About Jennifer Valerio

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So far Jennifer Valerio has created 27 blog entries.

Snack Time? Snack on Some Movement!

2024-02-09T21:38:52+00:00

Everyone loves snacks. They’re quick, easy to access, and can be downright satisfying. The team at IP always loves a good snack… but not all snacks are created equal. When the weather is cold and midnight seems to come at 5 in the evening, it can be easy to reach for the snacks we have lying around while we wait to see the sun again.

Did you know movement can come in snack sizes too?? Movement snacks can be a great way to break up long periods of sitting; long days at the computer, passing the time while you wait watch your favorite team play, or while you wait for the credits of your favorite show to end before the next episode starts.

We know movement is good for us. It nourishes our joints, it gets our hearts pumping, and it helps us to generally just feel better. Movement snacks don’t need to complicated. In fact, the simpler the better! Accessibility is all part of the equation. We know it’s hard to get moving sometimes, especially if you’re feeling stiff and achey, or just tired.

Things like:

• Air squats
• Planks
• Tandem walking
• Standing on one leg as long as you can
• Jumping jacks
• OR if you’ve been keeping up with our New Years Challenge- a water skier squat!

You can keep it simple, or you can go a little more complex with things like:
• Rotating lateral lunge for some rotational movement
• Dead bugs to get some core engagement
• Or bear crawls for strength and stability.

So the next time you need something to break up some monotony in your day, try a movement snack! And while you’re at it, snap a picture and tag us in it on Instagram. We’ll be rooting for you the whole way!

Snack Time? Snack on Some Movement!2024-02-09T21:38:52+00:00

Resolve to Refresh and Rejuvinate with Movement in the New Year

2023-12-20T16:02:58+00:00

With the new year approaching, many of us are setting goals for personal and professional growth.  While working to achieve these goals, it’s important that we remember to prioritize the our bodies, the machines that keep our lives running!  Physical therapy can play an essential role in strengthening our resolutions for a healthier, active lifestyle. This new year, let’s not let our injuries limit us from achieving our health and wellness goals. Check out some ways that physical therapy can be beneficial for you when working to become your healthiest ‘elf’!

  • Say goodbye to chronic pain!

So many of us have gotten used to chronic pain and pushed it off as something that we just ‘have to deal with’.  Our physiotherapists can identify where the pain is coming from and develop a plan of care to help address your discomfort. 

  • Prevent injuries, before they are injuries!

Whether you’re new to working out or have an extremely active lifestyle, everyone has things they can improve on. Addressing our weaknesses and possible incorrect movement patterns can help reduce the risk of future injuries.

  • Move for Mobility!

Improving your flexibility and joint function will help you move with ease. Increasing your range of motion will allow you to move freely and have fewer limitations when working on your health goals. 

  • Set realistic, ACHIEVABLE goals

Striving to improve your health is a lifelong quest. Working with a professional can help you set goals that are achievable. It’s easy to get in over your head when working towards a goal, but by setting smaller achievable goals will make your hard work more productive. 

  • Mindful resolutions

Incorporating mindfulness can help with stress reduction and keep your mind right. Intentional movement will help you not only prioritize your physical health, but also prioritize your overall wellbeing.

Your team at I.P. is here to support your 2024 health goals and keep you moving to your best self.  Call us to schedule your 2024 appointments if you haven’t already!

Resolve to Refresh and Rejuvinate with Movement in the New Year2023-12-20T16:02:58+00:00

The Science Behind Being a Human Pin Cushion

2022-10-11T17:07:14+00:00

Here at IP, dry needling is a frequently utilized treatment that contributes to a comprehensive, personalized treatment plan. There are some great benefits to dry needling that include, but are not limited to, quick pain relief, improving range of motion, achieving a quicker path to recovery and more! Dry needling is also called trigger point dry needling or myofascial trigger point dry needling. The word “myofascial” is made up of the roots “myo” (which refers to muscle) and “fascia” (which refers to the tissue that connects muscle). 

Injections into the myofascial trigger points were first proposed by medical doctors Janet Travell and David Simons in the early 1940’s. Travell discovered that certain nerves and neural hyperactivity were linked to pain in tender parts of the muscle and fascia. She and Dr. Simon carefully identified most of the trigger points located in the human body. They injected various substances including corticosteroids, painkillers, saline, etc. into the trigger points. That was the beginning of how modern dry needling was established. Dr. Travell was well respected and actually became President John F. Kennedy’s White House physician!

