PhysioFit Physical Therapy and Wellness services the South Bay area in Los Altos, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Palo Alto, Campbell, Santa Clara and San Jose.

Physical Therapy at PhysioFit

Are you recovering from  an injury, dysfunction or surgery? Do you have pain that nobody can seem to fix or help you manage to the best of your ability? PhysioFit can help. We work with you to develop a plan of care approach and individualized exercise programs. You are taught how to achieve optimal body awareness, strength, flexibility, endurance and balance. We believe that the most important part of treatment is the acquisition of knowledge to maintain a lifetime of optimal health and function.

How can we help you with your rehab needs?

• We have longer treatment sessions to ensure your problems and concerns are addressed throughly.
• We are in network with most PPO and POS plans, increasing your convenience and reducing the cost of care.
• Our treatment sessions are with the same physical therapist which helps to prevent frustration with differences of opinion and approaches.
• We offer the convenience of downloading paperwork from our website.
• We have specialized programs in addition to general orthopedic rehabilitation. These programs including Pilates rehabilitations, pregnancy and other women's health issues, treatment for blocked milk ducts, vestibular rehabilitation, and lymphedema therapy.
• Our transitional/post-rehab programs guide you in the long- term management of chronic pain beyond physical therapy.
• Our wellness programs include Pilates, Gryrotonic® /Gyrokinesis®, Therapeutic Massage Therapy, TRX® Suspension Training®, Feldenkrais® Classes, Acupuncture, Personal Training, Independent Gym, Senior Fitness Program, CranioSacral Therapy, Golf Fitness Program, Nutritional Counseling, and PhysioFitness.

How Are We Unique?

• Your care is administered by an experienced, licensed physical therapist - we do not have physical therapy assistants
• 40 minutes of 1-on-1 treatment by your physical therapist (full treatment lasts 60 to 75 minutes)
• No double-booking
• Consistency of care with one physical therapist
• We have physical therapists certified in Pilates exercise and trained in Pilates principles to integrate into physical therapy
• State-of-the-art Pilates equipment
• Private Pilates, Pilates mat classes, and various other programs are offered to help patients build on what they learned during therapy

Specialties

Orthopedic Manual Therapy Post-Surgical Rehabilitation Vestibular and Balance Rehabilitation Lymphedema Therapy Women's Health Pelvic Floor Therapy Blocked Milk Duct Ultrasound Treatment TMJ Physical Therapy for Children Sports Rehabilitation The ATM2 Machine The Back2Life Machine

Orthopedic

Orthopedic physical therapy treats a variety of conditions that may result from overuse injuries, trauma, surgery, sports related injuries and accidents.

• Arthritis
• Bursitis
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Fractures
• Headaches
• Joint pain/dysfunction
• Muscle pain/dysfunction
• Osteoporosis
• Pain in regions of: neck, back, pelvis,
• leg, foot, arm, hand, shoulder elbow, wrist, hip, knee, ankle
• Post-surgical pain/dsyfunction
• Pregnancy and/or postpartum pain
• Repetitive stress injury
• Spinal pain/dysfunction
• Sports injury
• Sprain/strain
• Tendinitis
• TMJ pain/dysfunction
• Whiplash
• Work Injuries

Manual Therapy

Manual physical therapy involves a "hands on approach" to treating patients with orthopedic injuries, pain and/or dysfunctions.

• Joint mobilization
• Soft tissue manipulation
• Myofascial release
• Craniosacral therapy
• Neuromuscular re-education
• Neurodynamic mobilization
• Manual traction
• Muscle energy techniques
• Taping

Post-Surgical Rehabilitation

Post-surgical rehabilitation is focused on recovery after surgery, including pain management, increasing range of motion/flexibility, as well as strengthening and adaptation training as appropriate.

