"I found HWY Physical Therapy on Facebook, and since I have been having mobility and balance issues, and fell a couple of times last year, I decided to make an appointment. Raj was so helpful!"
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Adults 50+ · Two clinics · Direct pay
Physical Therapy for Seniors in Salem, Oregon
Dr. Raj Pusuluri, PT, DPT has more than 15 years of experience treating adults 50+ and specializes exclusively in this population. Every service below is built around one goal: keeping you strong, steady, and independent at home. No referral needed and no insurance required.
15+ years treating adults 50 and over
FDA-cleared Neubie, the only one in Salem
Two clinics, north and south
Transparent self-pay pricing
Start Here
Talk to Dr. Raj before you commit to anything
The Wellness Video Call is a short conversation, not a sales pitch. You describe what is bothering you. Dr. Raj tells you honestly whether physical therapy is likely to help, what a plan would involve, and how long it would take.
Prefer the phone? Call (971) 202-1979. Walk-ins are welcome at North Salem. South Salem is by appointment only.
Treatments and Services
Everything we treat, in one place
Nineteen areas of care, all delivered one to one by Dr. Raj. Pick the one that sounds like you. Nothing here is a generic physio menu, each is adapted for a body that is 50, 65 or 85 years old.
Not sure which one you need?
That is exactly what the video call is for. Describe the problem, and we will point you at the right starting place.
(971) 202-1979
Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Walk-ins at North Salem only.
Book $25 Wellness Video Call
Joints and Limbs
Arthritis and Joint Pain Therapy in Salem
Arthritis on an X-ray and arthritis that limits what you can do are two different problems. Plenty of people have significant joint wear on imaging and very few symptoms, and the reverse is true too.
The job is not to reverse the picture on the scan, because nothing can. It is to build enough strength and movement around the joint that the joint stops being the limiting factor in your day. That is a realistic target and it is reached far more often than people expect.
Signs it is worth getting looked at
- Stiffness in the morning or after sitting that eases once you move
- Pain that tracks with how much you did the day before
- Joints that ache with weather change or at the end of the day
- Grinding, clicking or a joint that feels like it might give way
- Activities you have dropped because the joint protests afterwards
How we treat it
- Joint-friendly strengthening loaded in a way that stiff joints tolerate
- Hands-on treatment to restore range lost to guarding and disuse
- Pacing strategies, so a good day does not cost you the following three
- Clear advice on which activities help the joint and which genuinely aggravate it
Does arthritis mean I am heading for a replacement?
Not automatically. A proper strengthening trial is worth running first, and even when surgery is eventually right, going in stronger reliably shortens the recovery. Our guide to the surgery decision walks through how to tell.
Which joints do you treat?
Knees, hips, hands, feet, shoulders and the spine. Each behaves differently and gets a different plan, which is why they have their own sections here.
Should I be moving it or resting it?
Moving it, almost always, at a level that does not leave you worse the next day. Rest reduces pain in the short term and weakens the muscles that protect the joint in the long term.
Knee Pain Physical Therapy in Salem
Knee pain after 50 rarely has one clean cause. Arthritis is usually part of the picture, and so are the tendons, the kneecap, the meniscus, and the hip and ankle either side of the joint.
What almost every case has in common is quadriceps weakness. The muscle around a sore knee switches down within days and takes months to come back, so a knee that hurt for a fortnight can stay weak for a year. That is where most of the treatment goes.
Signs it is worth getting looked at
- Pain on stairs, especially coming down
- Difficulty standing up from a low or soft chair
- Swelling after a longer walk or a busy day
- A knee that feels like it might give way on uneven ground
- Aching that settles at rest and returns with activity
How we treat it
- Quadriceps and hip strengthening, the most consistently effective treatment for knee pain after 50
- Working out which structure is actually driving your pain before treating it
- Technique work for stairs, chairs and getting in and out of the car
- Load management so walking distance goes up gradually rather than in painful jumps
Do I need a scan of my knee?
Usually not to begin with. Scans of painless knees after 50 routinely show meniscal and cartilage wear, so imaging often finds things that are not causing your symptoms. See our knee arthritis page.
Is it safe to keep walking?
In almost all cases, yes, at a level that does not leave you worse the next day. Rest weakens the muscles that protect the joint and makes the next walk harder.
