sports Training and Enhancement Program), yoga, Pilates, senior exercise, Tai Chi, and an independent pool program among other exercise programs.
The Therapy & Wellness Center accepts all major insurances and has extended hours:
Monday - Thursday: 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Friday: 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Call 323-255-5409 for more information.
Acute/Chronic Orthopedic Conditions
Physical therapists treat patients for orthopedic conditions, which are problems concerning the skeletal system and its joints, muscles, and associated tissues such as ligaments and tendons. These conditions can be acute, meaning they occurred suddenly or abruptly, or they can be chronic, meaning they have developed slowly over time and have lasted for greater than six months or even years. Physical therapy addresses these issues in a variety of ways. For acute injuries, immediate care is typically needed to calm inflammation and pain of a joint or tissues. The use of ice and electrical stimulation, with some type of manual therapy and exercise program may be necessary to help with this sudden injury. In the case of a more chronic condition, some of the above methods may be used to address pain and swelling, but additionally a physical therapist assesses why the condition will not resolve. Nevertheless, with either an acute or chronic orthopedic condition, a patient receives a thorough physical therapy evaluation to address the patient's impairments. The impairments may be pain, decreased range of motion, decreased strength, decreased flexibility, or decreased balance and coordination. Such impairments may affect the patient's ability to walk, go up/down stairs or another specific function. In physical therapy, these impairments are treated so that, ultimately, the patient would be able to recover physically and functionally.
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Foot/Ankle
The foot is made up of 26 bones, 33 joints, and over 100 muscles and ligaments, which simultaneously provide support and mobility. Poor foot alignment or footwear can aggravate foot pain and contribute to problems of the knee, hip or back. Physical therapists can assist with recovery from injuries such as sprains or fractures and in the treatment of post-surgical conditions, tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, and arthritis. Your physical therapist will assess your walking, footwear, muscles and joints and then create a program to address deficits in strength and flexibility, improve foot mechanics and relieve your symptoms.
Many foot and ankle disorders are a direct result of faulty foot mechanics and may be responsible for pain in the knee, hip and low back. Customized foot orthotics (shoe inserts) are used to improve lower extremity alignment and restore function. Physical therapists perform detailed biomechanical evaluations in order to determine if customized feet orthotics are appropriate and assist with the fabrication and design of the orthotics. Physical therapy treatment focuses on the use of these devices in conjunction with an individually tailored exercise program to expedite the return to pre-injury activity.
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Geriatrics
As we age, our goal is to maximize our ability to care for ourselves and stay as active, vital and independent as possible. Physical therapy is one of the ingredients in the recipe to achieve this goal. The physical therapist is able to assess your strength, flexibility, posture, and pain level and individually work with you to establish functional goals and design a program to help achieve those goals. The Therapy & Wellness Center has physical therapists who are clinical experts at working with the older population in our fully equipped gym, individual treatment rooms and a heated therapeutic pool in the Rehabilitation Institute. Treatment is focused on developing an exercise regimen designed by a physical therapist that assists in keeping you more active and as comfortable as possible.
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Incontinence
Incontinence, an involuntary loss of urine, affects 13 million Americans - men and women of all ages. Some causes of incontinence include muscle weakness, obesity, pregnancy and childbirth, repetitive heavy lifting, surgical trauma, neuromuscular disorders, bladder infections, chronic cough, hormonal changes, and diet. The two major types of incontinence are stress incontinence, a loss of urine from an increase in abdominal pressure with movement, cough or other physical exertion , and urge incontinence, leakage that occurs as soon as you feel the need to use the bathroom. Physical therapists can help men and women improve their bladder control. Physical therapy treatment may include education about the bladder, normal emptying techniques and dietary modifications, and strengthening exercises for the pelvic floor muscles.
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Lymphedema
Through injury or surgery, our lymphatic system can become compromised, leading to swelling and pain in an arm or leg. Our physical therapists are able to evaluate this problem and work with you to decrease the swelling and pain. Physical therapy treatments focus on several techniques such as lymphedema massage, positioning, taping and gentle exercise to stretch the tissue and increase movement of body fluid. If necessary, our team will work with your physician and other medical specialists to help you get compression stockings in order to keep your arms and legs as comfortable and mobile as possible.
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Pain Management
When you get injured or have surgery, you expect to hurt for a while, but you know that in time you will heal and the pain will go away. Chronic pain is different. Chronic pain may result from an injury that has healed, but the pain remains. Chronic pain may also be a lingering symptom of a past illness. In some cases, chronic pain develops out of the blue, with no apparent link to trauma or disease.
Many patients that suffer with chronic pain often feel that it is something of a mystery since tests and examinations may uncover nothing abnormal. But your body's distress is real!
Pain management is a process by which physical therapists emphasize not only relieving pain but on returning the patient to functioning in their lives. Patients are given a combination of modalities and manual therapy initially for pain, but with progression towards general strengthening and stretching. In time, the patient then returns to everyday activities such as a walking program, pool exercise program, yoga or Pilates classes or even a return to full gym activities.
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Pre- and Post-Surgical Cases
Surgery is the term traditionally used for treatments that involve cutting or stitching tissue; however, advances in surgical techniques have made the definition more complicated and confusing. Patients often are confused by the technical jargon of their upcoming surgery leading to fear and apprehension about their recovery and rehabilitation. If surgery is impending, a physical therapist can help to design a pre-operative educational program to outline expectations about surgery and the subsequent rehabilitation process. A physical therapist will also develop a pre-operative strengthening and exercise program to maximize the post-operative period and speed the rehabilitative process. Post-surgically, physical therapy is essential in having the patient achieve their rehabilitation goals more quickly as well as to assist in returning the patient as quickly as possible to their prior functional activities.
