Assess. Treat. Restore.

Orthopedic Physical Therapy

At PT West, we specialize in orthopedic and sports physical therapy in Woodland Hills, helping active individuals, athletes, and everyday patients recover from injury and return to peak performance.

Most orthopedic injuries develop gradually from repetitive movement patterns that place stress on joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. While some injuries occur suddenly, many develop over time and present as pain, inflammation, stiffness, weakness, and decreased performance.

Our clinical philosophy is built around a simple but highly effective three-step process:

This approach allows our physical therapists to not only relieve symptoms but also correct the underlying causes of injury and help patients return safely to their desired level of activity.

Step 1: Assess

Every successful rehabilitation program begins with a comprehensive evaluation.

At PT West, our physical therapists conduct a detailed assessment that goes beyond identifying where the pain is located. We analyze the movement patterns, biomechanics, joint mobility, muscular strength, and neuromuscular control that influence how your body moves.

This evaluation allows us to determine:

  • The true cause of the injury
  • Which tissues are involved
  • Faulty movement patterns contributing to pain
  • Strength and mobility limitations
  • Sport-specific or lifestyle demands

Understanding the root cause of the problem allows us to develop a precise and individualized treatment plan rather than applying a generic approach.

Step 2: Treat

Once the underlying cause of the injury has been identified, treatment focuses on reducing pain, improving mobility, and restoring proper tissue function.

At PT West, treatment may include:

  • Manual therapy
  • Joint mobilization
  • Soft tissue treatment
  • Therapeutic exercise
  • Neuromuscular re-education
  • Compression and recovery therapies

These techniques help reduce pain and inflammation while restoring the mobility and stability necessary for normal movement.

However, symptom relief alone is not the end goal. Treatment is always directed toward preparing the body for the next phase of recovery.

Step 3: Restore Pain-Free Movement

The final phase of rehabilitation focuses on restoring strong, stable, and pain-free movement patterns.

At PT West, we design individualized exercise programs that rebuild:

  • Strength
  • Stability
  • Coordination
  • Power
  • Movement efficiency

Rehabilitation is tailored to each patient's lifestyle and physical demands. For example, a patient returning to recreational golf will have a different rehabilitation progression than a competitive gymnast or baseball player returning to sport.

Our goal is not just recovery from injury, but a full return to confident, pain-free movement and physical performance.

Pre-Surgical and Post-Surgical Rehabilitation

PT West provides specialized pre-operative and post-operative physical therapy for a wide range of orthopedic surgeries.

Common procedures we rehabilitate include:

  • Total joint replacement
  • Hip labrum repair
  • ACL and knee ligament reconstruction
  • Rotator cuff repair
  • Meniscus surgery
  • Shoulder labrum repair
  • AC joint reconstruction
  • Elbow ligament reconstruction
  • Foot and ankle reconstruction

Whenever possible, therapy begins before surgery through a process known as pre-habilitation.

Pre-surgical therapy helps improve:

  • Range of motion
  • Muscle strength
  • Neuromuscular control

Entering surgery with improved function often leads to better outcomes and faster recovery afterward.

Our therapists also communicate closely with your orthopedic surgeon to ensure a safe and effective rehabilitation progression.

Non-Surgical Injury Rehabilitation

Many orthopedic injuries can be successfully treated without surgery.

At PT West, we commonly treat conditions such as:

  • Tendonitis
  • Plantar fasciitis
  • Shoulder impingement
  • Lower back pain
  • Hip impingement
  • Hip bursitis
  • Hip bursitis
  • Cervical radiculopathy
  • Sports-related muscle and ligament injuries

During your initial visit, we identify the biomechanical factors contributing to your pain, allowing us to correct movement dysfunction and reduce the likelihood of recurrence.

Sports Injury Rehabilitation

PT West is known for high-level sports rehabilitation, working with athletes of all ages and levels of competition.

Our clinicians combine evidence-based physical therapy with advanced movement analysis to help athletes safely return to sport while reducing the risk of reinjury.

Unlike traditional “cookie-cutter” therapy, our rehabilitation programs incorporate:

  • Sport-specific movement patterns
  • Strength and power development
  • Neuromuscular control training
  • Progressive return-to-play protocols

Progressive return-to-play protocols