Larchmont Physical Therapy of Los Angeles

We provide quality, comprehensive treatment for patients who are injured or suffering from any type of movement or function disorder.

As a key member of today’s dynamic health care team, we prescribe a goal-oriented program of evaluation, treatment, and prevention for our patient’s specific needs. 

Conditions we treat include but are not limited to: 

• Orthopedic and sports injuries
• Pre/post surgical rehabilitation
• Back and neck injuries/pain
• Work injuries
• Auto accident injuries

The benefits of physical therapy include: 

• Relief of pain and muscle spasms
• Improved mobility and increased range of motion
• Increased or maintained strength and endurance
• Decreased swelling and inflammation of joints
• Decreased physical stresses

What is a concussion?

A concussion is defined as a disruption of the normal functioning of the brain usually due to a direct or indirect force to the head.

Is Concussion a brain injury?

Yes. In short, it is a functional injury to the brain, rather than a structural injury.

What do you mean by a functional injury to the brain?

The brain controls many functions of the human body. When these functions are disrupted, the “concussed” person may experience problems with thinking, balance, emotion, and sleep. As a result, they may feel mentally “foggy,” dizzy, nauseated, more emotional, restless, or tired.

What are the signs and symptoms of a concussion?

After sustaining a fall or blow to the head, if one or more of these signs are observed, a concussion is suspected:

• Appears dazed or stunned, forgetful, or confused, An athlete who sustains a concussion may forget an instruction, be confused about an assignment or position, or be unsure of the game, score, or opponent.
• Can’t recall events prior to or after a hit or fall.
• *Answers questions slowly
• *Moves clumsily.
• *Loses consciousness (even briefly).
• *Shows mood, behavior, or personality changes.

If one or more of these symptoms are reported, a concussion is suspected:

• Headache or “pressure” in the head.
• *Nausea or vomiting.
• *Balance problems or dizziness.
• *Double or blurry vision.
• *Bothered by light or noise.
• *Feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy, or groggy.
• *Confusion, or concentration, or memory problems.
• *Just not “feeling right,” or “feeling down”

Someone must be “knocked out” or lose consciousness to have sustained a concussion, right?

This is a dangerous misconception about concussions. A concussion does not necessarily result in loss of consciousness, nor does the loss of consciousness on its own predict the severity or course of recovery from the concussion.

What should a parent or coach do when they are not sure whether their child or athlete sustained a concussion?

The statement “if in doubt, sit them out” summarizes it best. More specifically, the CDC recommends and California law (AB 2127)* mandates that an athlete suspected of sustaining a concussion or head injury is prohibited from returning to the athletic activity until the athlete is evaluated by a licensed health care provider. This educational sheet published by the CDC is an excellent resource for parents and coaches:

• www.cdc.gov
• Assembly Bill

What are the health risks of “playing through” a concussion or suspected concussion?

Due to slowed reaction time and impaired judgment, an individual who has not fully recovered from a concussion is at heightened risk to sustain another blow to the head if he or she continues to participate in an athletic event. A repeat concussion sustained before full recovery has occurred can lead to second impact syndrome, which is a serious and life-threatening condition that involves rapid swelling of the brain. Although serious, second impact syndrome is preventable through recognition and proper management of an initial concussion.

How soon can an athlete return to play after sustaining a concussion?

The good news is 85% of individuals recover within 3 weeks of sustaining a concussion. However, there are many factors involved in an individual’s recovery from a concussion. Prior to returning to play, it must first be determined by a licensed health care provider trained in the management of concussion that he or she has returned to their “baseline” or pre-injury state. In addition, the athlete must complete a graduated return to play protocol under the supervision of a licensed health care provider trained in the management of concussion.

Why see a Physical Therapist for a concussion?

A Physical Therapist, trained in the management of concussion, is able to evaluate and provide treatment and education for symptoms of concussion, including headache and dizziness. In addition, a physical therapist’s expertise in exercise and movement allows them to safely and effectively implement the mandatory graduated return to play protocol. A Physical Therapist with training and experience treating concussions can help screen for cognitive (thinking and memory) problems, or visual problems that are amenable to referral to Speech-Language Pathology or Occupational Therapy, respectively.

Why should someone choose Physical Therapy to recover from a concussion?