Seeing how the process originally used liquid to treat the trigger points, it’s a wonder why the procedure itself would be coined as “dry” needling. However, after Dr. Travell’s initial discovery, a study done by a Czech physician, Dr. Karel Lewit, found that the needling is what made the treatments effective, far more than the substances that were injected into the muscles. Further research proved that dry needling is more effective and not as invasive as “wet” needling, though it was only in 1976 when the procedure became a recognized practice in the healthcare industry. It was Dr. Chan Gunn who further developed the concept of dry needling. He researched the technique of Intramuscular Stimulation (IMS). IMS is a technique for the treatment of myofascial pain based on a comprehensive diagnostic that identifies the cause of the pain due to disease or dysfunction in the nervous system. It specifically identifies the nerve root as the generator of the anatomy, so it is referred to as a radiculo-neuropathic model. 

Muscles can develop knotted areas called trigger points. These trigger points are very sensitive and can be painful when touched. Our PTs will insert needles through the skin into trigger points. Those needles are used as a reset for the golgi tendon organ (GTO) to stimulate the tissue, not to inject medication. 

Pain affects how your body moves. Dry needling changes the way the brain and muscles talk to each other to help your system return to normal function.

You may experience different sensations when being needled. Muscle soreness, aching and an elicited muscle twitch when a needle is inserted are considered good signs of effective needling. The needles may be placed deeply, for various amounts of time, depending on what type of pain is being treated and pathology. Shorter periods of time would mean that the needle would stay in the muscle for seconds, while longer periods could mean 10 to 15 minutes.

Now you have a basis of where dry needling comes from and why we use it. Never hesitate to ask us more, we are all happy to explain why we love dry needling!

The Science Behind Being a Human Pin Cushion2022-10-11T17:07:14+00:00

Taking a break from movement…what about sleep?

2022-06-22T22:35:50+00:00

Did you know that humans spend roughly a third of their lives sleeping?  Even though we sleep to “rest”, your body and brain really need that down time to keep your body functioning optimally.   In the U.S., 62% of our population experiences sleep problems several nights per week.  We know there’s mounds of evidence that poor sleep can lead to a myriad of health issues such as diabetes, dementia, increased fall risks, to name a few. So how does your team at I.P. address your sleep health when typically, your sessions at the clinic are far from restful?!? Because an added bonus from your PT sessions and a question we are always interested in throughout your rehab process – are you sleeping better?

Sleep quality and pain perception are inversely related. The worse sleep you get, the higher sensitivity to pain you have. The more pain you have, the harder it is to get to sleep, stay asleep, and sleep efficiently. Poor sleep over the lifespan is closely related to cardiovascular issues, depression, anxiety, cognitive function and impairs motor skill learning. All of these contributing factors can make the rehab process slower than it should, or could be. 

The therapists at I.P. care about how you’re sleeping – we ask questions about whether symptoms flare at night, how your symptoms vary before and after waking. The immune system works in synchrony with your body’s sleep-wake cycle. We have pro-inflammatory processes that enable our body’s immune response to be working overtime while we sleep. Additionally, our stress systems (like the sympathetic nervous system) downregulate during sleep, allowing us to fight off illness and promote tissue healing in the body.

The work we do at I.P. promotes a healthy sleep-wake cycle during your sessions, and our therapists are able to make specialized sleep hygiene recommendations to help your sleep cycle improve. Exercises or postural adjustments to your sleep habits can also help to reduce disturbances that are causing sleep disruption.

 Check out this gentle exercise that’s simple to perform right before bed!

Taking a break from movement…what about sleep?2022-06-22T22:35:50+00:00

Physical Therapy & Your Immune System

2022-01-31T21:41:11+00:00

Overwhelmingly, studies show that regular exercise boosts your immune system. The somewhat obvious caveat to this is that you must not overtrain or injure yourself in the process…this would lead to a major decrease in your immunity. In comes physical therapy to save the day!

Did you know physical therapists do way more than just address acute and chronic injuries? They prescribe series of movements and exercises that will protect and enhance your overall physical functionality (our therapists do this in a very specific way). These series of targeted exercises can help boost your immune system in ways regular exercise does not. One example of this, is that some exercises can be prescribed can help flush bacteria out of lungs and airways which reduce the likelihood of getting sick with a virus (Virvick & Zieve, 2020).

Another great example of how physical therapy can strengthen your immune system, is by improving the quality and amount of sleep you are getting. If you are one of the 60 million Americans that has sleep related problems, physical therapy can help reduce the underlying pain or discomfort that prevents you from great, uninterrupted sleep. Through expert evaluation and analysis, our team can work directly with you to resolve those underlying ailments and get your resting easy again!

Finally, physical therapy can reduce stress related hormones that suppress the immune system. Physical therapy can reduce these stress hormones in a number of ways. One way is the indirect benefit of being pain free. Pain is a leading cause of stress; physical therapy can help reduce pain which will directly reduce stress levels. Similarly, studies have shown that elevated levels of anxiety can negatively affect systemic systems in the body and ultimately lower your ability to fight disease (Otto et al., 2007). Physical Therapy can target and improve the performance of these systems to keep your body functioning and healthy.  Staying healthy is more important than ever, especially now!!  Contact your I.P. team with any questions or to see how we can help you start boosting your immune system today!