What if I have been told I need a replacement?
A proper strengthening trial is worth running first, and going in stronger shortens the recovery if you do proceed. Our guide to the surgery decision walks through how to tell.
Hip Pain Physical Therapy for Adults Over 50
Hip problems are easy to misread. Pain felt in the groin usually is the hip joint. Pain on the outside of the hip is more often tendon or bursa. Pain in the buttock can be referred from the back and have nothing to do with the hip at all.
Treating the wrong one of those three wastes months, which is why the first visit is largely about working out which you have. Each responds well to treatment and each responds to a different treatment.
Signs it is worth getting looked at
- Groin pain when you walk, or when putting on socks and shoes
- Pain on the outside of the hip that is worse lying on that side at night
- Buttock pain that sometimes travels down the back of the thigh
- Stiffness getting in and out of the car
- A limp that appears when you are tired
How we treat it
- Testing to separate joint, tendon and referred back pain before treatment starts
- Strengthening for the muscles that control the hip during walking and stair climbing
- Hands-on treatment and graded loading for gluteal tendon pain and bursitis
- Practical fixes for sleeping positions, driving and getting out of a low chair
Why does my hip hurt more at night?
Side-lying compresses the tendons on the outside of the hip, and lying on the other side lets the top leg drop across and stretch them. Positioning changes often help quickly. More on our hip pain page.
Could this actually be my back?
It can be. Buttock and thigh pain with no groin symptoms often comes from the lumbar spine, and we test for that at the first visit.
Do I need a scan?
Usually not to begin with. Hip problems are diagnosed mainly from where the pain sits and what provokes it, and a scan rarely changes the first phase of treatment.
Shoulder Pain Physical Therapy After 50
Shoulders are where a lot of people first notice age. Reaching a top shelf, fastening a seatbelt, washing your hair or sleeping on one side become the things you plan around.
Tendons wear gradually, the shoulder blade stops moving the way it should, and the joint quietly gives up range you never consciously decided to give up. By the time it hurts, the loss has usually been building for years, which is also why it responds to patient, progressive work rather than a quick fix.
Signs it is worth getting looked at
- Pain reaching overhead, behind your back, or across your body
- Sleeping disturbed by the shoulder, especially lying on that side
- Weakness lifting a kettle, a saucepan or a bag of shopping
- Difficulty with dressing, hair washing or fastening a seatbelt
- A shoulder that hurts more at night than during the day
How we treat it
- Graded loading, the treatment with the strongest evidence for age-related shoulder pain
- Shoulder blade and postural retraining so the tendon stops getting pinched on every reach
- Hands-on treatment to restore rotation, usually the first movement to be lost
- A plan aimed at avoiding surgery where that is realistic
Why is it worse at night?
Lying down removes the muscular support the shoulder relies on during the day, and side-lying compresses the tendons directly. See our shoulder pain page.
Do I need a scan first?
Usually not. Most age-related shoulder pain is diagnosed from how it behaves and how it responds, not from imaging, and scans of painless shoulders after 50 often show wear anyway.
How long does shoulder rehab take?
Longer than most people hope. Tendons adapt slowly, and meaningful change is usually measured in months rather than weeks. The pain normally settles well before the strength is fully back.
Shoulder Labrum Physical Therapy
The labrum is the cartilage rim that deepens the shoulder socket. It wears with age in much the same way as the rotator cuff, and labral changes appear on scans of plenty of shoulders that have never hurt.
That matters, because a labral finding on a report is often treated as the explanation for the pain when it may not be. In the 50+ shoulder, the symptoms usually respond to restoring control and strength, and surgery is far less often the answer than people are led to expect.
Signs it is worth getting looked at
- Deep aching in the shoulder that is hard to point to
- Clicking, catching or a sense the shoulder shifts during a movement
- Pain reaching overhead or across the body
- A feeling that the shoulder is not quite stable
- Symptoms after a fall onto an outstretched hand
How we treat it
- Assessment to work out how much of your pain the labral finding actually explains
- Rotator cuff and shoulder blade strengthening to improve control of the joint
- Graded loading through the ranges where the shoulder feels least secure
- Rehabilitation whether you are avoiding surgery or recovering from a repair
Does a labral tear need surgery?