Our clinics are home to a cutting-edge team of Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapists who are formally trained and experienced in the management of concussion. These expert clinicians have collaborated with local physicians to develop a comprehensive and affordable care model designed to return local high school athletes safely and successfully to sports, academics, and social roles.

There are many physical therapy treatments that can help improve spine health and relieve spine-related conditions. Some of the most common therapies include:

1. Exercise: Exercise is a key part of spine health, and there are many different types that can be beneficial. Pilates, yoga, and stretching exercises can help to stretch and strengthen the muscles around the spine, improving flexibility and stability. Aerobic exercises such as walking or biking can also help to improve overall fitness and reduce stress on the spine.

2. Manual Therapy: Manual therapy, such as massage or spinal manipulation, can help to relieve tension in the muscles and improve joint mobility. This type of therapy can be helpful for both acute and chronic pain relief.

3. Cold/Hot Therapy: Cold therapy can help to reduce inflammation and pain, while hot therapy can help to relax muscles and improve blood flow. Both of these therapies can be helpful in managing spine-related conditions.

4. Heat/Ice Packs: Heat or ice packs can also be used to provide relief from pain and inflammation. Heating pads can be used to apply heat directly to the skin, while ice packs can be used to apply cold directly to the area of pain.

5. Bracing: Bracing may be recommended in some cases to provide extra support to the spine and help reduce pain and inflammation. There are many different types of braces available, so it is important to work with a physical therapist to find the best one for your needs.

If you are experiencing back pain or other spine-related problems, it is important to seek medical assistance. However, physical therapy may also be beneficial in relieving your symptoms and improving your overall health. Contact our clinic today for more information on how they may be able to help you!

The ankle is a weight-bearing joints and one of the most commonly injured joints in the body. Ankle sprains account for approximately 1 million visits to the emergency room each year in the United States.

Physical therapy can be an effective treatment for ankle injuries and other conditions that affect the foot and ankle.

We use a variety of treatments to help their patients recover from foot and ankle injuries, including:

Exercise: Exercise is an important part of treatment for foot and ankle injuries. Podiatrists may prescribe specific exercises to strengthen the muscles and ligaments around the joint.

Manual Therapy: Manual therapy techniques, such as massage and joint mobilization, can help to reduce pain and swelling.

Modalities: Modalities, such as heat or ice, can also be used to treat foot and ankle injuries.

Bracing and Orthotics: In some cases, podiatrists may prescribe braces or orthotics to support the joints and muscles.

Falls and fear of falling in our senior population are recognized public health crises.

According to the CDC, falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths in older adults by a wide margin. Each year, more than two million seniors experience a fall severe enough to necessitate emergency medical treatment. This number along with the associated personal and societal costs of falling is expected to rise as our population ages. Despite these grim statistics, many falls are preventable with professional interventions that address the causes of falling in older adults.

Our expert clinicians are trained in evidence-based interventions that are proven by controlled clinical trials to effectively reduce the number of falls in older adults.

There are other factors that also contribute to falls. Neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s Disease, stroke, multiple sclerosis, brain injury, vestibular disorders, and neuropathy also increase fall risk. Our therapy team is well equipped to address the problems of falling and the fear of falling in individuals living with these conditions.

Pediatric physical therapy facilitates and improves motor development, strength and endurance in kids while providing learning opportunities to assist with daily caregiving. Physical therapists (PTs) at Two Trees Kids work with children, from infancy through adolescence, and families to assist each child in reaching their maximum potential in home, school, and community environments. We are experts in movement and apply clinical reasoning through the process of examination, evaluation, diagnosis, and intervention. Our full-scale pediatric gym offers a setting where children can be comfortable and enjoy themselves.

Commonly treated diagnoses include developmental delay, toe walking, torticollis, scoliosis, and other orthopedic, genetic, and neuromuscular related diagnoses.

References

Practice Committee of the Section on Pediatrics, APTA. Fact Sheet: The ABC’s of Pediatric Physical Therapy. Section on Pediatrics, American Physical Therapy Association. 2009. Web. 18 May. 2016.

Torticollis, also called wryneck or twisted neck, is a condition caused by tightened or shortened neck muscles. Children with this condition often have poor head control and tilt their head towards one side with the chin turned to the other side. This is usually observed in the first 6 to 8 weeks of life.

