Physical Therapy
Our physical therapy team offers personalized, advanced treatments for people of all ages, helping to restore function, manage pain, and improve daily life.
Local access to comprehensive therapy services
Our physical therapy team helps you restore movement, manage pain, and return to the activities that matter most, from work and sports to everyday tasks at home. Whether you are recovering from surgery, healing after an injury, or managing a chronic condition, our physical therapists work with you one‑on‑one to build a treatment plan tailored to your goals.
We serve adults and children from across East Central Indiana and West Central Ohio, offering physical therapy services typically available only in large metropolitan areas. Our rehabilitation facilities feature therapy pools, spacious gyms, and advanced equipment to meet a wide range of needs.
What is physical therapy?
Physical therapy, or PT, focuses on improving how your body moves and functions after illness, injury, or surgery. Licensed physical therapists and physical therapist assistants use exercise, hands‑on techniques, and specialized equipment to reduce pain, increase mobility, and prevent future problems. Rather than simply masking symptoms, physical therapy targets the root causes of your limitations, enabling you to move more efficiently and safely in daily life.
Our physical therapists evaluate how you walk, sit, stand, lift, and perform other functional activities, then design exercises to strengthen specific muscle groups, improve balance, and correct posture. Education is a major part of every visit, so you learn what is happening in your body and what you can do at home to support your recovery.
Physical therapy
Goals of physical therapy
Your therapist helps you set measurable goals, which vary from person to person. A therapist also tracks progress over time, allowing you to see clear improvements as treatment continues. Here are some of the potential goals you and your therapist might set together:
- Improving strength, flexibility, balance, and coordination
- Preventing future injuries or complications, especially after surgery or a major health event
- Reducing pain without relying only on medications
- Restoring independence in activities such as walking, climbing stairs, lifting, and self‑care
Conditions we treat
We provide comprehensive physical therapy services for a wide range of conditions that affect the muscles, bones, joints, brain and nervous system. Common reasons you might come to therapy include:
Chronic pain and spine conditions
Many people seek therapy for chronic back, neck, or joint pain, including arthritis and degenerative disc disease. Therapists use targeted exercise, posture training, and manual techniques to reduce pain and improve day‑to‑day function.
Orthopedic and sports injuries
Therapists treat orthopedic and sports medicine injuries, including sprains and strains, tendonitis, overuse injuries, joint pain, and recovery after fractures or joint replacement surgery. Sports‑focused programs help athletes safely return to play after ligament tears, shoulder injuries, and other sports‑related issues.
Neurologic conditions
Physical therapy plays a crucial role in recovery after stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, and other neurologic conditions such as multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease. Therapy might focus on improving walking, balance, coordination, and overall safety at home and in the community.
Advanced physical therapy treatments at Reid Health
In addition to traditional therapeutic exercises and manual therapy, we offer several specialized therapies that enhance the scope of physical therapy for you.
Aquatic therapy
Aquatic therapy uses the buoyancy and resistance of warm water to help you exercise with less stress on your joints. This approach is especially helpful if you have arthritis, chronic pain, balance issues, or weakness after surgery because you can move more freely and safely in the pool than on land.
Dry needling
Dry needling uses thin, solid needles to release tight bands of muscle, known as trigger points. Our trained physical therapists use dry needling to help reduce pain, improve flexibility, and enhance the effects of exercise for conditions such as chronic back pain, neck pain, and sports injuries.
Hand and upper‑extremity therapy
If you’re recovering from hand, wrist, elbow, or shoulder injuries, physical therapists provide targeted exercises, splinting, scar management, and fine‑motor training. These treatments support your recovery after fractures, tendon repairs, carpal tunnel surgery, and other upper‑extremity procedures so you can return to work and self‑care tasks more quickly.
Pelvic floor physical therapy
We offer specialized pelvic floor physical therapy to treat conditions like incontinence, pelvic pain, and recovery after pregnancy or surgery. Our therapists use advanced techniques, including biofeedback and personalized exercises, to improve muscle function and bladder control. These treatments help you regain comfort and confidence, allowing you to return to your daily activities with peace of mind.
Robotic and suit‑based technologies
We offer advanced robotic exoskeleton trainers and intensive suit-based programs, including Ekso devices for adults and specialized pediatric suits in the Intensive Neuro Functional Strengthening® program. These technologies aid in practicing standing, walking, and functional movements for people with neurologic or developmental conditions.
Vestibular rehabilitation
If you have dizziness, vertigo, or balance problems, you may benefit from vestibular rehabilitation, a specialized exercise‑based program that retrains the brain and inner ear to reduce symptoms. Individualized exercises can help keep your vision steady while moving, decrease spinning sensations, and reduce your risk of falls.
What is the difference between PT and OT?
Physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT) often work together, but they have different focuses. PT primarily addresses movement — including walking, balance, strength, range of motion, and endurance — so you can move safely from place to place. OT focuses on helping you perform daily activities such as dressing, bathing, cooking, driving, and work tasks, often using adaptive techniques or equipment.
You might see both PT and OT as part of your rehabilitation plan, especially after a stroke, major surgery, or a serious injury. Your rehabilitation team recommends the combination of services that best meets your needs.
When should you go to physical therapy?
Most rehabilitation services at Reid Health require a referral from your provider, so talk with your primary care provider or specialist if you think PT could help.
You might benefit from physical therapy if you:
- Are recovering from surgery, such as joint replacement or spine surgery
- Have experienced a stroke, neurologic condition, or balance problem
- Have pain that lasts more than a few days or keeps coming back
- Notice difficulty walking, climbing stairs, getting in and out of a chair, or doing your usual daily tasks
- Want to safely return to sports or an active lifestyle after injury
Your therapy team and how to get started
You’ll work with licensed physical therapists and physical therapist assistants with experience in treating a wide range of conditions. Therapists collaborate with rehabilitation physicians, occupational therapists, speech‑language pathologists, nurses, and social workers to coordinate your care, whether you’re seen in the hospital, in the Acute Rehabilitation Unit or in an outpatient clinic.
During your first visit, your therapist reviews your medical history, performs a detailed movement exam, and discusses your goals. Together, you create a treatment plan that might include in‑clinic sessions and a customized home exercise program designed to build on your progress between appointments.