In older adults, usually not. Degenerative labral change is common, often symptom-free, and generally responds to a structured strengthening program first.
Why does my shoulder click?
Painless clicking is very common and is not itself a sign of damage. Clicking that comes with pain or a sense of instability is worth assessing.
What if I have already had labral surgery?
Then we work to your surgeon's protocol and timeline, restoring range first and then building the strength and control around the repair. See our shoulder pain page.
Foot Pain Physical Therapy
Foot pain shrinks your world quietly. Nobody makes a decision to walk less, but heel pain that bites on the first steps of the morning gradually turns a daily walk into an errand, and then into a drive.
Because the feet carry everything above them, treating them well tends to pay off across the whole body. Less walking means less strength, less balance and less fitness, so a foot problem left alone rarely stays a foot problem.
Signs it is worth getting looked at
- Sharp heel pain on the first steps out of bed
- Arch or heel ache that builds through a day on your feet
- Pain under the ball of the foot, or burning between the toes
- Ankles that feel stiff going up or down a slope
- Walking distance that has dropped without you deciding it should
How we treat it
- Treatment for heel pain, plantar fasciitis and arch pain
- Calf and foot strengthening, which outperforms stretching alone for most heel pain
- Hands-on treatment for stiff ankle and foot joints
- Footwear guidance, which is often the single highest-value change
Why is it worst first thing in the morning?
The tissue shortens overnight and then gets loaded suddenly on the first steps. That pattern is characteristic, and it is treatable.
Do I need orthotics?
Sometimes they help and often they are not necessary. We would rather build the strength first and then see what is genuinely still needed.
How long does heel pain take to settle?
It is usually a matter of months rather than weeks, and it responds far better to progressive loading than to rest. Most people improve steadily once the calf work starts.
Back, Neck and Nerve
Back Pain Physical Therapy in Salem
After 50, most back pain traces to changes that are extremely common and rarely dangerous: discs that have lost height, facet joints that have worn, or a canal that has narrowed.
Those words sound alarming on a report, and they are found on scans of plenty of people with no pain at all. What matters clinically is which movements provoke your symptoms and which ones settle them, and that is what the first visit is for.
Signs it is worth getting looked at
- Pain that eases when you sit or lean on a trolley, and builds when you stand
- Stiffness first thing in the morning or after sitting
- Pain, numbness or heaviness travelling into a buttock or leg
- Difficulty standing upright for the first few steps
- A walking distance limited by back or leg symptoms rather than breath
How we treat it
- Directional exercise and manual therapy matched to how your back actually behaves
- Deep core and hip strengthening so the spine has support that outlasts the treatment room
- Graded walking and loading to rebuild the tolerance that has been lost
- Clear guidance on sitting, lifting, sleeping and getting comfortable at night
Does spinal stenosis mean surgery?
Not automatically. Many people manage stenosis well for years with the right strength and positioning strategy. See our back pain page and our guide to the surgery decision.
What if the pain goes down my leg?
That usually means a nerve is irritated, which changes the plan. It is still very often treatable without an operation, and symptoms commonly retreat back up the leg as it settles.
When should I worry?
Loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness around the groin, or rapidly worsening leg weakness need same-day medical assessment rather than physical therapy. Those are rare, and we screen for them.
Neck Pain Physical Therapy in Salem
Neck pain after 50 is usually degenerative rather than dramatic. The discs and facet joints have changed, movement has become guarded, and the muscles that should hold the head up have gradually handed the job to the ones that should not.
Headaches that start at the base of the skull are frequently part of the same picture and are often treated as a separate problem for years. When the neck is the source, treating the neck resolves them.
Signs it is worth getting looked at
- Stiffness turning your head, especially checking blind spots when driving
- Headaches that begin at the base of the skull and spread forward
- Aching between the shoulder blades that comes and goes with the neck
- Pain that worsens after reading, screen work or looking down
- Waking with the neck locked to one side
How we treat it
- Hands-on therapy for stiff, painful segments, paired with deep neck strengthening
- Treatment for neck-related headaches, which respond well and are often missed
- Upper back mobility work, because a stiff mid-back forces the neck to do more
- Desk, phone and pillow adjustments that stop it being re-provoked daily
Why do I get headaches with my neck pain?