Torticollis may be an acquired or congenital disorder, occurring as a result of gene mutation, dislocation or fracture of the neck vertebrae, infection or inflammation of lymph nodes, abscess in the throat (retropharyngeal abscess), or injury or diseases of the nervous system. In newborns, it can occur as a result of abnormal positioning of the head in the womb. In older children, it may result from injury to the neck muscles or sleeping in an abnormal position.

Along with the abnormal tilt, children with torticollis may also exhibit painless swelling or a mass in the neck, limited mobility of the neck, flatness on one side of the face and head (plagiocephaly), and pain and stiffness in the neck.

Your doctor will diagnose torticollis based on the birth history and a careful physical examination. X-rays and ultrasound examination of the neck may be done to rule out other abnormalities and confirm the diagnosis. A thorough neurologic examination helps to assess the cause of the disease.

Treatment for torticollis depends on the cause and is generally a conservative approach of physical therapy exercises and medicine including NSAIDs and injection of Botox into the neck muscles. In rare cases, if muscle stiffness persists and limits head movement in children after the age of 1 year, surgery may be considered.

Development is the process by which a child learns new skills to interact with those around them and survive in their environment. It happens at a rapid rate during early childhood.

Basic skills are combined to learn more complex skills such as walking, playing, speaking, and thinking. Although children grow at different rates, certain milestones of development such as sitting, walking, talking, etc. are associated with particular age groups. Some children may catch up with their peers after displaying an initial delay in development (transient developmental delay) while others show significant developmental delay that needs further evaluation (persistent developmental delay).

Children may show a persistent developmental delay in one or more areas including:

• Speech and language: Understanding, speaking, and using language
• Motor skills: Basic movement and fine motor skills such as manipulating objects
• Intellectual or cognitive ability: Understanding, thinking, and learning
• Social and emotional skills: Ability to associate with people and develop independence

Transient delays are often seen in premature babies, or those suffering from physical illness, family stress, or long hospitalizations. Persistent delay in development may be caused by physical or mental differences such as with neuromuscular conditions, vision and hearing differences, language disorders, emotional problems, or intellectual disability. These may be recognized when children begin school.

If you feel your child has a developmental delay, it is recommended that they be assessed early so that appropriate treatment may be initiated. Your doctor will perform a complete physical examination and perform specific tests to identify the area of developmental delay and define your child’s strengths and weaknesses. Vision and hearing may be assessed and basic laboratory tests ordered. A complete assessment may be recommended through a multidisciplinary approach involving an occupational therapist, speech-language pathologist, and physical therapist.

Once your child’s developmental delay is diagnosed, your doctor will formulate an appropriate treatment plan. Your child may need therapy in different areas such as speech, motor skills, and emotional development. Talk to your doctor if you feel your child is not reaching developmental milestones appropriately, as early intervention will provide the best outcomes for your child.

The multidisciplinary team of pediatric physical, occupational, and speech-language pathologists at Two Trees Kids are experts in treating kids with a wide range of developmental delay types and needs.

Language Delays:

A language delay is when a child isn’t meeting communication/language milestones. This
may be expressive (not saying as many words or sounds as expected), receptive
(difficulties with understanding), or mixed (both expressive and receptive). In other words,
their skills are delayed as compared to same-age peers. People also refer to these toddlers
as “late talkers.”

At Two Trees, we take a child-led, play-based approach to speech therapy sessions.
Children learn best through play – it is their “job” at this age! We target increasing
communication skills by incorporating evidence-based strategies into the child’s play. A
focus is also on educating the family, so that they can carry-over these strategies at home.
In fact, this is a very important part of treatment and is how we see children make
progress. We also support bilingual families and provide education on the benefits of
bilingual language development.

We provide quality, comprehensive treatment for patients who are injured or suffering from any type of movement or function disorder.

As a key member of today’s dynamic health care team, we prescribe a goal-oriented athlete training program starting with an evaluation, comprehensive training plan, and injury prevention for our patient’s specific needs. 

Athlete Training includes but is not limited to: 

• Speed Training
• Vertical Jump Training
• Adult Fitness

Speed Training:

Our speed program focuses on two outcomes: explosive acceleration, and a fast max speed. Sprint technique and leg power are the big drivers of speed, so our programs focus on enhancing both to maximize speed.

Athletes in our program learn what to do with their arms, hands, hips, feet, and chest in order to run their fastest. 

