Northwest Rehab. Assoc. Physical Therapy in Salem, OR – Specializing in Sports, Orthopedics, & Wellness

We provide quality, comprehensive treatment for patients who are injured or suffering from any type of movement or function disorder.

As a key member of today’s dynamic health care team, we prescribe a goal-oriented program of evaluation, treatment, and prevention for our patient’s specific needs. 

Conditions we treat include but are not limited to: 

• Orthopedic and sports injuries
• Pre/post surgical rehabilitation
• Back and neck injuries/pain
• Work injuries
• Auto accident injuries

The benefits of physical therapy include: 

• Relief of pain and muscle spasms
• Improved mobility and increased range of motion
• Increased or maintained strength and endurance
• Decreased swelling and inflammation of joints
• Decreased physical stresses

We provide quality, comprehensive injury plans for every athlete to prevent injuries or suffering from any type of movement or function disorder.

Our movement specialists identify if the way your body moves or your strength levels are contributing to pain, putting you at an increased risk for suffering a shoulder injury, running injury or even a torn ACL that can hold you back from your highest level of athletic performance. 

Conditions we treat include but are not limited to: 

• ACL-Tear Prevention
• Shoulder Injury
• Runner’s Injury

Runner’s Injury Prevention:

When it comes to running, that starts with a running analysis.

Our advanced technology gives incredible insight into how your body runs. We measure every movement your lower body makes when running, from your ankle all the way up to your hip.

This allows us to break down every aspect of your technique to determine what is holding you back from being your best, fastest, and most pain-free competitor. After that, we prescribe exercises to strengthen your running. 

The end result is you become a faster, safer runner, prolonging your running career and getting you better results along the way.

Whether you’re a cross country athlete, an adult competitive runner, or a weekend warrior, if you want to run faster or with less pain, you are in the right place. 

Shoulder Injury Prevention:

If you’re an overhead athlete who has ever worried about a shoulder injury like a rotator cuff or labrum tear, a Tommy John injury (which is almost always caused by a bad shoulder), or nerve damage like thoracic outlet syndrome that causes numbness and tingling pain down your arm and hand, and you want to do everything you can to make sure you have a long, injury-free career, you are in the right place.

Physical therapists are movement specialists that have doctorate-level training in assessing, analyzing, and treating movement disorders using the power of your own body.

By knowing exactly what to look for, and how to fix the problems found, pain and injury can be avoided altogether.

ACL Tear Prevention:

There are four key predictors for ACL-tears: strength and power, strength symmetry, and body control.

Strength and power are critical for both athletic performance and injury prevention.

Strength and power symmetry refers to how similar your strength and power levels are between legs. Nobody is 100% the same on both sides, but if one of your legs is significantly stronger or more powerful than the other, your body compensates in ways that put you at increased risk for getting hurt.

Body control is the most well known of these risk factors. Knees that cave in when you run, jump, and make cuts increase the likelihood of injury. 

Testing each of these factors gives you a clear idea of your strengths and weaknesses and highlights exactly what you need to work on to remove as much ACL-tear risk as possible.

If you want to know the truth about how your body works, and if you want to prevent a devastating, life-changing injury, this ACL-tear risk assessment is for you.

Occupational therapy takes a holistic approach to care through addressing the clinical conditions of a patient and recommending habits and home adaptations to help them participate more fully in day-to-day life. Just like Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists develop a plan of care to help patients with specific goals.

Conditions we treat include but are not limited to: 

• Orthopedic and sports injuries
• Hand therapy
• Pre/post-surgical rehabilitation
• Neurologic conditions
• Work injuries
• Auto accident injuries
• Home safety evaluations

The benefits of occupational therapy include: 

• Relief of pain and muscle spasms
• Improved mobility and increased range of motion
• Improved function with Activities of Daily Living (ADL’s)
• Improved visual integration
• Decreased physical stresses

We provide quality, comprehensive treatment for patients who are injured or suffering from any type of movement or function disorder.

As a key member of today’s dynamic health care team, we prescribe a goal-oriented program of evaluation, treatment, and prevention for our patient’s specific needs.

Within our facility, we offer rehabilitation with our underwater treadmill.

Here are some of the features & benefits:

• • Walk, jog or run in pool @ speeds up to 7.5 MPH (0.1 MPH increments)

• • Removable handrails adjacent to the treadmill
  • Variable water height depending on the height of patient & physical therapist

• Pool environment

• • Cleaned regularly
  • Bromine based solution for purification with water filtration system
  • Maintained at a comfortable 87 degrees F (3220)
  • Maintained at a warm 94 degrees F (3270)- appropriate for OA, general pain, neuro conditions (with the exception of MS).