The upper neck joints refer pain into the head, so treating the neck often resolves the headache. See our neck pain page.
Is cracking or grinding a bad sign?
On its own, no. Painless noise from the neck is extremely common after 50 and is not a marker of damage.
Is it safe to have my neck treated at my age?
Yes, with appropriate techniques. We screen first, and we favour graded movement and strengthening over forceful manipulation for this age group.
Whiplash and Neck Injury Therapy
A neck that has been jolted behaves differently after 50. The same force that a younger neck absorbs lands on joints and discs that already have age-related change, so symptoms are often more persistent and slower to settle.
That is not a reason for alarm, and it is a reason to treat it properly rather than wait it out. Necks that are rested and guarded for weeks tend to stiffen and stay sore. Early, graded movement is what shortens the whole episode.
Signs it is worth getting looked at
- Neck pain and stiffness that came on hours or days after a jolt
- Headaches starting at the base of the skull
- Difficulty turning your head to check blind spots
- Aching across the shoulders and between the shoulder blades
- Dizziness or a foggy feeling alongside the neck pain
How we treat it
- Early graded movement rather than rest and a collar
- Hands-on treatment for the stiff, guarded segments
- Deep neck and upper back strengthening as symptoms settle
- A staged return to driving, reading and the activities you have stopped
How long does it take to settle?
Most people improve steadily over weeks, and after 50 it commonly takes longer than the timelines you read about. Slower is not the same as worse.
Should I wear a collar?
Generally no. Prolonged immobilisation tends to stiffen the neck and delay recovery. Gentle movement within comfort does more good.
Why do I have headaches with it?
The upper neck joints refer pain into the head, which is why treating the neck often resolves the headache. See our neck pain page.
Bulging and Herniated Disc Physical Therapy
A herniated disc is frightening to read about and, in most cases, it settles. The bulging material commonly shrinks over months, and symptoms usually improve well before the scan changes.
The exceptions matter, so we screen for them at the first visit, and then get on with treating the majority of cases conservatively. Knowing the natural history takes a lot of the fear out of the process.
Signs it is worth getting looked at
- Leg or arm pain that is worse than the back or neck pain itself
- Numbness or tingling following a defined path down a limb
- Symptoms provoked by coughing, sneezing or straining
- Pain that changes markedly with position
- Weakness in a specific movement, such as lifting the foot
How we treat it
- Directional exercise to centralise leg or arm symptoms back toward the spine
- Nerve mobility work when pain, numbness or tingling travels down a limb
- Positions and daily strategies that keep the nerve settled between visits
- Progressive strengthening once the nerve has calmed
How long does a disc take to settle?
Often weeks to a few months, and improvement usually starts sooner than that. See our disc bulge page.
When is this urgent?
Loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness around the groin, or rapidly worsening weakness need same-day medical assessment, not physical therapy.
Will the bulge go back in?
The disc does not pop back into place like a mechanical part. The herniated material is often reabsorbed over time, and the symptoms usually settle before that is complete.
Cervical Radiculopathy and Pinched Nerve Care
Shooting pain, numbness or weakness travelling down an arm usually means a nerve root in the neck is irritated, not that the shoulder is damaged.
People often spend months treating the wrong structure. The distinguishing pattern is that the symptoms follow a defined path down the arm and change with neck position rather than with arm movement. Once that is established, the treatment is quite different.
Signs it is worth getting looked at
- Pain or tingling running from the neck into the shoulder, arm or fingers
- Symptoms that change when you turn, tip or extend your neck
- Numbness in specific fingers rather than the whole hand
- Weakness gripping, lifting the arm or straightening the elbow
- Relief when you rest your hand on top of your head
How we treat it
- Testing to confirm the nerve root involved before treatment starts
- Positioning and traction techniques to take pressure off the irritated nerve
- Nerve glide work and strengthening as symptoms retreat up the arm
- Postural and deep neck work to reduce the load on the segment long term
How is this different from a shoulder problem?
Shoulder problems hurt when you move the shoulder. Nerve problems change with neck position and follow a path down the arm. See our cervical radiculopathy page.
Will the numbness come back to normal?
Usually it improves as the irritation settles, though it can be the slowest symptom to fully resolve and occasionally a patch remains.