• Ankle/foot surgery
• Back surgery
• Hip surgery
• Knee surgery
• Neck surgery
• Shoulder surgery
• Joint replacement
• Post-masectomy

Vestibular and Balance Rehabilitation

Nearly half of the adult population reports symptoms of dizziness, vertigo, or imbalance. PhysioFit's unique therapy programs in Los Altos and Mountain View can help you reduce or eliminate these symptoms. In addition, we will teach you how to independently manage your condition for the long term. A multitude of effective treatment options are available including:

• General conditioning
• Functional training
• Ocular motor exercises
• Gaze stabilization
• Adaptation exercises
• Habituation exercises
• BPPV maneuvers
• Balance exercises

Lymphedema Therapy

If you are experiencing chronic swelling from accumulated lymph fluid, there are a variety of therapeutic options at PhysioFit. Surgery, peripheral vascular disorders, physical trauma, and idiopathic lymphedema can all cause excessive edema in the arm(s), leg(s), chest, or abdomen. Our physical therapists can guide you through a program of manual lymphatic drainage, compression, and exercise to remove excess lymph fluid from the affected area. We also educate you on self-care therapies and home exercises to ensure that you can independently manage your condition.

Women's Health

Women have unique health issues that can be addressed by physical therapists. Here at PhysioFit, we do just that. Depending on your needs, our therapist may use exercises, manual therapy, biofeedback, electrical stimulation or ultrasound therapy to treat the following conditions:

Pelvic Floor issues...

• Urinary/bowel-urgency/frequency
• Leakage with activity, coughing or sneezing
• Pain with intercourse, pelvic exams, or tampon use
• Use of pad to prevent soiling
• chronic vaginal itching or burning
• Irritable bowel symptoms

Pre- and Postpartum Issues...

• Pre- and/or Postpartum pain
• Diastasis recti (abdominal wall separation)
• Back and pelvic pain
• Postural concerns

Pelvic Floor Therapy

At PhysioFit, our specialized therapists offer a variety of unique and effective treatment options for Pelvis Floor Dysfunction. Each treatment plan is tailored to meet your individual needs and may include pelvic girdle stabilization, internal manual therapy, biofeedback, and/or exercise. These treatments can help you if you suffer from:

Common pelvic floor issues such as:

• Urinary urgency/frequency
• Bowel urgency/frequency
• Leakage with activity, coughing or sneezing
• Pain with intercourse, sexual dysfunction
• Irritable bowel symptoms including bloating and constipation
• Coccyx (tailbone) pain

Women-specific pelvic floor issues such as:

• Chronic vaginal itching or burning
• Pain with pregnancy and/or postpartum period
• Pain with pelvic exams

Men-specific pelvic floor issues such as:

• Post prostatectomy pain
• Testicular pain

Blocked Milk Duct Ultrasound Treatment

Blocked milk ducts can be a problem for many women during the baby's nursing stage. The hardened milk can cause pain and discomfort. There are two forms of ultrasound:

• Diagnostic ultrasound that your doctor uses to see your baby
• Treatment ultrasound that is used in physical therapy

Nursing mothers with blocked milk ducts can benefit from PhysioFit's safe and effective ultrasound and massage treatment. When traditional methods of hot compresses and massage do not work, the deep heat from ultrasound can aid in breaking up hardened milk within the milk duct. PhysioFit's physical therapists are specially trained to administer ultrasound and massage treatment for blocked milk ducts, as well as educate patients regarding continuous milk circulation and flow. When ultrasound and massage are promptly followed by nursing or pumping, most mothers experience relief after one treatment session. NOTE: These services are often covered by insurance. The number of visits may vary depending on the severity of symptoms.

TMJ -Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction/Syndrome

Do you suffer from jaw pain? Muscle inflammation and/or spasm, headaches, surgery, trauma, grinding, TMJ disc dislocation, arthritis, malocclusion, tumor and cervical (neck) symptoms, PhyisoFit therapists can develop treatment plans that are uniquely suited to reduce your jaw pain/dysfunction and address your underlying issue. Your customized TMJ therapy program may include:

• Education
• Manual therapy (massage, joint mobilization)
• Therapeutic exercise
• Modalities (electrical stimulation and ultrasound)

Physical Therapy for Children

Pediatric patients often require physical therapy to treat the common growth, development, and sports-related issues of childhood and adolescence. PhysioFit physical therapists are specially trained to address such pediatric conditions through targeted movement, exercises, and education. Here are just some of the pediatric-specific issues that can be treated at PhysioFit:

Patellofemoral Syndrome:

Caused by a discrepancy in muscle strength between the inner and outer muscles around the knee, this condition results in inappropriate patella tracking and pain around the kneecap. This issue is most common in pre-teen and teenage girls and is aggravated by activities that use the knee muscles (e.g. running, jumping, deep squats).

