Our arthritis therapy programs support patients with Osteoarthritis (OA) and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) using evidence-based strategies tailored to your needs.

Although OA and RA develop differently, physical therapy is one of the most effective ways to manage both conditions.

Osteoarthritis happens when the cartilage that cushions your joints gradually wears down. This can make movement uncomfortable and limit the activities you enjoy.

You may notice:

• Pain in or around the joint

• Tenderness and stiffness

• Reduced movement or flexibility

• A grating or crackling sensation (crepitus)

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks the lining of the joints. This inflammation can lead to swelling, stiffness, and painful movement.

Common symptoms include:

• Warm or tender joints

• Swelling or puffiness

• Redness around the joint

• Morning stiffness lasting 30 minutes or longer

We create a customized, one-on-one arthritis treatment plans designed to reduce pain and protect your joints long-term.

Our Arthritis Therapy Programs Include:

✔ Pain Relief Techniques

Manual therapy, gentle mobilization, and modalities to reduce pain and calm irritated tissues.

✔ Gentle Strengthening

Targeted exercises to support the joint, improve stability, and reduce strain.

✔ Improved Movement & Body Mechanics

Training to help you move efficiently and safely, minimizing pain during daily activities.

✔ Posture & Ergonomics Coaching

Personalized recommendations to improve joint support at home, work, and during hobbies.

✔ Joint Protection Education

Strategies that teach you how to protect joints without losing independence.

✔ Splints or Supports When Needed

Simple equipment or splints to support healing joints and reduce stress.

✔ Muscle Balancing & Flexibility Work

Restoring balance to the surrounding muscles helps decrease joint pressure and improve motion.

Many people with arthritis feel worried that pain will keep getting worse or limit their independence. But with the right support, you can move with greater comfort, protect your joints, and return to the activities that matter most.

Being able to balance yourself involves all the senses in your body!

Each one informs you how you are moving, and your brain which puts this information together, then conveys it to the muscles that control your movement. 

Keeping or regaining balance is crucial to avoiding injury.

Front Porch therapists can help train this complex system to keep you moving without fear of falling. 

When a child plays--jump roping, walking along walls, spinning, climbing--he or she is naturally training the sense of balance.

As adults, we forget to give our balance system the practice it needs. You may have already discovered that health problems can also weaken the balance system.

Many people benefit from PT balance training after injury or a fall. It can also help if you have joint pain which changes your gait and balance.

Everyone can benefit from balance training from children to seniors!

A healthy balance system helps you feel good, move freely and confidently, and will have more energy and strength.

Our balance training can help you get back to normal and overcome feelings of stiffness or unsteadiness and to prevent falls.

Anyone who has or had cancer deserves the best opportunities to reclaim health.

Front Porch Therapy services can help cancer patients regain control of their lives and remain as independent and productive as possible. 

Cancer patients feel better and are able to do more when they participate in light exercises during and/or after chemo or radiation therapy to keep the physical and emotional body moving toward wellness. Research supports this statement.

Rehabilitation can improve the quality of life for people with cancer and their families, including: 

• Improving physical strength to help offset any limitations from cancer and cancer treatment.

• Learning ways to prevent or control swelling / Lymphedema

• We help patients find the right balance of physical activity and rest

• Helping with pain management, positioning for comfort

• Stress release techniques

Managing chronic pain or a chronic disease can feel overwhelming and challenging. It’s common to experience frustration, worry, or even a sense of despair.

At Front Porch Physical Therapy, we take a biopsychosocial approach, focusing on the whole person. This approach considers multiple aspects of health and wellbeing, which we call the Pentagon of Wellness:

• Psychological & Emotional: Supporting mental health and emotional resilience.

• Social: Encouraging connections and community support.

• Energetic: Understanding what supports or drains energy in the body.

• Intellectual: Empowering you to make informed decisions about your health and care.

• Spiritual: Supporting patient-centered spiritual or mindfulness practices that enhance overall wellness. Mindfulness and other awareness practices can help manage pain and chronic conditions.