Is it dangerous to leave it?
Most cases settle with conservative care. Progressive weakness, rather than pain, is the sign that needs prompt medical review.
Balance and Neurological
Balance Problems and Unsteadiness in Salem
Feeling unsteady is not something you have to accept as part of getting older. It usually has specific, findable causes: weak hips and ankles, slowed reactions, reduced sensation in the feet, medication side effects, or a walking pattern that has quietly changed over several years.
Balance is not one skill. It is your eyes, your inner ear, and the sensation coming up from your feet, all being combined and acted on fast enough to matter. Any one of those can decline quietly while the others compensate, which is why the problem often appears suddenly to the person living it. We test each system separately so the plan targets the one that is actually failing.
Signs it is worth getting looked at
- You reach for furniture or walls when crossing a room
- You take stairs one at a time when you did not used to
- Turning around feels like something you have to think about
- You have started avoiding uneven ground, kerbs or the dark
- You have had a fall, a near fall, or a stumble you cannot explain
How we treat it
- A full balance, walking and lower-body strength assessment, with your fall risk scored and written down
- Progressive balance retraining that gets harder as you improve, rather than the same three exercises forever
- Strength work for the hips and ankles, which do most of the correcting when you wobble
- Practical home, lighting and footwear changes, plus what to do if you do go down
How do I know if my balance is getting worse?
The early signs are behavioural rather than dramatic. You stop doing things. If you have quietly given up a walk, a garden job or an outing because of how it feels underfoot, that counts. Our fall risk assessment quiz gives you a starting score in a few minutes.
What if I have already fallen?
Then this becomes urgent rather than optional, because one fall meaningfully raises the odds of another. Bring the details of what happened, where, and what you were doing. The circumstances usually point straight at the cause. See our balance physical therapy page.
Can balance really be trained at my age?
Yes. Balance responds to training the same way strength does, at every age. It needs to be practised at the edge of what you can currently manage, safely supervised, and progressed as you improve. That is difficult to do alone and straightforward with someone watching.
Dizziness and Vertigo Physical Therapy
Dizziness is a symptom, not a diagnosis, and the useful question is which kind you have. A brief, violent spinning triggered by rolling over in bed or looking up is a very different problem from a constant light-headedness or a floating unsteadiness.
The first of those, positional vertigo, is common after 50 and often responds quickly. The others need a careful look at balance, the neck, blood pressure and medications. Sorting out which you have is the first visit.
Signs it is worth getting looked at
- Short bursts of spinning when you roll over, lie down or look up
- A constant unsteady or floating feeling rather than true spinning
- Light-headedness on standing up from a chair or bed
- Nausea that comes with the dizziness
- Avoiding head movement, bending or the dark because of how it feels
How we treat it
- Careful assessment to separate positional vertigo from other causes of dizziness
- Repositioning and habituation techniques for positional symptoms
- Balance and gaze stability retraining where the system needs recalibrating
- Referral onward when the pattern suggests something that needs medical investigation
Is dizziness ever serious?
Occasionally. Sudden severe dizziness with slurred speech, double vision, weakness or a severe headache needs emergency medical care, not physical therapy. We screen for those patterns first.
How quickly does positional vertigo respond?
When symptoms fit that pattern clearly, improvement is often rapid. Recurrence is common, and part of the visit is teaching you what to do if it comes back.
Could my medication be causing it?
It can contribute, particularly blood pressure medication and anything sedating. We will flag it and ask you to raise it with your prescriber. We do not change medication.
Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment in Salem
Burning, numbness, pins and needles, or a feeling that your feet are wrapped in cloth. Neuropathy is one of the least well served problems in older adults, partly because medication often blunts the symptom without changing the underlying situation.
Physical therapy takes a different angle: sensation, balance, gait and lower-leg strength, because those are what determine whether neuropathy costs you your independence. The nerve damage may or may not change. What you can do despite it very often does.