• Other

• • Jets for resistance training while using the underwater treadmill treadmill
  • Hydromassage hose
  • Supplemental equipment for upper extremity, core, and lower extremity rehabilitation
  • Private bathroom/changing room with shower for convenient use, pre and post pool activities

We work with employers and employees toward preventing work-related injuries, helping to save valuable dollars, lost time, and a lot of pain for both.

Our therapists utilize some of the top testing programs available today, to evaluate potential employees’ physical capabilities of doing their jobs as well as assess ergonomics and provide functional capacity evaluations (FCEs) using the renowned programs including the WorkSTEPS ® Program.

Work hardening, Work Capacity Testing & WorkSTEPS are designed to provide employers with an objective employment testing program that reduces work-place injury incidence and injury costs reduces lost time, and creates accountability for employees and the providers who treat them.

We focus on an active injury prevention approach to helping you:

• We will educate your employees on how to maintain safe work habits.
• We will evaluate employees and their environments to ensure safety.

If you’re an employer or any employee who is concerned about work injury please ask any member of our team about our programs that can make a difference for your company’s bottom line.

What is a concussion?

A concussion is defined as a disruption of the normal functioning of the brain usually due to a direct or indirect force to the head.

Is Concussion a brain injury?

Yes. In short, it is a functional injury to the brain, rather than a structural injury.

What do you mean by a functional injury to the brain?

The brain controls many functions of the human body. When these functions are disrupted, the “concussed” person may experience problems with thinking, balance, emotion, and sleep. As a result, they may feel mentally “foggy,” dizzy, nauseated, more emotional, restless, or tired.

What are the signs and symptoms of a concussion?

After sustaining a fall or blow to the head, if one or more of these signs are observed, a concussion is suspected:

• Appears dazed or stunned, forgetful, or confused, An athlete who sustains a concussion may forget an instruction, be confused about an assignment or position, or be unsure of the game, score, or opponent.
• Can’t recall events prior to or after a hit or fall.
• *Answers questions slowly
• *Moves clumsily.
• *Loses consciousness (even briefly).
• *Shows mood, behavior, or personality changes.

If one or more of these symptoms are reported, a concussion is suspected:

• Headache or “pressure” in the head.
• *Nausea or vomiting.
• *Balance problems or dizziness.
• *Double or blurry vision.
• *Bothered by light or noise.
• *Feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy, or groggy.
• *Confusion, or concentration, or memory problems.
• *Just not “feeling right,” or “feeling down”

Someone must be “knocked out” or lose consciousness to have sustained a concussion, right?

This is a dangerous misconception about concussions. A concussion does not necessarily result in loss of consciousness, nor does the loss of consciousness on its own predict the severity or course of recovery from the concussion.

What should a parent or coach do when they are not sure whether their child or athlete sustained a concussion?

The statement “if in doubt, sit them out” summarizes it best. More specifically, the CDC recommends and California law (AB 2127)* mandates that an athlete suspected of sustaining a concussion or head injury is prohibited from returning to the athletic activity until the athlete is evaluated by a licensed health care provider. This educational sheet published by the CDC is an excellent resource for parents and coaches:

• www.cdc.gov
• Assembly Bill

What are the health risks of “playing through” a concussion or suspected concussion?

Due to slowed reaction time and impaired judgment, an individual who has not fully recovered from a concussion is at heightened risk to sustain another blow to the head if he or she continues to participate in an athletic event. A repeat concussion sustained before full recovery has occurred can lead to second impact syndrome, which is a serious and life-threatening condition that involves rapid swelling of the brain. Although serious, second impact syndrome is preventable through recognition and proper management of an initial concussion.

How soon can an athlete return to play after sustaining a concussion?

The good news is 85% of individuals recover within 3 weeks of sustaining a concussion. However, there are many factors involved in an individual’s recovery from a concussion. Prior to returning to play, it must first be determined by a licensed health care provider trained in the management of concussion that he or she has returned to their “baseline” or pre-injury state. In addition, the athlete must complete a graduated return to play protocol under the supervision of a licensed health care provider trained in the management of concussion.

Why see a Physical Therapist for a concussion?

A Physical Therapist, trained in the management of concussion, is able to evaluate and provide treatment and education for symptoms of concussion, including headache and dizziness. In addition, a physical therapist’s expertise in exercise and movement allows them to safely and effectively implement the mandatory graduated return to play protocol. A Physical Therapist with training and experience treating concussions can help screen for cognitive (thinking and memory) problems, or visual problems that are amenable to referral to Speech-Language Pathology or Occupational Therapy, respectively.

Why should someone choose Physical Therapy to recover from a concussion?

Our clinics are home to a cutting-edge team of Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapists who are formally trained and experienced in the management of concussion. These expert clinicians have collaborated with local physicians to develop a comprehensive and affordable care model designed to return local high school athletes safely and successfully to sports, academics, and social roles.