Most people who break their toe for the first time are surprised at the answers they get from their medical providers. Because you can’t put a cast on a broken toe, the best thing that you can do is manage the pain as it heals. So, the question becomes what can you do during the healing process to help improve your odds of a fast recovery (with minimal repercussions)? Below, we’ll look at how physical therapy can help a broken toe in Flagstaff, AZ and get back to where you need to be.

Physical Therapy and Injury Severity

The severity of your fracture will have a lot to do with your treatment. As a general rule, you’re supposed to keep off the toe, avoid moving it too much, and use standard at-home remedies (e.g., ice, elevation, etc.) to manage your symptoms. In some cases, though, you may need to use crutches or tape to reduce pressure on the toe or help you avoid inadvertent toe movement.

Physical Therapy for a Broken Toe in Flagstaff

Physical therapy for a broken toe largely follows much of the standard mobility advice on the market. For example, you might do toe curls, marble pickups, and standard stretching to help you improve your mobility and manage pain. These treatments can all help you reduce any long-term effects of a broken toe and give you back most (if not all) of your range of motion.

However, there’s one major warning to keep in mind during your recovery: these exercises need to be done correctly to avoid making the issue worse. With the right physical therapist, you can not only learn the proper technique — based on your specific fracture — you can work through the exercise at the appropriate pace as you heal.

Find a Physical Therapist for You

The rate of recovery and the best exercise for you depends not just on where and how you broke your toe, but how old you are, your general health, and your lifestyle. If you’re looking for a physical therapist in Flagstaff to help you manage it all, contact the team at Base Camp Physical Therapy and Performance to make an appointment today.

When you consider the broad field of orthopedics, you may not know exactly which conditions you can treat with this branch of medicine. You might be pleasantly surprised to learn that it’s one of the more versatile specialties. Below, we’ll look at how orthopedists help you strengthen both bone and muscle and why the right physical therapist may be able to ease pain and discomfort without the help of surgery.

What Are Orthopedics?

Orthopedics is a speciality in medicine that treats both bones and muscles. This includes the joints, ligaments, tendons, and tissues. If you’re looking for an orthopedic physical therapist in Flagstaff, AZ you can expect anything from muscle stimulation to strengthening exercises to mobilizations.

When Should I See a Physical Therapist in Flagstaff?

Most people see a physical therapist because they’re experiencing pain, whether that’s from a one-time surgery, unexpected accident, or chronic pain over the course of a lifetime. Whether you just got a new knee or you want to strengthen your ankle joints against unexpected sprains, setting up a consultation can open your eyes to a world of non-surgical treatment options.

Some people also see physical therapists in Flagstaff, AZ as a way to keep their bodies in peak condition, and you don’t have to be a star athlete to want to maintain or improve your bone or muscle mass. Consistent strength training can stave off potential injuries and give you better flexibility and mobility as you go about your daily tasks.

Schedule an Appointment Today

Your musculoskeletal system is integral with every major bodily system. At Base Camp Physical Therapy and Performance, our staff can help you learn more about the underlying causes of your pain, whether it’s a damaged tendon or a misplaced joint. Or we can help you keep your body strong, especially if you’re more susceptible to bone or muscle loss.

From there, our staff can implement one or several techniques, from massage to exercises, to help your body protect itself from unexpected stress and strain. Here, we help you invest in long-term solutions so you don’t have to rely on short-term fixes.

While back pain (particularly lower back pain) is probably the most talked about mobility issue, up to 70% of all people will experience shoulder pain at some point in their lives. Here, we’ll look at why shoulder mobility matters and how a few simple exercises can help you improve your flexibility.

Shoulder Mobility: What You Should Know 

Shoulder mobility essentially refers to your shoulder’s range of motion. The more flexibility you have, the less likely you are to run into strains or injuries, which makes it less likely you’ll experience shoulder pain in Flagstaff, AZ. And this is important when you consider that your shoulder has a lot to do with how you move throughout the day. From what you can reach on the top shelves to how well you play basketball, you don’t want to leave your shoulder strength to chance.

Excellent Shoulder Exercises for Flexibility 

Essentially, the more accustomed your body becomes to a certain type of movement, the less likely you are to be injured if the movement or force unexpectedly occurs. Here are a few shoulder exercises that can help you steadily improve your mobility:

• Rotations: Hold a long object, like a broomstick, above your head with straight arms (about shoulder-distance apart). Then move the stick behind your head without bending your arms. Rotate your arms back to the front and repeat.
• Shoulder Stretch: Cross your right arm across your body and then use your left hand to stretch as far as possible. Hold for 20 seconds and repeat on the other side.
• Pec Stretch: Stand in a door and raise your right arm to your shoulder level (keep your left arm at your left side). Put your hand on the wall and then rotate your body to the left. Hold for 20 seconds and repeat.

Visit a Physical Therapist in Flagstaff

While mobility exercises can help you keep your flexibility up, sometimes it helps to see a physical therapist in Flagstaff, AZ. Whether you’ve suffered a sports injury or you’re just looking for more specific exercises for your body type, it helps to talk to an expert. At Base Camp Physical Therapy and Performance, we’re here to help you tackle it all.

Many people experience TMJ on an everyday basis. Moreover, there’s not always a straightforward answer, particularly if you’re trying to avoid surgical solutions. If you were diagnosed with the disorder by a dentist but you find that their treatments aren’t resulting in relief, we’ll look at why a physical therapist in Flagstaff, AZ, may be a better professional to call.

When to Call a Physical Therapist
If you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms, a physical therapist may be able to help you reduce the pain and improve your range of motion:

Pain: This includes the stereotypical jaw pain, but it can also refer to facial pain, neck pain, or headaches.
Sounds: If you’re experiencing clicking or popping every time you open and close your jaw, a physical therapist can recommend manual exercises at home to improve functionality.
Earaches: The jaw impacts the ear, nose, and throat. You may find that your ears hurt regularly without realizing that the problem stems from damaged cartilage in the temporomandibular joint.
When you visit a physical therapist for TMJ in Flagstaff, AZ, they’ll focus on how to make your jaw stronger. It’s a conservative route that can help you avoid more drastic treatments (either now or in the future).

What Causes TMJ?
TMJ can refer to both cartilage damage or joint damage in the jaw. The temporomandibular is the connection between your body and the jaw, and it has to move constantly as you go about your daily routine. The causes are sometimes difficult to ascertain, though if you have a genetic history with it or you’ve sustained a jaw injury, this could be the culprit. Some people get TMJ if they clench or grind their teeth at night. No matter what the root cause of the problem is, though, it is important to address TMJ. The sooner you get help, the more you protect your teeth, gums, and bite.

Physical Therapy in Flagstaff, AZ
If you’ve been dealing with jaw pain regularly, call Base Camp Physical Therapy and Performance to learn more about how the right exercises can help your TMJ.