Signs it is worth getting looked at
- Burning, tingling or numbness in the feet, worse at night
- A sense that you are walking on padding or cannot feel the floor
- Increasing unsteadiness, particularly in the dark
- Cuts, blisters or pressure marks you did not notice happening
- Weakness lifting the front of the foot, or catching your toes
How we treat it
- Nerve-focused rehabilitation combined with balance and walking retraining
- The Neubie, an FDA-cleared direct-current stimulation device from NeuFit, used where clinically appropriate
- Lower-leg and foot strengthening to improve stability and push-off
- Foot care and footwear guidance, because reduced sensation raises fall and injury risk
How is the Neubie different from a TENS unit?
A TENS unit is designed to mask pain signals. The Neubie uses direct current and is used to work at the nervous system level, targeting how muscles recruit and fire. It may help, and it is not a cure. Read our full explainer on the Neubie.
Can anything be done if the nerve damage is permanent?
Even when nerve damage does not reverse, the strength, balance and walking work around it can change your day considerably. That is usually where the real gains are.
Why does my balance matter so much here?
Your feet normally report constantly on where the ground is. When that signal fades, balance leans harder on vision and the inner ear, which is why the dark and uneven ground become the problem. That is trainable.
Stroke Rehabilitation Physical Therapy
Outpatient stroke rehabilitation rewards specificity. The aim is not a general conditioning routine, it is to target the exact things limiting daily life.
That might be a leg that drags at the end of a walk, a hand that will not open, a turn that has become the most dangerous movement of the day, or the confidence to walk outside without someone alongside. Naming the target precisely is most of the battle.
Signs it is worth getting looked at
- A leg or arm that tires or drags as the day goes on
- Difficulty with turning, stepping over obstacles or uneven ground
- Reduced use of one hand for everyday tasks
- Loss of confidence walking outdoors or in busy places
- A recovery that has plateaued since discharge
How we treat it
- Walking, balance, and arm and leg function trained through real tasks
- Neubie neuromuscular re-education where it is clinically appropriate
- Strength and endurance work to rebuild what deconditioning has taken
- Coaching for the family member or partner who helps at home
Is it too late if my stroke was years ago?
Usually not. People who have plateaued often still gain function when the program targets a specific task rather than general fitness. We will be straight with you about what is realistic.
Can my spouse or adult child come to visits?
Please bring them. In neurological rehabilitation the person helping at home changes the outcome, and they need to see the exercises done properly at least once.
How often will we need to come in?
Enough to keep the program progressing and correct technique, with the home work carrying most of the load between visits. Consistency matters more than frequency.
Parkinson's Disease Physical Therapy
Parkinson's steadily shrinks the size of movement, and much of the disability follows from that rather than from the diagnosis itself.
Steps get shorter, arm swing fades, posture folds forward, turns become hesitant, and the first step out of a chair or through a doorway starts to freeze. Each of those responds to training that deliberately makes movement bigger again, and the effect is often immediate enough to be encouraging.
Signs it is worth getting looked at
- Shorter, shuffling steps and reduced arm swing
- Freezing at doorways, in narrow spaces or when turning
- A stooped posture that has developed gradually
- Difficulty starting the first step out of a chair
- Handwriting or other fine movements getting smaller
How we treat it
- Gait work on step length, arm swing and turning safely
- Strategies for freezing episodes and for getting started from sitting
- Posture and balance training to counter the forward stoop
- Strength work, which declines quickly if movement has reduced
Does exercise actually change anything in Parkinson's?
Exercise is one of the most strongly supported parts of Parkinson's management. It does not slow the underlying condition, and it clearly improves how well people move and function.
How often should we come in?
Regularly enough to keep progressing, with a home program doing the heavy lifting between visits. Consistency matters more than intensity here.
Can you help with the freezing?
Often, yes. Freezing responds well to specific cueing strategies, rhythm and visual targets, and those are learnable techniques rather than medication changes.
Surgery and Recovery
Post-Surgical Rehabilitation in Salem
The operation fixes the structure. What you get back afterwards depends almost entirely on the rehabilitation.
That is especially true after 50, when muscle is lost quickly during a period of rest and returns more slowly than it used to. Two weeks of sitting still costs more at 70 than it did at 40, which is why the early phase matters more than most people are told.
Signs it is worth getting looked at
- A surgery date coming up and no clear plan for afterwards
- Movement that has stalled short of what you were told to expect
- A limp or a weakness that has persisted past the expected timeline
- Uncertainty about what is safe to do at this stage
- Confidence that has not returned even though the joint has healed
How we treat it
- Progression matched to your surgeon's protocol and timeline
- Restoring the movement first, then the strength, then the confidence
- Preparation before surgery where there is time, which shortens the recovery
- A home program for the days between visits, which is where most of the recovery happens
When should I start?