• Physical health is also a core focus, including managing inflammation, improving stability and core strength, optimizing sleep, lifestyle, and nutrition, and ensuring you feel safe in movement. 

Sometimes, small adjustments like how you sit at your workstation or in your car can make a meaningful difference. Core-focused therapy that emphasizes education and self-care can help you prevent injury and reduce the risk of falls.

A thorough assessment helps identify areas of pain related to musculoskeletal or neurological issues that can be addressed with individualized therapeutic interventions. By targeting the right areas, we help you feel better and return to daily activities as fully as possible.

Listening closely to your body and understanding your energetic, physical, emotional, spiritual, and lifestyle needs is essential in managing chronic illness or pain.

By listening attentively to your needs and working side by side with you, we help you understand your body, take an active role in your care, and regain confidence in your movement and management of pain.

Core stability and strength are often misunderstood. Many people believe that performing sit-ups or crunches improves core stability. While these exercises target the rectus abdominis, strengthening this muscle alone does not necessarily improve overall core function or stability.

True core stability comes from improving the coordinated function of many muscles around the trunk. The diaphragm plays a key role in activating essential core muscles, including the transversus abdominis, obliques, pelvic floor, and hip and gluteal muscles, all of which work together to stabilize the trunk.

Why does learning to activate these muscles matter? Identifying, isolating, and combining core muscle activation—often through diaphragmatic breathing—teaches us when to turn core muscles on and off during daily activities. This ranges from light activation while sitting or standing to stronger activation while lifting, walking on uneven surfaces, or participating in sports. Using your core effectively helps prevent back pain, improve balance, and support efficient movement.

We train the body to move from the center, rather than “hanging” off the shoulders and neck like a coat hanger. Learning postural habits that engage the core also supports efficient mobility and stability, helping you maintain an active, healthy lifestyle and avoid painful conditions.

An experienced physical therapist specializing in musculoskeletal care can guide you in activating the essential core muscles and teach strategies to stabilize your body during daily activities.

Sometimes, small changes—like adjusting how you sit at your workstation or in your car—can make a meaningful difference. Core-focused therapy that emphasizes education and self-care can help you avoid injury and reduce your risk of falls.

A thorough assessment is key to providing the right treatment so you can feel better and return to daily activities as quickly as possible.

Working side by side with you, we help you understand your body, take an active role in your care, and regain confidence in your movement.

Front Porch Therapists help you maintain or regain your highest level of function possible.  Whether you participate in Dance, Yoga, Martial Arts, or any other physical activity, we want you to be able to continue enjoying your passion without injury.

Front Porch therapists come from a background of Physical Fitness disciplines and Dance Performance, Yoga Practice. We understand the need to continue participating in your discipline, if possible, during the rehab process. We will teach you how to modify your activity to avoid further injury and will teach you a step-by-step process for returning to your full level of activity as soon as possible. 

For students, we will also work with your teacher to help you learn ways to manage your injury during practice and ways to relearn correct mechanics during return to Yoga / Dance to avoid further injury. 

We support your desire to remain active in your discipline and are committed to helping you learn how to participate without pain and injury.

Ergonomics and injury prevention is a specialty of Front Porch Physical Therapy, and we are happy to tailor programming to your individual job tasks or home/community activity demands. We may visit your work site, home office, or classroom to assess ergonomics and offer suggestions for appropriate positioning to avoid pain and maximize function. 

Ergonomics (Greek Roots: "Ergon" meaning "work" and "Nomoi" meaning "Natural Laws") 

Ergonomics is the study of human movement and capabilities in relationship to work demands. These could range from simple activities of daily living, approach to schoolwork, to highly repetitive job demands. Work / School activities should be performed with good supported spinal position, protecting the natural spinal curves.  

Children are at risk for ergonomic injuries from working at computer stations designed for adults, sitting with poor postural support at home or school and from the demands of carrying heavy books for long campus distances. 

We also offer Ergonomic Training for Employers

On-Site Evaluation - Ergonomic Assessment of Job Tasks with Recommendations/Education:

• Assessment of work site/station and equipment with education on appropriate utilization/adjustment of equipment (if appropriate) for individualized fit.

