SPECIALIZED SERVICES

1. Aquatic Therapy: Use of the assistive (buoyancy) and resistive (drag) properties of water is ideal for rehabilitation of patients who are unable to perform exercises on dry-land due to pain. The Sports Rehabilitation Center incorporates aquatic therapy, including the use of underwater treadmills, as an adjunct to traditional rehabilitation.
2. Intramuscular manual therapy: Intramuscular manual therapy is a unique and efficient technique for the treatment of myofascial trigger points ("knots" in the muscle) that cause pain and muscular dysfunction. Intramuscular manual therapy is the most direct intervention used to treat and relieve trigger points, resulting in fewer visits and improved recovery time. While only a few physical therapy clinics in the state currently perform this procedure, The Sports Rehabilitation Center was the first to offer it in Georgia and has successfully used the technique for several years.
3. Kinesiotaping: Many people watching the Bejing Olympics were curious about the colorful tape that the athletes in various sports had on different body parts. Fairly new to the United States, Kinesiotape is a taping method that was developed over 25 years ago in Japan. This tape is very different than the traditional rigid, white tape that is commonly seen in sports designed to restrict joint movement and prevent injury (like taping an ankle). Kinesiotaping uses an elastic tape that stretches 130-140% of its original length. The Kinesiotaping Method involves taping over and around muscles in order to assist and give support to the muscles, enabling the individual to participate in their normal physical activity with functional assistance. This method also can be used to enhance lymphatic drainage (reduce swelling) and reduce pain during the acute stages of injury. Physical therapists at the Sports Rehabilitation Center are experts in this technique and use it with other therapies, including cryotherapy, hydrotherapy, manual therapy, and electrical stimulation to assist in the exercises while in physical therapy.
4. Neurodynamic assessment and treatment: Most people understand that muscles can become tight, resulting in loss of motion, flexibility, and increased pain. However, most people do not realize that the nerves running throughout the body can become tight and lose their mobility. These symptoms typically are felt as a burning pain in the neck, back or extremities. The best example of nerve tightness is the inability to flex the neck when trying to get into the car. Treatment of tight nerves is very different then treating tight muscles as overstretching nerve structures can lead to further injury and worsening symptoms. Physical therapists at The Sports Rehabilitation Center are skilled at providing a systematic assessment to determine the true cause of a problem and can design a specific treatment to reduce the symptoms.
5. Sport specific training: The Sports Rehabilitation Center will implement a clinic-based exercise program that emphasizes sport-specific functional techniques. This program is designed to return an individual to a prior level or higher level of activity, whether an elite or recreational athlete.