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Shoulder/Elbow Dysfunction
Due to the degree of use of the arms patients may experience a wide range of shoulder and elbow injuries ranging from traumatic injuries (falling on an outstretched hand) to repetitive overuse injuries (in the workplace, at home, or participating in sports such as golf, tennis, basketball or volleyball). Common diagnoses include rotator cuff tendonitis/tears (pre- and post-operative), fractures of bones such as the humerus, radius, and ulna, and lateral or medial epicondylitis (tennis elbow). Physical therapists treat impairments related to the shoulder and elbow including deficits in range of motion, strength and flexibility. Manual techniques performed by the physical therapist allow each joint to regain proper movement mechanics to ensure a reduction or elimination of pain and a full return to function at work or with recreational activities.
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Spine Injuries/Dysfunction
Approximately 80 percent of the general population will suffer from at least one episode of lower back pain at one point in their lifetime. Whether you would like to return to leisure activities, work free of pain or to do things around the house, physical therapists can help. Our team of spine specialists are trained in managing and treating disk injuries, lower back strains, facet syndromes, degenerative changes to the spine, pelvic girdle dysfunctions, and post-operative conditions. Upon evaluation, your therapist will help identify muscle imbalances, strength deficits, joint limitations, and movement dysfunctions that are responsible for the signs and symptoms associated with low back pain. Intervention will then focus on addressing the underlying impairments to help facilitate a return to pre-injury activity levels.
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Cervical Spine Dysfunction
Dysfunction of the cervical spine may present with myriad symptoms that typically include headaches, dizziness, and neck, arm or facial pain. Acute trauma or chronic postural dysfunction are two causes of these symptoms which, in turn, lead to muscular imbalances, altered spinal alignment, or injured connective and nervous tissues. Physical therapists perform a comprehensive evaluation beginning with a postural assessment, range of motion deficits, and muscle strength deficits and then devise a plan of care based upon each patient's unique presentation. Physical therapy intervention for the cervical spine typically includes manual therapy to restore impairment deficits and improve spinal alignment, neuromuscular retraining to the affected muscles, modalities to reduce pain, and education to protect the spine by fostering an environment optimal for healing of the injured tissues.
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Sports Physical Therapy
Our extensive sports physical therapy program is available to athletes of every age group where each patient athlete receives a complete and comprehensive evaluation. The evaluation consists of a biomechanical assessment that examines the throwing, hitting, jumping and agility movements of the athlete in their specific sport. The physical therapist develops and implements a treatment plan based upon the functional impairments of the athlete. In addition, the treatment program is formed around the individual sports-specific goals with the ultimate endpoint of returning to their sport with a reduced risk of injury.
The sports rehabilitation team is composed of physical therapists and athletic trainers who work in concert with the athlete and the referring physician to treat and train the individual athlete for the imposed demands of competition.
A hallmark of our program is the high level of communication between the sports physical therapist, athletic trainer, referring physician, and athlete and/or parent regarding the rehabilitative progress and anticipated return to the sport.
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Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMD)
Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMD) is a disorder of the jaw due either to a traumatic event such as biting down incorrectly on an apple or excessive movement and irritation at the joint such as frequent gum-chewing or grinding of the teeth at night. Symptoms of TMD can include jaw pain, grinding or clicking in the jaw, or locking with the mouth in an open or closed position. TMD can often result in headaches as well. Experienced physical therapists at GAMC have been trained to treat this frustrating condition, with treatments including management of inflammation with pain-relieving modalities, manual therapy to relieve joint pressure and loosen up tight muscles, addressing posture and neck position, and education on proper jaw motion.
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Vestibular Rehabilitation
Problems with balance or equilibrium may have a number of causes that involve the vestibular system, visual system, cervical spine, trunk and extremities weakness, altered sensation of the extremities, and neurological involvement. Patients frequently complain of dizziness, loss of balance, spinning or vertigo, difficulty walking or a history of falling. These symptoms severely interfere with a person's daily activities including the inability to work and enjoy leisure activities. A physical therapist evaluates each patient and designs the rehabilitation process to target the involved systems through retraining them. Physical therapy treatment also focuses on educating patients on the nature of the problem and selecting exercises that are specifically designed for an individual's needs and goals.
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Orthopedic Certified Specialists (OCS)
Specialization is the process by which a physical therapist can build a broader base of professional education and practice to develop a greater depth of knowledge and skills related to a particular area of interest. If a physical therapist has a credential of the OCS, he or she has passed a specialty exam in orthopedics and has demonstrated advanced clinical expertise in this subject area. OCS stands for Orthopedic Certified Specialists and is recognized by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists (ABPTS). Why choose a certified specialist? Physical therapists who are Orthopedic Certified Specialists achieve more effective clinical outcomes with their patients, manage patients with more complex conditions, and possess more superior diagnostic skills.
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Certified Pedorthotist (CPED)
Pedorthics is the design, manufacture, modification, or fit of footwear, including shoes, orthoses and foot devices, to prevent or alleviate foot problems caused by disease or injury. A physical therapist who is also a certified pedorthist (CPED) is an individual who is trained in the design, manufacture, and application of footwear and feet orthotics in concert with the extensive biomechanical knowledge about how the body is supposed to move. Physical therapists who are certified in this area assure the public and other health care professions that they are qualified to fabricate and fit the prescribed footwear and related devices to the patients they serve.
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