Advanced Physical Therapy in Lake Oswego Area

Stride Strong provides outpatient physical therapy for patients suffering from orthopedic and musculoskeletal injuries. Our nearby Lake Oswego physical therapists are well versed and well experienced in treating patients who are recovering after orthopedic surgeries and we work closely with the physician to make sure all protocols are adhered to and that the patient makes the smoothest progress.

In addition to post-surgery rehabilitation, we also focus a large part of our efforts in healing the injured athlete before surgical intervention is needed. We strongly believe that strengthening the body and guiding the body through muscle adaptation will allow the patient recover from minor sprains and strains, preventing further re-injury and potentially the need to go under the knife.

Stride Strong boasts a beautiful clinic that offers views of the Willamette river. The nearby Lake Oswego physical therapy clinic is conveniently located across the Sellwood Bridge and a mere 11 minutes of a car-ride away.

Our Therapists Treat Many Common Injuries

Our physiotherapists have treated thousands of sports injuries, after surgery injuries, and pain treatment.

Below are some of the most common injuries and conditions we see at Stride Strong:

Running Injuries

Known for our Video Gait Analysis system, our Stride Strong therapists are able to capture minute details of a patient’s run to determine where their biomechanics is going wrong. We conduct full lower extremity evaluations to determine strength and range of motion deficits that are critical to efficient and pain-free running and then suggest exercises and stretching techniques to help with improving the runner’s body. When called for, we can also provide soft tissue mobilization to augment muscle tightness and work on tight structures that are impeding on their ability to run pain-free.

Low back pain

It is known that 70% of Oregon’s population has low back pain. This figure is not surprising: we live in very chair-dominant lifestyles. With more chair-sitting, comes deconditioning of low back muscles and when those muscles are strained during daily activities like picking up your children from the floor, back pain can ensue. To make sure that further damage to your spine does not occur, Stride Strong will help you condition your core and back muscles so further biomechanical strain is minimized. Our main focus with low back pain is dosing the patient appropriately for progression of core exercises: planks and sit-ups just will not do. Every individual patient comes with a different low back diagnosis with their own set of aggravating factors – so physical therapy for low back pain will be very individualized at our physiotherapy clinic. In addition to exercise therapy, we also perform manual therapy on our patients’ backs – soft tissue mobilization and joint mobilizations allow our patients to regain range of motion and feel less stiff.

Rotator Cuff Injuries

Most rotator cuff injuries come by way of years of poor posture. Because the muscles and tendons of the rotator cuff are relatively small in comparison to leg muscles, the smallest amount of damage to these structures can elicit quite sharp and intense pains. The key to improving the symptoms is to improve the patient’s posture. This comes by way of strengthening scapular muscles responsible for proper shoulder, neck and upper back mechanics. In addition to exercises, joint mobilization is especially helpful in relieving stiffness and pain inside the shoulder joint. Much like a drawer that has been stuck, loosening the articulation of the joint will provide more freedom of movement for the patient.

Knee pain

Knee pain is a common complaint from people from all walks of life and all ages. There are many reasons for knee pain, and our physical therapists can hone in on the exact structure that is strained or damaged. The largest culprit in knee pain is inadequate strength of the quadriceps and of the gluteal muscles so rehabilitation for knee pain will largely focus on strengthening hip and leg stability. Typically patients will look up exercises from the internet about how to strengthen these structures, only to cause more knee pain when they do them. The key distinction with having a therapist guide you through the rehab process is that we are able to tell you specific angles and misalignments that you should avoid when performing these exercises. Lunges, squats and gluteal strengthening has to be done at a specific angle to be effective; and progression of these exercises is also crucial in making sure that the patient is continually being advanced.

Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis, or inflammation of the plantar fascia of the foot, can be a very easy and simple condition to treat. It can also be the most debilitating condition for the patient because weight bearing is the biggest aggravating factor in plantar fasciitis. Luckily, physiotherapy can be very helpful in helping the foot fascia heal. Our physical therapists are versed in a technique known as augmented soft tissue mobilization, or ASTYM, whereby we use tools to smooth out fibrous tissue and allows for deep tissue work on the foot. To allow for healing and pain relief, our rehabilitation doctors can also tape your foot for arch support and suggest cost-effective over-the-counter orthotics to relieve the strain on your plantar fascia. Often with the case of plantar fasciitis, patients also exhibit weakness further up the lower extremity chain that could be causing foot collapse. Strengthening and postural exercises can help tremendously in correcting for poor biomechanics in walking and running.

Common After-Surgery Treatment & Therapy

Total Knee Replacement Rehabilitation

With the Baby Boomer generation coming of age, total knee replacement surgery cases are on the rise. The biggest gains in Total Knee Replacement Rehab comes in the first few days after surgery. The knee may be swollen and painful right after surgery, but with the right amount of care and the right amount of motivation, the patient can have much to gain during this period in range of motion. Our physical therapists are able to dose the appropriate amount of exercise stimulation and manual therapy that would prevent further scar tissue from forming. Our Video Gait Analysis technology also helps patients hone in on their walking deficits from Day 1 of rehab. In addition to this, our clinic also boasts the Gameready cold compression system which helps mitigate knee swelling and pain – the most common symptoms after a total knee replacement. Physical rehabilitation is key in getting your life back to normal.

