The primary goal of PT is to identify and maximize movement potential, as well as provide preventive treatment and rehabilitation.

What conditions does physical therapy help treat?

Many different conditions can be treated with physical therapy.  Some of the most common include arthritis, migraines, fibromyalgia, sports injuries, back and neck pain and obesity.  In general, there are five specialty areas in PT: Orthopedic, Neurological, Geriatric, Cardiovascular and Pediatric.

What does a physical therapist do?

Physical therapists are health care professionals who manage and evaluate health conditions for individuals of all ages.  After your doctor refers you to a physical therapist, the therapist will then evaluate your medical history and perform a physical exam.  A physical therapist can then establish a diagnosis by organizing the evaluation results into defined syndromes or categories to help determine appropriate intervention strategies.

Types of interventions include therapeutic exercise, muscle and massage therapy, functional training, spinal and extremity mobilization, electric stimulation and more.

Physical therapy at Allegheny Medical

Dr. Krista Shiwarski is the Director of Physical Therapy at Allegheny Medical.  She received her Doctor of Physical Therapy from Chatham University and has extensive experience rehabilitating patients with orthopedic problems and sports injuries.  Dr. Shiwarski works closely with the referring physician and other staff members in order to coordinate treatment to promote optimal, quality results.

Physical therapy hours of operation at Allegheny Medical are Monday through Thursday 9am to 7pm and Friday 9am to 1pm.

Please call us at 412-494-4550 to schedule your appointment for physical therapy services today.

Robinson PA Physical Therapist: How Can Physical Therapy Help You? is a post from: Allegheny Medical Blog

When I told my doctor that about my wrist and hand pain he did some tests and realized what the problem was.  I was immediately sent to a physical therapist.  My Moon PA Physical Therapist helped me in many ways.  One major way they helped was by teaching me important stretches for my wrists and hands.  Before typing a long term paper, or playing a ten minute serenade, I do those stretches.

Physical therapy is an amazing health tool.  Unlike other health care treatments, it is also an educational tool.  They teach you how to take care of your body after physical therapy is over.  This is invaluable.  Before, I couldn’t sleep through the night without waking up in pain.  Now, I sleep soundly without pain.  I can type for hours without feeling pain;  best of all I play piano pain free.

Physical Therapy Services near Moon PA

Helping you reach maximum movement throughout your lifetime.

Allegheny Medical
2000 Cliff Mine Rd.
Park West Two, Suite 110
Pittsburgh, PA 15275

Phone 412-494-4550

Physical therapy hours of operation: Mon-Thu 9am to 7pm; Fri 9am to 1pm

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: How Moon PA Physical Therapist can Help is a post from: Allegheny Medical Blog

Some patients who go to physical therapy have suffered traumatic life altering accidents.  They may have been in serious, almost fatal, car accidents; had an accident at work, or had a recreational accident.  Whatever the case, a physical therapist's role in a person’s life who has suffered a near fatal accident, now takes a completely different role.

These patients may have come close to being paralyzed; or in some way be physically paralyzed.  It is the physical therapist’s job to encourage and motivate the patient.  Along with psychological encouragement, the physical therapist is responsible for helping the patient learn how to live their lives again with or without any physical mobility problems.

Physical therapists must be very patient with their clients, one step for the client is a huge victory.  My Coraopolis PA physical therapists also know when to push their clients to go further, when to come to their aide, and when physical therapy is too much for the client to handle for the day.

Helping a patient walk, hold a cup, sit up, and achieve acts of daily living is a great reward for the physical therapist, as well as a the person they are helping so greatly.

Physical Therapy Services near Coraopolis PA

Helping you reach maximum movement throughout your lifetime.

Allegheny Medical
2000 Cliff Mine Rd.
Park West Two, Suite 110
Pittsburgh, PA 15275

Phone 412-494-4550

Physical therapy hours of operation: Mon-Thu 9am to 7pm; Fri 9am to 1pm

Coraopolis PA Physical Therapists: Helping People Walk Again is a post from: Allegheny Medical Blog

She had shin splints, ankle sprains, and knee problems.  Karen loved soccer. She lived to play it.  Karen’s physical therapist knew this immediately.

The goal of Physical Therapy is to increase the quality of life for a patient who may have chronic pain or due to an injury.

With this goal in mind, Karen’s Physical Therapist tried her best to keep Karen healthy, safe, and on the field as much as possible.  While in the office she worked hard with her to keep her muscles healthy, and show her stretches to help her with her shin splints.  Her ankle sprain was an injury that needed time for healing.  Karen didn’t have this time.

Karen’s Physical Therapist did a good job of stressing the importance of taking the time to heal her injury the first time, to avoid worsening the injury in the future.  Karen agreed to take some time off from active play on the field, and focus on healing her injury by increasing her physical therapy visits from one to three.  This helped not only her shin splints, but also helped her ankle and her knee problems.

