Outpatient Rehabilitation Services

Physically debilitating injuries can be difficult on the victims, but with appropriate rehabilitation they can feel more in control of the situation and possibly work towards a complete recovery. Butler Health System has several well-resourced rehabilitation centers where our diversely experienced medical team works with individuals to help them recover from an injury, illness, or surgery, or lessen the effects of other conditions.

There are many reasons for outpatient rehabilitation services, including:

• Orthopedic-related surgery, including joint replacement
• Arthritis
• Conditions causing balance problems
• Head injury or stroke
• Neck and back pain
• Periods of dizziness or lightheadedness
• Neurologic disorders
• Multiple trauma conditions
• Speech or swallowing problems
• Work or automobile accident injuries

BHS offers a full range of therapy modalities, including:

• Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome & Tennis Elbow - Physical therapy is one of the most effective treatments for arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and similar conditions. Exercises are designed to improve the body’s movement without experiencing pain. Depending on the severity of your condition, exercises may be very low impact to help you gradually work into great flexibility without too much discomfort. Patients also learn about using canes, wrist braces, hot and cold therapy, and proper posture.

• Balance Therapy - Intense surgeries, inner ear injuries, and aging can all make it difficult for a person to maintain balance. Balance therapy is designed to help patient’s maintain balance through exercises and mental techniques. This is an important form of therapy, as long your balance could result in a fall and cause serious damage. BHS therapists carefully evaluate a patient’s condition and create a customized plan to help them overcome their balance issues. The goal of this therapy is to improve a patient’s physical and functional ability, increase flexibility, and teach techniques to overcome a disability.

• Hip Fractures - A hip fracture greatly limits your ability to move without pain. Thankfully, physical therapists are trained to overcome this limitation. With slow, low impact exercises designed by a professional, you can strengthen your hip. You may be instructed on how to properly use a cane or walker to avoid straining the hip. Be sure to follow the therapist’s directions very carefully. Letting the condition worsen could result in the need for a hip replacement.

• Lower Back Pain - Suffering pain in the lower back can be extremely debilitating. It severely limits your flexibility and could impact your ability to walk. There are a number of stretches and exercises specifically designed to overcome this condition. A physical therapist can monitor your progress and help you perform the exercises properly.

• Neck Pain - It is best to have a neck condition treated by a professional physical therapist or chiropractor. They can perform a full assessment of the neck’s condition and recommend appropriate treatment. Neck pain remedies include deep tissue massage, neck strengthening exercises, and learning good posture for sitting and lying down. Make sure you see a doctor about the condition, as it may be the result of a vascular problem, which impacts what kind of exercises you can and cannot do.

• Sport Injuries - It is crucial for athletes to receive proper treatment after a sports injury. As tempting as it may be to run back on the field as soon as you start feeling a little better, doing so with an injury that has not totally healed can further complicate the problem. With a sports-centered physical therapy program, you and your trainer will work with the specific goal of returning to prime playing condition. This means a customized plan will be developed to overcome your injury and get back in the game.

• Stroke, Parkinson’s Disease & Other Neurological Conditions - A special form of physical therapy, called neurological therapy, is used to address the physical and behavioral problems accompanying strokes, Parkinson’s disease, and other neurological conditions. After assessing a patient’s conditions, therapists will create a treatment designed to overcome limited mobility. This form of therapy may involve improving a patient’s social skills to help them better interact with the people around them.

• Surgery Recovery - Surgery can take a toll on your body. It is not uncommon to experience pain or decreased flexibility after a major operation. Working with a physical therapist to monitor your exercises is important. You do not want to do anything too vigorous that will reopen or exacerbate a wound. A therapist will keep track of the amount of pain or discomfort you experience, and prescribe appropriate treatments to manage these problems.

• Total Joint Replacement Program - Your recovery from joint replacement surgery should start before the operation even takes place. Pre-operative physical therapy allows you to do that. Research shows that attending pre-operative physical therapy can help to reduce the amount of post-surgical care and lead to faster and more efficient recoveries.

  Benefits of the Total Joint Replacement Program:
  • Meet your physical therapy team and learn important home exercises to get a head-start on your recovery
  • Assess and identify balance impairments and improve balance prior to surgery to enhance safety
  • Plan your post-operative goals with your physical therapy team
  • Work hands-on with physical therapists and physical therapy assistants, at each session, to regain motion and strength, and improve transfers, gait, and overall function
  • We also offer aquatic physical therapy for patients after all areas have healed following surgery