Rotator Cuff Repair

Physiotherapy treatment after a rotator cuff repair needs to be precise and careful. Because the structures involved in the surgical repair are small, they tend to be fragile and when dosing of exercises are too fast or too extreme this could set the patient back in progress and may even cause a failed rotator cuff repair. Conversely, too little dosing could cause scar tissue to form in the shoulder joint and this will severely limit the patient’s future range of motion and continue on the pain cycle. At Stride Strong PT we work closely with your physician so we adhere to his/her rehab protocols. Passive range of motion within a safe range is introduced early on in the plan of care to ensure that the patient’s shoulder stays mobile. Gradual and progressive strengthening is then introduced after the patient’s pain is diminished and with respect to surgical protocols. Our focus at this point is normalizing and strengthening scapular mechanics and strength, while improving rotator cuff muscle endurance. Our eventual end goal is full recovery and healing of the shoulder so the patient can return to all activities of daily living and sports.

Microdiscectomy and lumbar surgery

Low back pain is on the rise, and disc herniations are becoming a more frequent condition for folks who spend a lot of time in a chair. The usual surgical intervention for disc bulges and disc herniations is a microdiscectomy. Patients usually feel a large amount of relief after surgery because their nerve pain is not longer being pinched by a bulging disc, however, patients still continue to experience low back pain from both the surgery and having a deconditioned core. The problem with lumbar surgeries is that any kind of mechanical intervention in the spine will always leave it weaker in structure than before the surgery. When a nerve is being pinched, and quality of life is affected, surgery is necessary. But the risk of further structurally weakening the spine and setting the stage for more lumbar surgeries is quite big. PT intervention stops this cycle by strengthening the muscles around the spine. Much like a tree trunk with rings around the core, stronger abdominal and back muscles will help protect the spine from strain. Your physical therapist will also help manually calm down muscles with soft tissue mobilization at each visit so they would be attenable to our strengthening program.

Achilles tendon rupture repairs

There are many surgeons now moving toward conservative treatments of achilles tendon ruptures. But when they happen, and your physician decides to stitch it to repair it, we are there to receive you after surgery. Much like rotator cuff repairs, respect for healing time for the repair is needed so the tissues aren’t overstrained. This comes by way of limiting weight bearing time, and use of crutches and boots to protect the repair. Your Stride Strong physical therapist will communicate closely with the surgeon to determine when those critical times of progression would be. We will work closely with you to ensure you are not loading the leg too heavily in the acute stages after the achilles tendon repair. We will also perform gentle soft tissue mobilization to ensure proper soft tissue healing and reduce scar formation and tightness. Gradual and progressive exercise therapy also constitutes a large bulk of our plan of care, with the focus on acclimating your calf and heel to return back to the sport. These exercises include resistance training, walking gait corrections, plyometric training and balance training so your achilles will be able to handle all sorts of loading forces in sports.

Cervical and lumbar fusions

When a joint becomes too damaged or degenerative, a surgeon may choose to fuse the joints together to make them stable Though this is considered a highly invasive procedure, rehabilitation after a cervical or lumbar fusion need not be extensive. Because the structural stability of the joint is question is now bolstered by metal, the patient will likely feel a lot of relief at the area that caused a significant part of their pre-operative pain. After surgery, however, the patient may experience tightness and stiffness of the surrounding muscles, surgical pain and swelling from surgery.  Physical Therapy will help calm down these muscles and help decrease feelings of tightness and pain. The largest component of physiotherapy will be working the patient’s posture to acclimate to the joint fusion. Because joints above and below the vertebral fusion will now be strained even more, patient education and exercise on the limitations of loading and range is paramount to avoiding further surgeries down the road.

Directions from Lake Oswego to Our Nearest Clinic

The city of Lake Oswego is 11 minutes across the bridge and south of Stride Strong Physical Therapy. This affluent city boasts picturesque views of the water and hosts a vibrant community of outdoor recreational opportunities and makes it easy for residents to lead a healthy and active lifestyle. With 24 developed parks, swim parks, water sports center located on the

Willamette River, senior community center, public golf course, tennis centers, and nearby equestrian riding club, the city of Lake Oswego provides ample choices of recreation for all ages.

Driving Directions

From Lake Oswego, get on SW Macadam Ave (OR-43) and head north for around 4 miles until you get to the Sellwood Bridge exit. Exit right, cross over the Sellwood Bridge and head east until you reach SE 6th Ave. Turn left on SE 6th Ave, go 1 block and take your next left on SE Spokane St. Then immediately take your next left on SE Grand Ave.  Our physical therapy office will be immediately to your right.

Come visit our nearby Lake Owego Clinic Today!

Lake Oswego, OR, 97034