Ideally you talk to us before the surgery. Going in stronger shortens the recovery, and knowing the plan removes most of the anxiety in the first two weeks afterwards. Our guide to a first visit covers what to expect.
What if I am months out and stuck?
Come in anyway. Stalled recoveries are common and usually have a findable cause, often a specific movement or muscle that was never properly restored.
Which operations do you rehabilitate?
Joint replacements, shoulder and rotator cuff repairs, spinal surgery, and foot and ankle procedures, among others. We work to your surgeon's protocol in each case.
Knee Replacement Rehabilitation
A knee replacement gives you a joint that works. Getting the leg around it to work again is the part you do.
The two things that decide your result are how fully the knee straightens and how well the quadriceps switches back on, and both are far easier to win in the first weeks than to recover months later. That is worth knowing before you go in.
Signs it is worth getting looked at
- A knee that will not fully straighten when you lie down
- Difficulty lifting the straight leg off the bed
- Swelling that returns each time you do more
- Stairs that still need one step at a time
- Bend that has stopped short of what you were told to reach
How we treat it
- Restoring full straightening early, the single most important early target
- Quadriceps re-education, which is usually the limiting factor
- Progressive strengthening once the movement is secured
- Progressing walking, stairs and driving readiness in stages
How much bend should I expect?
Enough for stairs, chairs and cycling for most people. Your surgeon sets the target and we work toward it steadily.
Is it meant to hurt this much?
Early discomfort with exercise is normal and expected. Pain that is escalating rather than settling is worth telling us about promptly.
How long until I feel normal?
Most people are managing daily life comfortably within a few months, and quiet improvement often continues for a year or more.
Hip Replacement Rehabilitation
Hip replacements often feel good quickly, and that is exactly where people go wrong.
The joint stops hurting long before the muscles around it have recovered, so the limp persists, the hip stays weak, and the back or the other knee starts complaining instead. Deliberate strengthening is what stops that happening.
Signs it is worth getting looked at
- A limp that has stayed after the pain went
- Difficulty standing on the operated leg alone
- Reliance on a cane or walker longer than expected
- New aching in the back or the opposite knee
- Weakness climbing stairs or stepping up a kerb
How we treat it
- Rebuilding hip abductor and extensor strength to normalise your walking pattern
- Coming safely off the walker or cane, in stages rather than all at once
- Restoring the range you need for socks, shoes and getting into a car
- Clear guidance on what is safe at each stage of healing
When can I stop using the cane?
When your walking pattern holds up without it, not simply when the hip stops hurting. Those are rarely the same week.
Why am I still limping?
Almost always weakness rather than a problem with the joint. It responds well to targeted strengthening.
Are there movements I should still avoid?
That depends on your surgical approach, and your surgeon sets those limits. We work within them and tell you when they lift.
Why It Matters Who Treats You
A clinic that treats one age group, properly
Most physical therapy clinics see everyone from teenage athletes to post-operative knees. We do not. Depth beats breadth when the body in front of you has 60 or 70 years of history in it.
One to one, every visit
You work with Dr. Raj, not a rotating cast of aides while three other patients share the room.
15+ years with adults 50+
Age-related patterns look different from sports injuries. Recognizing them quickly saves you weeks.
Technology no one else here has
We are the only clinic in Salem using the Neubie, an FDA-cleared direct-current device from NeuFit.
No referral, no waiting list
Oregon lets you come straight to a physical therapist. You do not need a doctor to send you first.
You know the cost first
Direct pay, published rates, no claims and no authorizations. What you see is what you pay.
Rooted in the community
Based at Center 50+ with partnerships across Northwest Senior & Disability Services and OHSU.
Only in Salem
The Neubie, and what it honestly does
The Neubie is an FDA-cleared direct-current stimulation device made by NeuFit. It is not a TENS unit. Rather than masking a pain signal, it is used to work at the nervous system level, targeting the way muscles recruit and fire after injury, surgery or a neurological event.