In the end the attitude towards healing from the physical therapist, as well as the patient, has a great impact on the patient’s total recovery.  If you are looking for great sports care as well as a great Carnegie PA area Physical Therapist that will help you on your way to a quick recovery, look no further than Allegheny Medical.

Physical Therapy Services near Carnegie PA

Helping you reach maximum movement throughout your lifetime.

Allegheny Medical
2000 Cliff Mine Rd.
Park West Two, Suite 110
Pittsburgh, PA 15275

Phone 412-494-4550

Physical therapy hours of operation: Mon-Thu 9am to 7pm; Fri 9am to 1pm

Communities Served:

• physcial therapy Robinson PA
• physcial therapy Bridgeville PA
• physcial therapy Moon PA
• physcial therapy Coraopolis PA
• physcial therapy Carnegie PA

Carnegie PA Physical Therapist Saves the Team! is a post from: Allegheny Medical Blog

During my junior year of high school my mother, sister, and I were driving on a heavily trafficked stretch of road in Robinson.  My mother wanted to make a left onto an over pass, taking us to a back-road short cut.  We were unaware at the time, but taking this short cut would result in a rear end car accident, which left me in a neck brace for about two months.

Moving my neck was very difficult and painful.  Everyday tasks became everyday struggles.  My doctor suggested physical therapy to help my neck injury.

Physical therapy was important for my recovery.  My Bridgeville PA physical therapist showed me neck exercises and stretches.  Doing these exercises prevented further injury, and strain, from occurring.  Following her instructions also reduced the amount of pain that I experienced.

One sign of a neck injury is the inability to touch your chin to your chest.  This was the case for me.  During my time at physical therapy, I was able to gradually work on touching my chin to my chest.

At the end of the two months of physical therapy I was neck brace free.  Without physical therapy, it would have taken much longer - maybe not at all.  Physical therapy helped me understand what was happening to my neck, how to be virtually pain free, and how to heal faster.

If you need Physical Therapy, Allegheny Medical can help. To schedule an appointment, please call our office 412-494-4554.

Allegheny Medical
2000 Cliff Mine Rd, #110
Pittsburgh, PA 15275

412-494-4550

Office Hours: Monday-Thursday: 9:00 am - 7:00 pm and Friday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

A First Hand Account of the Benefits of Physical Therapy, Brigeville Area is a post from: Allegheny Medical Blog

Are you one of the 80% of Americans suffer from some sort of back pain?  Back pain is the 5th on the list of most common reasons why people visit a doctor. Here are some common approaches to relieving back pain: chiropractors, physical therapists, over-the-counter and prescription pain medication, and weight loss.

Physical therapy is a widely used option for back pain sufferers.  Surveys show 55% of back pain sufferers were satisfied by treatment from a physical therapist.   People who have back pain, especially lower back pain, may mistakenly think lying down will help the pain.  This is actually incorrect.  Chronic back pain sufferers need to be stretching, and building their back muscles.  This will ultimately help with pain relief.     Physical therapy teaches patients how to safely stretch, exercise their back, and safely do everyday activities.

Back pain can result from lifestyle choices, like weight gain.    People who are considered to be obese or over weight are potentially at a greater risk for having back problems.  This is due to the extra strain put on their muscles.  If someone who is overweight is suffering from back pain, losing weight may be the solution they were looking for.

Allegeny Medical can help with all 3 options!  We are a comprehensive medical center that provides Carnegie Physical Therapy, Carnegie Chiropractic Care, and Medically Supervised Weight Loss through Exercise and Nutritional counseling.  Call (412) 494-4550 for an appointment.

Allegheny Medical
Park West Two, Suite 110
2000 Cliff Mine Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15275
(412) 494-4550

Office Hours: Monday-Thursday: 9:00 am - 7:00 pm and Friday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

We treat:

• back pain and migraines in Robinson PA
• back pain and migraines in Bridgeville PA
• back pain and migraines in Moon PA
• back pain and migraines in Coraopolis PA
• back pain and migraines in Carnegie PA

Carnegie PA Chiropractor Asks – Is Your Back Killing You? Treatment Options in the South Hills is a post from: Allegheny Medical Blog

Neck pain is something numerous people deal with every day.  It has many causes.  Especially now with the rising use of laptops and desktop computers, neck pain is quite common if these machines are not used correctly (ergonomically).  Even when they are used correctly long hours typing at a desk can cause neck pain.  Sometimes neck pain can be caused by sleeping incorrectly.

Neck pain that is caused by every day activity can sometimes be prevented.  Sleeping on your back is the best way to sleep for your spine.  If you are at a computer for long periods of time, make sure you are sitting ergonomically.  The pictures below are great examples of proper ergonomics for lap and desktops.

Chiropractic care and physical therapy can be highly beneficial when it comes to alleviating neck pain.  It is especially important to treat neck pain when the pain is from an injury.  Injury related neck pain can greatly benefit from treatments like physical therapy.