• Group or individual presentation including practice of exercises and corrected body mechanics with tools appropriate to work site.

• Education on generalized cumulative trauma and postural strain education for injury prevention on the job.

• Parameters for application on the job (will also include written recommendations for employees to control or reduce Material Safety Data hazards).

• Body Mechanics/Development of appropriate prevention exercise program (suggestion for micro break exercises that may be performed on the job without interrupting job tasks).

The defining symptoms of fibromyalgia are chronic, widespread pain, fatigue, and heightened pain in response to tactile pressure.

Other symptoms may include tingling of the skin, prolonged muscle spasms, weakness in the limbs, nerve pain, muscle functional bowel disturbances, and chronic sleep disturbances. 

The most common problem associated with Fibromyalgia is sleep disturbance. Patients have trouble sleeping or are awakened before they get to deep restorative sleep (prior to 4 hours of sleep). Normal movement during the day causes wear and tear on muscle tissue. Our bodies repair this wear and tear during deep stage 3-4 sleep after about 4 hours of sleep. If a patient sleeps lightly or does not get good restorative sleep, the normal wear and tear mimics a cumulative trauma to the muscle tissue as muscle is again worn-down next day without adequate repair.  Research has shown that light aerobic exercise can help deliver more oxygen to the muscles stimulating repair of tissue and reducing pain.

Therapy can help. Front Porch therapists work with patients to help:

• Reduce pain by learning light easy to apply aerobic exercise

• Learn strategies for spinal and joint support

• Apply alignment techniques to help get comfortable for sleep

• Ergonomic strategies to reduce strain on muscles during work or home tasks

• Stress relieving strategies 

• Gentle stretching to stimulate blood flow to muscles

• Gentle strengthening to help gradually rebuild lost muscles tissue

The goal of therapy is to help you return to chosen activities without debilitating pain and regain control of your life. 

Foot and ankle pain can be debilitating. We depend on our feet for nearly every movement, and pain in this area can change the way we walk.

Over time, altered walking patterns can place stress on other joints and the spine, leading to additional discomfort throughout the body.

Foot pain doesn’t always originate in the foot itself. In some cases, it may be related to a compressed nerve higher up in the nervous system. That’s why the first step is always a thorough evaluation to identify the true source of your pain.

Footwear also plays a significant role. Wearing the wrong size or an unsupportive shoe can contribute to pain and dysfunction. Because our feet tend to change shape over time—often becoming longer and flatter with age—it’s a good idea to have your feet measured periodically. Working with a knowledgeable shoe fitter can help you find footwear that feels comfortable, provides appropriate support, and accommodates your unique foot shape.

Alignment issues within the foot can also affect gait and contribute to pain in the feet, knees, hips, and back. In many cases, simple solutions such as a well-fitted over-the-counter arch support can make a meaningful difference.

At Front Porch Physical Therapy, we evaluate and treat foot and ankle conditions with the goal of identifying the root cause of your symptoms and helping you move confidently without pain or fear of falling.

As adults, we often overlook foot care, yet healthy feet are essential for good balance and overall mobility. A comprehensive assessment of your feet and footwear can be especially helpful if joint pain is affecting the way you walk or your sense of stability.

Everyone benefits from maintaining foot mobility and strength, and from having the right support—whether walking on hard surfaces or hiking on uneven terrain. Healthy, comfortable feet and ankles support better movement, greater confidence, and more energy.

Keeping your feet and ankles mobile, strong, and well-supported throughout life helps your whole body move with greater ease and feel better overall.

Aging should be a time to enjoy life--in maximum health! Therapy can help you avoid tendencies that make aging a painful or debilitating process. We strive to help you gain or regain the highest level of independent function possible. 

Front Porch therapists help patients understand these changes and offer assistance for regaining lost abilities or help develop new abilities. Working with the older adult, we understand the anatomical and physiological changes that occur with normal aging. We will evaluate and develop a specially designed therapeutic exercise program to restore the highest level of functioning possible.

