We are South Central Indiana’s best location for evidence based physical therapy with a heart.  We are dedicated to giving you one-on-one care individualized treatment programs tailored to fit your particular specific situation in our Seymour, Columbus, and Greensburg clinics.

We focus on providing you care with the least amount of pain possible to gain back your total health. Our therapists follow this philosophy when treating patients with pain from overuse, sports and work injuries as well as arthritis, after surgery or severe accident cases. We provide care for conditions of the neck, upper and lower back, shoulder, hip, and pelvis. We also help with knee, foot, ankle, as well as wrist or hand conditions. We specialize in treating work related injuries as well as the paperwork and communication involved.

We offer a fun and nurturing atmosphere to help you work towards your health goals. Just as each injury and pain is different, so are the treatment options we offer. We evaluate your individual needs to develop a treatment plan just for you to help gain strength, mobility, confidence, and to restore normal range of motion and body function.

In today’s fast paced medical care climate, we pride ourselves in providing you the time and attention making sure you get back to living your life, stronger, quicker, better.
Don’t hesitate, call 1-800-365-3018 today for more information or to make an appointment.

2.  Find a facility that puts your needs first.  Your physical therapist should give you personal, one-on one attention with an emphasis on getting results and meeting your needs.

3. Check to see if your insurance is accepted.   Many policies require co-payments or co-insurance for physical therapy services.  Make sure that your physical therapist is part of the provider network, and find out if the facility will submit claims on your behalf.   

Physical Therapists, who are experts in restoring and improving motion in people’s lives, play an important role not only in treating persistent or recurrent low back pain, but also in prevention and risk reduction.  According to the American Physical Therapy Association, Physical Therapists are highly-educated, licensed health care professionals who can help patients reduce pain and improve or restore mobility.

Belinda Hays, PT and owner of Progressive Physical Therapy Clinics in Columbus, Seymour, and Greensburg, Indiana reports, “Low back pain is the most common complaint treated in our outpatient physical therapy clinics.  We treat low back injuries across all ages from the young athlete to older adults.  Prevention of back pain is important to learn and practice.”

• How Can You Prevent Low Back Pain?
• Keep your back, stomach, and leg muscles strong and flexible
• Keep your  body in alignment, so it can be more efficient when you move
• Don’t slouch – keep good posture
• Use good body positioning at work, home, or during leisure activities
• When lifting, keep the load close to your body and use your legs to lift
• Avoid twisting and turning while lifting
• Ask for help or use an assistive device to lift heavy objects
• Maintain a regular physical fitness regimen.  Staying active can help to prevent injuries

 What to Do When You Have Low Back Pain

In most cases, low back pain is mild and will disappear on its own.  However, for some people, back pain can return or persist, leading to a decrease in quality of life or even disability.

Stay active and do as much of your normal routine as possible when you have low back pain.  Bed rest for longer than a day can slow down your recovery.  If your pain lasts more than a few days or gets worse, then you should schedule an appointment with your physician.

See a health care professional immediately if you experience the following symptoms:

• Loss of bowel or bladder control
• Numbness in the groin or inner thigh
• Pain that does not change with rest

How a Physical Therapist Can Help

Not all back pain is the same and your treatment should be tailored to suit your specific condition.  You should expect the following from a Physical Therapist:

• Individualized assessment:  Your physical therapist will ask you a number of questions about your specific condition and will thoroughly examine you for problems with posture, flexibility, strength, joint mobility, and movement.  Attention will be given to how you use your body at work, home, during sports, and at leisure.
• Individualized treatment plan:  Once your assessment is complete your physical therapist will develop a plan designed for your specific type of back problem.  This may consist of
  • Treatment to decrease pain and restore mobility
  • Manual therapy techniques to improve mobility of joints and soft tissues
  • Specific strengthening and/or flexibility exercises
  • Education about care of your back and training for proper lifting, bending, sitting, sleeping, and doing chores both at work and at home

“Many cases of low back pain can be treated conservatively with physical therapy,” states Hays. “However, when surgery is required, physical therapy can help patients regain their mobility and strength and help them return to their normal activities.  The physical therapist will work closely with the referring physician to give a comprehensive treatment plan.”

For more information about physical therapy, visit the patient information website of the 
American Physical Therapy Association at www.moveforwardpt.com.

Acknowledgment:  E. Anne Reigherter, PT, DPT, OCS and Ellen Hamilton, PT, OCS
American Physical Therapy Association
Spine November 2006