Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:00pm
_edited.jpg)
Ergonomic Assessments
Increasing Your Daily Productivity
A large number of careers demand daily computer use. Increased hours of computer use often leads to aches and pains that are preventable and due to improper ergonomics. The therapists at Mizuta & Associates are trained to evaluate workstation set ups and correct problems. Our ergonomic workstation evaluation includes an on-site assessment of your current set up, a written report of potential problems and solutions, adjustments to the workstation set up, and before and after pictures. Read below for common ergonomic problems that may prevent you from being as productive at work.
Common Ergonomic Problems
In California, some health insurance plans require you to see a medical provider and obtain a referral prior to starting physical therapy treatment; however, under the new Direct Access Law (AB 1000), enacted January 1, 2014, many PPO insurance plans allow a patient to be treated by a physical therapist for 12 visits or 45 days, whichever comes first, without obtaining a referral from a medical provider. If you are uncertain of your PPO insurance plan’s requirements, Mizuta & Associates Physical Therapy offers complementary insurance verification to help you in identifying and meeting the needs of your specific plan.
Most health insurance plans cover physical therapy. If you are unsure if your insurance covers physical therapy, please call our front office to have one of our team members verify your insurance benefits. We will let you know exactly how much you will owe if physical therapy is covered before we schedule your initial evaluation.
Contact our office, Monday through Friday 7:00am to 7:00pm, at 619-564-7120. Our front office staff will be happy to answer any questions you may have as well as verify your insurance benefits for physical therapy and inform you of any steps you may need to take to start treatment.
No problem, In most cases a prescription/referral can come from any medical professional such as a Medical Doctor, Podiatrist, Chiropractor, etc. If you visit an urgent care clinic, the staff there can help. Additionally, Mizuta & Associates has a large network of medical providers we work closely with and are happy to recommend one to you.
Yes, we have private treatment rooms and bathroom facilities for patients to change.
During your initial evaluation, your therapist will gather information about your medical history, as well as perform tests, measure your range of motion, strength, and performance in order to establish a baseline for your treatment. At the end of this visit, your therapist will give you a plan of action as to what to expect for your physical therapy treatment.
You will spend a full hour with a licensed physical therapist for each appointment. We do not use any technicians or aides at our clinic.
Depending on the patient diagnosis, some patients may experience discomfort during their sessions. Physical therapy is not intended to hurt, and open and honest communication with your therapist is the best way to prevent and minimize pain during your treatment. Your therapist will also educate you in distinguishing among forms of pain or discomfort, such as “good pain” that is related to muscle strength or a “non-intended pain” which would be a joint pain, where program modification may be necessary.
Physical therapists may perform manual therapy in the injured area for certain diagnoses, which will be billed as a manual therapy technique. Manual therapy will only be performed in the injured area if identified by the therapist or referring provider as an acceptable form of treatment. Again, this is depending on the diagnosis.
The majority of people think physical therapy is strictly for post-operative rehabilitation; that is not the case. Physical Therapy applies to people of all ages and backgrounds with various diagnoses. Most people come to physical therapy to reduce pain, improve muscle strength, meet personal goals, improve balance, increase quality of life, rehabilitate and prevent surgery, or return function after a surgery. Our physical therapy clinic offers other specialized programs, including torticollis and developmental delay in infants, sports training and assessments for athletes (including running assessments), ergonomic assessments for the working population, vestibular rehabilitation for dizzy and unbalanced patients, as well as gait and strength training for our geriatric population. The main thing to keep in mind, if you have pain or difficulties performing activities of daily life or sports activities, physical therapy is for you!
All of our patients see the same licensed physical therapist for the duration of their treatment. Sometimes patients prefer to collaborate with more than one therapist, which we are open to as long as it is the request of the patient.
