Physical Therapy

Integrating physical therapy into your recovery plan can relieve pain, restore function, and prevent reinjury. At Sporting Medicine in Charlotte, North Carolina, sports medicine specialist William Graham, MD, provides state-of-the-art physical therapy services with an onsite motion capture lab and neuromuscular retraining. Call Sporting Medicine today or schedule an appointment online to learn more about physical therapy.

What is physical therapy?

Physical therapy is a discipline that uses exercise, stretches, and hands-on techniques to restore function to damaged joints, tissues, and other musculoskeletal structures. After surgery or a sports injury, physical therapy can relieve pain and improve your physical function to prevent reinjury and enhance your athletic performance.

How does physical therapy work?

Dr. Graham is an experienced sports injury specialist with advanced technology in-house to create individualized physical therapy plans for every patient. At Sporting Medicine, Dr. Graham has a motion lab that analyzes numerous athletic movements, from a runner’s gait to the way you cut and pivot. 

After a complete physical exam and medical history review, Dr. Graham may recommend a biomechanical evaluation. An advanced evaluation allows Dr. Graham to identify deficiencies in your gait, movement, or posture to create a physical therapy plan that improves your form and function. 

What does physical therapy include?

Physical therapy is an individualized treatment that may include one or more of the following:

Exercises and stretches

Dr. Graham uses targeted exercises and stretches to strengthen your muscles and improve your flexibility. 

Massage

Massage is a hands-on technique in which Dr. Graham manipulates your soft tissues to stimulate blood circulation and reduce inflammation.

Anti-inflammatory injections

Corticosteroid injections target the space around your joint to minimize inflammation. These injections also contain an anesthetic to numb pain, allowing you to complete physical therapy without discomfort.

Assistive devices

Assistive devices support your mobility while you recover. Crutches, walkers, and canes are some of the most common types of assistive devices that Dr. Graham may recommend.

Motion capture

Motion capture is an analysis tool that can record a runner’s gait, a cyclist’s pedal strokes, and other dynamic athletic movements. Dr. Graham uses his onsite motion lab to improve your athletic performance.

Neuromuscular retraining

Neuromuscular retraining enhances nerve and muscle communication pathways to establish control over underutilized muscles.

Why might I need physical therapy?

Physical therapy is an essential part of any recovery plan if you have:

• Chronic pain
• An unhealed sports injury
• Scar tissue after surgery
• Limited range of motion
• Joint instability
• Muscle weakness

Call Sporting Medicine today or schedule an appointment online to learn more about physical therapy.