Specialized Services & Equipment

Stewart Memorial Community Hospital Rehabilitation Department is proud to offer some of the best in rehab equipment, technology and techniques.

Synergy System by Prometheus

Engaging the target muscles is key for successful pelvic floor physical therapy. The Synergy System is a biofeedback-assisted system that measures the activation of your muscles and provides visual feedback during pelvic floor treatment which makes muscle activation easier and more effective.

Physical Therapist Ann Riat says:

"Biofeedback is a very common treatment in pelvic floor rehab. Biofeedback is not painful, and helps over 75% of people with pelvic floor dysfunction and can be used in different ways to re-train your muscles. Special sensors and video are used to monitor the pelvic floor muscles as you try to relax or clench them. Your therapist then gives you feedback and works with you to improve your muscle coordination."

Emily B. worked with Ann over a brief period after having three children. She says:

"I honestly think that every single person that has a pelvic floor should go to a pelvic floor therapist! Even just for a short amount of time, so you know what you’re doing - like a check-in... [Treatment] taught me how to take better care of myself. It wasn’t just going in and fixing some things and going home. I can use everything that she taught me to keep improving.”

Radial Pulse Therapy by Zimmer

Radial pulse therapy is changing the game in treatment of soft tissue pain and injuries. Radial pulse therapy delivers kinetic energy into your body’s soft tissue to facilitate healing blood flow and/or break up scar tissue and calcium deposits based on the level of energy settings. Radial pulse therapy as part of your therapy program is producing excellent and outcomes in treatment of plantar fasciitis, shin splints, tendonitis of Achilles, elbow, knee and/or shoulder and many other soft tissue causes of pain and activity limitations. Radial Pulse is also an excellent option for those nagging soft tissue pain/injuries that have not responded well to traditional treatments.

Our patients experience incredible results:

“I had pain in my right shoulder for years," says Amy V. "I achieved some temporary relief through physical therapy and dry needling a couple years ago, but in August 2021, I had an X-ray that showed the deposit. Three weeks later, an MRI confirmed this. My orthopedic provider recommended surgery, but I could not have surgery for three to six months due to a blood thinner I was taking. I was in a lot of pain, had poor range of motion, and trouble doing most things. So, I decided to try physical therapy in an attempt to reduce the pain until I could have surgery.”

After partnering with Luke Larson, DPT, Amy began Radial Pulse Therapy right away. With just 10-minute sessions over a brief period, the re-imaging of her shoulder -- shown below -- revealed a 90 percent decrease in the size of her calcium deposit.

 

Radial Pulse Therapy for Plantar Fasciitis

 

Brooke U. worked with PT Laura Hejtmanek to start Radial Pulse Therapy when her plantar fasciitis flared up during training for a 5K. She says:

"Laura explained the whole process to me and made sure I was comfortable throughout the treatment. After my first treatment, I already noticed a difference! After 5 treatments, I was feeling almost 100% and back to going on my daily runs -- pain free! I highly recommend this treatment to anyone who is living with heel pain and unable to go about their day-to-day activities. I am now over a year post-treatment and am so relieved to still be pain free! We are so lucky to have such amazing technology like the Radial Pulse Therapy at SMCH!"

 

Radial Pulse Therapy for Knee Pain

 

Radial Pulse Therapy for Shoulder Pain

Bioness Integrative Therapy System (BITS)

 BITS is a software-based therapy utilizing a 55” touch screen computer to challenge individuals who wish to improve in vision tracking, cognition, movement and balance. From older adults with aging or illness related deficits to athletes looking to improve their sports performance, BITS provides cutting edge technology to support improvement in these traditionally hard to target areas. BITS programs are customizable to each patient’s needs and can be quickly adapted to continue to challenge the patient as they progress. BITS programs are ideal for individuals looking to improve: 

  • Visuomotor coordination
  • Working memory
  • Reaction time
  • Physical and cognitive endurance
  • Visuospatial perception
  • Balance control
  • Visual and auditory processing
  • Postural stability

Physical Therapist Luke Larson and a patient utilize BITS to work on stability and coordination as a part of her concussion treatment program.

 

Techniques

 

FUNCTIONAL DRY NEEDLING

Your therapist inserts a needle that does not have medication (hence, dry) into the muscle to release or inactivate trigger points. Needling the trigger point can relieve pain or improve range of motion, particularly for pain located deep in a muscle.

 

GRASTON TECHNIQUE

(Right) This is a tool-assisted soft tissue treatment that can speed up the healing process and reduce pain.

 

MYOKINESTHETIC SYSTEM

This technique is a hands-on treatment that evaluates the root cause of pain within the nervous system and treats it via stretching and therapeutic movements.