Your Guide to Physical Therapy: Q and A with Makayla Bird, PT, DPT

Physical therapy isn't only for athletes. Anyone who needs help meeting movement goals and regaining independence can benefit from this form of physical rehabilitation.

Here, Makayla Bird, PT, DPT, a physical therapist at the UPMC Rehabilitation Institute in Muncy, Pa., offers insight on the field of physical therapy. She also shares what you need to know about outpatient rehab services in north central Pennsylvania.

What Is Physical Therapy?

Physical therapy is a form of rehabilitation that aims to bring people back to full functional capability.

PT involves following a guided exercise and custom treatment plan. The goal is to help you regain independence as you recover from surgery, an injury, or a health condition.

What is the role of a physical therapist?

Physical therapists develop the plans that help people move and reach their functional movement goals. PT goals can range from walking to getting back to higher-intensity activities like hiking and sports. A goal can also be as simple as someone wanting to "get from point A to point B without falling."

So, we cover a lot of ground, typically working on motion, strength, coordination, and balance.

Is It a Common Misconception that Physical Therapy Is Only for Athletes?

For sure! In school, a lot of students say they want to do sports therapy. But coming out of school is an eye-opener — you see that physical therapists can do so many other things.

We do treat sports injuries at our clinic, but we also treat other conditions. There’s vestibular and neurorehabilitation, where we work with people after a neurologic injury, such as:

• Concussion.
• Multiple sclerosis.
• Parkinson’s disease.
• Stroke.
• Vestibular balance deficits.

We also work with people after they’ve had cardiac procedures or orthopaedic surgeries. They might come to us for motion, endurance, and strength training. They want to return to the level of activity they were at before (with some precautions).

We offer many services in addition to sports physical therapy, and that’s just in an outpatient setting. Physical therapists also work in a hospital setting or in skilled nursing.

What Types of Specialized Therapy Does the UPMC Rehabilitation Institute Offer?

At the UPMC Rehabilitation Institute in Muncy, we treat many conditions. Plus, every person who sees us has their own unique needs.

We have both a speech therapist and a physical therapist who treat concussions. We treat temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain, or jaw pain, and vestibular issues, which involve balance.

We also have neurorehabilitation to treat people after stroke or another neurologic condition, such as multiple sclerosis, a concussion, or dizziness. And we offer treatments specifically geared toward people with Parkinson’s disease.

How Can Neurorehabilitation Help People with Parkinson’s Disease?

I treat people with Parkinson’s disease using LSVT BIG. There’s also an LSVT LOUD portion of the program, which a speech therapist performs.

Those treatments span four weeks, with one-hour sessions four days a week. They’re pretty intense. It’s the same exercises every day — specifically, with LSVT BIG, we progress them differently to still make it challenging.

The research behind that really shows significant improvements with conditions like Parkinson’s. But other neurologic conditions can also benefit from LSVT BIG and LOUD.

This program is a lot of fun for me as the therapist, but the people I help really love it, too. Yes, you’re doing the same exercises, but it’s never the same any given day.

You’re always progressing them in one way or another, whether you’re having them do more reps or adding weight. You may have them exercise on a foam mat to create a balance challenge.

It’s cool to compare a video of someone walking on their first day to a video of their last day of therapy. You can see the improvements that they make.

What Is Vestibular Therapy and How Does It Help?

Vestibular therapy is an umbrella term. Your vestibular system is your balance system.

A lot of things factor into your balance. Muscle strength is a big factor, and so is motion. Eyesight plays into balance — the ability to know where your feet are, and sensations in your feet.

Your vestibular system is the other component to balance.

Most of the physical therapists in Muncy treat benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. This is what people refer to when they say their “crystals are off” in their ears. A lot of times, when people have problems with those crystals, they feel dizzy.

Sometimes, treatment is quick; other times, it takes a couple of sessions. We have several maneuvers that reposition those crystals and put them back into place. Then people can walk better, they’re not getting dizzy, and they’re not getting nauseous.

Hypofunction, where one side of the vestibular system starts to function more than the other, can also cause vestibular deficits. Sometimes it’s because of a sickness, or maybe they had a viral infection before symptoms started.

Our goal is always to get someone back to performing their functional tasks, no matter where their vestibular impairment originates.

What Is Blood Flow Restriction Therapy? Who Can Benefit from It?

Blood flow restriction therapy allows us to build muscle strength and work the muscles with less resistance.

We use a tool that resembles a blood pressure cuff that goes around an arm or leg and inflates the same way. It gives you a personalized number, 60% or 80%, depending on whether it’s an arm or a leg and the patient’s tolerance. Then, you work the limb under limited blood flow.

Studies show benefits in really any population. But older adult athletes and some post-surgical patients have improved strength faster with less resistance.

It’s not a comfortable feeling. It almost feels like your muscle wants to cramp, and you’re still pushing through trying to work that muscle.

We use it with more athletic populations because they tend to respond better. They're also more comfortable with the level of discomfort required.

What Is Your Advice to People Seeking Rehabilitation Care?

Your primary care provider (PCP) can provide guidance and recommend the type of physical therapy best for you.

Physical therapy is a great option if you’re having pain or not moving well. Often, people let pain go on for too long, and it becomes chronic. Don’t be afraid to ask your PCP for a referral or call our clinic if physical therapy is a good option.

At UPMC Rehabilitation Institute in Muncy, we’re always laughing and trying to have a good time with our patients. We want them to come in, feel comfortable, and enjoy their time with us. We really celebrate the big wins when someone meets their goals, and that’s why we do it.

Makayla Bird, PT, DPT, is a physical therapist providing outpatient rehabilitation services in Muncy. To schedule an appointment, call 570-546-4291 or visit our website to find a location near you .