Kenneth E. Richards, DC, DPT

Physical Therapist

Dr. Kenneth E. Richards is a Physical Therapist in Morganton, NC with special training and skill in reducing patient pain and increasing mobility lost due to injury or illness. As a Physical Therapist, Kenneth E. Richards, DC, DPT performs exercise therapy, endurance exercises, and pain and mobility assessments. Physical Therapy is a medical specialty focused on reducing or eliminating patient pain and increasing mobility without surgery or medication. Significant diseases and conditions treated by Physical Therapists include loss of mobility due to traumatic or post-operative injury, chronic conditions like arthritis or spinal injury, congenital birth defects, athletic injury, or disorders like multiple sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson's disease. Medical tests, procedures and therapies provided by Physical Therapists include mobility and pain assessment, medical massage, physical exercise therapy, endurance training, and acupuncture.

Physical therapists (PTs) are licensed health care professionals who diagnose and treat individuals of all ages, from newborns to the very oldest, who have medical problems or other health-related conditions that limit their abilities to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives. PTs examine each individual and develop a plan using treatment techniques to promote the ability to move, reduce pain, restore function, and prevent disability. In addition, PTs work with individuals to prevent the loss of mobility before it occurs by developing fitness- and wellness-oriented programs for healthier and more active lifestyles. PTs: 1.Diagnose and manage movement dysfunction and enhance physical and functional abilities. 2.Restore, maintain, and promote not only optimal physical function but optimal wellness and fitness and optimal quality of life as it relates to movement and health. 3.Prevent the onset, symptoms, and progression of impairments, functional limitations, and disabilities that may result from diseases, disorders, conditions, or injuries. 4.Treat conditions of the musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiovascular, pulmonary, and/or integumentary systems. 5.Address the negative effects attributable to unique personal and environmental factors as they relate to human performance. 6.PTs provide care for people in a variety of settings, including hospitals, private practices, outpatient clinics, home health agencies, schools, sports and fitness facilities, work settings, and nursing homes. State licensure is required in each state in which a PT practices.

Sports Medicine Chiropractor

Dr. Kenneth E. Richards is a Sports Medicine Chiropractor in Morganton, NC with special training and skill in preventing and treating musculoskeletal, joint, and spinal athletic injuries. As a Sports Medicine Chiropractor, Kenneth E. Richards, DC, DPT performs pain and mobility assessment, treatment plan development, and mobility restoration treatment. Chiropractic Sports Medicine is a medical specialty focused on preventing and treating injuries typically occurring during athletics like football, baseball, basketball, and soccer. Significant diseases and conditions treated by Sports Medicine Chiropractors include muscle sprain, torn ACL, chronic joint and back pain, spinal disc pain, disc herniation, hamstring injury, knee injury, and nerve dysfunction. Medical tests, procedures and therapies provided by Sports Medicine Chiropractors include diagnostic imaging like x-ray, MRI, and CT scan, pain and mobility assessment, spinal manipulation, inflammation reduction techniques, medical massage, acupuncture, physical therapy rehabilitation, spa therapy, nerve pain block injections, and referral to other specialists as needed.

A sports chiropractor is uniquely trained to provide care and treatment of injuries or illness resulting from sports and physical fitness activities. Doctors of Chiropractic with the Diplomate American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians (DACBSP) or the Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician (CCSP), sport specialty certifications from the American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians, have advanced training in the assessment, management and rehabilitation of sports related injuries. Extremity care, rehabilitation and soft tissue procedures are common skills utilized by these doctors. The specialty training covers a broad spectrum from the pediatric athlete to professional and Olympic athletes, and everything in between, using a variety of techniques and modalities.