The Faces of National Physical Therapy Month
Leave a CommentDuring National Physical Therapy Month, we recognize our hard-working therapists and the positive impact they have on our patients’ lives. Throughout the month of October, we’ve highlighted 30+ members of our team across our social media channels to showcase their expertise. Read below to learn more about our clinicians, their specialties, some of their favorite patient stories and the impact they’re making in providing quality care to our patients.
Tina P., DPT – Brentwood, MO
Pelvic Floor Therapist
Tina says being a pelvic floor therapist has changed her career path and personal life. She has experienced a new level of job satisfaction by helping patients in a variety of ways such as overcoming bladder leakage, successfully engaging in intercourse or returning to workouts.
“Most people think of pelvic floor complications as a women’s health concern, especially after having children, but pelvic floor therapy, along with visceral mobilizations, are important to everyone’s health. Some men go through life accepting bladder urgency, constipation and erectile dysfunction as “common aging” but this is not necessarily true.”
Kathy, PT, ATC, CEAS II – Northern Illinois Territory
Work Conditioning Specialty
Kathy is a veteran work conditioning therapist. Whether she is helping (indirectly) put out fires or supporting a bus driver return back to their route, she finds her area of focus to be very rewarding.
“Recently, I helped return a firefighter to full duty following a catastrophic injury to his pelvis after a fall. The patient progressed from being wheelchair-bound to working in one of the most physically challenging jobs. Working with injured workers in the work conditioning program has allowed me to focus on returning patients to a high level function, much like we do with athletes.”
Tina C., PT, CCE, FAFS, 3DMAPS, CAFS – Park Ridge North, IL
Women’s/Men’s Health Program Manager
Tina feels that being manager of the Women’s/Men’s Health Program has allowed her to provide comprehensive care to her patients as well as educate other clinicians to best serve their own patient populations.
“I love treating pregnant patients who have sciatica or other pains. I also enjoy treating post-partum patients in the 4th trimester – whether helping them return to running, get rid of a diastasis recti, or fix incontinence. Some of my most rewarding patient stories were those that suffered from chronic pelvic pain with every day or sexual activities. Getting them back to functioning in their jobs, with their partners, and with their children is very gratifying!”
Val, MS, PT – Illinois Territory
Home Health Services
Stuck at home because of a recent illness/injury or the pandemic? Not a problem, our Home Health Services can help! Patients seen in home health may have had a new joint replacement or other recent orthopedic surgery, heart surgery, cancer, stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease, COVID-19 or other illness like pneumonia resulting in deconditioning, chronic pain, difficulty walking, frequent falls, muscle weakness, or balance issues.
“It is imperative to practice and refine functional mobility, skills and safety in one’s own home, because that’s where life happens.”
Deanna, PT, DPT – Elgin, IL
Pediatric Program Manager
Pediatric Physical Therapy supports children of all ages, from newborns through 18 year olds, including those with neurological impairments, developmental delays, and orthopedic concerns.
“One family came in with a child at 15 months old who was not yet walking. She presented with bilateral hip weakness, and was instead “walking” on her knees. Within a couple sessions, the child was able to pull herself to stand, and in less than two weeks, she was successful in achieving independent walking. A huge part of the success was due to the family’s adherence to a consistent home exercise program, including practicing cruising along and between furniture, and obtaining supportive shoes to improve her stability.”
Lauren, PT, DPT, CLT – Andersonville Chicago
Lymphedema Therapist
Those suffering from lymphedema (swelling that generally occurs in one of your limbs, most commonly caused by the removal of or damage to your lymph nodes) can be treated by a physical therapist. Lauren shares one of her favorite patient success stories:
“A man had entered the clinic with facial, tongue, and neck edema following tongue cancer treated with surgical removal and radiation. He was unable to swallow or enunciate basic speech at initial evaluation and did not enjoy going out into public because of the swelling. Following a treatment plan, he was smiling, putting on weight from eating regular meals, and telling jokes. I enjoy the thought that I contributed positively to this man’s journey and life, and for that, I feel grateful for being a part of this specialty.”
Amy, PT, DPT, CAPP-OB, ASTYM Certified – Altoona, IA
Breast Cancer Care Specialist
Amy has been with the Athletico, at the Altoona clinic, for 16 years and has been involved with breast cancer care since day one! Amy shared that Breast Cancer Care is important because there are so many medical variables going on during this diagnosis, and it is all new to most patients.
“One patient had come to me post-mastectomy with some scarring, pain, and breast shape issues. It was hard for the patient to do things with her arm due to tightness, and she wasn’t back to work or back to the gym. The surgeon wanted improved tissue mobility and improved tissue health with release of scarring before proceeding to the next reconstructive surgery. With some hands on techniques, some tools, some stretches, strengthening, posture and core work, the surgeon was pleased and able to move forward with the implant and the patient is now back to working out.