Our PT services for Senior Adults help improve: 

• strength

• range of motion

• endurance

• flexibility

• coordination

• balance

• efficient mobility

• keeping you active

The goal of therapy is to decrease painful conditions and improve your quality of life.  

People value the use of their hands and any loss of function through injury or accident may have a devastating effect on their lives. Anyone with an injury wants the very best of treatment to assure maximal recovery.

Hand Therapists provide a unique specialty in treatment of the upper extremity. Hand therapists treat the shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand and can help define if problems in the hand are also related neck.

Front Porch Physical Therapy is fortunate to offer this specialty by Cecilia Pepera, MSPT who has completed Hand Therapy Certification for our patient’s problems of the upper extremity. 

The Hand Therapy Certification Commission (HTCC) adopted this definition of Hand Therapy:

"Hand therapy is the art and science of rehabilitation of the upper quarter of the human body.  Hand therapy is the merging of occupational therapy and physical therapy theory and practice that combines comprehensive knowledge of the upper quarter, body function, and activity.  Using specialized skills in assessment and treatment, hand therapists promote the goals of prevention of dysfunction, restoration of function, and/or reversal of the progression of pathology in order to enhance participation in life situations for individuals with upper quarter disease or injury."

At Front Porch Physical Therapy, when someone comes in with hip pain, the first step is to determine whether the back might be contributing to the problem.

An experienced physical therapist specializing in musculoskeletal conditions can pinpoint the true source of pain. A thorough evaluation by a licensed PT with advanced spinal training ensures that treatment addresses the full picture—including the complex pathways of the nervous system.

Many patients experience hip pain that actually originates in the lower back. Nerve-related pain like this can often be significantly reduced, or even resolved, without surgery or medication, through skilled physical therapy and personalized self-care strategies.

Hip or knee discomfort may be linked to nerve compression in the lumbar spine. If your hip aches at rest or wakes you at night, a careful evaluation of your lower back is essential, as these symptoms are frequently rooted in spinal dysfunction.

Sometimes, small changes like adjusting how you sit at your workstation or in your car can make a meaningful difference. Spine-focused therapy that emphasizes education and self-care can help you avoid surgery and reduce reliance on pain medications.

If the back is not the source, we evaluate the hip itself to determine whether the pain stems from joint issues or soft tissue conditions involving muscles or tendons. Hip pain often relates to impingement within the joint or habits that place pressure on the labrum frequently influenced by posture and movement patterns.

Subtle alignment issues in the foot, ankle, or overall body posture can also affect the hip, and addressing global alignment is an essential part of treatment. With skilled manual therapy and targeted exercises, hip pain can often improve significantly.

A thorough assessment is key to providing the right treatment so you can feel better and return to daily activities as quickly as possible.

Working side by side with you, we help you understand your body, take an active role in your care, and regain confidence in your gait and movement.

Lymphedema is a type of chronic swelling caused by overload of the lymphatic system, but anyone with swelling can benefit from Lymphedema treatment. 

Causes of chronic swelling:

• Surgical removal of lymph nodes or damage to the lymph system from radiation.

•  Injury to the lymph system from surgery or an accident.

• Unmanaged vein problems that eventually cause secondary damage to the lymph system.  

•  Blood clots 

• Lymphedema may also occur at birth from malformation of the lymphatic system and may not display symptoms until later in life.

• Swelling from Injury / Surgery: Lymphedema Therapists may also help you with temporary or chronic swelling from illness, injury or surgery.      

A CLT is a Certified Lymphedema Therapist who has undergone extensive post-doctoral training in the specialty of Lymphedema – prevention and treatment of chronic edema/swelling.

Melinda Halford, PT, CLT, Cert. MDT, PYT will work closely with your physician and other medical professionals to meet your comprehensive needs. Therapy may also include working alongside certified vendors to help prescribe appropriate compression garments for lifelong management.

Neurological Rehabilitation refers to conditions involving the brain, spinal cord, and nervous system. Front Porch Therapists work with neurologically involved patients to optimize a patient's independence and abilities while managing daily life. 

Our focus is to help patients regain strength and range of motion, and to manage painful conditions to allow for functional efficiency and ease. We also work with families and caregivers along with our patients to help facilitate return to optimum levels of function.  

We work with Neurological conditions such as:  

• Nerve pain from injury

• Peripheral Neuropathy

• Stroke

• Spinal Cord Injury

• Multiple Sclerosis

• Parkinson's Disease

• ALS

• Guillain-Barre Syndrome

• Tay-Sachs Disease

• Muscular Dystrophy

• Cerebral Palsy

• Post Aneurysm

• Post Brain or Spinal Tumor

• Down’s Syndrome / other Developmental delay

• Other Neurological Conditions

Pregnancy and other issues involving the female pelvic floor can cause great pain for women.

Therapists help women learn positioning techniques, support for the spine during pregnancy and gentle exercise techniques to treat or avoid back / neck pain during pregnancy.

Some women find relief from pain related to menstrual periods through gentle techniques to help support the pelvic floor, reduce back pain and ease discomfort during the natural cycles of a woman’s life. 

Back pain is sometimes experienced in the groin; we can give you techniques to improve postural support which can often abolish this referred pain.

Let us help you continue the activities you enjoy without discomfort.

Your bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage and other soft tissues are all part of your musculoskeletal system.

Front Porch PT therapists can help you recover from orthopedic injury or surgery and may also diagnose the causes of orthopedic problems and help you avoid the need for surgery. 

While MRIs or other tests show a picture of a body part, Physical Therapists assess the whole musculoskeletal system to identify and resolve the particular problem, and help patients learn how to function effectively in their home, community or work environments after surgery or instead of surgery.

Front Porch Therapists work to resolve / manage injuries or conditions such as:

• Back Pain

• Neck Pain

• Shoulder Injury

• Hand, Elbow, or Wrist injuries/Pain

• TMJ

• Headaches 

• Knee Pain

• Hip Pain

• Ankle/Foot Problems including Plantar Fasciitis or Sprain

• Tendon or Muscle Strain/Tear

• Pain with Pregnancy or Postpartum

• Post Surgical or other conditions causing Pain, Weakness, or Decreased ROM/Mobility

• Post Fracture Weakness or Pain

• Disc Injury Pain, Numbness, or Weakness; Sciatica

• Postural Problems with Osteoporosis

• Chronic Pain from Fibromyalgia, Rheumatoid or other types of Arthritis

Osteoporosis / Osteopenia is often associated with back pain. Front Porch PT therapists use core stabilization and spinal decompression (strengthening weak muscles and stretching tight muscles) principles in treating back pain related to Osteoporosis. 

Strength is also key in aiding patients with bone health. Our approach is to work in a gentle way to restore postural support then gradually move patients to an effective strengthening program within a pain-free range. 

Therapy can help. Therapists work with patients to help counter effects of osteoporosis:

• Reduce pain by learning gentle exercises to restore postural support

• Learn strategies for spinal and joint support

• Improve Core stability to help with ease and safety in mobility

• Alignment techniques to reduce strain during for sleep, work or home tasks

• Gentle strengthening and stretching to improve muscular balance

• Build bones with resistance exercises

• Balance and coordination exercises to reduce fall risk

Front Porch PT therapists help you build health bones and muscles and take control of your life. 

The first thing a Front Porch Physical Therapist will do for your pain is to correctly determine the origin of the pain. Correctly diagnosing where pain is coming from is essential to effective treatment. 

Yes, Physical Therapists are licensed to diagnose problems of the musculoskeletal system such as nerve-related pain symptoms, tendinosis, joint issue or other cause. Often pain in the leg or arm is related to the spine and it is important to correctly identify the source of pain in order to design the best treatment. 

Physical Therapists may also rule out if the problem is not musculoskeletal in nature and if not, will refer the patient to an appropriate physician for further evaluation.

After we have successfully identified the origin of the pain, then we can work towards eliminating it by prescribing the best treatment options and teaching you how to get rid of pain. If pain is chronic, we assist you with techniques to reduce or manage pain and assist you with techniques to maintain or return to independent function. We also work in coordination with other practitioners involved in your care for the most holistic approach to pain management. 