References

Otto, M. W., Church, T. S., Craft, L. L., Greer, T. L., Smits, J. A., & Trivedi, M. H. (2007). Exercise for mood and anxiety disorders. Primary care companion to the Journal of clinical psychiatry9(4), 287–294. https://doi.org/10.4088/pcc.v09n0406

Vorvick, L., & Zieve, D. (2020, January 23). Exercise and immunity: Medlineplus medical encyclopedia. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007165.htm

Physical Therapy & Your Immune System2022-01-31T21:41:11+00:00

Prehab vs Rehab: How Physical Therapy Increases Outcomes

2021-12-08T16:15:44+00:00

What is prehab? And why does it matter?  Prehab is just a fancy term for physical therapy before an event or occasion. This could be surgery [surgery is a top one] but PRP, marathon/military training or even activities of daily living are included. Prehab differs from rehab in that it is a proactive plan designed to prepare you for whatever life brings at you next. Here at IP, you know we love pumpin’ prevention to help patients optimize their potential!

Prehab has recently gained more traction in the research community. On the surgical side, prehab before surgery increased the likelihood of a successful recovery by 38% in one study (Gillis et al., 2014). Another study showed that patients who pre-habbed prior to surgery reduced the total health care costs to the patient by 45% (Gometz et al. 2018). Meaning that prehab can not only set you up for a better and easier recovery from surgery but can save you money in the process.

In non-surgical situations, prehab seriously decreases the chances of injury. Getting ready for hiking or ski season, but know it always bothers you knees for days afterwards? Preparing for a race but feel like your back has always held you back from really hitting your peak? Trying to pass physical testing for military testing? Prehab at IP would be of benefit to you! With our specialized biomechanical tips and tricks, we can help you prevent falls, sports injuries among other orthopedic ailments.

If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about how prehab could benefit you, ask one of your IP team members and we are more than happy to help get you started!

Gillis, C., Li, C., Lee, L., Awasthi, R., Augustin, B., Gamsa, A., Liberman, A. S., Stein, B., Charlebois, P., Feldman, L. S., & Carli, F. (2014). Prehabilitation versus rehabilitation: a randomized control trial in patients undergoing colorectal resection for cancer. Anesthesiology121(5), 937–947. https://doi.org/10.1097/ALN.0000000000000393

Gometz, A., Maislen, D., Youtz, C., Kary, E., Gometz, E. L., Sobotka, S., & Choudhri, T. F. (2018). The Effectiveness of Prehabilitation (Prehab) in Both Functional and Economic Outcomes Following Spinal Surgery: A Systematic Review. Cureus, 10(5), e2675. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.2675

Prehab vs Rehab: How Physical Therapy Increases Outcomes2021-12-08T16:15:44+00:00

Ways to Stave off the Seasonal Slump

2021-11-03T21:11:03+00:00

The days are getting shorter, the air is crisp and cool (and kind of gloomy)…We’ve been hearing consistently across our patient groups that the motivation to move is down and the craving for comfort foods are up. Did you know that physical activity levels decline significantly in the winter months?  This seasonal decline in activity is connected to higher blood pressure, increased body fat and many other health related problems (Shepard & Aoyagi, 2009). The color changes this fall sure have been exceptionally beautiful, but your I.P. team wants to help keep you moving as we transition into winter months!

We know as the weather cools down and days get shorter it gets increasingly difficult to exercise – especially before the opportunities for winter activities begin.  Keeping up with exercise and eating nutritious meals are ways to combat the season change in activity and boost your energy levels. Your I.P. Team wants to give you some tips to keep the body, mind and spirit hardy as we head into hibernation season!

Exercise of the Month – Bear Crawl [into hibernation]

Getting outside to exercise may not be as much of an option in the fall and winter for many people.  Dr. John and Dr. Lindsey recommend a simple exercise that you can do at home in any open space to stave off the seasonal slump. Try adding this Slider Bear Crawl for 8-10 reps for 2-3 sets to keep your low back stable and your core strong!  From this 4-point position, slide feet back to a plank position and return to starting. For more simple exercises you can do at home or modifications, don’t forget to ask Dr. John, Dr. Lindsey or Jen when you come in for your appointment.

Tag us on social media when trying these exercises out!

IG: @integrativePT

FB: @iptherapy

If comfort foods are your kryptonite, we recommend healthy and hearty soups! Dr. Lindsey recommends this easy Stuffed Acorn Squash recipe.