Ariel, PT, DPT – Lincoln Park East
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist
Everyone can benefit from pelvic health physical therapy as the pelvic floor is crucial to so many daily activities, including going to the bathroom, sex, and exercising.
“My favorite patient success story involves a patient who had leaked urine since her first child was born more than a decade before trying physical therapy. She leaked with laughing and running for the bus, and she avoided going out for long dinners because she went to the bathroom so often. She was skeptical that pelvic floor physical therapy would help at all with such a longstanding issue, but she did her exercises diligently. I remember the exciting day that she came in and said she had ran for the bus and sneezed without leaking! I was most proud when this patient said she had gone out to dinner with friends and laughed the whole time without even thinking about leaking!”
Lisa, PT, MTC, CEAS III – Illinois Territory
Senior Worker’s Compensation Program Manager
Working with employers to understand the physical demands of several jobs has opened Lisa’s eyes to what our patients are exposed to at work and the realities of various work environments. She has a better understanding of the challenges employers and employees have in accomplishing various work tasks safely.
“In performing Post Offer Screenings, candidates receive screening from a skilled musculoskeletal expert and training on how to protect themselves from injuries through proper lifting instruction and ergonomics education. It supports injury prevention by ruling out jobs that would place a worker at risk for injury due to the job being too physically demanding for the worker.”
Judy, PT, OCS, CEAS I – Illinois Territory
Worker’s Compensation Specialist
Whether it’s treating an injured worker on an acute outpatient basis, or transitioning an injured worker into a work conditioning program, Judy enjoys creating a comprehensive treatment plan for our “athletic workers.”
“Restoring a worker to maximal medical improvement or to the state before their illness/injury is essential to the overall well-being of that patient, his/her family, and their financial responsibilities.”
Melissa, PT, Facility Manager – Greenwood, IN
Temporomandibular Dysfunction Specialist
Patients with jaw pain, headaches (acute or chronic, including migraines), ear pain, neck pain, an uneven bite, lock jaw, or teeth clenching may benefit from physical therapy treatment of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).
“I had a patient that had ocular migraines that were undiagnosed. She was unable to work or function at home, including walking on her own, reading a sentence, standing up from a chair, etc. She followed my plan of care, was very compliant with the exercises and restrictions issued and was able to return to work full time and resume regular vigorous exercise, symptom free!”
Dustin, PT, DPT, ATC, ITPT, DN Cert. – Germantown Hills-Metamora, IL
Headache Specialist
Nearly every person has had a headache at least one time in their life, and millions of dollars are spent each year on pain relievers trying to dull the pain of headaches. Whether it is a migraine, a cervicogenic headache, or post-concussive headache, physical therapy can help!
“My favorite patient story is a 12-year-old boy who suffered from chronic constant headaches for at least the past six years. After a few weeks of physical therapy to improve neck strength, posture, and visual problems, his headaches decreased from constant daily symptoms to none! He now aspires to become a physical therapist when he grows up!”
Adam, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT – Cary, IL
Spine Specialty Program Regional Coordinator
Anyone who is dealing with back or neck pain, headaches or temporomandibular disorder (jaw pain) would be the primary beneficiaries of seeing a physical therapist within the spine specialty program.
“Being part of the spine specialty program has allowed me to learn from other excellent clinical specialists through mentoring and education within both fellowship and certification programs. It has also allowed me the opportunity to mentor and educate other physical therapists through our internal programs.”
Sumeet, PT, DPT, Facility Manager – Chesterfield, MO
Concussion Therapy Specialist
Sumeet treats a variety of patients who are suffering from vertigo, dizziness, and also post-concussion symptoms. These can range from the high school athlete who injures themselves in a sport to a worker’s compensation patient who suffers a head injury at work.
“My favorite patient outcomes are when I’ve treated a high school student with a concussion. By the end of treatment, I love to see them excelling again in school, back to their sport, and also hearing from family that they are back to their normal selves from a psychosocial standpoint.”
Tom, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT – Niles-Northwest Chicago
Pain Therapy Specialist
Anyone having pain could benefit from pain therapy, however, it is most beneficial for those who experience persistent pain that negatively affects their quality of life. Pain therapy is of tremendous benefit if you are someone that fears movement or activity because of pain.
“Knowledge is powerful. Not only can you educate someone on the multiple variables that may be contributing to their pain but you can also help them better manage their own symptoms which leads to higher quality of life.”
Katie, PT, DPT, FAAOMPT – Mt. Greenwood Chicago
Vestibular and Concussion Program Manager
If you or someone you know experiences dizziness, light-headedness or motion sensitivity, one of our vestibular and concussion specialists can help you become symptom-free!
