Physical Therapy

Enhances your body's ability to maintain stability and control movements. 

Uses electromyography (EMG) sensors to test and reeducate muscles to correct abnormal responses. 

Includes an evaluation of bathroom habits and physical abilities before providing biofeedback, strengthening exercises, relaxation techniques and behavioral modifications. 

Uses a thin needle inserted at specific trigger points to treat movement impairments, manage musculoskeletal pain, decrease tightness and increase blood flow. 

Implements strategies and interventions, such as modifying environmental factors, improving balance and building strength, to reduce accidental fall risk. 

Includes fitting for and training in the use of gait aids, such as canes, walkers or crutches. 

Evaluates your gait pattern; addresses proper posture, muscle tightness and limitations; and teaches exercises to strengthen muscles and improve gait mechanics. 

Provides work rehabilitation, on-site consultation, injury management and provider care coordination. 

Restores your mobility and posture by improving joint mobility and relaxing or extending soft muscle and connective tissue using a gentle, hands-on approach. 

Evaluates limitations and develops a care plan for people with neurological conditions, such as a brain tumor, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, neuropathy and stroke. 

Teaches proper body mechanics and movement patterns. 

Provides specialized education to help you reduce sensitivity to nerves, gradually increase activity tolerance, improve function and reduce overall pain. 

Uses evidence-based interventions to improve daily function, mobility, communication and quality of life. 

Addresses pelvic floor dysfunction, incontinence, postural changes and weakened core caused by aging, pregnancy or functional issues. 

Combines physical therapy and sports medicine to improve athletic performance and prevent injuries. 

Targets specific muscle groups to build muscle mass, enhance strength and improve overall physical performance. 

Improves muscle coordination, reduces range of motion limitations, manages scar restrictions and increases flexibility and strength. 

Manages and treats vestibular disorders, such as difficulty walking, dizziness, imbalance or vertigo, in a non-invasive way. 

For your first appointment, bring your current prescription information or medical records from non-Mayo Clinic Health System facilities. Complete a medical records release form to authorize the transfer of health records from another healthcare facility to us. Visit our Medical Record Forms page for this and other forms in multiple languages.

During your initial visit, you will discuss your goals for therapy, and the physical therapist will evaluate your concerns. They will assess your movement, muscle strength and endurance, ambulation, balance and performance of daily living activities. After the assessment, the physical therapist will diagnose the problem and develop an individualized treatment plan with you, which may include:

• Counseling
• Education
• Medical interventions
• Rehabilitation
• Therapeutic exercise
• Training in activities of daily living

The physical therapy team will tailor your treatment program to help you become independent, improve function and enhance your quality of life. The team works with your orthopedic specialist and prosthetist to educate you on a variety of topics, including proper fit, position and care for your prosthesis.

Your amputee rehabilitation may include:

1. Initial evaluation — to address your needs and limitations
2. Exercises — to help optimize your limb position, strengthen the muscles around the residual limb and build support and stability for proper posture and body mechanics
3. Prosthesis fitting — which involves coordination between your prosthetist and physical therapist, as well as adjustments during several sessions
4. Education — on how to care for your residual limb, including information on protection, hygiene and compression wrapping to control swelling
5. Gait training — to help you return to daily function and independent tasks

Aquatic therapy is physical therapy conducted in a warm water pool and is offered at our locations in:

• Mankato, Minnesota
• Menomonie, Wisconsin
• Onalaska, Wisconsin

The buoyancy and warmth of the water support joints to decrease pain and stiffness during exercise. Exercising in the water provides resistance for improved strength, endurance and flexibility.

Aquatic therapy is appropriate for people experiencing:

• Chronic pain
• Injury
• Neurological conditions, such as stroke
• Osteoarthritis
• Recovery from surgery

Before beginning aquatic therapy, you will complete a screening questionnaire to make sure aquatic therapy is right for you. Exercises vary and treatment sessions last 30 to 60 minutes. Your therapist will work with you in the water to guide your movements. You should expect to be in the pool for your entire session, though some exercises may involve non-pool activities.

