Palo Alto Medical Foundation's main Physical Therapy Department is staffed with experienced, energetic and passionate therapists who are trained in a variety of methods and have access to an array of advanced equipment. Certified physical therapists also offer many specialized rehabilitative programs  and classes.

Programs and Classes

Aquatic Therapy

An on-site state-of-the-art SwimEx pool enables patients to take advantage of water therapy. The SwimEx™ therapy pool offers a complete isokinetic aquatic therapy system, which provides many advantages for patients in need of rehabilitation. Due to the therapy pool's versatility, PAMF's physical therapists are able to gradually progress patients from non-weight-bearing activities to different levels of weight-bearing activities while in the pool. The SwimEx pool also allows therapists to monitor a patient's progress through a range of available depth and resistance settings. In addition, an underwater treadmill can be used to add more variety to a patient's therapy.

Pilates Classes

Physical therapists with Pilates training work with patients on various Pilates equipment and a mat. PAMF's Pilates specialists are trained through Polestar Pilates, a rehabilitation-based method, and Power Pilates, a classical-based method. Pilates-based exercises help patients improve strength, stamina, stability, flexibility, balance, coordination and posture. Pilates is suitable for a wide range of people, from the sedentary individual to the elite athlete.

Advanced Equipment

Alter-G Trainer

The Alter-G Trainer™ treadmill allows patients to exercise with reduced body weight, resulting in minimal impact on the body. Using the Alter-G Trainer treadmill as part of a comprehensive physical therapy plan allows patients to recover faster and experience fewer secondary effects than was previously possible with other equipment.

Biodex Training and Testing

The Biodex Isokinetics System™ offers PAMF's physical therapists the ability to accurately test and train a patient's isolated joints and surrounding muscles in biomechanically correct positions. The Biodex Isokinetics System allows therapists to measure three key components of a patient's rehabilitation, including:

• A patient's functional disability, or need for rehabilitation.
• A patient's response to physical therapy and rehabilitation.
• A patient's return to function, or treatment outcome.

Game Ready Accelerated Recovery System

The Game Ready™ Accelerated Recovery System allows PAMF's medical team to apply controlled cold and compression therapies to the body. These therapies quickly push fluids away from swollen joints and muscle-injury sites to promote faster healing.