“My favorite patient success stories was a patient that had been involved in a motor vehicle accident and suffered a concussion. He was experiencing “fogginess,” headaches and difficulty concentrating, causing him to miss out on several days at work and time with his two young children. With manual therapy and exercise, his symptoms decreased and by discharge he was riding bikes with his kids, working full-time and had a much more positive, happier outlook on life.”
Matt, PT, DPT, SCS – Niles-Northwest Chicago
Overhead Athlete Program Manager
Baseball pitchers, volleyball hitters and swimmers can all benefit by working with an overhead athlete specialist like Matt to achieve full mobility, strength and stability of the arm, shoulder and also their trunk and lower body!
Matt’s favorite patient success story was helping a high school baseball player address his elbow injury and achieve his goal of obtaining a college scholarship. “While it’s always nice to get someone back to what they do, it is humbling to know that we can make such a difference in someone’s life.”
Jenny, PT, DPT, MTC, ATC – Bridgeport, Chicago
Endurance Regional Coordinator – Illinois
Building up your endurance is key to injury prevention. Focusing on gait mechanics (the way a person walks) and strengthening as a runner is important to endurance longevity. Endurance specialists like Jenny can do just that to help runners get to the starting line or return to their passion.
Jenny loves to feel connected to the community she serves which is why she takes advantage of opportunities to work race events, provide race day medical coverage, and participate in special clinic events with local running groups.
AJ, PT, DPT, CMPT – Iowa City West
ACL Specialist
Any athlete will tell you that one of their biggest fears is losing their ability to play the sport they love due to an ACL injury. AJ is one of Athletico’s ACL specialists in our ACL 3P Program (Prevention, Progression, and Performance). He teaches community teams dynamic warm-up programs that are shown to decrease the risk of an ACL injury and helps athletes return to the recreational and sporting activities they love should an injury occur.
“ACL reconstruction often goes under-treated with high rates of re-injury in athletes. I enjoy using critical thinking skills to work with patient athletes who want to return to a high-speed and complex activities.”
Julie, PT, DPT, OCS, ATC, CMTPT – River North (East Bank Club) Chicago
Performing Arts Program Manager
Julie began specializing in the treatment of performing artists and dancers in 1995 when the Joffrey Ballet moved to Chicago from New York. She has worked with professional dancers in all genres from ballet to contemporary dance as well as musical theater performers. She also works with recreational dancers of all ages who have challenges related to hypermobility, which is a necessary skillset to achieve excellence in this specialty.
“I had the opportunity to work with a musical theater dancer in the backstage area who sustained an acute foot sprain. I was called to the side of the stage, where I was able to reduce the subluxation of the cuboid bone and apply tape to stabilize the dancer’s foot. The dancer was able to return to the stage instantaneously to resume her choreography!”
Amy, PT, DPT – Niles-Northwest Chicago
Gymnastics and Cheerleading Program Manager
Both gymnastics and cheerleading often take place in adolescence and extend through college. Injuries can results from flipping, twisting, leaping and other acrobatic activities. Our specialists help to increases flexibility and strength and address any deficits with sport-specific exercises, injury prevention techniques and more to help accomplish their goals.
Amy was a gymnast for 20 years, and it brings her great joy to still be involved in the sport that played a big role in her life. “I love my job as a physical therapist – it’s very rewarding for me be able to give back to the gymnastics community and work with athletes, parents, and coaches.”
Mike, PTA, CSCS, NASM-CES/CPT, ASTYM-Cert – Naperville – Ogden Ave
Motion Analysis Specialist
Through motion analysis, we can capture movement and slow it down to learn how intricate our bodies are and how we can strengthen them to make them more efficient. Mike has used motion analysis to help patients recovering from an injury and also to help them perform at a higher level, developing better exercises and custom treatment plans.
Mike recalls one of his patients, a soccer player who was very fearful to move after her ACL/meniscus surgery. “Motion analysis gave her the confidence to see how she was moving and how she could improve. She is back playing soccer and finishing up her highlight tape to be able to send to college coaches!”
Kruti, PT, ASTYM Cert – Gurnee North
Aquatic Therapy Specialist
Aquatic therapy is beneficial to anyone who is seeking to increase strength and conditioning, decrease pain and improve function! Aquatic therapists use the properties of water coupled with traditional physical therapy techniques to provide comprehensive healing.
Kruti truly believes “aquatic therapy has tremendous potential towards the reduction in pain and improving movement, strength, and quality of life.”
Brian, PT, DPT, CMTPT, CMPT – Grafton-Cedarburg, Wisconsin
Facility Manager, Hip Preservation Regional Coordinator
Anyone dealing with acute or chronic pain in the hip, groin, buttock, or any other lower back or lower extremity issue – from high level athletes to weekend warriors to inactive individuals – could benefit from seeing a hip preservation specialist.
