To Schedule An Appointment
Call (386) 756-0077
Fax (386) 756-6811
Physical Therapy
Physical Therapists specialize in the prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal dysfunction for people of all ages. The therapist is responsible for giving a thorough evaluation followed by a customized treatment program designed specifically for each patient in order to achieve individual goals.
Physical Therapists seek to restore strength, mobility, balance, endurance and function following injury, surgery, illness or disease. All of UR's programs emphasize alleviating current dysfunction, pain or deficits. UR's ultimate goal is providing patient and care givers with information regarding their disease/injury process and preventing future problems. UR physical therapists are equipped with the knowledge and skills in the most current techniques and methodologies.
University Rehabilitation has been providing Physical Therapy services for the past 20 years, and our services include:
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Vestibular Rehabilitation
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Balance and Gait Training
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Vertigo and Dizziness
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Orthopedic Injuries
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Post Surgical Rehabilitation
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Neck and Back Pain
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LSVT BIG for Parkinson's
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Pelvic Health, Pelvic Pain and Incontinence
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Lymphedema Treatment
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Neurological Rehabilitation for Stroke, MS
Specializations
Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy
Many patients who suffer from dizziness and/or imbalance receive tremendous
benefit from a special type of physical therapy known as vestibular
rehabilitation. Specific medical disorders that may benefit from vestibular
rehabilitation include:
Unilateral Vestibular Loss
Vestibular Neuritis or Labyrinthitis
Acoustic Neuroma
Inactive Meniere's Syndrome
Bilateral Vestibular Loss
Migraine-associated Dizziness
Cervicogenic Dizziness
Multifactorial Dizziness
BPPV not responding to the usual Canalith Repositioning Maneuvers
Presbyastasis (dizziness associated with aging)
Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT) has evolved significantly over the
past two decades and much evidence-based knowledge as to what specific
exercises are best for the various different types of vestibular disorders
is now available. For example, the types of vestibular exercises that might
benefit a patient with a unilateral (one inner ear nerve affected)
vestibular loss are quite different than the types of vestibular exercises
that might benefit a patient with bilateral (both inner ear nerves affected)
vestibular loss.
James Corwin has extensive experience in treating patients with vestibular
system disorders as she evaluates and treats patients with dizziness,
vertigo and imbalance on a daily basis, and has been doing so for many
years. Educators have named him "The expert in Volusia County"
Why is Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy needed?
If the brain cannot rely on the information it receives from the
vestibular system, a person's ability to maintain posture and coordinate
balance can become overly dependent on vision or on the information received
from the muscles and joints (proprioception).
This can lead to developing new patterns of movement to compensate for the
change and to avoid head movements that are apt to create symptoms of
dizziness and nausea.
Unfortunately, these types of adaptation can result in headache, neckache,
muscle stiffness, general fatigue, and a decrease in the ability to retrain
the brain to adjust to the vestibular problem, hence making the symptoms
much worse.
Goal of Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy
The goal of VRT is to retrain the brain to recognize and process
signals from the vestibular system in coordination with information from
vision and proprioception. This often involves desensitizing the balance
system to movements that provoke symptoms. Please note that in order to
receive maximum benefit from vestibular therapy, certain medications, such
as meclizine (Antivert), diazepam (Valium) and promethazine (Phenergan),
must be discontinued, as these types of vestibular system suppressant
medications will prevent the brain from adjusting/adapting appropriately to
the vestibular rehabilitation exercises.
What happens during vestibular therapy?
A qualified therapist will first perform a thorough evaluation
and develop an individualized treatment plan that will include exercises to be performed both in the therapy department and at home that combine specific head and body movements with eye exercises. Treatment may also include increasing activities and exercise in order to strengthen muscles and increase tolerance for certain stimuli.
How does therapy help?
In most cases, balance improves if the exercises are correctly
and faithfully performed. Muscle tension, headaches, and fatigue will
diminish, and symptoms of dizziness, vertigo, and nausea will decrease or
disappear. Many times, vestibular therapy is so successful that no other
treatment is required
Fall Prevention Program
University Rehabilitation is now offering a Fall Prevention Program to improve balance and gait and assist patients in confidently avoiding falls. There has been increased focus on assessing each patient's risk for injury, as well as his/her risk for falling. There are certain populations that, if they fell, would be at much greater risk for serious injury.
The common categories that are found to be at greater risk of a fall are age (often 65 years old and older), major surgery, loss of limbs, seizures, fractures, foot pain or poor footwear, decreased vision, mental status, previous history of falls, ambulation and elimination status, other diseases such as hypertension, vertigo, CVA, Parkinson’s, arthritis, and osteoporosis.
Each year, millions of older people—those 65 and older—fall. In fact, one out of three older people fall each year, but less than half tell their doctor. Falling once doubles your chances of falling again.
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One out of five falls causes a serious injury such as broken bones or a head injury.
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Each year, 2.5 million older people are treated in emergency departments for fall injuries.
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Over 700,000 patients a year are hospitalized because of a fall injury, most often because of a head injury or hip fracture.
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Adjusted for inflation, the direct medical costs for fall injuries are $34 billion annually. Hospital costs account for two-thirds of the total. Physical Therapy is a very affordable way to prevent falls.
Exercise has been shown to reduce the rate of falling. Decreased muscle strength, impaired mobility and gait are some common risk factors that help predict falls. These risk factors can be modified by an exercise program prescribed by a physical therapist. University Rehabilitation Fall Prevention Program will assist with behavioral management, to develop a plan to maximize orientation, awareness and function, and to determine whether gait aids are needed and used appropriately and correctly.
University Rehabilitation Fall Prevention Program is a personalized program consisting of up to 12 visits, (3 times per week for 4 weeks) to give you the tools to avoid falls. Injuries resulting from falls are expensive and could severely impact your quality of life. Let us teach you the skills to avoid falls so you may live your best life with confidence!
Speech Therapy
A speech-language pathologist is a licensed professional educated in the study of human communication, its development, its disorders, and swallowing problems.
When communication processes are damaged by disorders of speech, language or hearing, the effects my be frustrating and may lead to withdrawal and isolation. Participation on any social or economic level may become difficult or impossible either because of the disorder or the emotional consequences. Our communication systems plays a vital role in all aspects of everyday life - in our jobs , our families, and our recreation, without it we become dependent on others.