The Ruidoso

New patients begin therapy with a full physical evaluation. Your therapist listens to you describe your problem, whether it's low back pain or a recent knee replacement. Then she evaluates your strength, range of motion, and other factors. Together, you and your therapist set goals for your recovery and develop a therapy plan just for you.

Recovering from surgery or injury can be hard work, but your therapist is always there to see you through. Our goal is to minimize your pain while re-training your body to move as it should. We send your referring physician regular updates so he/she knows the progress you're making.

Fascia is a tough connective tissue that spreads throughout the body in a three-dimensional web. This connective web can be damaged or stiffened up by trauma, posture or inflammation, causing excessive pressure on nerves, muscles, blood vessels, bones and/or organs. At The Ruidoso Physical Therapy Clinic, we believe many people suffering from pain and/or lack of motion may be having fascial problems, but most go undiagnosed. We use the John F. Barnes' Myofascial Release Approach, which gently applies pressure to fascia, releasing the "straight-jacket" of a restricted myofascial system. The results are long lasting and, in some cases, truly amazing. Click here to learn more about Myofasical Release at John Barne's web site.

The TurboSonic is a Vertical Whole Body Vibration Therapy machine that uses sound waves to stimulate human cells the way exercise does. The TurboSonic accelerates the body's natural healing response, increases cellular oxygen uptake, enhances cellular nutrient uptake, stimulates cellular fluid movement and facilitates cellular waste removal. As a result, the new cells are more resilient, more vibrant, and function together as a healthier, longer lasting body.

Click here to learn more about TurboSonic.

Iontophoresis is commonly used by physical therapists in the application of anti-inflammatory medications. In liquid form, the pain medication is carried through the skin by a painless electrical current and delivered right where it hurts without the use of needles or taking pills that have to go through your entire bloodstream just to get a little bit of the medicine at the site that's injured.

Electrical Stimulation uses  small electrical impulses to stimulate nerves and muscle fibers. This action relieves pain by actually blocking pain signals and releasing endorphins in the brain, which act as pain relieving substances. The Ruidoso Physical Therapy Clinic uses electrical stimulation therapy for neck and back pain, arthritis, sciatica, headaches, muscular strains, TMJ disorder, inflammation, and other conditions.

Ultrasound sends high or low frequency sound waves into deep tissue, causing a warming effect. This promotes tissue relaxation and therefore is useful in treating muscle tightness and spasms. The warming effect of the sound waves also cause vessel vasodilatation and increase circulation to the area that assists in healing.

HIVAMAT our latest new technology to help our patients recover faster. Developed in Germany, it is a unique treatment that creates biologically effective oscillations that have a pleasant, gentle and deep-acting effect on all tissue components(skin,connective tissue,subcutaneous fat,muscles,blood and lymph vessels). Thanks to its non-invasive, non-traumatic and highly effective approach the HIVAMAT has the following positive effects on the treated tissue:muscles are relaxed, alleviation of pain, scar tissue is broken up, the lymphatic system is activated and mobility is improved. We have the only one of two in the entire state of New Mexico.

Lymphedema is painful swelling in the arms or legs due to the impaired drainage of the body’s lymph fluid. It is often caused by damage to the lymph nodes by surgery, such as a mastectomy or other amputation. Lymphedema can become disfiguring, debilitating and even cancerous if left untreated or treated improperly. In treating lymphedema, therapists use Manual Lymph Drainage to stimulate the healthy lymphatic pathways and move the stagnant lymph fluid from the affected limb. Compression bandaging helps prevent recurrent swelling. 

Symptoms to look for, which require immediate attention, include a sense of tightness, pain, and swelling of the hand or arm. Lymphedema can develop weeks, months, or even years after surgery, often without any apparent cause, but usually triggered by injury or even a minor infection of the affected limb. Lymphedema is a chronic, lifelong condition for which there is presently no cure, though early treatment can return the limb to normal function and near normal appearance.

Breast Cancer/Mastectomy: Following a mastectomy, scar tissue can restrict a patient’s range of motion in the shoulder, and drain lines in the chest can cause lingering pain. Also, the removal of or damage to lymph nodes can cause lymphedema (treated by Manual Lymph Drainage, see above). Physical therapy improves range of motion, strength and posture. It can also help to decrease pain in the neck, shoulder, chest and abdomen. Manual techniques help decrease scar tissue and increase circulation. Scar massage keeps tissue mobile and supple during healing and can prevent scar contracture, which can restrict range of motion as well as contribute to the development of lymphedema.

Osteoporosis:  Weight-bearing exercises can improve bone strength, and the TurboSonic has been shown to improve bone density. We also use therapy to achieve postural corrections, activity modification and specific exercise programs to minimize the risk of fractures.

Incontinence:  Urinary Incontinence affects about 60% of women, and has long been considered a natural part of aging. However, physical therapy can strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, which often corrects incontinence.

Pelvic Pain:  Pelvic pain can be caused by scar tissue adhering to the pelvic walls or organs. Scar tissue often results from gynecologic surgery such as hysterectomy, C-section or procedures to treat endometriosis. Physical therapy can help to break down pelvic and abdominal adhesions and aid in increased mobility of the connective tissue and of the muscles. This in turn may decrease pelvic pain, pain during intercourse, infertility and any bowel or bladder obstructions.

Pregnancy:  Back pain and pelvic pain are common during pregnancy. Therapy includes evaluation of the spine and pelvis, individualized exercise programs and use of pregnancy belts to support the lower back and abdomen.

In the pool, buoyancy relieves weight on the joints, making PT exercises easier and less painful. The water's viscosity also provides an excellent source of resistance that can be easily incorporated into an aquatic therapy exercise program. This resistance allows for muscle strengthening without the need for weights. Aquatic therapy can also decrease swelling caused by arthritis or injury and improve joint position awareness, which is useful in treating sprains.

Aquatic therapy can be used in conjunction with other kinds of treatment and pain management. Lydia conducts aquatic therapy at the Comfort Inn's swimming pool three days a week. She focuses on strengthening, stretching and some cardiovascular conditioning.

We now have surface EMG available. The specialized machine is capable of measuring the electrical activity present in muscular tissue. Some of the applications include:

1. Pain Management: It improves a person's awareness of muscle tone and uses the feedback to achieve physiological quieting of chronically painful conditions.

2. Muscle Recruitment: It gives visual and auditory feedback on how well a muscle is contracting.

3. Muscle Relaxation: It gives visual and auditory feedback on how well a muscle is relaxing.

Applications: Weak muscles following injury or surgery

                     Urinary Incontinence

                     Contracted or tight muscles

                     Body Mechanics training