Brian understands that “the hip is often regarded as the ‘forgotten joint’ and plays a heavy role in the mechanics throughout the body, from the mid-back down to the feet. Without proper hip mobility and stability, there will undoubtedly be increased stress at the low back, knees, ankles, and feet.”
Sheena, PT, DPT, ATC – Ypsilanti-Ann Arbor, Michigan
Facility Manager, Dry Needling Specialist
People who suffer from tight and stiff muscles would benefit from dry needling intervention to improve functional mobility and normalize mechanics for activities of daily living.
“Dry needling gives me a direct avenue to alleviate trigger points in deeper muscles that I can’t otherwise reach with my hands or tools alone.”
Kathy, PT, MPT, OCS, COMT, Cert MDT – Lincoln Park North
Facility Manager, Certified McKenzie Therapist
Kathy is an expert in the McKenzie Method, an exercise-based approach of assessment, diagnosis, and treatment that helps patients manage their own symptoms using postural training, stretching of dysfunctional tissue, and principles of directional preference. The McKenzie Method empowers patients to be in control of their own symptoms management, which can reduce dependency on medical intervention.
“I firmly believe that patient education is key to managing their symptoms.”
Banaka, PT, DPT, COMT – Kansas City – Westport, Kansas City, Missouri
Facility Manager, Blood Flow Restriction Specialist
Through her own personal experience, Banaka knew Blood Flow Restriction was a great tool that could benefit her patients! She was originally attracted to BFR training because of its ability to improve patient strength without lifting heavy weight. With BFR, patients can use light or no resistance and get similar strength gains as high-intensity resistance training (i.e. weightlifting).
“From athletes to older adults and from conservative treatment to post-operative patients, BFR is beneficial to all patient types.”
Jillian, PT, DPT, Astym Cert. – Sachse, TX
Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization
IASTM is highly effective in chronic conditions such as plantar fasciopathy, tennis elbow, and post-traumatic/post-surgical scarring, even when other therapies have failed.
As a former collegiate distance runner, runners are Jillian’s favorite patient population to treat. Her favorite patient story comes from a runner who was experiencing severe plantar fasciitis. “She had trialed cortisone injections and was even considering surgery by the time she arrived to physical therapy for one last effort at conservative management. A combination of IASTM, manual therapy, and a functional exercise program had this patient up and running in a matter of weeks.”
Brandon, PT, DPT, Astym Cert – New Albany, OH
Facility Manager, Astym Certified Specialist
“My favorite moments are when the ‘light bulb’ goes off in the patient’s head and they recognize the progress they have made. It makes me smile knowing that a meaningful difference has occurred in their life.”
Some of these “A-ha moments” have come after Brandon uses Astym as part of a patient’s treatment plan. Astym is a set of useful tools that aide in the treatment of chronic tendon and scar tissue diagnoses that may not have responded to other forms of treatment. Astym jump starts the healing process and helps facilitate successful long-term outcomes.
Amber, PT, COMT, c-ART – Belvidere, IL
Facility Manager, Active Release Technique Specialist
If you have stiffness in your muscles or joints that limits your flexibility and prevents you from doing certain activities, Active Release Technique (ART) could help you! ART is a non-invasive manual therapy technique that works to correct soft tissue restrictions that cause pain and mobility issues.
Amber recalls one of her favorite patient stories, a 17-year old dancer who came to physical therapy for an ankle sprain. The patient had tried therapy with another provider without success. “After the first week of treatment, the patient saw immediate improvement in symptoms. Then, after two weeks of ART therapy the patient was able to return to dancing without restrictions.”
Beth, MPT, CHT – Bridgeton, MO
Facility Manager, Certified Hand Therapist
Hand Therapists are clinically trained in treating the hand and upper extremities. Patients with hand injuries including flexor or extensor tendon repairs, ligament tears and repairs, as well as a multitude of hand and/or wrist fractures can benefit from the skills of a certified hand therapist.
One of Beth’s most memorable patient success stories involves a patient who was severely burned during a work related injury. “The burns, as well as the subsequent skin graft surgeries left him with significantly limited range of motion at the shoulder, elbow, and hand. I treated this patient for a very long time. He eventually graduated from therapy with full functional motion of the shoulder, wrist, and hand. The patient subsequently retired after this work related incident but was able to do every activity that he had been looking forward to do in his retirement!”
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The Athletico blog is an educational resource written by Athletico employees. Athletico bloggers are licensed professionals who abide by the code of ethics outlined by their respective professional associations. The content published in blog posts represents the opinion of the individual author based on their expertise and experience. The content provided in this blog is for informational purposes only, does not constitute medical advice and should not be relied on for making personal health decisions.