Coraopolis PA Chiropractor for Back/Neck Pain & Sports Injuries

Finding the right doctor is essential to your good health. Dr. Drew Fanelli is Board certified, Fellow of the Academy of Chiropractic Orthopedists (FACO).  Coraopolis Chiropractor: Read More

Physical Therapy Services near Coraopolis PA

Helping you reach maximum movement throughout your lifetime. Coraopolis Physical Therapy: Read More

Allegheny Medical treats:

• back pain and migraines in Robinson PA
• back pain and migraines in Bridgeville PA
• back pain and migraines in Moon PA
• back pain and migraines in Coraopolis PA
• back pain and migraines in Carnegie PA

Coraopolis PA Chiropractor: Sleeping & Sitting Postures to prevent Neck Pain is a post from: Allegheny Medical Blog

Sleep apnea is classified into three different types: central sleep apnea (CSA), in which the brain fails to send a signal to the muscles to take a breath; obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), in which the brain sends the signal to the muscles and the muscles attempt to take a breath, but are unsuccessful due to the airway being obstructed; and mixed sleep apnea where both central sleep apnea and obstructive sleep apnea are present.

Sleep apnea is often discussed with regards to obese people, and for good reason.  It has been estimated that 70% of obese individuals have obstructive sleep apnea. As a person becomes more obese, obstructive sleep apnea usually becomes more severe.

A healthy diet and lifestyle that encourages weight loss will improve obstructive sleep apnea. However, most people with obstructive sleep apnea are tired and don't have a lot of energy for exercise. Unfortunately, this causes a downward spiral where the more tired an individual is, the less exercise they get and the more they gain weight.  This of course leads to a worsening of the sleep apnea and thus more tiredness.

Non-surgical treatments for obstructive sleep apnea include medications, behavior therapy, dental appliances and continuous and bi-level positive airway pressure.  Allegheny Medical's physical therapy team can also create a custom fitness plan for overweight or obese patients who may be suffering from sleep apnea, in order to help restore proper function.  Call (412) 494-4550 for more information today.

Sleep Apnea: How it Relates to Obesity is a post from: Allegheny Medical Blog

Over 700,000 people in the United States alone suffer a stroke each year, with two-thirds of these individuals surviving. These survivors require rehabilitation in order to improve their quality of life and become as independent as possible.

Rehabilitation can help stroke survivors relearn skills that they have lost due to brain damage that occurred when they experienced the stroke.  The most important part of rehab is the repetitive practice involved in relearning these skills.

Because physical therapists specialize in treating disabilities related to sensory and motor impairments and place a great deal of emphasis on movement, they can play an important role in assessing the stroke survivor's range of motion, endurance and strength.  In many cases, their primary role is to create individualized programs designed to help these individuals regain control over motor functions.

Physical therapists teach strategies to reduce the effect of remaining deficits, help stroke survivors regain the use of impaired limbs and establish exercise programs to help people retain the skills that they have relearned.

Allegheny Medical's therapist graduated with a Doctorate of Physical Therapy and is an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association.  Post-stroke rehabilitation is just one condition she can assist with.  For more information, visit the physical therapy page on our website or call us at (412) 494-4550.

Communities Served:

• physcial therapy Robinson PA
• physcial therapy Bridgeville PA
• physcial therapy Moon PA
• physcial therapy Coraopolis PA
• physcial therapy Carnegie PA

Physical Therapy Plays an Important Role After a Stroke is a post from: Allegheny Medical Blog

A physical therapist's primary job is to restore an athlete's ability to be active, strong and in motion so that they can get back to engaging in physical activity like they used to prior to the injury.

One way a physical therapist assists a patient is to teach them exercises that target injured muscles in order to decrease the discomfort and pain they may be experiencing.  Many times the therapist will supervise the exercises until the patient is sufficiently able to do them on their own. Common forms of exercise include strengthening exercises, stretching and aquatic therapy.

Physical therapy is also often recommended after an athlete undergoes surgery, so that they can learn how to cope with any limitations they now face as a result. Some of the benefits of therapy are reduction of muscle spasms and pain, increased joint motion, healing of the soft tissue, stress reduction and increased endurance and muscle strength.

A good physical therapist will help an athlete not only recover from injury, but also educate them on how to prevent future injuries.

Allegheny Medical's physical therapy program can help get you back into peak form and return to your normal sports activities as soon as possible. Please visit our page on our physical therapy services to find out more.

Communities Served:

• physcial therapy Robinson PA
• physcial therapy Bridgeville PA
• physcial therapy Moon PA
• physcial therapy Coraopolis PA
• physcial therapy Carnegie PA

Bridgeville PA Physical Therapist: Physical Therapy for Sports-Related Injuries is a post from: Allegheny Medical Blog