Physical Therapy Services

Physical Therapy | Pilates > | Tai Chi >

At Danica, our doctors integrate highly skilled Manual (hands-on) Physical Therapy with Whole Body Movement principles from Polestar Pilates and Tai Chi Chuan. This unique approach ensures a smooth transition from treating the pain and improving mobility, strength, and balance, to shedding old and habitual postural and movement patterns, and learning how to move, exercise, and function with greater ease and efficiency.

You will receive a full hour, one-on-one session with a specialized doctor of physical therapy. No part of your 60 minute treatment session is provided by aides or physical therapy assistants, as we believe faster results are achieved when continuity is assured and your treatment and movement reeducation is adjusted to fit your needs at each session. At the completion of your course of treatment, you will be equipped with knowledge and individualized exercises to perform at home or at your gym, enabling you to maintain and further enhance your mobility and activities at your own pace. Most patients reach their initial goals in just 2 to 4 visits.

Our innovative approach to Physical Therapy at Danica is based on the belief that your body is able to maintain and heal itself given the proper treatment and guidance. Gaining knowledge of normal movement and function of the body, along with an understanding of the underlying causes of your pain and/or function impairments, are key elements in setting and achieving optimal and realistic goals for your healing and future activity level.

Our doctors specialize in the following areas:

Women’s Health & Pelvic Floor

  • Urinary Incontinence
  • Pregnancy & Postpartum
  • Urinary Urgency &/or Frequency
  • Pelvic Pain Syndromes such as Endometriosis, Pain with Intercourse, Vaginismus, Pudendal Neuralgia, etc
  • Sacroiliac Dysfunction/Pelvic Girdle Pain
  • Pelvic Organ Prolapse
  • Abdominal/Pelvic Post-Operative Rehab
  • Osteoporosis & Osteopenia (Low Bone Density)
  • Bowel Dysfunction
  • Fibromyalgia
      • And much more…

Orthopedics

  • Neck & Back Pain
  • Shoulder & Rotator Cuff Dysfunctions
  • Hip, Knee & Ankle Injuries
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Postural Dysfunctions & Scoliosis
  • Core Control & Functional Movement Education
  • Headaches & TMJ Dysfunction
      • And much more…

Post-Operative Rehabilitation 

  • Total Joint Replacements (ie: hip, knee, shoulder, etc)
  • Spine Surgery
  • ACL/Meniscal Repairs
  • Rotator Cuff Repairs
      • And much more…

Sports Injuries & Conditioning 

  • Overuse Injuries, Sprains, Strains & Tendonitis
  • Injury Prevention
  • Injuries associated with Dancing, Tennis, Golf, Running, Swimming, Riding, Cycling, etc
  • Pain & Injuries associated with Gardening, Working at a Computer, House Chores, etc
      • And much more…

Balance & Fall Prevention

 

Our doctors utilize a variety of techniques including:

Manual Therapy:

  • Myofacial Release (MFR)
  • Visceral Mobilization (VM)
  • Trigger Point Release (TPR)
  • Cranio-Sacral Therapy (CST)
  • Muscle Energy Technique (MET)
  • Multiple types of Joint and Soft Tissue Mobilization/Manipulation Techniques
  • Acupressure
  • Strain-Counter Strain Technique (SCS) (Positional Release Technique)
  • Nerve Tension Technique (NTT)
  • Nerve Glides
  • Cervical Manual Traction
      • And much more…

Neuromuscular Reeducation, Therapeutic Exercise & Activities:

Neuromuscular Reeducation, Therapeutic Exercise and Activities are based on most current research within the areas of biomechanics and movement science, and are used to help improve your posture, alignment, balance, coordination, breathing, movement patterns, and to develop an Individualized Exercise Program that you can perform at home.

Adjunct Modalities:

  • Dry Needling
  • Kinesio Taping 
  • Cold Laser
  • Ultrasound
  • Biofeedback
  • TENS
  • Electrical Stimulation
  • Iontophoresis
  • Cupping
  • Theragun
  • Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM)

Pilates

Pilates refers to an exercise system developed by Clara and Joseph Pilates in New York City during the 1930-60’s, aimed at aligning and strengthening the body, while focusing the mind.

