Sports Medicine Physical Therapy is the branch of physical therapy that deals with injuries or illnesses resulting from participation in sports and athletic activities. Orthopedic Physical Therapy is the branch of PT that deals with the prevention or correction of injuries or disorders of the skeletal system and associated muscles, joints, and ligaments. At Capitol PT, the “sports medicine approach” is simply the careful assessment of the structures in the body that may be contributing to your condition and using that information to develop a specific, individualized plan of treatment for the most rapid recovery.

We use the “sports medicine approach” as the basis for all of our treatments for both athletes and
non-athletes alike. Our physical therapists have the expertise in treating, preventing, and assessing injuries, and directing an athlete in a variety of ways.

Manual Therapy

Capitol PT physical therapists have undergone specialized training in mobilization of the spine and extremities. Our treatments are based on evidence in medical studies, which guide us in creating more rapid results for our patients. Capitol PT’s manual therapy treatments focus on mechanical dysfunction of the extremities and spine only. Our manual therapy treatments are designed for orthopedic and joint related conditions. Our treatments are safe, effective, and allow our patients to recover faster from their injuries. We DO NOT promote manual therapy for any other condition such as ear infections, systemic arthritis, infections, infertility, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, or any suspected contraindications to spinal or joint mobilization.

Geriatric Rehabilitation

Although adult aging is a normal process, aging need not result in pain and a decrease in physical mobility. At Capitol PT, we understand the anatomical and physical changes that occur with normal aging through our experience in treating older adults. Physical therapy intervention may prevent life-long disability and restore a person’s highest level of functioning and quality of life. Examples of diseases or conditions that may affect older adults and be improved with physical therapy include: arthritis, joint replacements, hip fractures, Parkinson’s disease, strokes, osteoporosis, falls, balance and coordination deficits, amputations, wound care, incontinence and more.

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Women’s Health Physical Therapy

Capitol PT offers one of the area's few Women’s Health Physical Therapy programs. We recognize that biomechanical and hormonal factors place females across the lifespan at an increased risk for certain injuries that are different from those that affect males. Capitol PT treats women of all ages with a variety of health issues including pre and post-partum care, pelvic pain, incontinence, athletic injuries, cesarean/episiotomy pain and scar management, and osteoporosis. Choosing a PT who has undergone extensive training for treatment of pelvic pain is important. Choosing a CAPP (Certificate of Achievement in Pelvic Pain) trained provider allows you to be cared for by the highest trained individuals in women’s health. CAPP trained providers undergo extensive training through the Women’s Health section of the American Physical Therapy Association. For more information, please see the section on Women’s Health.

At Capitol Physical Therapy, we are active women, helping women get back to activities.

Our trained professionals recognize that females are at a greater risk for athletic injuries including anterior cruciate ligament tears, patellofemoral pain (kneecap pain), shoulder, and SI joint pain. Our therapists specialize in the treatment of active women, including professional and pregnant athletes, and are experienced in treating a variety of orthopedic injuries.

Pre/Post-partum Physical Therapy

Pregnancy shouldn’t mean pain. Physical therapy can help you manage your pain and discomfort during your pregnancy and post-partum time periods. Our physical therapists have undergone training in the treatment of the pregnant client through the Section on Women’s Health of the American Physical Therapy Association. Common complaints during pregnancy that we can assist you with include: low back pain, pelvic pain, joint pain, postural changes, muscle soreness, foot pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and leg swelling. In addition, we provide education and instruction on positioning for labor and delivery and education on posture and body mechanics for childcare and activities of daily living. Our specialists fit patients with external supports and braces if necessary.

Physical therapy treatments for post-partum conditions include: muscle weakness after bed rest, post-operative incision pain (cesarean or episiotomy), low back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, sacroiliac joint pain, pubic bone pain, and individualized exercise prescription for core strengthening.

Pelvic Pain and Sexual Pain

If intercourse hurts or is impossible; if inserting a tampon is a struggle; if gynecologists' visits are a dreadful experience . . .

You are not alone.

Believe it or not, millions of women feel your pain and frustration. Fortunately, in recent years the medical profession has learned a lot about vaginal pain--everything from what to name it, to how to treat it, as well as physical therapy's vital role in recovery. The pelvic floor muscles and other muscles of the abdomen often tighten in reaction to pain. Over time, tight muscles can become weak and not function properly. This can limit your walking, sitting, recreation, and normal activities, including sex.