At Front Porch Physical Therapy, when someone comes in with pelvic pain, the first step is to determine whether the back might be contributing to the problem.

An experienced physical therapist specializing in musculoskeletal conditions can pinpoint the true source of pain. A thorough evaluation by a licensed PT with advanced spinal training ensures that treatment addresses the full picture—including the complex pathways of the nervous system.

Many patients experience pelvic pain that actually originates in the lower back. Nerve-related pain like this can often be significantly reduced—or even resolved—without surgery or medication, through skilled physical therapy and personalized self-care strategies.

Pelvic discomfort may be linked to nerve compression in the lumbar spine. If your pelvis or pelvic floor aches at rest or wakes you at night, a careful evaluation of your lower back is essential, as these symptoms are often rooted in spinal dysfunction.

Sometimes, small changes—like adjusting how you sit at your workstation or in your car—can make a meaningful difference. Spine-focused therapy that emphasizes education and self-care can help you avoid surgery and reduce reliance on pain medications.

If the back is not the source, we evaluate the sacral area and pelvic region to determine whether the pain stems from joint issues or soft tissue conditions involving muscles or tendons. With skilled manual therapy and targeted exercises, pelvic pain can often improve significantly.

For pelvic weakness or bladder concerns, simple pelvic activation and core stability exercises may help improve function. For more complex pelvic issues, such as true incontinence, we can guide you to a pelvic floor specialist and help you find the right provider for more advanced care.

A thorough assessment is key to providing the right treatment so you can get the help you need, feel better, and return to daily activities as quickly as possible.

Working side by side with you, we help you understand your body, take an active role in your care, and regain confidence in your movement.

At Front Porch Physical Therapy, we believe people should pursue their own interests in terms of physical activities. 

Whether you want to develop a progressive fitness program at home or in the community, or simply learn some gentle exercises, your goals are at the center of our therapy recommendation. 

Not all people wish to attend a gym, but if it is appropriate for you, we will visit you at your fitness gym at home or in the community, to make sure your are aligned properly on exercise equipment and to develop an appropriate exercise program for your individual needs. 

Because exercises should be specific to individuals, we recommend a specific fitness program as opposed to providing generic exercises, which may cause more harm if performed improperly.  We will work with your trainer, gym or home equipment to develop the most beneficial program to meet your goals. 

You may be surprised to learn that Physical Therapy can help you avoid surgery—however, if surgery is the best treatment, we can help you maximize healing.

Exercises to prepare for surgery and recover after surgery can make a big difference in how quickly you heal.

By working on muscular stabilization, mobility techniques and pain relieving / positioning techniques, we help you obtain the best outcome possible. Our Front Porch patients tell us they have had a much better outcome by learning the best way to gradually return to activities and to work on improving strength without causing pain. 

You should not feel pain when performing a PT exercise: if that is the case, it is not being performed correctly and we work with you to find a way to improve without causing more pain and inflammation in the process. You may work hard and make good gains without pushing through pain. Pain usually indicates injury and thus we teach you how to identify the difference in good feelings of gaining strength versus injury to the joint or surgical site. 

Front Porch therapists value working along side your physician or other health care provider to provide you the most comprehensive coordinated care. 

When someone comes to Front Porch Physical Therapy with pain in the hand, elbow, or shoulder, the first thing we do is assess whether the neck may be contributing to the problem.

An experienced physical therapist who specializes in musculoskeletal conditions can accurately determine where pain is truly coming from. A thorough evaluation by a licensed physical therapist with advanced training in spinal care ensures that treatment addresses the full picture—including the complex pathways of the nervous system.

We frequently see patients with shoulder or elbow pain that actually originates in the neck. In many cases, this type of nerve-related pain can be significantly reduced—or even eliminated—without surgery or medication, through skilled physical therapy and by teaching patients effective self-care strategies.

Pain in the hand (including carpal tunnel symptoms), elbow, shoulder, or even between the shoulder blades may be related to nerve compression in the neck. If you wake at night with arm or hand pain, or if your arm or hand frequently “falls asleep,” it is essential that the neck be carefully evaluated. These symptoms are often rooted in cervical spine dysfunction.

