Rehabilitation Services

Cupping therapy is an ancient form of alternative medicine in which a therapist places special cups on your skin for a few minutes to create suction. The cups can be made from a variety of different materials including glass, ceramic, silicone, bamboo, and plastic. The cups are applied to various areas of the body providing a negative pressure (suction) between the skin and the underlying tissues.  It can be used for a variety of purposes including:

• Pain reduction
• Inflammation reduction
• Improved blood flow
• Break up scar tissue
• Facilitates tissue healing following injury
• Improved lymphatic drainage
• Improved relaxation and well being

Cupping is best utilized when done in conjunction with other therapeutic interventions such as active range of motion, passive range of motion, strengthening, and other manual therapy techniques.  A common side effect from cupping is the circular “bruising” created from the suction.  It may last a couple of hours to a couple of days.

Trigger-Point Dry Needling is a treatment option for neuro-muscular pain. Dry needling uses thin, sterile filament needle inserted into a trigger point to simulate a recovery response, relaxing the muscle. Trigger points are knots that develop in the muscle when there is injury or fatigue.

• Designed for physical therapy patients that have chronic or acute pain.
• A licensed physical therapist, certified in dry needling will conduct the procedure. A physician referral is required.

The Solo Step system consists of an overhead track and harness, allowing the patient to confidently use full range of motion during therapy. Patients are secured in the harness, which is connected to a lanyard and trolley. The Solo Step provides increased security and safety to assist patients in regaining strength, balance, and confidence faster.

Primary benefits of using the Solo Step system are:

• Allows for a safe patient and therapist environment.
• Eliminates the risk of falling during rehab.
• Increases patient confidence.
• Speeds up recovery time.
• Restores normal movement and function.
• Improves balance and coordination.
• Increases range of motion.

Solo Step system can help provide safety and security for patients with:

• Dizziness
• Balance Issues
• Weakness
• Amputees
• Parkinson's
• Paralysis
• Stroke
• Traumatic Injuries
• Head Injury
• Muscle Control

Vestibular impairments and disorders can be a result of disease or injury causing damage to your inner ear or brain. These areas help control balance and eye movements, so identifying the dysfunction and building treatment plans can help address and manage your body's balance system.

Common symptoms of vestibular disorders are:

• Difficulty walking or an unsteady gait
• Dizziness or disorientation
• Difficulty focusing the eyes when moving the head
• Feeling off-balance or unsteady
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Vertigo or a spinning sensation

When visiting the Rehabilitation Department for a vestibular impairment, patients are evaluated and treatment plans developed. Diagnoses that are treated include:

• Bilateral Vestibular Hypofunction or Loss (BVL)
• Central Vestibular Pathologies
  • These are primarily caused by stroke or head injury
• Unilateral Vestibular Hypofunction or Loss (UVL)
  • This is primarly caused by labyrinthitis, vestibular neuritis, or acoustic neuroma
• Vertigo
  • Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

If you are experiencing poor balance or unsteadiness that is not directly related to a vestibular impairment or disorder, please reach out. The team at the Rehabilitation department can also evaluate and build a treatment program to address these issues, as well.

Our team can help provide relief or a decrease in vestibular and balance issues, with the goal of returning mobility and confidence to our patients experiencing these concerns.

Patients with Parkinson’s Disease have an additional, non-pharmaceutical option for treatment of the neurological disorder. Five therapists at Windom Area Health are certified in the LSVT® BIG program, a series of treatments focused on increasing the quality of life in patients. The program consists of therapy targeted at increasing the amplitude of limb and body movement, along with improvement in joint range of motion, in people with Parkinson disease. Patients going through the program have seen improvements in upper and lower limb speed, balance and overall quality of life.

The treatment is administered in 16 sessions over a single month (four individual 60 minute sessions per week). This protocol was developed specifically to address the unique movement impairments for people with Parkinson disease. The protocol consists of many repetitions of core movements that are used in daily living. This type of practice is necessary to optimize learning and basically retrain the brain.

Progressive neurological diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease impair speech, swallowing, limb function, gait, balance, and activities of daily living. 

After LSVT® BIG Treatment

Once a patient has completed the LSVT® BIG program, they will work with their therapist to decide when to return for a reassessment. Periodic Tune-Up sessions are recommended to help maintain progress and keep up motivation. These Tune-Up sessions range from 2-4 weeks.

Videos of Positive Progression of LSVT® BIG Patients at Windom Area Health: