Physical Therapy Can Help You Walk Again
Therapy Can Help You Walk Again
Have you sustained an injury to your leg(s) that has affected your ability to walk? Are you afraid of falling and prefer the safety of your wheelchair to get around? At Kaizen Physical Therapy, our physical therapists can make sure your wheelchair fits you properly and work with you to improve your balance and gait so you can leave the chair behind!
Many of us take our ability to walk for granted, assuming that we’ll always be able to do it without pain or limitations, but those that struggle with walking know firsthand how limited life can be when you can’t walk.
Impairments in walking can take a considerable toll on a person’s physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing, especially for those forced to begin relying on a wheelchair to get around. The good news is that there are options available to you if you are currently a wheelchair user and trying to regain your ability to walk.
Physical therapy at Kaizen Physical Therapy offers many solutions for our patients in need, and our treatment plans can also help prevent you from needing to rely on a wheelchair.
Call our clinic today to schedule an appointment.
Physical therapy can prevent the need for a wheelchair
Wheelchair users make up about 1% of the population, and the vast majority have some form of neurological disorder (i.e., spinal cord injury, brain trauma, stroke, etc.) It is rare for someone to need a wheelchair permanently for an orthopedic condition, but with an aging population, the use of wheelchairs has become more common.
One of the main specialties of physical therapy at Kaizen Physical Therapy is helping people to walk normally. We work with you to improve your mobility and strength to be active and less likely to need to use a wheelchair.
Physical therapy takes a thorough evaluation of your range of motion, strength, walking patterns, balance, and coordination. By discovering in what area you have difficulties, your therapist can prescribe appropriate exercises to help your muscles get stronger and, therefore, better support you.
From there, we implement an extensive treatment plan to address any limitations you may have with your range of motion, coordination, balance, and gait. Often the progress from wheelchairs starts by using assistive devices like walkers and/or canes. In many cases, the result of treatment is walking without the need for an assistive device or wheelchair!
What to Expect in Physical Therapy
The goal of physical therapy is to improve the function of your legs to allow you to walk independently. Suppose you’re already using a wheelchair due to a degenerative condition, recent surgery, or some type of injury that has rendered you unable to walk. In that case, a physical therapist can help in various ways.
Our physical therapists are movement experts and highly skilled at helping our patients walk again. After performing a comprehensive evaluation of your joint range of motion and muscle strength, we can safely evaluate your ability to stand independently. Providing you have the components necessary to walk, we will progress you through a series of exercises to restore your function.
Safety is a prime concern because impairments affecting your ability to walk also make you a high risk for falling. We use assistive devices, including gait belts and other equipment, to help you learn the process of walking again.
As you gain strength and endurance in your treatment, your therapist will begin to work with you on your gait and balance with gait training activities and exercises. This is how they will train your legs to walk independently again.
With persistence, you will learn how to walk again and progress your tolerance so you can stay out of the wheelchair and resume an active lifestyle!
Dry Needling at Kaizen Physical Therapy
What Is Dry Needling?
Dry needling is a physical therapy technique that targets trigger points (tight knots in your
muscles and connective tissue) to release tension and restore movement.
During a dry needling session, our specialist inserts a thin, sterile needle directly into the muscle
to encourage relaxation, improve blood flow, and reduce pain.
While dry needling may sound similar to acupuncture, its underlying philosophy is different.
Acupuncture is based on traditional Chinese medicine and focuses on balancing energy
pathways, while dry needling focuses on treating muscular pain and dysfunction.
Who Can Benefit from Dry Needling?
Dry needling is beneficial for a wide range of people, especially those dealing with:
- Chronic neck, shoulder, or back pain
- Headaches or migraines caused by muscle tension
- Sports injuries and overuse strains
- Muscle tightness limiting mobility or performance
- Post-surgical or post-injury rehabilitation needs
What to Expect During Dry Needling at Kaizen Physical Therapy
Dry needling is a quick, straightforward procedure. Your PT will start by identifying any trigger
points or muscle restrictions that need release. They’ll then clean the area and carefully insert
the needle into place.
This process generally isn’t painful, although you may feel a quick “twitch” response in the
muscle, a sign that the therapy is working. We typically leave the needles inserted for a few
minutes per session. Most patients will benefit from multiple sessions, although we determine
the exact number based on your specific needs.
Helping Patients Take the Next Step Toward Relief
At Kaizen Physical Therapy, our mission is simple: helping you reach your highest physical potential. Dry
needling is one of the many advanced treatments we offer that support your musculoskeletal
health.
Don’t let pain or tightness keep you from doing the things you love. Contact our Seattle, WA
clinic today to schedule your first appointment and learn how dry needling might benefit you!
Meet Our Certified Physical Therapists
Daniel Yang
Physical Therapist, DPT
Kylee Sutton
PT, DPT
Rodrigo Alaura
Physical Therapist, DPT
Relieve Pain and Restore Movement with Dry Needling
Muscle tension, chronic pain, and nagging injuries can hold you back from living the active life
you want. At Kaizen Physical Therapy, we offer cash-based dry needling services at our Seattle, WA clinic
as part of our comprehensive approach to physical therapy. This safe, effective treatment
technique can help you feel better, move more freely, and achieve your recovery goals.
20 Minute Caribbean Shrimp Tacos
Escape to the tropics with these vibrant and flavor-packed Caribbean Shrimp Tacos! Ready in just 20 minutes, this recipe features perfectly spiced, tender roasted shrimp paired with a sweet and fiery homemade jalapeño pineapple salsa verde. It’s an effortless, crowd-pleasing meal that brings a taste of island sunshine straight to your dinner table.
Ingredients
For the Shrimp Tacos
- 1 1/2 pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons chipotle chili powder
- 1 teaspoon all-spice
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- kosher salt and pepper
- corn or flour tortillas
- sliced avocado, lettuce, or cabbage, for serving
For the roasted jalapeño pineapple salsa verde
- 4 tomatillos, husked and halved
- 1 jalapeño
- 2 cloves garlic, skin on
- juice of 1 lime
- juice from half an orange
- 1/4 cup cilantro, roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup diced pineapple
- 1/4 cup diced mango
Instructions
Step 1: Prep the oven. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Step 2: Roast the shrimp and salsa base. On a baking sheet, toss together the shrimp, olive oil, chili powder, all-spice, ginger, thyme, cinnamon, and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Arrange in a single layer on one side of the pan. To the other half of the pan, add the tomatillos, jalapeño, and garlic. Transfer to the oven and roast 10-12 minutes or until the shrimp is cooked and the tomatillos lightly charred.
Step 3: Blend the salsa. Set the shrimp aside. De-seed the jalapeño, if desired. Squeeze the garlic cloves out of their skin. To a blender, add the roasted tomatillos, jalapeño, garlic, lime juice, orange juice, and cilantro. Blend until smooth. Stir in the pineapple, mango, and a pinch of salt.
Step 4: Assemble and serve. Stuff the shrimp into the warmed taco shells, and top with the roasted jalapeño pineapple salsa verde, avocado, and lettuce. Enjoy!
Exercise of the Month
LUNGES
(Legs, Glutes, Core)
Stand tall with your feet hip-width apart. Step one foot backward and lower your back knee toward the floor, keeping your front knee aligned over your ankle. Push through your front heel to return to the starting position. Alternate legs with each rep. 3 Sets, 10 Reps (each leg). (Materials needed: none)
Are You Ready to Walk Safely and Comfortably Again?
At Kaizen Physical Therapy, our therapists will do everything they can to help retrain your legs to walk again so that you can avoid having to use a wheelchair.
Call today to learn more about how our skilled team of movement specialists can help you safely walk again.