Polestar Pilates

Polestar Pilates integrates Pilates Exercises with current scientific research in the areas of biomechanics, motor learning, mind body awareness, energy work, and communication.

Polestar was founded in 1992 by Brent Anderson, PhD, PT, OCS and Elizabeth Larkin, MA, Feldenkrais Practitioner. The Polestar Pilates curriculum is the most comprehensive Pilates rehabilitation and fitness curriculum and certification in the world today.

Students and clients are taught to perform and practice Pilates Exercises safely and effectively using the Principles of the Polestar Pilates Method which include: Breathing, Axial Elongation & Core Control, Spine Articulation, Organization of the Head, Neck and Shoulders, Weight Bearing and Alignment of the Extremities, and Movement Integration.

Pilates at Danica

Classes and Individual sessions at Danica are instructed by a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Polestar Pilates Rehab Practitioner who has completed the 450 hour Comprehensive Polestar Pilates Rehab Program and is a Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher.

Pilates Mat Classes at Danica are taught at various levels of challenge including a Restorative/Level I for students new to Pilates or who require beginning at a basic level and a more intermediate Level II. Please refer to individual class descriptions to be sure to find the class that best fits your needs.

Pilates Restorative/Level I Mat Class:

This class will teach you the fundamentals of Pilates Exercises. You will learn the basic framework on which all ongoing levels build. Class may include the use of props with mat exercises to exemplify and challenge the Pilates Principles.

Work deep into the body by focusing on the rich details of positioning and movement. With heightened mind-body

awareness, even familiar exercises can be renewed and improved upon to achieve results.

Pilates Level II Mat Class:

This class is intended for clients who feel they have an understanding of Pilates principles and feel in tune with their body. Intermediate level exercises are the focus while increased repetitions, combinations, and dynamic movement patterns create a more challenging environment. Form and alignment are key elements as you seamlessly flow from one movement to the next.

In this class, you will be asked to focus on your awareness, breath, alignment, and movements while executing the exercises.

Pilates Apparatus

We use Balanced Body® Pilates equipment including the Reformer, Trapeze Table/Cadillac, Ladder Barrel, Spine Corrector and Chair. Offered as one hour private, semi or small group circuit sessions, students will perform exercises in dynamic and continuous movement patterns to improve function and movement efficiency through enhanced alignment, elongation, posture, flexibility, strength, core control, balance and coordination.

Tai Chi Chaun

Tai Chi Chuan refers to a movement and exercise system developed in China over the past thousand years. It is known to benefit the whole body and is practiced to promote mental meditation, relaxation, and alertness as well as improve physical alignment, posture, flexibility, strength, coordination, balance, and fluidity and efficiency of movement.

Originally designed based on observations of movement and animal combat in nature, Tai Chi is a self-defense martial art system that focuses on centeredness, balance, and the movement of energy (Chi) to deflect the opponent, rather than direct confrontational force (as used in some other martial arts, i.e. Karate and Kung Fu).

At Danica, students will learn the Long Yang Style Tai Chi. This ‘form’ consists of a series of slowly performed movements and postures which, combined with breathing and mindfulness, have been found to improve physical and mental health.

There are many forms of Tai Chi and Qi Gong and, while primarily taught and practiced in slow forms, advanced students can receive instruction in other forms such as fast set, push-hands, and weapon forms.

The three primary and interconnected aspects of Tai Chi and Qi Gong are: Health, Meditation, and Martial Arts. A student may feel attracted to one or more aspects, and will learn and benefit from the others as well.

Tai Chi Balance & Therapeutic Movement Class at Danica:

This class is taught once a week and emphasizes Balance, Posture, and Fall Prevention.

Exercises taught in this class will be relatively simple and easy to follow. Rather than focus on learning and remembering a sequence of movements, participants will repeat selected movements from the form and thus be able to focus on elements such as posture, foot and leg alignment, breathing, and movement of the whole body with the purpose of improving and empowering the sense of mobility and balance.

In addition to Tai Chi exercises, participants will also receive instruction in posture and fall prevention measures as well as perform exercises using props cusch as balls and exercise bands for postural strength and flexibility.

There are no prerequisites for participation in this class. Attire should be comfortable, loose clothing and footwear with light traction.