How can PhysioFit help?

Quadricep strengthening as well as stretching of the hip, hamstring, calf, and iliotibial band can help patients improve patella tracking. Our therapists guide patients through such strengthening, lengthening, and stretching exercises, as well as use manual techniques and taping (Mc Connell and Kinesiotape) to help reduce/eliminate the pain associated with this syndrome.

Osgood-Schlatter Disease:

This condition is one of the most common causes of knee pain in young athletes. It causes swelling, pain and tenderness just below the knee, over the tibia. Osgood-Schlatter disease likely results from pulling of the quadricep muscles during the pre-teen/teenage growth spurt.

How can PhysioFit help?

Through Pilates-based exercises, our therapists train patients on spring/resistance equipment to promote proper muscle strength and realign the patellar tendon.  Along with manual techniques and taping, these exercises not only reduce pain, but they also allow the patient to regain range of motion in their knee.

Shoulder Dislocation:

Typically caused by a fall, direct blow to the shoulder area, or forceful throwing/hitting, shoulder dislocation is a common issue among active pediatric patients and often results in severe pain and/or an inability to participate fully in contact sports.

How can PhysioFit help?

Our physical therapists guide patients through exercises to restore strength and range of motion of the shoulder, thereby limiting the chance of a second dislocation as well as improving the likelihood of continued involvement in sports.

Scoliosis:

Children with scoliosis have a lateral curvature of the thoracic and/or thoracolumbar portions of the spine. Most cases are mild, however, severe scoliosis may cause significant pain and be debilitating for an otherwise active young patient.

How can PhysioFit help?

At PhysioFit, we train young patients in stretches and exercises to improve their posture and maximize their range of motion. We also provide them with an education on ways to manage their symptoms and reduce back pain for the long term.

Ankle Sprain:

A rather common injury among the pediatric population, ankle sprains occur when a ligament of the foot/ankle is stretched beyond its normal limit. Forty percent of patients who experience this injury develop chronic ankle instability making them susceptible to repeat ankle sprains.

How can PhysioFit help?

Our therapists use manual techniques and teach patients strengthening and proprioceptive exercises to regain stability in the tendons and muscles of the ankle. Taping is used to reduce edema and pain, and increase stability. In addition, gait training may be provided to prevent or break unfavorable habits.  By providing a customized rehabilitation program, we help them resume their normal activities as soon as possible as well as prevent future injury.

Pitching Injuries:

Young pitchers may experience an injury or general discomfort due to overuse, poor throwing mechanics, or improper conditioning of the shoulder/arm muscles. As many as 50% of Little League pitchers report pain in their shoulder/arm sometime during the 3-month baseball season.

How can PhysioFit help?

We devise conditioning programs for young pitchers to address core strength, agility, and stamina so that they can continue their involvement in sports and reduce their risk of a chronic shoulder/arm condition.

Sports Rehabilitation

PhysioFit has extensive experience treating competitive athletes as well as those participating in recreational sports. Out skilled therapist combine manual therapy with strengthening/rehabilitating Pilates-based exercise to achieve a timely recovery. The ultimate goal is to help athletes return to their sport of interest with improved performance and a keen awareness of injury prevention. PhysioFit also offers a variety of post-rehabilitation programs that promote continued athletic strength and performance for the long term. Below are just some of the common sports-related injuries treated at PhysioFit:

Baseball

• Repetitive stress and overuse injuries leading to shoulder/elbow instability/pain

Swimming/Biking

• Shoulder, back and neck pain

Soccer/Baseball

• Knee injuries (ACL and cartilage tears)

