Specialties
Orthopedic
Care
From the spine to the fingertips, from the hip to the heel — orthopedic physical therapy at Ethos is specific, evidence-based, and led by your licensed PT from the first appointment to the last.
Expert Physical Therapy for Bones, Joints & Soft Tissue
The Right Diagnosis. The Right Plan. Real Results.
Orthopedic physical therapy addresses the conditions most likely to limit your movement, disrupt your sleep, and keep you from doing what you love — injuries, joint pain, nerve symptoms, post-surgical recovery, and everything in between. It’s the clinical specialty that sits at the intersection of anatomy, movement science, and hands-on care.
At Ethos Physical Therapy, every orthopedic case starts the same way: with a thorough evaluation by a licensed physical therapist who listens, assesses, and diagnoses before treating. We don’t apply a standard protocol and call it a plan. We identify what’s actually driving your symptoms — which joint, which tissue, which movement pattern — and build a treatment approach around that specific answer.
Our therapists are trained in advanced manual therapy, dry needling, therapeutic exercise, and functional movement retraining. They work closely with every patient, every session. The sections below cover the most common orthopedic conditions we treat. If you don’t see yours listed, call us — if it involves the musculoskeletal system, there’s a good chance we can help.
WHAT TO EXPECT
01 Comprehensive Evaluation — A thorough assessment of your back, pelvis, hips, and neurological status. We identify not just where it hurts, but the mechanical and functional reasons it hurts — and what’s perpetuating the problem.
02 Hands-On Treatment — Manual therapy targeting the joints, muscles, and neural structures contributing to your pain. This may include spinal mobilization, soft tissue work, neural mobilization, and dry needling when appropriate.
03 Therapeutic Exercise — A targeted exercise program focused on building the core stability, hip strength, and movement patterns your spine needs to stay well — and to stop the cycle of recurrence.
04 Education & Long-Term Management — We’ll teach you to understand your back — what aggravates it, what relieves it, and how to manage it for the long term so you’re not back in our office for the same thing in six months.
ORTHOPEDIC CARE
Back Pain & Sciatica
Low back pain is one of the most prevalent conditions in the world, affecting people across all ages, occupations, and activity levels. For many, it becomes a chronic cycle — flaring up, settling down, and returning again — often because the underlying driver was never properly identified or addressed. At Ethos Physical Therapy, we understand that not all back pain is the same. A disc herniation causing sciatica requires a different approach than muscle guarding from an old strain, which requires a different approach than pain driven by hip mobility restrictions. We take the time to figure out which one you’re dealing with.
Sciatica — pain, numbness, or tingling that radiates from the low back into the buttock and leg — is typically a symptom of nerve irritation, often from a disc herniation or stenosis. It responds well to physical therapy when treated correctly. Our therapists perform thorough neurological and orthopedic evaluations to identify the source of your symptoms and build a plan that addresses it directly — using a combination of manual therapy, nerve mobilization, targeted exercise, and patient education.
WHAT WE TREAT
- Lumbar disc herniation and bulging disc
- Sciatica and lumbar radiculopathy
- Degenerative disc disease
- Lumbar spinal stenosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Facet joint pain
- Sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction
- Muscle strains and ligament sprains
- Postural low back pain
- Chronic low back pain
- Post-surgical low back pain (discectomy, fusion)
ORTHOPEDIC CARE
Shoulder Pain
Shoulder pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal complaints — and one of the most frequently mismanaged. The shoulder isn’t a single joint; it’s a complex system involving three bones, multiple joints, and a network of muscles, tendons, and bursae that all need to work together. When any part of that system breaks down — from a traumatic injury, repetitive strain, or degenerative change — the whole system suffers. Identifying which part is the primary driver requires a thorough, skilled evaluation.
At Ethos Physical Therapy, we specialize in both conservative (non-surgical) and post-surgical shoulder rehabilitation. Whether you’re dealing with a rotator cuff injury that you’re hoping to manage without surgery, frozen shoulder that’s been limiting your overhead reach, or recovering from a total shoulder replacement, our therapists develop a comprehensive plan designed around your specific diagnosis, your functional goals, and your life.
WHAT WE TREAT
- Rotator cuff tears and tendinitis
- Shoulder impingement syndrome
- Labral tears and SLAP injuries
- Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis)
- Shoulder bursitis
- Shoulder instability and dislocation history
- AC joint injuries
- Total and reverse shoulder replacement rehab
- Rotator cuff repair post-operative rehab
- Shoulder arthritis
- Biceps tendinopathy
ORTHOPEDIC CARE
Knee Pain
Knee pain is one of the most common conditions treated in physical therapy — and one of the most varied. An ACL tear in a 17-year-old athlete, osteoarthritis in a 65-year-old, and patellofemoral syndrome in a 35-year-old runner all present as “knee pain,” but they require completely different approaches. At Ethos, we do not assume. We evaluate.
A key principle of knee rehabilitation at Ethos is that the knee rarely acts alone. It is caught between the hip above and the foot and ankle below — dysfunction in either of those neighboring joints is frequently a major contributor to knee pain and reinjury. Our evaluation always includes screening of the hip and lower extremity chain, because addressing these contributing factors is often the difference between short-term relief and lasting results.
