Depending on your insurance plan, you may be able to self-refer for physical therapy without a doctor’s referral. Click here to learn more.
Physical Therapists in Knoxville TN at Covenant Health Therapy Centers specialize in orthopedic and sports medicine rehabilitation. Our patients receive comprehensive hands-on treatment that helps them return to their previous level of function and prevents future injuries.
Orthopedics
Orthopedics (or-tho-PEE-diks) is health care that focuses on injuries and diseases of your body’s musculoskeletal system — the complex system of bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles and nerves that allow you to move, work and play. Your primary care doctor might refer you to an orthopedic surgeon for evaluation and treatment if you have pain, swelling or difficulty moving or performing daily tasks.
An orthopedic specialist, also known as an orthopedist, might offer nonsurgical treatments to relieve your symptoms. These include braces, splints and casts. They might give you joint injections with cortisone or other steroid medication, and they might recommend nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen. If these nonsurgical options don’t help, they might suggest surgery. A variety of surgical methods exist, including arthroscopy, joint fusion and internal fixation.
Sports Medicine
Sports medicine focuses on preventing injury in athletes and helping them recover from injuries. This field of physical therapy can help people with both acute and chronic injuries, such as an ankle sprain or torn rotator cuff. It can also help patients maintain their fitness levels while managing an injury.
Many sports medicine specialists work with professional athletes, helping them improve their performance through strategic conditioning and treatment. However, they can also help non-athletes with their injuries. They can also help individuals in physically demanding jobs and support the growth and development of children and teenagers.
Most people who study sports medicine spend more than a decade completing a formal education program. This includes obtaining an undergraduate degree in exercise science, kinesiology or sports medicine.
Hand Therapy
Hand therapy is a specialized area of physical and occupational therapy that addresses injuries and conditions of the shoulder, elbow, forearm, wrist and hand. Whether your condition is surgical or non-surgical, our therapists are trained to provide thorough care and will help you return to the activities of daily living.
Hand therapists are trained in wound healing modalities, infection prevention and scar care as well as custom splinting. They are also experienced with the use of a variety of manual techniques including soft tissue mobilization, isotonic exercises, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) and isokinetics.
A Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) is a nationally registered occupational or physical therapist who, through advanced continuing education and clinical experience, has become proficient in treatment of pathological upper extremity conditions resulting from injury, disease or congenital deformity.
Splinting
Splinting keeps an injured body part stable while waiting for orthopedic surgery. It also reduces the risk of further injury by protecting soft tissues and alleviating pain. Splints may be rigid, immobilizing the injured area, or flexible, allowing controlled motion.
When splinting an arm or leg, first treat any open wounds and control bleeding. Place a piece of cardboard, paper, or a rolled-out newspaper between the injured bone and its neighbor. Rigid splints are ideal for fractured bones and other injuries requiring stabilization while awaiting treatment.
Fashioning a splint involves patient-specific anatomy and restoration of anatomic resting joint position to minimize adverse outcomes such as malreduction, skin breakdown, and neurovascular compromise. This requires specialized skill and experience. Educating patients regarding splint care and return precautions is an essential component of splinting management.
Custom Orthotics
Orthotics are shoe inserts that may be prescribed by your physical therapist to help relieve pain or discomfort caused by abnormal function of the foot. They are designed to align the foot and ankle in an anatomically efficient position reducing stress on the foot, knees, and lower back.
Functional Orthotics are made of a semi-rigid material like plastic or graphite and work to reduce discomfort by controlling foot motion. They may be used to treat conditions such as shin splints.
Over the counter or prefabricated insoles can also be purchased online or at the pharmacy or different sports stores. However, they do not provide proper support and can do more harm than good if not properly used. Check with your insurance provider to see if custom orthotics are covered. You can also use your HSA or flexible spending account to pay for them.
