Healing Hands: Orthopedic Physical Therapy in the Heart of Metairie, LA

Most of us spend a third of our life in bed, and another third of our life either sitting, laying down, or lounging. But when it’s time to move, it’s time to move—and our bodies need to be ready for it. 

After all, movement is life, and life is movement. 

But what happens when movement becomes difficult? 

What happens when those stairs you’ve been walking up and down your whole life suddenly become a challenge? Or when that routine morning jog through Bayou Metairie Park unexpectedly turns painful? 

First things first: take a deep breath. You can beat this. 

It might seem like your body is struggling to keep up, but that just means it needs a little helping hand—a tune-up, if you will. Luckily for you, that’s exactly what your local orthopedic physical therapist provides.

When to Call an Orthopedic Physical Therapist

Alright, so what in the world is an orthopedic physical therapist—and why might you need to call one?

For starters, an orthopedic physical therapist is someone who treats injuries and conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system, consisting of the bones, muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments, and soft tissues.

You can think of us as movement and mobility specialists. 

If you’re in pain, we’ll figure out why—and help you fix it. 

With that said, most of the patients we work with in the Metairie, LA community can be grouped into one of three categories: those with injuries, those recovering from surgery, and those with health conditions.

If you fall into one of those groups and it’s affecting your musculoskeletal system, then we can help. 

Rehabilitation After Injury

Injuries happen. We wish they didn’t, but they happen. 

One moment you’re playing football with your friends, and the next moment you’re staring at a broken arm. Or maybe you’re working on your vehicle when you injure your back getting up off the creeper. 

Either way, there are two primary types of injuries physical therapists treat: 

• Acute injuries, like the ones above, occur suddenly, usually due to a fall, collision, or sudden twist. Common examples include fractures, sprains, dislocations, and muscle strains. 

• Chronic injuries occur gradually over time due to repetitive stress or overuse of a muscle or joint. Common examples include carpal tunnel, shin splints, stress fractures, and tennis elbow. 

An orthopedic physical therapist can evaluate how you move to pinpoint the root cause of your injury. They also assist with managing symptoms such as pain and swelling and offer advice on avoiding future injury.

Rehabilitation After Surgery

There’s nothing easy about undergoing surgery, but it’s often necessary and could be your ticket to living a happy, healthy, and normal life. And while the recovery process is a grueling one, it’s also rewarding.

But don’t worry—that’s where we come in. 

Our job is to get you back to feeling your best.

Whether it’s a hip or knee replacement, ACL reconstruction, heart surgery, rotator cuff repair, or spinal surgery, your orthopedic physical therapist plays a vital role in the post-surgical rehabilitation process.  

The goal is to help you return to your normal activities and routines—free of pain, free of worry, and often stronger and more resilient than ever before. It’s not an easy process, but we’ll get through it together!

Conditions Affecting the Musculoskeletal System

It’s not always an injury or surgery that’s holding your body up. Sometimes it’s a condition that you’re either born with or develop over time, usually as a result of your lifestyle or the natural aging process. 

If not treated properly, they can and will cause pain, swelling, stiffness, and limited mobility. 

Examples of conditions that affect the musculoskeletal system include arthritis, bursitis, cancer, frozen shoulder, knee instability, joint pain, limited range of motion, lower back pain, scoliosis, and stroke. 

If you suffer from one of these conditions, then FunXional PT can help. 

Not only will we give you the tools needed to strengthen supporting muscles, improve flexibility, and promote better joint stability, but we’ll help you reduce pain and enhance quality of life in the process. 

What Types of Treatments Do PTs Utilize? 

Now you know when to call an orthopedic PT, but what happens when you walk through their door? 

Well, first comes the diagnosis, analysis, and evaluation to determine the severity and root cause of your ailment, which generally means assessing your posture, alignment, and body mechanics for irregularities.

Then comes the treatment plan, which often includes multiple, if not all, of the following: 

• Manual therapy is all about hands-on care. We’ll use techniques like soft tissue massages, joint mobilizations, dry needling, and trigger point release to reduce pain and improve mobility. 

• Exercise therapy is where the hard work begins, and the results follow. With exercises designed just for you, your PT helps strengthen weak muscles, improve flexibility, and restore function.

• Nutritional therapy helps you maintain those results, while also giving you the fuel to exercise, recover, and repeat. With the right diet, your body will look, function, and feel better than ever. 

Our custom treatment plans are designed to treat the individual, not just the injury. We not only want you to walk away pain-free, but we want you to feel like the best version of yourself, in every possible way.

FunXional PT: Your Ticket to Pain-Free Living in Metairie, LA

Have you recently suffered an acute or chronic injury? Are you about to undergo surgery, or currently recovering from surgery? Were you born with or have you developed a condition that causes pain? 

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of those questions, then we feel for you—and we’re prepared to help!

Welcome to FunXional PT—your friendly neighborhood orthopedic physical therapist in Metairie, LA. 

If you’re dealing with pain, stiffness, or an injury affecting your muscles, bones, or joints, it’s time to take that first step toward relief, and that relief starts here. With our help, you can learn to love life again. 

‍Don’t hesitate to contact us at 504-517-4594 to book your free consultation with one of our experts!