WHAT WE TREAT
- ACL tears and reconstruction rehab
- Meniscus tears and repair/meniscectomy rehab
- Total and partial knee replacement rehab
- Patellofemoral pain syndrome (runner’s knee)
- IT band syndrome
- Patellar tendinopathy (jumper’s knee)
- Knee osteoarthritis
- MCL and LCL sprains
- Pes anserine bursitis
- Post-surgical knee stiffness and weakness
ORTHOPEDIC CARE
Hip Pain
The hip is a powerful, high-demand joint responsible for both generating force and absorbing load across a wide range of motion. When hip function is compromised — by pain, weakness, or restricted mobility — it doesn’t just affect the hip. Impairments at the hip commonly contribute to low back pain, IT band syndrome, knee pain, and even foot and ankle problems. The reverse is also true: hip pain is frequently a referral pattern from lumbar spine pathology. Sorting out the source requires both a thorough examination and clinical experience.
At Ethos Physical Therapy, our evaluation of hip pain always includes assessment of the lumbar spine, pelvis, and lower extremity chain — because treating the hip in isolation often produces incomplete results. Through a combination of skilled manual therapy, strength training, and movement retraining, we address both the pain and the underlying dysfunction that caused it.
WHAT WE TREAT
- Hip osteoarthritis
- Hip labral tears and repairs
- Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI)
- Hip dysplasia
- Total and partial hip replacement rehab
- Piriformis syndrome
- Hip bursitis (greater trochanteric)
- Hip flexor strains and tendinopathy
- Snapping hip syndrome
- Gluteal tendinopathy
- Hip fracture rehab
ORTHOPEDIC CARE
Foot & Ankle Pain
The foot and ankle are the foundation of your entire movement system. With every step, they absorb and redirect the forces of the ground — and how well they do that job affects the health of every joint above them, from the knee to the hip to the low back. That’s why foot and ankle dysfunction deserves more than a few generic exercises. It deserves a thorough evaluation and a targeted plan.
At Ethos Physical Therapy, our evaluation of foot and ankle conditions always includes assessment of walking mechanics — and, for appropriate patients, a running analysis as well. We also assess the contribution of the lower leg, knee, and hip to foot and ankle problems, because these structures rarely work in isolation. When orthotic intervention may be beneficial, we provide clear guidance and recommendations as part of your overall treatment plan.
WHAT WE TREAT
- Plantar fasciitis
- Achilles tendinopathy
- Ankle sprains (acute and chronic)
- Chronic ankle instability
- Ankle fracture rehab
- Ligamentous reconstruction rehab
- Bunionectomy rehab
- Tarsal tunnel syndrome
- Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction
- Peroneal tendinopathy
- Metatarsalgia
ORTHOPEDIC CARE
Neck Pain & Headache
Neck pain affects millions of people and has many causes — from the whiplash of a car accident to years of forward head posture from desk work, to a degenerative disc condition, to a nerve compressed in the cervical spine. What works for one cause often makes another worse. That’s why a thorough, individualized evaluation is essential before any treatment begins.
Headaches associated with neck pain — known as cervicogenic headaches — are frequently misdiagnosed or undertreated with medication because their musculoskeletal origin is overlooked. Physical therapy, particularly skilled manual therapy directed at the upper cervical spine, has strong evidence for treating this type of headache. At Ethos, our therapists perform a detailed assessment of your neck, upper back, and neurological status — including assessment of any radiating pain or numbness into the arms — to identify what’s driving your symptoms and build a targeted treatment plan.
WHAT WE TREAT
- Cervical disc herniation and radiculopathy
- Cervicogenic headaches
- Whiplash and motor vehicle accident injuries
- Neck arthritis and degenerative disc disease
- Cervical spinal stenosis
- Postural neck pain (tech neck)
- Torticollis (wry neck)
- Thoracic outlet syndrome
- Post-surgical cervical spine rehab
ORTHOPEDIC CARE
Hand, Wrist & Elbow Pain
The hand, wrist, and elbow form an interconnected chain — and dysfunction in one almost always affects the others. A wrist injury that limits grip changes how the elbow compensates. Elbow pain from repetitive work or sport affects how you use your hand. At Ethos Physical Therapy, we evaluate the entire upper extremity — from the neck and shoulder through the fingertips — to ensure we’re treating the full picture, not just the loudest complaint.
Our therapists are experienced in a wide range of upper extremity conditions, from common repetitive strain injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome and tennis elbow, to post-fracture and post-surgical rehabilitation. Treatment typically combines manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, grip, wrist and elbow strengthening, and activity modification guidance to reduce the mechanical strain driving your symptoms.
WHAT WE TREAT
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Cubital tunnel syndrome
- Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)
- Golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis)
- De Quervain’s tenosynovitis
- Trigger finger
- Thumb arthritis (CMC joint)
- Wrist arthritis
- Wrist and distal radius fracture rehab
- Dupuytren’s contracture (post-surgical)
- Nerve injuries (ulnar, median, radial)
Ready to Find Out
What’s Actually Going On?
Most orthopedic conditions respond well to physical therapy — when the right diagnosis drives the plan.
Schedule your evaluation at our Plymouth or South Lyon clinic and get a clear answer, a real plan, and a therapist who stays with you every step of the way.
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