Sometimes, simple changes—such as using the right cervical pillow or adjusting your computer workstation or car seat—can make a meaningful difference. Spine-focused physical therapy that emphasizes education and self-care can help you avoid surgery and reduce reliance on pain medication.

If the neck is ruled out as the source, the shoulder or elbow is then thoroughly evaluated to determine whether the pain stems from a joint issue or a soft tissue condition involving muscles or tendons. Shoulder pain is often related to tendon compression (commonly called impingement), frequently influenced by posture and movement habits that place stress on the rotator cuff. Elbow pain may sometimes be related to subtle joint alignment issues, such as a restriction involving the radial bone, which can improve significantly with skilled manual treatment.

A thorough assessment is essential to providing the right treatment—so you can feel better and return to daily activities as quickly as possible.

Working side by side with you, we help you understand your body, take an active role in your care, and regain confidence in your movement.

At Front Porch Physical Therapy, the McKenzie Method is one of the approaches we use in assessing and treating the spine. Most back or neck pain is mechanical in origin and can be corrected by teaching patients’ specific exercises and positioning techniques to reduce / abolish pain. 

The McKenzie Method uses a comprehensive and logical step-by-step process to evaluate the patient based on patient symptoms with certain movements or positions.  A McKenzie assessment can eliminate the need for expensive and/or invasive procedures.

Research has shown the initial McKenzie assessment procedures to be as reliable as costly diagnostic imaging (i.e., x-rays, MRIs) to determine the source of the problem and quickly identify whether a patient will benefit from this method of treatment.  Pain from arthritis can also be effectively treated with this method. (See our section about Arthritis and Fibromyalgia)

Treatment involves a series of individualized exercises designed to abolish the mechanical problem and eliminate pain, then focuses on teaching patients how to recognize early symptoms of spinal problems and how to self treat, reducing dependence on medical intervention. This method is highly effective for sciatica and other referred pain.

Correcting posture and ergonomics is a key element in treating spinal issues. Front Porch therapists aid patients with assessing ergonomics (habitual positions or body mechanics) to offer life-long solutions for avoiding pain and dysfunction.

For patients with more difficult mechanical problems, Front Porch Physical Therapists provide hands-on techniques until the patient can apply their own pain relieving exercises. 

At Front Porch Physical Therapy, our goal is to help you maintain or regain your highest level of function possible.  Whether you participate in Sports, Dance, Yoga, Golf, Mountain Biking, Running, Horseback Riding, Weight Training, Tennis, Swimming, Martial Arts, or any other physical activity, we want you to be able to continue enjoying your physical fitness passion without injury.

Front Porch therapists come from a broad background of Physical Fitness disciplines such as Marathon Running, Mountain Biking, Dance, Yoga, Rock Climbing , Hiking and Weight Training. We understand the need to continue participating in your discipline, if possible, during the rehab process. We will teach you how to modify your activity to avoid further injury and will teach you a step-by-step process for returning to your full level of activity as soon as possible. 

For students, we will also work with your coach or teacher to help you learn ways to manage your injury during practice and ways to relearn correct mechanics during application of your physical activity to avoid further injury. 

We support your desire to be active and want to help you learn how to participate without pain and injury.

Front Porch Therapists help you maintain or regain your highest level of function possible.  Whether you participate in Dance, Yoga, Martial Arts, or any other physical activity, we want you to be able to continue enjoying your passion without injury.

Front Porch therapists come from a background of Physical Fitness disciplines and Dance Performance, Yoga Practice. We understand the need to continue participating in your discipline, if possible, during the rehab process. We will teach you how to modify your activity to avoid further injury and will teach you a step-by-step process for returning to your full level of activity as soon as possible. 

For students, we will also work with your teacher to help you learn ways to manage your injury during practice and ways to relearn correct mechanics during return to Yoga / Dance to avoid further injury. 

We support your desire to remain active in your discipline and are committed to helping you learn how to participate without pain and injury.