At Mizuta PT, the treatment comes to you! Our clinic is privately-owned which allows us to see each of our patients for a full hour. This quality, one-on-one care is how we separate ourselves from other clinics. We have found our patients graduate from their treatment programs faster because they are able to spend a full hour with the same therapist for the duration of their treatment. Our clinic does not use any aides, techs, students, or therapist assistants. This assures that the patient spends the full time with a therapist. Our care is more personalized and entirely tailored to meet each patient’s needs
According to the American Physical Therapy Association, Physical therapists (PTs) are licensed health care professionals who can help patients reduce pain and improve or restore mobility – in many cases without expensive surgery and often reducing the need for long-term use of prescription medications and their side effects. Physical therapists teach patients how to prevent or manage their condition so that they will achieve long-term health benefits and return to daily activities. PTs examine each individual and develop a plan, using treatment techniques to promote the ability to move, reduce pain, restore function and prevent disability. In addition, PTs work with individuals to prevent the loss of mobility before it occurs by developing fitness and wellness-oriented programs for healthier and more active lifestyles. Through patient education and home exercise programs, patients of physical therapy will develop the knowledge necessary to treat their condition and return to daily activities, pain-free for good.
This will vary from injury to injury. Your physical therapist will let you know on your initial evaluation exactly what he or she estimates for your progress.
We recommend wearing something that is comfortable for you. Many people elect to wear their workout clothes. As treatment progresses, it is likely that more challenging exercises will be added to your program, and you may break a sweat!
Your physical therapist will let you know if he or she thinks you should try other methods of treatment. Regardless of diagnosis, most patients find that physical therapy works for them, especially in conjunction with massage therapy, acupuncture, or chiropractic care. Additionally, physical therapists are trained to know when to refer patients to specialists for further evaluation when indicated.
ors get the help they need quickly and easily.
No, Mizuta & Associates Physical Therapy accepts payment in the form of credit card (except American Express), checks, and cash. In the event you do not have insurance, we have a number of options for you to choose from. We offer package plans to fit your need as well as interest free payment plans with automatic monthly payments for your convenience.
No, Mizuta & Associates Physical Therapy accepts payment in the form of credit card (except American Express), checks, and cash. In the event you do not have insurance, we have a number of options for you to choose from. We offer package plans to fit your need as well as interest free payment plans with automatic monthly payments for your convenience.
With the increasing usage of computers, cell phones, and tablets, we are using our hands and wrists to communicate more. Because of the increased use the tendons in the wrists and hands become overused and cause increased discomfort in the wrist joint. The carpal tunnel consists of the median nerve and eight tendons running through a protective sheath. If this sheath is compressed or the tendon swells due to overuse, the nerve sends a signal of pain, numbness, tingling, and decreased strength to the hand.
Treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome may consist of oral medications, physical therapy, and alternative therapy such as yoga. Some doctors will prescribe a wrist brace which puts the hand in thirty degrees wrist extension. This is considered a neutral, functional position for the wrist so the individual can still work and use their hands throughout the day without pain or discomfort. After about 2-6 months of conservative treatment, a physician can determine whether or not surgical intervention is necessary. Refer to our Post-Surgical Rehabilitation section to read more detail about the surgical procedure and rehab process involved with carpal tunnel surgery.
Neck, Arm, and Back pain: Many of our patients have desk jobs and sit for eight hours or more per day. Sitting in the improper position at work can cause many problems. Proper ergonomics are essential to decrease the incidence of neck pain, carpal tunnel, and back pain.
There are many orthopedic problems that are caused by a non-optimal ergonomic workstation set up. Having an improper positioned mouse can cause neck pain and rotator cuff pain. A computer keyboard that is not set up in the correct position may cause pain in the hands or compression of the median nerve which is classified as carpal tunnel. Low back pain is caused by a chair that is not adjusted properly.
Mizuta & Associates treats patients that have a desk jobs by fully evaluating their posture at their desk and making recommendations of the proper body mechanics and sitting posture as related to their job. These patients will also undergo a normal course of physical therapy for their condition which may include stretching, positioning, strength, and manual therapy.