Little Giraffe Center, Inc.

12/29/2025

Staff Christmas dinner 2025

12/24/2025

Merry Christmas to all our staff, patients, family, and friends.

12/23/2025

MANUAL ELBOW MOBILIZATION

Manual elbow mobilization involves skilled, hands-on techniques by a therapist to improve elbow range of motion, reduce stiffness, and relieve pain by mobilizing the elbow joint (humeroulnar, humeroradial) using various glides, distractions, and oscillations, often targeting specific directions like posterior, anterior, or lateral forces to restore normal joint play, crucial for recovery from injuries or stiffness.

12/22/2025

Happy 3rd Birthday Dr. Creami!

12/17/2025

NIGHT SPLINTS

Night splints for toe walking provide a gentle, prolonged stretch to the calf muscles and Achilles tendon while sleeping, helping to increase ankle flexibility (dorsiflexion) and break the habit of walking on toes, often used in conjunction with daytime braces or therapy for best results, especially for children with limited ankle motion. These devices hold the foot at an upward angle (dorsiflexion) overnight, preventing the foot from staying in a pointed-toe position, which can cause permanent tightness if left untreated.

12/07/2025

CHOPART AMPUTATION

A Chopart amputation is a mid-foot amputation, and physical therapy (PT) is crucial for recovery, focusing on wound care, residual limb shaping, balance, strengthening (especially ankle muscles), and gait training with specialized orthotics/prosthetics to manage issues like equinus (foot pointing down) and achieve functional walking, with PT helping patients regain independence with a partial foot prosthesis and potentially return to activities like sports.

The partial solid AFO prosthesis was fabricated by Dr. Roscoe Chang, DPM at North Prime Podiatry.

12/02/2025

SCAPULA MOBILIZATION

Scapular mobilization involves techniques to improve the movement of the shoulder blade (scapula), often prescribed for pain and limited shoulder function, and can be performed manually by a therapist or through self-mobilization exercises. Common techniques include gliding the scapula in various directions (upward, downward, forward, backward) and utilizing passive or active movements, sometimes in combination with stretches. For self-mobilization, simple exercises like sliding the arms up a wall or using a pillow under the chin can help improve range of motion.

11/26/2025

11/22/2025

HIP MANUAL THERAPY
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​Hip manual therapy includes techniques like joint mobilization, soft tissue mobilization, and manipulation to improve hip range of motion, relieve pain, and reduce stiffness. These hands-on treatments involve applying pressure, stretching, and joint gliding to address limitations and discomfort, often in conjunction with other therapies like exercise.

11/19/2025

PHALANGEAL (FINGER) JOINT MOBILIZATION

Phalangeal joint mobilization is a manual therapy technique involving passive joint movements to relieve pain or improve range of motion. It includes techniques like glides (e.g., dorsal or palmar glides) and traction, performed at various speeds and amplitudes to address different joint issues. These techniques are best applied by a skilled professional, such as a physical or occupational therapist, to avoid risks like joint irritation.