Life Care Center of Banner Elk helps outpatient use arm again

Katherine Liveakos was an active retiree who enjoyed gardening when left shoulder pain started hampering her independence.

Liveakos chose to do outpatient physical therapy at Life Care Center of Banner Elk, North Carolina, and began rehab on Feb. 28, 2018.

When Liveakos started out, she was unable to reach up to shelves or fix the back of her hair. Her shoulder hurt with most movements, and sometimes the pain caused her to drop objects.

Rehab sessions for Liveakos involved manual therapy, including soft-tissue massage, joint mobilization and scapular mobilization. Therapists also taught her therapeutic exercises for stretching her soft tissues and shoulder. Gradually, she was able to move more smoothly and worked on her larger shoulder and mid-back muscles.

"She has improved her range of motion, strength, posture and ability to use her arm for activities of daily living," said Elizabeth Goode, director of rehab services. "She is fixing her hair again and is looking forward to being able to garden."

Liveakos completed her rehab program in late March. She is now living without shoulder pain and with full range of motion.