Fort Mills Physical Therapy in Tega Clay

Physical therapy involves various techniques and exercises to improve strength, balance, range of motion, and flexibility. Our physical therapists will work with you one-on-one to create a personalized plan addressing your needs and goals. Whether you are recovering from an injury or surgery or have a chronic condition, we can help you achieve optimal physical health.

For individuals without pain, you can also benefit from physical therapy. Our therapists can identify any potential risk factors and create an exercise program that will help prevent future injuries.

Conditions that physical therapy can help treat are:

• Orthopedic injuries like fractures, sprains, and strains
• Neurological conditions like stroke, spinal cord injury, and multiple sclerosis
• Chronic pain syndromes, including fibromyalgia, arthritis, and chronic fatigue syndrome
• Post-surgical rehabilitation for joint replacements and other procedures

This is a specialized program that focuses on treating dizziness and balance disorders. Vestibular rehabilitation can also help improve overall balance and coordination and reduce the risk of falls. One of our practitioners will assess your condition and address your specific needs.

While each patient has different needs, some common components of vestibular rehabilitation may include:

• Balance Exercises. These exercises help improve stability and reduce the risk of falls by training the body to maintain equilibrium.
• Gaze Stabilization Exercises. These exercises focus on improving eye movement control to reduce dizziness and enhance visual stability during head movements.
• Habituation Exercises. These exercises involve repeated exposure to movements or activities that trigger dizziness to help the brain adapt and reduce symptoms over time.
• Canalith Repositioning Maneuvers. They are used to treat benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) by repositioning displaced inner ear crystals that cause vertigo.
• Strength and Conditioning Exercises. These exercises aim to improve overall strength, flexibility, and endurance to support better functional mobility.
• Education and Lifestyle Modifications. Patients may also receive proper guidance on lifestyle modifications, positional changes, and strategies to manage symptoms in daily activities.

Dry needling is a therapeutic technique to treat musculoskeletal pain and movement issues. It involves inserting thin, solid needles into specific points in the body, such as trigger points or tight muscle bands, to alleviate pain and improve function. Unlike acupuncture, which focuses on traditional Chinese medicine principles and energy flow, dry needling targets physical knots and muscle tension.

Dry needling’s primary goal is to improve blood flow, release muscle tension, and promote healing in the targeted area.
During your sessions, our physical therapist will identify the trigger points through assessment and palpation. The needles are then inserted into these points, leading to a localized twitch response that indicates the muscle is being stimulated. The needles are typically left in place for a short period before removal.

Some common conditions that dry needling may be beneficial for include:

• Neck Pain. Dry needling can target tight muscles and trigger points in the neck, helping to reduce pain and stiffness often associated with conditions like cervical muscle strains or cervical radiculopathy.
• Back Pain. Dry needling releases trigger points and improves muscle function in the back for individuals experiencing back pain due to muscle tension or myofascial pain syndrome.
• Shoulder Pain. Conditions like rotator cuff injuries, frozen shoulder, or shoulder impingement syndrome may benefit from dry needling to address muscle imbalances, reduce pain, and enhance shoulder mobility.
• Headaches. Tension-type headaches and migraines can be linked to the neck and upper back’s muscle tension. Dry needling may help alleviate headache symptoms by releasing tight muscles and improving blood flow in these areas.
• Hip and Gluteal Pain. Tightness in the hip or gluteal muscles can contribute to conditions such as piriformis syndrome or hip bursitis. Dry needling can target these muscles to reduce pain and improve hip mobility.
• Knee Pain. Patellofemoral pain syndrome, IT band syndrome, or patellar tendonitis are examples of knee conditions where dry needling may be used to address muscle imbalances, reduce pain, and improve knee function.
• Sports Injuries. Athletes dealing with muscle strains, overuse injuries, or sports-related muscle tightness can benefit from dry needling to aid in recovery, improve muscle flexibility, and prevent future injury.
• Chronic Pain Conditions. People with chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia or myofascial pain syndrome may find relief through dry needling by targeting trigger points and reducing overall pain sensitivity.
• Postural Dysfunction. Poor posture contributes to muscle imbalances and discomfort. Dry needling helps address postural issues by releasing tight muscles and promoting better alignment.