Orthopedic Physical Therapy
Physical therapy, like many other medical professions has generalists and specialists. In order to become a specialist one must go through advanced training via residency/fellowship upon completion of the entry level Doctor of Physical Therapy training. Dr St. Clair is a Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist ‘’specializing’’ in working with people who have musculoskeletal and neuromuscular issues. From tendons to bone stress injuries or radiating nerve pain this is our area of expertise. Our goal is to guide you through the rehabilitation process and migrate you out of the medical system and back to performing as quickly and safely as possible. A comprehensive evaluation includes both a thorough history as well as precise and educated physical assessment. Endurance athletes require unique physical demands and their clinical evaluation and care should reflect these needs.
Dry Needling
Dry Needling is an effective therapy to treat muscular tension and spasm which commonly accompanies conditions such as arthritis, nerve irritation, muscular strain, ligament strains and herniated discs. It is called “Dry” Needling because there is no solution injected as with a hypodermic needle during a flu shot. With Dry Needling, the needle itself and the effects it produces within the tissue is the treatment.
When an injury occurs from repetitive use or acute trauma, inflammation will be produced from the damaged tissues. The damaged tissues will also go into a protective tension state or contracture to guard against further damage from utilizing the injured tissue. This contracture and inflammation inhibit microcirculation which limits both the oxygen rich blood reaching the injury and the waste products leaving the injury. The injury site becomes hypoxic (decreased in oxygen) which stimulates the body to produce fibroblasts, a cell that produces fibrosis or scar tissue. This fibrosis and scarring builds up around the muscles and tissues limiting the tissues ability to fully function (lengthen/shorten) and can also cause compression and irritation of nerves (such as carpal tunnel syndrome) – all of which inevitably lead to biomechanical disturbances in gait and function.
Dry Needling can assist in the following conditions:
- Neck/Back Pain
- Shoulder Pain
- Tennis/Golfers Elbow
- Headaches
- Hip and Gluteal Pain
- Knee Pain
- Achilles Tendonitis/Tendonosis
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Radiculopathy
- Muscular Strains/Ligament Sprains
- Chronic Pain
- Athletic Performance
Manual Orthopedic Physical Therapy
In addition to becoming a Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist, Dr. St. Clair also completed a Fellowship in Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy. The term “manual therapy” refers to hands on treatment. Manual therapy is a passive treatment that is ALWAYS used in conjunction with active treatments. Hands-on work when combined with exercise and education has been shown to yield a faster recovery. Manual therapy encompasses a broad group of sophisticated techniques including but not limited to soft tissue work, joint mobilization or manipulation, or instrument assisted techniques. The primary aim of manual therapy is to decrease pain and increase function in less time.
Performance Training and Injury Prevention
Strength training should be one of the most important aspects of any endurance athlete’s training program. There is an abundance of research showing the benefits of resistance training for endurance athletes of all levels to both improve performance and reduce injury. Our goal is ensure your program is tailored to you as an athlete and also where you are in your training season. We offer individual sessions, package rates, assessment and program design, as well as remote training options. Please contact us for additional details.
Running Analysis Package
Every endurance runner is likely to suffer a running related injury at some point. It is our goal to reduce or mitigate the risk for such injuries. A slow motion treadmill analysis can serve as an invaluable tool to help break down each component of your running gait cycle and allow us to provide feedback and avenues for improvement. In addition, we will discuss footwear considerations, previous history of injuries, and perform a full orthopedic examination to ensure the end result is tailored to your individual needs.