Physical Therapy

We are teamed up with the top physical therapy team in San Diego, Water and Sports Physical Therapy, Inc. (WSPT), who treats a variety of patients of all ages. WSPT has a select group of physical therapists that also have specific and advanced training in Myofunctional Therapy through the Academy of Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy. These physical therapists sought this training due to their particular interest in orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs) as related to oral rest posture issues, mouth breathing, malocclusion and deficient orofacial growth, airway dysfunction, sleep-disordered breathing, and the relationship of OMDs to the cervical spine, posture, body pain, fibromyalgia, migraines, tinnitus, TMJ issues, and overall health in both children and adults. When treating many physical therapy patients, the PTs noticed a component of their treatment may be missing if there is an OMD that is not identified and addressed. The physical therapists that we work with for our patients with orofacial myofunctional disorders truly understand the interrelationship of form and function of the orofacial system and the entire musculoskeletal system, and they embrace the idea that addressing the orofacial system and treating orofacial myofunctional disorders is an important component to the overall well-being of the entire body. Co-treating our OMD patients with the physical therapists allow a more holistic and long lasting approach to overall patient care in the resolution of the patients’ issues and dysfunction.

Most of WSPT’s physical therapists have advanced training in the Postural Restoration Institute method, which relates to many patients with OMDs. PRI can be described as, “Postural Restoration is breathing and walking. Our ability to breathe and walk are the most fundamental of all human movements. Everything else we do– running, jumping, throwing, kicking, lifting weights– are all secondary and based off of those two primal movements. Without the ability to breathe and walk with proper mechanics the body eventually breaks down. Interestingly, the reason the body breaks down is actually built into the design of the body itself. The left and right sides of your body are not even remotely the same. We are completely asymmetrical. And it starts with breathing.” (https://pritrainer.com/what-is-postural-restoration-2).

Moreover, because of Water and Sports Physical Therapy’s exceptional services, professional athletes from all over the country travel to get physical therapy treatment from WSPT. In fact, Water and Sports Physical Therapy, Inc. was the official physical therapists for the San Diego Padres during the 2015 and 2016 seasons!

Pediatric Physical Therapy

Is your child not sitting on time, crawling or walking? Is your child falling more than other children or having difficulty with performing stairs? Physical therapy can help your child achieve these milestones, improve balance and confidence. Pediatric physical therapy is focused on helping children return to what it is they do best, play and explore their world. This can include play based strengthening and manual facilitation to achieve a specific milestone or deal with a physical challenge a child may be having. Physical therapists can also create an environment that helps overweight children learn to become physically fit, help those with disabilities dance with the proper assistance, and create a yoga environment to build strength, flexibility and calmness. In the area of toriticollis or consistent head tilt babies often require stretching and specific developmental activities to align their head in midline. A baby who has a persistent head tilt will begin to adjust to their visual world to that tilt, may have poor tolerance to tummy time, may use one hand more than the other, have decreased balance and will likely have difficulty performing gross motor skills symmetrically. Children with orofacial myofunctional disorders can also benefit from physical therapy addressing the muscular weakness, oral rest posture issues, whole body postural components, and correct breathing.

Our pediatric physical therapists assist in early detection of health problems and use a wide variety of modalities, including aquatic therapy, to treat disorders in the pediatric population. Our therapists are specialized in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of infants, children, and adolescents with a variety of congenital, developmental, neuromuscular, skeletal, or acquired disorders/diseases. Treatments focus on improving gross and fine motor skills, balance and coordination, strength and endurance as well as cognitive and sensory processing/integration. Children with developmental delays, cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, autism, spina bifida, and torticollis are a few of the patients treated by our pediatric physical therapists. In addition, we have Physical Therapists trained in Yoga, dance for children with special needs, and prenatal and postpartum physical therapy. Water and Sports Physical Therapy can provide clinic-based and aquatic therapy for children and adults.

Physical Therapy For Adolescents and Adults

Water & Sports Physical Therapy, Inc., is a unique physical therapy company in that it combines manual therapy, aquatic therapy and land exercises to treat all orthopaedic injuries and assist in the treatment of Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders. WSPT uses a variety of techniques to promote healing and overall well-being, and utilize evidence-based physical therapy to achieve optimal healthcare outcomes. Their training in the Postural Restoration Institute method, benefits all patients, including those with dysfunctional breathing patterns and orofacial muscular issues. Co-treating with our speech-language pathologists can help patients achieve a more holistic and lasting treatment.

WSPT’s team of Doctors and Aquatic Specialists are dedicated to providing individualized treatment and enhanced quality of care for all our patients. Patients are educated in deep-water exercises and/or injury specific land-based exercise programs. WSPT has a variety of clinics all over San Diego, some of which are located in state-of-the-art health clubs.

Water and Sports Therapy Inc., also offers outstanding aquatic therapy services in some of San Diego’s nicest pools. Their specific water programs are different than any other in San Diego. WSPT’s goal is to provide the most effective and timely water therapy to help the patients achieve their goals. Some of the unique aspects and benefits of Aquatic Water Therapy include:

• Optimize non-impact environment for Arthritis pain
• Improve joint flexibility and core strength
• Massage and relieve muscle spasms
• Decreased inflammation to damaged muscles and nerves
• Facilitate weight loss with pain-free aerobic exercise
• Speed up the recover process by initiating therapy sooner than on land

Our Physical Therapists

Dr. David Evans

PT, DPT

DR. GARRICK LI

PT, DPT, CERT. VRS

DR. MATT FRIEDMAN

PT, DPT