A dysfunctional pelvic floor caused by aging, pregnancy or weak core muscles can affect the body in many ways. Physical therapists address issues related to pelvic floor dysfunction, such as:

• Back pain
• Interstitial cystitis or painful bladder syndrome
• Male incontinence after radical prostatectomy
• Muscle imbalances
• Overactive bladder or urinary urgency and frequency
• Pelvic floor pain and instability
• Postpartum rehabilitation
• Postural changes
• Prenatal pelvic floor strengthening
• Urinary or fecal incontinence
• Vulvar vestibulitis

Individualized treatment for pelvic floor dysfunction may include:

• Back or pelvic supports — to provide pain relief and proper positioning during healing
• Biofeedback training — to test and reeducate muscles to change abnormal responses
• Electrical stimulation — to alleviate pain and promote pain control, muscle function and healing
• Individualized home programs — to optimize outcomes
• Manual therapy — to gently restore joint mobility and posture
• Neuromuscular reeducation — to help with movement, balance, coordination and posture
• Therapeutic exercises — to improve coordination of muscles working and relaxing, manage scar and myofascial restrictions and increase strength, flexibility and core stability

Prenatal and postpartum rehabilitation therapy

The physical therapy team also offers prenatal preventive services and postpartum rehabilitation therapy to address postural, pelvic floor and core changes that happen during pregnancy. Treatment includes exercises to prevent and treat pain, urinary incontinence and diastasis recti (separation of abdominal muscles).

In addition, physical therapists can provide prenatal and postpartum services to guide you with:

• Alternative options for pain relief during labor
• Back and pelvic pain during pregnancy
• Bracing and support garments for pregnancy
• Positioning guidance for labor
• Posture and body mechanics during and after pregnancy, including while sleeping, lifting and carrying children, breastfeeding and bottle feeding
• Relaxation training before and during labor
• Return to activity and exercise after pregnancy
• Starting or advancing exercises during pregnancy
• Varicosity (varicose vein) care during pregnancy

Our physical therapists evaluate vestibular impairments and help patients manage the symptoms of vestibular disorders. The vestibular system includes the parts of the inner ear and brain that help control your balance and eye movements. If a disease, illness or injury damages your inner ear or brain, you may develop a vestibular disorder.

The most common symptoms of vestibular disorders are:

• Difficulty focusing the eyes during head movements
• Difficulty walking
• Dizziness
• Imbalance or feeling unsteady
• Nausea
• Vertigo (spinning sensation)

After a thorough assessment of your symptoms, the physical therapy team creates an individualized plan for your vestibular rehabilitation.

Diagnoses treated by vestibular rehabilitation include:

• Bilateral vestibular hypofunction or loss
• Central vestibular pathologies, primarily caused by stroke or head injury
• Unilateral vestibular hypofunction or loss, primarily caused by labyrinthitis, vestibular neuritis or acoustic neuroma
• Vertigo (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo)

Physical therapists also treat poor balance and unsteadiness not directly related to vestibular impairments. Vestibular and balance rehabilitation is an effective, noninvasive way to manage and treat these common conditions and complaints. The goal is to provide complete relief or a decrease in symptoms, as well as improved functional mobility.

Sports-related injuries can be devastating and often require surgery, intensive rehabilitation and months away from your sport. Any athlete can get injured, but your risk may be higher if your sport involves jumping, lunging, pivoting or twisting.

Injury prevention is the best option to keep you in the game, and it is our highest priority. The sports performance and injury prevention program combines physical therapy and sports medicine. Team members focus on helping you gain proper neuromuscular control through:

• Balance exercises
• Core stabilization and strengthening
• Instruction in postural awareness and body mechanics
• Speed and agility
• Sports-specific functional activities

To help you improve athletic performance, the physical therapy team can introduce you to game-changing techniques to:

• Boost your acceleration
• Improve your ability to change directions
• Increase your vertical jump

Watch this video to see how Mayo Clinic Health System physical therapists use gait analysis for evaluation, injury prevention and performance improvement:

Blood flow restriction (BFR) training is an exercise method that enables you to lift less weight but experience strength gains similar to high-weight strength training. You perform exercises while wearing an inflated cuff, much like a blood pressure cuff. A physical therapist oversees the cuff inflation and guides the exercises.

