I had a pain in my neck, literally. I had been fishing with Capt. Dick Whitehill and had reeled in numerous stripers on a pleasant day last November. Unfortunately, the fishing rod and reel out I was in charge of had a one-pound, ball sinker at the business end and it was a beast to reel in. After our trip, my neck hurt like the dickens. Later that week, I went to my primary care doctor to make sure it wasn’t a serious disease or injury, but it wasn’t. I had simply aggravated a key muscle in my neck and the root cause was arthritis up to no good. My doctor suggested I go to Move Better Physical Therapy and gave me a referral. Eight weeks later, my neck was much improved. Through a series of planned exercises to strengthen my neck and upper back muscles, my pain had gone from an 8 on a scale to 10 down to a 2. Arthritis, unfortunately, never really totally goes away.
Move Better Physical Therapy is a great organization, most professional with no hocus pocus gimmicks. It’s just common sense therapy, often involving hard work on the part of the patient. After all, if you strengthen certain muscles that may have been weak or underused, it makes your body move better, and if those muscles can be used to supplement areas caused by joint degeneration or injury, it helps eliminate pain and increases mobility.
Move Better was established in 2001 by a group of physical therapists who have helped thousands of patients by providing personalized, evidence-based treatment programs and hands-on care. They treat neck, back and joints and are accomplished in post-surgical care. In addition, Move Better works with patients needing spine rehabilitation and with sports and work injuries. The therapists can also help with balance and fall prevention.
Move Better is located at 285 Hydraulic Ridge Road, Suite 4 in Charlottesville. Their number is 434-817-0980 or go to movebettertherapy@gmail.com