Functional Rehabilitation

Functional rehabilitation is popular among athletes because it aims to return patients to the state and performance level they were pre-injury. However, it is also used to help patients suffering from injuries return to living pain-free lives. At Tacoma Chiropractic Center in Tacoma, WA, we offer functional rehabilitation for patients seeking natural relief from their pain or discomfort. 

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What Is Functional Rehabilitation?

Functional rehabilitation uses various techniques to return the person to their pre-injured selves. Our treatment includes strength, agility, and flexibility training. However, it also focuses on the relationship between the nervous system and muscles. This includes improving coordination and proper movement dynamics. 

Functional rehabilitation is often part of chiropractic care. Our chiropractors will provide a thorough assessment of the patient's current condition and identify underlying problems and misalignments. These are often the underlying cause of injuries and are treated along with the injury. 

Three-Dimensional Movement

It's possible to isolate muscles in therapy, but the body moves in 3-dimensional space. A movement doesn't require one muscle group, but several. A golf swing, for example, requires muscles in the hands, arms, and core. Joints in the wrist, elbow, shoulder, and hips all have to perform correctly as well. Traditional rehabilitation often focuses solely on the injured area. To restore function to the damaged area, it's important to see movements as 3-dimensional and requiring several muscle groups. Rehabilitation must focus on the body as a whole instead of only focusing on the injured area. 

Injury Complications and Secondary Effects

Injuries often result in secondary effects, which means there's deterioration or malfunction in other areas of the body due to the injury. When an injury occurs, the person is usually less active. This can cause the body's general fitness level to decline.

It can also cause other parts of the body to move incorrectly in an attempt to compensate for the injured area. For example, an injury to the leg often results in limping. This puts more stress on the non-injured leg and affects movement dynamics. Over time, it can interfere with gait patterns and cause pain in the joints. Functional rehabilitation takes into account your health and wellness and how you are affected by the injury.

The Four Stages of Functional Rehabilitation

We develop a four-stage model for a patient's functional rehabilitation. The first step is the initial treatment of the injury. This can include immobilization, medication, surgery, and inflammation control. Manual therapy and light exercise may also be included in this phase. The second phase focuses on restoring the range of motion. The third focuses on power and endurance, and the fourth stage is the return to previous activities. 

Contact Us for Functional Rehabilitation at Tacoma Chiropractic Center

If you've experienced an injury, our functional medicine can help you make a quick recovery and reduce your chances of future injury. Our chiropractors and professional staff are committed to providing our patients the care they need for optimal pain relief. Contact Tacoma Chiropractic Center today to schedule your first consultation or to learn more about the other services we offer. 

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2611 N. Stevens St Tacoma, WA, 98407

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