Vertical Jump Training:

To improve your jump height as fast as possible without wasting time and effort, there are two undeniable truths:

1. Every person is unique and training works best when tailored to you as an individual. Cookie-cutter programs don’t cut it.

2. Not all exercise is created equal. You have to pick the right exercises, with the right weights, in the right order for your body.

We know training works best when customized for each individual.

In this program, every athlete is tested to determine exactly what type of training he or she needs as an individual in order to maximize jump height.

After testing, we analyze the data and build your program to target exactly what you need and not waste your time and energy with what you don’t.

Once you do the testing and we write your training program, you can then complete the program on your own. Our programs are written in four-week cycles. After you complete your four-week cycle, you’ll come back for re-testing to track progress and determine what changes need to be made in your training. As you advance, the type of training you need will change. RE-testing every four weeks allows us to monitor your progression closely so that every training session is exactly what your body needs to get as explosive as possible.

Adult Fitness:

Our adult fitness personal training programs are uniquely tailored to your individual goals, lifestyle, and abilities to help you move forward and live the life you want to live. 

We help adults achieve:

• Stronger muscles for everyday function
• Faster 5k race times
• Improved energy levels
• Better balance for fewer falls
• General fitness for a healthier life overall

Rapid Recovery Options:

• Rapid Recovery Normatec/Game Ready/Kinesio Taping
• Tool-Assisted Manual Therapy
• Cupping

Tool-Assisted Manual Therapy

Tool-Assisted Manual Therapy is a type of physical therapy that promotes the regeneration of healthy soft tissues (muscles, tendons, etc.) and eliminates or decreases scar tissue that might be causing discomfort or movement limitations.

Astym therapy has been shown to be highly successful in restoring movement and alleviating pain from soft tissue injury/dysfunction, even when other techniques fail. One of the major reasons for this is that Astym was created to address the underlying source of a number of soft tissue issues rather than merely treating symptoms.

• IT band syndrome
• Patellar tendinosis, chronic patellar tendinitis/tendonitis (jumper’s knee)
• Achilles tendinosis and chronic Achilles tendinitis
• Shin splints
• Chronic hamstring strain
• Lateral epicondylosis, chronic lateral epicondylitis
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• DeQuervain’s tenosynovitis
• Wrist sprain
• Plantar fasciopathy/heel pain/chronic plantar fasciitis
• Joint contractures
• Overuse injuries
• Pain or loss of motion & function following surgery, trauma, or overuse injury

Game Ready

Game Ready provides a range of accessories to bring you comprehensive, integrated, and comfortable treatment options – including cold therapy, heat therapy, rapid contrast therapy, and intermittent compression therapy.

Kinesio Taping

Kinesio taping is a form of medical adhesive tape used to treat musculoskeletal problems. It’s made of breathable, flexible material, usually cotton or a cotton blend, and is applied just below the skin’s surface.

The benefits of kinesiology taping are to improve circulation, support muscles, encourage healing, and help prevent injury or further injury.

Please connect with our clinic to learn more about these rapid recovery options.

Deep Tissue laser therapy is a non-invasive medical treatment that helps reduce inflammation. Laser therapy is effective in treating acute pain, chronic conditions, and post-operative pain. Laser therapy can often eliminate the need for pharmaceutical treatment and even surgery

Deep tissue laser therapy uses specific wavelengths of light to create that is transmitted to help stimulate cells within the body that help provide relief to symptoms including pain, swelling, and limited range of motion. 

There is no discomfort during treatment, simply a deep, gentle warmth as your body’s cells respond to the light.

Professional athletes in the NBA, NFL, MLB, & FIFA as well as world-class Olympians choose Laser Therapy as it delivers a fast and effective results.

Conditions we treat include but are not limited to: 

• Post Surgical Recovery
• Muscle Soreness & Tension in the lower back, upper back, or neck
• Bulging, Herniated, or Disc Protrusion
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Epicondylitis (Tennis Elbow)
• Bursitis (Hip and Shoulder)
• Arthritic Conditions (Hip, Knee Shoulder)
• Headaches including Migraines
• Sports Injuries
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Tendinitis

The benefits of deep tissue laser therapy include: 

• Assist in the Healing Process
• Alternative to Surgery
• Non-Invasive
• Anti-Inflammatory