We use it for neuropathy, stroke recovery, post-surgical rehabilitation and some chronic pain. It may help, it is not a cure, and it is not the right tool for every problem. If it will not help you, we will say so.
Real Patients, Real Results
What our patients say
"Physical therapist, Raj identified the issues related to my hip pain. Raj developed a plan of strategic exercises to alleviate the problem. He was patient and fun to work with."
Stephanie BoxallVerified Google review
"I was skeptical at first, but after my first virtual consultation with Dr. Raj, I felt hopeful again. Two months later, I'm back to gardening without pain!"
Patricia T, 65Verified Google review
%202.png?width=800&height=800&name=Raj%20Profile%20Pic%2008242024%20(1)%202.png "Dr. Raj Pusuluri PT DPT, HWY Physical Therapy Salem Oregon")
Meet Your Physical Therapist
Dr. Raj Pusuluri, PT, DPT
I take the time to understand your concerns and offer compassionate, personalized care. By working closely with you, and collaborating directly with your primary care provider, we ensure you receive well-rounded, comprehensive support.
Whether you are dealing with pain, balance issues, or simply want to move more freely, I am dedicated to helping you regain your strength and confidence. Start your journey today with a $25 Wellness Video Call and discover how physical therapy can enhance your quality of life.
Book $25 Wellness Video CallDr. Raj Pusuluri, PT, DPT
Transparent Pricing
You know what it costs before you walk in
HWY is a direct-pay clinic. There are no claims, no prior authorizations and no surprise bills weeks later.
$25
Wellness Video Call
A short conversation to work out whether we can help, and what a plan would look like.
$200
Initial Evaluation
A full assessment with Dr. Raj and a written plan of care you take away with you.
Follow-up treatment visits
| Visit length | Age 65 and older | Under age 65 |
|---|---|---|
| 30-minute follow-up | $75 | $100 |
| 60-minute follow-up | $150 | $200 |
Every visit is one-to-one with Dr. Raj. You pay the published rate at the time of your visit.
Start from home
If driving is difficult, or you would rather begin from your living room, virtual visits work well for assessment, home exercise coaching and progress reviews. The setup is deliberately simple and senior friendly, and you can move to in-clinic care whenever you are ready.
Book $25 Wellness Video CallCommon Questions
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a doctor's referral to be seen?
No. Oregon allows you to come directly to a physical therapist and begin treatment without a physician referral. If we find something during your evaluation that needs a medical diagnosis or sits outside what physical therapy should treat, we are required to refer you on, and we will.
Do I need insurance?
No. HWY is a direct-pay clinic. You pay a published rate at the time of your visit, which means no claims, no prior authorizations and no bill arriving weeks later.
How many visits will I need?
It depends on the problem and how long it has been going on. Many conditions in adults over 50 improve over roughly six to twelve visits spread across several weeks. Dr. Raj gives you an honest range at your evaluation and revisits it as you progress, rather than committing you to an open-ended course.
Which clinic should I go to?
Whichever is easier for you to reach. Our north clinic is at Center 50+ on Portland Road NE, and our south clinic is on Ramsgate Square S. Both run the same services and share the same phone number.
I am 78 and quite deconditioned. Am I too far gone for this?
Almost certainly not. Muscle and balance respond to training well into the eighties and beyond, provided the program starts where you actually are and progresses gradually. Deconditioning is one of the more reversible problems we see.
I am asking on behalf of my parent. Can I be involved?
Yes, and we encourage it. Family members are welcome at visits, and having the person who helps at home see the exercises done properly makes a real difference to the outcome.
Our Clinics
Two Salem locations, north and south
Same team, same services, same phone number. Choose whichever is the shorter drive.
North Salem, at Center 50+
HWY Physical Therapy2615 Portland Rd NE
Salem, OR 97301
(971) 202-1979
Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Walk-ins welcome.
Get DirectionsSouth Salem, Ramsgate Square
HWY Physical Therapy Clinic South Salem180 Ramsgate Square S
Salem, OR 97302
(971) 202-1979
Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. By appointment only.
Get DirectionsBoth clinics share the number (971) 202-1979. If you are not sure which site suits you, call and we will sort it out with you.
Get moving again, on your terms
Start with a short video call. You will get an honest answer about whether physical therapy can help, and no pressure to book anything else.