Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is a broad-ranging health care profession focused on helping people restore functional activities that have been lost or compromised because of illness or injury.
The Doctors of Physical Therapy and Physical Therapy Assistants and support team who work at First Choice Physical Therapy serving residents of the Greater Panama City area, Panama City Beach, and Callaway, are distinguished in providing physical therapy because of their experience, extra certifications, and dedication to putting the patient first.
We treat back and neck injuries, sprains, strains and fractures, burns, amputations, strokes, multiple sclerosis, conditions such as cerebral palsy and spina bifida, and injuries related to sports and work.
Our process is to thoroughly examine your injury and make a diagnosis, discuss our recommended program of care for you, and deliver evidence-based therapies that reduce your pain and heal you as quickly as possible.
To do that we may use a variety of interventions including therapeutic exercise, functional training, manual therapy techniques, assistive and adaptive devices and equipment, and physical agents and electrotherapeutic modalities.
We will treat patients who seek our help directly or who arrive after they receive a referral from their doctor.
Our physical therapy assistants work to help the physical therapists provide their treatment to improve patient mobility, reduce pain and lessen physical disabilities.
Working with the supervision of the physical therapist, physical therapy assistants provide exercise, instruction, therapeutic methods like electrical stimulation, mechanical traction, and ultrasound. They also have training in massage and gait and balance training.
In this section you will find a list and explanations for common therapies we provide. This is not a comprehensive list of our specialties; it is just a general overview of some of the frequent calls for treatment.
Post Surgical Rehabilitation
The experts at First Choice Physical Therapy can make you aware of what to expect prior to your joint replacement surgery and afterward, we will work with you to regain motion and ensure there is no lasting disability.
We work closely in conjunction with your physician and surgeon to provide a course of care to help you regain your strength, range of motion, and ability to move freely.
Research supports the reality that patients who engage in physical therapy before and after surgery recover faster than those who did not receive it.
Sports Injuries
Our services are focused on young and adult athletes and are broad-ranging, including a return to golf program which can dynamically improve your swing (but not necessarily your score).
From high school football players to weekend warriors, we help all kinds of athletes feel and perform their best. First Choice Physical Therapy maintains a treatment philosophy for physical therapy and rehabilitation that emphasizes the importance of providing the highest quality of patient care in order to obtain the ultimate goal of restoring our patients to functional independence and self-care physical management.
To accomplish these objectives, we utilize the latest advances in hands-on treatment techniques in combination with state-of-the-art equipment.
Our treatment procedures produce improved functional outcomes with the lowest rehabilitation costs possible. We have developed a unique approach to treatment that physicians, payers, and patients find logical and beneficial.
Spine (Spinal Mobilizations/Manipulations)
In the United States, about 90 percent of people will experience severe back and neck pain at some point in their lives.
Physical therapy is often an effective way to reduce pain and heal an injury without resorting to surgery or long-term pain medication.
Our doctors of physical therapy are specially trained in the techniques of spinal mobilizations and manipulations which often relieve your pain by taking the pressure off sensitive nerves and damaged tissue. We are able to increase your range of motion, reduce muscle tension and restore blood flow. With the process, your body naturally releases endorphins that act as a natural painkiller.
Physical therapy has been found in scientific studies to be particularly effective in spinal rehabilitation and in preventing the recurrence of injuries.
Auto Accidents
At First Choice Physical Therapy, our professional and experienced team will work with your physician and insurance provider to assist in your complete recovery following a motor vehicle accident.
We will strive to assess and diagnose your injuries accurately and provide a customized course of physical therapy to help you return to your normal level of activity as quickly as possible.
Shoulders, knees, hips, ankles, elbows and wrists
Joint injuries can keep you from your favorite sport and the active lifestyle you love. We can help you heal and rebuild strength and flexibility as well as show you how to minimize your chance of re-injury.
Common symptoms of issues in the shoulders, knees, hips, ankles, elbows and wrists include fractures, muscular sprains, dislocations, ligament injuries and instability, muscle strains, tears and avulsions, nerve injuries and conditions, tendon injuries, wounds and scars, arthritis and rheumatic disease and pain.
Orthopedic Rehabilitation
Our physical therapists are highly trained and licensed to provide expert advice and treatment for injuries and conditions that impact the body’s ability to function effectively and pain-free.
We can help patients recover from sprains, strains and fractures as well as chronic conditions that cause unrelenting pain.
When we meet, we conduct a thorough evaluation of your injury or condition and present a diagnosis, outlining recommended courses of therapy. You will be involved as an able partner in your own rehabilitation. Our goal is to get you back to your normal lifestyle as quickly as possible.
TMJ Program
Pain in the temporomandibular joint which connects your jaw to the temporal bones of your skull can occur following an injury such as a heavy blow or whiplash, or from teeth grinding, arthritis or stress.
The pain can be severe and affect one or both sides of your face.
We treat TMJ dysfunctions effectively with a number of therapies delivered in our clinics including transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and ultrasound.
Industrial Rehabilitation
Working as a team with your physician and workers’ compensation case worker, we take a systematic approach to help injured workers work through the various stages of rehabilitation using measurable clinical objectives.
We rehabilitate injured workers to an optimal performance level, focusing on reintroducing them to full or modified work levels by using conditioning and simulations to restore full function.
Work Related Injuries
We are experienced in the treatment of injured workers, offering a full range of rehabilitative services. Initially we will meet with you to assess your injuries and prescribe a full course of therapy.
We will work as part of your team including your physician and your employer to help you return to your workplace as quickly as possible, including making suggestions about work hardening programs to get you ready to return to your normal level of activity.
Functional Capacity Evaluations
A functional capacity evaluation means an assessment of your ability to perform certain jobs capably. It is an essential phase as well in most workers’ compensation or disability claims.
We assist physicians and employers with sound back-to-work decisions following the injury or illness of an employee and determine objective baseline data for disability.
Pre-Post Job Offer Physical Screenings
This is a cost-effective solution to help companies reduce the cost of employee injuries and reduce future workers’ compensation claims. By providing objective data on a candidate’s ability to tolerate the essential physical demands of a job, we can lessen the risk of hiring mistakes.
Gait and Balance
COMMON CAUSES OF FALLING: Inner ear crystal problems (vertigo), poor strength, a lack of coordination, and limited cervical/spinal motion. Falling and poor balance can completely ruin your life or even end your life…I’ve seen it many times…
√ It is the leading cause of traumatic death in people over 65 years old…
√ Every third American over 65 falls each year…
√ It can cause you to break a bone, have surgery and be bedbound…
Do Something About it and give our balance specialists a call today to help improve strength, neck motion, coordination and inner ear crystal positioning.