J.r. Thomas Wellness & Fitness Center

Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC)

Physical Therapy Clinic

An entity, facility, or distinct part of a facility providing diagnostic and treatment services related to physical rehabilitation. Physical therapy is a dynamic profession with an established theoretical and scientific base and widespread clinical applications in the restoration, maintenance, and promotion of optimal physical function. Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants are licensed health care professionals who are experts in the movement system and help individuals maintain, restore, and improve movement, activity, and functioning, thereby enabling optimal performance and enhancing health, well-being, and quality of life. Their services prevent, minimize, or eliminate impairments of body functions and structures, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. Physical therapy is provided for individuals of all ages who have or may develop impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions related to (1) conditions of the musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiovascular, pulmonary, and/or integumentary systems or (2) the negative effects attributable to unique personal and environmental factors as they relate to human performance.

Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (Physiatry)

J.r. Thomas Wellness & Fitness Center is a Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (Physiatry) practice in Mobile, AL with healthcare providers who have special training and skill in treating medical conditions affecting the brain, spinal cord, nerves, bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, and tendons. Physiatrists at J.r. Thomas Wellness & Fitness Center perform diagnostic imaging, testing, assessment, and treatment of disorders and injuries related to chronic joint pain, spinal injury, athletic injury, congenital birth defect, traumatic injury, and age-related pain conditions. Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (Physiatry) is a medical specialty focused on diagnosing and treating injuries and illnesses related to muscle, joint spine, nerve, bone, and neurological disorders. Significant diseases and conditions treated at Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (Physiatry) practices include spinal cord injury, pulled and torn muscles, nerve disorders, fibromyalgia, athletic injury, chronic joint and muscle pain, arthritis, and other disorders affecting the body's muscles, joints, and nerves. Medical tests, procedures and therapies provided by Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (Physiatry) practices include CT, x-ray, and MRI imaging, nerve conduction testing, spinal injections, prolotherapy, nerve and muscle biopsy, acupuncture, fitting of prosthetics and orthotics, impairment assessment, patient and parent education, and ultrasound guided corrective procedures.

Physical medicine and rehabilitation, also referred to as rehabilitation medicine, is the medical specialty concerned with diagnosing, evaluating, and treating patients with physical disabilities. These disabilities may arise from conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system such as neck and back pain, sports injuries, or other painful conditions affecting the limbs, such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Alternatively, the disabilities may result from neurological trauma or disease such as spinal cord injury, head injury or stroke. A physician certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation is often called a physiatrist. The primary goal of the physiatrist is to achieve maximal restoration of physical, psychological, social and vocational function through comprehensive rehabilitation. Pain management is often an important part of the role of the physiatrist. For diagnosis and evaluation, a physiatrist may include the techniques of electromyography to supplement the standard history, physical, x-ray and laboratory examinations. The physiatrist has expertise in the appropriate use of therapeutic exercise, prosthetics (artificial limbs), orthotics and mechanical and electrical devices.

Physical Therapy Assisting

Physical therapist assistants are skilled health care providers who are graduates of a physical therapist assistant associate degree program accredited by an agency recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education or Council on Postsecondary Accreditation, who assists the physical therapist in providing physical therapy. The supervising physical therapist is directly responsible for the actions of the physical therapist assistant. The PTA performs physical therapy procedures and related tasks that have been selected and delegated by the supervising physical therapist. Duties of the PTA include assisting the physical therapist in implementing treatment programs, training patients in exercised and activities of daily living, conducting treatments, and reporting to the physical therapist on the patient's responses. In addition to direct patient care, the PTA may also perform such functions as patient transport, and clinic or equipment preparation and maintenance. Currently more than half of all states require PTAs to be licensed, registered or certified. (2) An individual who works under the supervision of a physical therapist to assist him or her in providing physical therapy services. A physical therapy assistant may, for instance, help patients follow an appropriate exercise program that will increase their strength, endurance, coordination, and range of motion and train patients to perform activities of daily life.

Pediatric Physical Therapy

J.r. Thomas Wellness & Fitness Center is a Pediatric Physical Therapy practice in Mobile, AL with healthcare providers who have special training and skill in diagnosing, treating, and managing a variety of developmental, neuromuscular, congenital, skeletal, and acquired diseases and disorders in infants, children and adolescents. Pediatric Physical Therapists at J.r. Thomas Wellness & Fitness Center perform medical diagnosis and treatment of balance and coordination disorders, impaired motor skills, strength and endurance disorders, and cognitive and sensory processing disorders. Pediatric Physical Therapy is a medical specialty dealing with children's musculoskeletal, spinal, neurological, balance, and cognitive disorders. Significant diseases and conditions treated at Pediatric Physical Therapy practices include multiple sclerosis (MS), orthopedic and skeletal dysfunction, spina bifida, athletic or traumatic injury, congenital physical impairment, spinal cord injury, neurological disorders like stroke, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and Parkinson's disease. Medical tests, procedures and therapies provided by Pediatric Physical Therapy practices include diagnostic imaging, practical development of motor and mobility skills, adapting toys for play, therapeutic strength and endurance exercise, balance and coordination activities, parental care education, water therapy, and applying assistive technology.

A licensed physical therapist, including but not limited to an individual who is a Board Certified Specialist in Pediatric Physical Therapy, who has demonstrated specialized knowledge and skill in anatomy, histology, including embryonic development, genetics, biomechanics, neurological function, neuroscience, and pathology, behavioral sciences, and understanding of diseases or conditions that necessitate physical therapy care, that affect systems that in turn necessitate physical therapy care (comorbidities), and that influence the type of intervention that can be given.

Geriatric Physical Therapy

J.r. Thomas Wellness & Fitness Center is a Geriatric Physical Therapy practice in Mobile, AL with healthcare providers who have special training and skill in targeting conditions that affect aging adults' physical health, activity, and independence. Geriatric Physical Therapists at J.r. Thomas Wellness & Fitness Center perform physical therapy to lessen pain and to restore, improve, or maintain strength, fitness, endurance, sensation, balance, flexibility, and mobility in older adults. Geriatric Physical Therapy is physical therapy for the physical health, fitness, and function of the elderly. Significant diseases and conditions treated at Geriatric Physical Therapy practices include incontinence, obesity, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, injury, multiple sclerosis, Parkinsonu2019s disease, Alzheimer's disease, stroke, and cancer. Medical tests, procedures and therapies provided by Geriatric Physical Therapy practices include patient evaluation, exercise protocol development, patient education and assistive device training, home adaptation advising, and program observation.

A licensed physical therapist, including but not limited to an individual who is a Board Certified Specialist in Geriatric Physical Therapy, who has demonstrated specialized knowledge and skill in the comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment and evidence-based management of movement in aging adults. This includes, but is not limited to, specialized knowledge in and consideration of normal age-related changes and pathological manifestations across all systems; cognition and mental health; polypharmacy; fall risk mitigation; bone health; healthy and active aging, and socioeconomic and health policy issues affecting aging adults. The geriatric physical therapist is an integral part of the interdisciplinary geriatric team and serves as an advocate for the highest level of well-being for the older adult.