BFR can be an effective treatment for:

• Increasing muscle mass to improve performance
• Post-surgical recovery
• Reducing muscle atrophy in people who cannot exercise

A physical therapist will determine if BFR training is appropriate for you. There are excluding factors, such as having a blood-clotting disorder. If BFR training is recommended, the physical therapy staff will determine a personal treatment plan that may include strength training and cardiovascular exercises.

Physical therapists treat patients with neurological dysfunction resulting from trauma, genetics and disease, such as:

• Aneurysm
• Brain tumor
• Cerebral palsy
• Encephalitis
• Guillain-Barre syndrome
• Meningitis
• Multiple sclerosis
• Myopathy
• Neuropathy
• Parkinson's disease
• Spinal cord injury
• Stroke

The goal of neurological rehabilitation is to maximize your independent functioning and address your specific needs and concerns. Physical therapists will:

• Coordinate with your primary care provider, occupational therapist, surgeon and family members to develop a comprehensive clinical and home treatment plan.
• Conduct an in-depth evaluation to determine areas of limitation and develop a care plan consistent with your abilities and goals.
• Discuss the likely progression with you and your family to set realistic rehabilitation goals.

Your treatment may focus on:

• Balance and coordination
• Fine motor skills and dexterity
• Gross motor training
• Instruction in the use of adaptive equipment to enhance function and independence
• Neuromuscular electrical stimulation
• Neuromuscular reeducation to teach proper body mechanics and movement patterns
• Sensory reintegration
• Strength training

Physical therapists provide gait and balance training, which can help reduce fall risk for anyone who has experienced:

• A period of inactivity, bed rest or sedentary lifestyle
• A recent fall
• Neurological conditions, such as cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis and Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS)
• Stroke
• Total joint replacement surgery

Services for gait and balance dysfunction include:

• Evaluation for orthotics
• Fitting and training for gait aids, such as canes, walkers and crutches
• Gait pattern analysis and correction exercises to strengthen muscles specific to proper gait mechanics
• Posture education and guidance
• Treatment to address muscular tightness or other limitations

Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse, Wisconsin, also offers the Otago program, which focuses on fall prevention in community-dwelling older adults. This individualized and evidence-based program is proven to prevent falls in people 65 and older by improving strength and balance. It is most beneficial for people 80 and older who walk on their own with or without a walking aid.

Pediatric physical therapy can help infants, children and families with development and function. Physical therapists evaluate balance, mobility, motion, posture, strength and transitions.

Treatment can help with:

• Delayed milestones
• Imbalance of muscle tone and strength
• Poor coordination
• Toe-walking
• Torticollis

Parents will meet with a therapist to discuss concerns before the therapist observes, tests and assesses your child's current abilities. Based on their assessment, the therapist will recommend a treatment plan, including frequency of sessions, goals and home activities to do with your child.

The physical therapist may work with your child to:

• Explain and encourage proper positioning
• Improve balance and coordination
• Provide age-appropriate developmental activities
• Recommend adaptive equipment
• Teach motor development

Getting people back to work quickly and safely following an injury can benefit both the employer and employee. Specially trained physical therapists provide:

• Care coordination among providers
• Determination of an employee's return-to-work readiness
• Injury management
• On-site consultation
• Work rehabilitation

Select Mayo Clinic Health System locations also offer focused industrial testing services, including:

• Ergonomics education and training
• Functional capacity evaluations (FCE)
• Functional job analysis
• Post-offer prework screen (POPS)

Our Patient Account Services representatives can assist you with any issues related to billing and insurance. We also offer financial assistance if you are unable to pay for care due to financial hardship.

Yes. Call the appointment number at your preferred physical therapy location.

Always call 911 in case of an emergency. For after-hours help with other issues, get virtual care 24/7 through the Primary Care On Demand app or review our convenient care options.