Crescent City Physical Therapy (CCPT) offers the most up-to-date treatment procedures and protocols to their patients. The newest of these programs is call the ASTYM™ system.

The ASTYM™ system is a manual therapy approach which provides patients relief from pain and dysfunction from a number of injuries and disorders. This treatment is effective for new injuries as well as persistent, nagging injuries/problems. One of the most exciting aspects of the treatment is that significant improvement often occurs even in cases where other treatments have failed. The success of the System is documented for a wide variety of diagnoses.

The ASTYM™ system is well established clinically and through research. It has been used by rehabilitation professionals in clinical settings since 1996, and results of the treatment have been consistently tracked since that time. The data from this tracking confirms the remarkable results of this treatment.  

ASTYM™ is provided by certified physical and occupational therapists who have undergone intensive training in this therapy approach. This training, combined with the clinician’s other education and healthcare expertise, provides the ideal opportunity for the patient to achieve maximum benefit from the System. CCPT has been providing this treatment to patients since 2000 and now has therapists in all facilities who are certified and experienced.

The ASTYM™ system focuses on repairing the normal soft tissues of the body (muscles, tendons, ligaments, etc.) and correcting abnormal soft tissue (scar tissue and other inappropriate fibrosis) which may interfere with movement and cause pain. Many people develop abnormal soft tissue from injuries, surgery, and repeated or “overuse” activities (which often occur in factory work, clerical jobs and sports).

Patients who are experiencing pain, loss of motion and/or loss of function following surgery, injury, cumulative trauma disorders and chronic irritation/tendonitis often benefit from the ASTYM™ System. Some of the clinical diagnoses which have responded well to this treatment are:

• Post-injury scar tissue • Post-surgical scar tissue • Trigger finger • Carpal tunnel syndrome • Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) • Medial epicondylitis (golfer's elbow) • DeQuervain's tenosynovitis • Wrist sprains • Shoulder pain • Plantar fasciitis and heel pain • Chronic ankle sprains

• Achilles tendinitis • Shin splints • Anterior knee pain • Patellar tendinitis • Hamstring strains • IT band syndrome • Hip pain/trochanteric bursitis • SI and low back pain • Most forms of chronic tendinopathies • Post-operative scar tissue • Soft issue changes associated with degenerative arthritis

Balance and Falls

Click Here to download our Balance/Fall Program flyer.

Anyone who has ever slipped and fallen knows how unnerving it can be to lose your balance. For a moment, your world is literally turned upside down. Yet balance is such an integral, ever-present part of daily life that most people rarely give it conscious thought. There are conditions, however, that may impair your sense of balance and contribute to falls. The effects of aging are the most common causes of balance problems; injury and disease can also trigger problems. Because falling is such a common and potentially serious problem, it is important to find out what you can do to decrease your risk and to improve your general health and mobility. 1 in 4 people over the age of 65 (who live at home) will fall during the next year.

Physical therapy can help. The physical therapist will review the patient's medical history and determine the patient's general physical condition, as well as conduct tests specifically designed to measure balance. If the patient has fallen before, the physical therapist will ask about the cause of the fall, and near-falls. This information is necessary so that the therapist can design a program of exercises and activities specifically for each patient with an emphasis on strength, flexibility, and proper gait (style of walking). All exercises are planned for maximum safety and security. The therapist will also perform specific interventions to increase range of motion and musculoskeletal flexibility.

If necessary, the physical therapist may prescribe assistive devices for walking such as canes, crutches or walkers. Appropriate footwear is another major consideration. Wearing a good pair of walking shoes, with orthotics if necessary, will help support the foot and provide cushioning for joints and will make walking safer and more comfortable.

The good news is that balance is a skill that most often can be improved by working with a physical therapist for exceptional results in many cases. Even if some of your innate sense of balance has been diminished over time, physical therapists are expert at retraining the body to make the most of its capabilities.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis literally means "porous bones" – bones that were once strong have become fragile.This insidious disease is sometimes called "the silent thief" because there are no symptoms. Yet it works little by little over a period of decades to rob bones of calcium. Older women are the main victims of osteoporosis, as they suffer nearly 1.5 million fractures of the hips, forearms, and vertebrae each year. Because bones become thin and brittle, recovering from these fractures can be a long and complex process, with possible life-threatening complications. Osteoporosis and low bone mass affects an estimated 28 million women and men age 50 and over. Eighty percent of the osteoporosis cases are women, yet a significant number of men also suffer from the disease.The good news is that osteoporosis can often be prevented by beginning weight-bearing exercise, such as walking, running, gardening, or aerobics, and eat a calcium-rich diet from an early age. And if you already have osteoporosis – or you are at high risk for developing it – physical therapy can help make the difference in keeping you active and mobile.

The goal of physical therapy in treating osteoporosis is to restore mobility, function, strength and confidence and to enhance the safety and security of everyday life. In consultation with the referring physician, the CCPT physical therapist can help reduce pain, prevent fractures, promote healing if a fracture is present, and help strengthen your bones through a specially designed exercise program. The therapist will evaluate posture and suggest standing, sitting and lying positions along with therapeutic exercise to promote both function and comfort along with strategies to avoid undue stress and strain during activities of daily living. Individuals with osteoporosis may also benefit by participation in our Wellness Programs. Pilates exercise has proven to be a safe and excellent exercise choice because of its emphasis on core strengthening and low impact while emphasizing extremity range of motion and strength that may be assisted through the use of Pilates equipment or resisted by gravity.  Wellness participation does not require physician referral and is not reimbursed by insurance.  However, individuals with certain medical problems may be asked to obtain their physician's release prior to participation.

Foot Orthotics

Foot orthotic evaluation, fabrication and fitting are provided by Virginia “Gini” Davis, PT, MA, at the Uptown Clinic location.

Gini has developed a specialization in the treatment of foot and ankle problems and has been fabricating orthotics for more than 25 years for patients with a variety of biomechanical and activity related problems. Gini has helped many young in age and young at heart maintain and/or return to an active lifestyle.

Call the Uptown Clinic location for additional information:  (504) 895-0638.