Running

• Overuse and stress fractures in the hip/foot
• Knee/foot malalignment that leads to pain

Tennis/Golf/Volleyball

• Shoulder, elbow, knee and back injuries

Ice Skating/ Dance/Gymnastic

• Back, hip, knee, and ankle/foot injuries

The ATM2 Machine

The ATM2 was featured in the May 10, 2008 issue of Golf Week Magazine and is now available for use at PhysioFit Physical Therapy.  The ATM2 machine works to help patients increase range of motion, improve function, and reduce pain.  In many cases, it is able to not only to eliminate pain almost immediately, but can also teach the patient the correct form to minimize symptoms in the future.  The ATM2 allows physical therapists to simultaneously aid in the repositioning as well. Once symptoms are reduced or eliminated, the ATM2 helps to train the appropriate muscles to memorize the proper firing pattern to control pain and prevent relapses.

  Kim Gladfelter, owner of PhysioFit, has been very pleased with the ATM2 and recently had her testimony published on the official website of the ATM2:

At PhysioFit Physical Therapy, we use the ATM2 to treat people with back, hip, neck and shoulder pain. Because of this new addition to our clinic, we have experienced some incredible results.  We feel it has been very significant in helping our patients understand the relationship of exercise, stretching, and posture to their symptoms.  Patients and clients have realized how important it is to be proactive in managing their pain and improving performance in a sport or hobby.  By setting up a patient or client up on the ATM2, we have been able to help them focus on how it feels to engage the core muscles.  In turn, this has increased the effectiveness of our use of Pilates in rehabilitation and fitness training, which requires strengthening core muscles.   The ATM2 has been a tremendous help for our clinic. Each belt isequivalent to a physical therapist’s stabilization allowing your physical therapist to direct the active therapeutic movement more effectively. Using the ATM2 is like having several therapists working simultaneously! Not only have we been able to treat a variety of diagnoses in people with an orthopedic mechanical dysfunction, but it has also helped decrease pain and stiffness in joints, increase range of motion and stretch tight muscles. Patients have reported a significant decrease in chronic pain and difficulty with activities of daily living that were completely corrected/eliminated with the use of the ATM2. We are excited to have such wonderful results and look forward to helping others! Kim Gladfelter, MPT, OCS, FAAOMPT Owner, PhysioFit Physical Therapy Los Altos, CA

The Back2Life Machine

The Back2Life Machine is for chronic low back pain sufferers who desire to try something new to alleviate the pain. It uses a continuous passive motion to gently soothe any tight muscles in the back and release pressure built up in between vertebrae. Users lay on a flat surface and put their legs up on the comfortable unit, and the Back2Life machine does all the work for you -- slow, rhythmic movements. After using the machine, you may have an improvement in low back mobility, pain and pressure. Although Back2Life aims to relieve chronic low back pain, there are some people who should not use the machine. If you have one or more of these conditions, then you should not use the Back2Life:

• Pregnant
• Back surgery, including spinal fusion, in the last year
• Thigh surgery in the last six months
• Suffer from listhesis (spinal misalignment of grade II or above)
• Acute back/hip issues or severe pain
• Central pressure on the spinal cord with the following symptoms: poor balance,

urinary problems and numbness in both legs If you would like to try the Back2Life at PhysioFit, please consult a qualified physician beforehand, especially if you are suffering from low back pain with the evidence of underlying disease or abnormalities (i.e., malignancy), if your back pain is induced by a recognized, suspected or impending fracture, or if you suffer from any form of developing or new neurological deficit (drop foot, bladder dysfunction, etc.). The Back2Life machine can be used as an independent program. Each independent Back2Life program session is approximately 15-20 minutes long and costs $25, due at the time of service. If you would like more information, you may inquire at PhysioFit or check out Back2Life's official website.

If you have questions about any of these therapies, please feel free to contact us and speak with our office staff or a physical therapist.

PhysioFit Physical Therapy and Wellness services the South Bay area in Los Altos, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Palo Alto, Campbell, Santa Clara and San Jose.