Physical therapy can significantly help those who have pelvic pain, and choosing a provider who is CAPP certified (Certificate of Achievement in Pelvic Pain) allows you to be treated by the highest trained individuals in women’s health. A physical therapy evaluation includes a complete postural assessment, low back screening, and testing of the pelvic floor muscles for strength, coordination, tension, and tenderness. We use electromyography (EMG) biofeedback of the pelvic floor muscles as part of our evaluation. Based on our evaluation, we develop a treatment plan to help restore your normal pelvic floor function. Treatment for your condition may include external/internal pelvic floor massage, relaxation training, EMG biofeedback education, strengthening, bladder retraining, and home exercises. We teach you strategies to manage flare-ups and give you the tools you need to control the reoccurrence of symptoms.

Urinary Incontinence

WE CAN HELP. Making the first call is the hardest.

One in four women suffer from urinary incontinence, and over 14 million Americans are incontinent. Urinary incontinence occurs when muscles of the pelvic floor that control bladder function are weak or uncoordinated. A loss of bladder control results in the leakage of urine. Urinary incontinence may be caused by muscle weakness, childbirth/pregnancy, hormonal changes, obesity, surgical trauma, repetitive heavy lifting, pelvic fractures, prostate surgery, chronic cough, and prolonged standing.

Capitol Physical Therapy’s therapists are specialists in the treatment of urinary incontinence and provide treatment in a confidential and sensitive manner. Your therapist will educate you on normal bladder health and pelvic floor muscle function. Our therapists use electromyography (EMG) biofeedback to train your pelvic floor muscles, and depending on your condition, you may be provided with: a personalized exercise program, bladder diary and voiding schedule, fluid management system and bladder retraining. The goals of physical therapy for urinary incontinence include: decreasing or resolving urinary leakage, attaining a normal voiding frequency, identifying bladder irritants, and providing continence for all daily activities. The advantages of physical therapy treatment for this condition include lower cost, lower risk (non-surgical), lower use of medicine, and a 60-80% cured/improved rate. Our treatments are effective in treating stress incontinence (involuntary loss of urine through coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercising) and urge incontinence (inability of the bladder to serve effectively as a reservoir due to inappropriate bladder muscle contractions) and allow you to take an active role in your own treatment.

For uncomplicated incontinence cases, only 6 to 8 visits over the course of 8 to 12 weeks shows positive results for the majority of patients. Call today for an appointment (608) 848-6628.

Osteoporosis Prevention and Rehabilitation

Osteoporosis is occurring in epidemic proportions across the country, and Capitol PT professionals are trained in treating this ‘silent disease’. We provide education and rehabilitation on the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Therapists at Capitol PT are skilled in the prevention and treatment of spine or extremity fractures associated with osteoporosis. Our professionals can develop and advance an individualized exercise regime that is site-specific and safe for your condition. Through our program you will improve your posture and strength, decrease your pain associated with osteoporosis, and learn body positions and movements harmful to your condition.

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Our Aquatic Therapy program is provided by a licensed physical therapist in a warm, safe, and welcoming environment. The buoyancy and resistance of water create a safe and easily tolerated environment for accelerated rehabilitation. Our facility maintains an 89-92 degree water temperature as suggested by the American Physical Therapy Association for optimal therapeutic benefit. Aquatic therapy can help: improve strength, endurance, balance, and coordination; increase range of motion; decrease tissue swelling; normalize muscle tone; reduce stress on joints during exercise, and improve circulation. Conditions effectively treated with aquatic physical therapy include: reduced weight bearing conditions, pre/post-partum conditions, spine and other joint pain, post-surgical conditions, chronic pain, arthritis, edema/swelling, and fibromyalgia.

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Work-Injury Rehabilitation

At Capitol PT, we take an aggressive approach in treating work injuries. We know that early diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal injuries are the keys to returning an injured worker to the job as quickly as possible thereby reducing both medical costs and time lost from work. Our therapists correspond with case managers, physicians, and employers, and use job descriptions and video analysis of job tasks to progress programs appropriately and efficiently. Our professionals provide acute treatments as well as work conditioning programs and functional capacity evaluations. We are the only ErgoScience® certified site in the Madison area, which allows us to perform ErgoScience®'s Physical Work Performance Evaluation (PWPE). The PWPE is the only FCE with research supporting all individual tasks of the test and both reliability and validity. We understand the value of educating our patients on body mechanics and ergonomics to prevent future exposure to injury. We strive to restore the health and function of our worker-injured patients in a manner that meets the needs of the employers that we serve and is in compliance with the patients’ expectations.
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