We can’t talk about staying healthy through seasonal changes outside of our control, without talking about mental health. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) effects 5-10% of the U.S. population. If you’re feeling the winter blues, you’re not alone! Some ideas to help lift your spirits:

  • Get outside when you can for some Vitamin D
  • Stay hydrated
  • Stay in touch with friends and family
  • Join a group activity, take a class with a friend

Stay safe and stay warm!

Shephard, R. J., & Aoyagi, Y. (2009). Seasonal variations in physical activity and implications for human health. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 107(3), 251–271. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-009-1127-1

Ways to Stave off the Seasonal Slump2021-11-03T21:11:03+00:00

All About Arthritis

2021-09-01T23:27:21+00:00

What is Osteoarthritis? 
Pain and stiffness associated with swelling, tenderness, and degeneration in one or more joints, typically a result of the repetitive overuse and worsens with aging. OA is most commonly seen in the thumb CMC (carpometacarpal joint), the knees, and hips.

One of the most common reasons we see patients in the clinic is due to the sequelae of symptoms from osteoarthritis. The disease first manifests as abnormal cellular activity and joint tissue metabolism which then will progress to anatomical/physiological derangements in the joint such as:

  1. Cartilage Degradation
  2. Bone Remodeling
  3. Osteophyte formation (bone spurs along joint lines)
  4. Joint Inflammation 

Now, that all might sound scary and like the worst thing that could happen to your body right?! The good news is, this doesn’t have to imply loss of function. 

How is OA treated?
Most of the current research supports the use of a combination of manual therapy techniques paired with therapeutic exercise to treat osteoarthritis. Having an understanding of load management through the affected joints and how to mitigate unwanted forces while still maintaining strength is key! If joint replacements are necessary, the evidence states that the better range of motion and strength pre-op, the more favorable the outcomes post-op. Moral of the story: even if you need surgery, call us for a few months of “prehab.” 

Outside of PT, or as an adjunct to PT, there are various options for medical management of OA. NSAIDs such as Celebrex may help in the short term to decrease pain and improve function. Viscosupplementation with hyaluronic acid is a non-invasive series of injections into the knee joint that will help improve the water content of the synovial joints to help decrease stiffness. Finally, regenerative medicine with stem cell therapy can help regenerate bone and soft tissue to delay the need for surgical intervention. 

I don’t have much pain, but my x-ray looks really bad, do I need a joint replacement?
Radiographs ≠ Pain!!!   Many people may have moderate to severe arthritis on imaging that do not experience much pain and are still able to participate in their daily activities of daily living as well as recreational activities. In fact, staying active and participating in functional strength training can help prolong and in some cases eliminate the need for a possible joint replacement. Think of your muscles as your “shock absorbers” throughout your body decreasing the amount of bone on bone contact during weight bearing activities. If you are weak, you lose this shock absorption and are more likely to experience pain, stiffness, and decreased function. To summarize: ARTHRITIC JOINTS NEED TO MOVE!

What is the difference between Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Osteoarthritis is the result of repetitive loading manifesting in a somewhat predictable pattern of asymmetrical degeneration of the subchondral bone and cartilage in weight bearing joints that progresses as one ages. Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that is more often seen in women during child-bearing years (20-40 years old). This systemic origin results in synovial membrane inflammation throughout the body. It is most often seen as a symmetrical pattern starting in the small joints of the fingers and wrist, eventually affecting the upper cervical spine, and then into the weight bearing joints. Instead of seeing bone spurs and degeneration on x-ray, you may see osteopenia/osteoporosis, joint subluxation, or erosion of joints in an x-ray of someone suffering from RA. RA and OA will respond well to strength training programs that are targeted toward one’s individual impairments.

Are there any other types of arthritis? 
There are other systemic inflammatory arthritis disorders including: 

  1. Psoriatic Arthritis: This often follows after a diagnosis of skin involvement from psoriasis. This will often affect one sacroiliac joint, the small joints of the fingers and toes, followed by splitting/pitting of the nail beds, and eye inflammation. Typically, this is managed medically (no cure) and supervised activity is encouraged.
  2. Ankylosing Spondylitis: This typically affects young males up to 40 years old and results in stiffness of the midback to low back and decreased rib expansion caused by fusing of the spine (often caused “bamboo spine” when seen on x-rays). Pain is often managed with exercise and anti-inflammatories and feels worse with rest.
  3. Reactive Arthritis or Reiter’s Syndrome: This is a multi-joint inflammatory arthritis that is the result of an infection originating from the gastrointestinal or genitourinary system. May begin as severe joint pain that will often dissipate/resolve within weeks to months. Along with joint pain, a patient may experience difficulty/pain with urination and eye inflammation and pain.
  4. Gout: This causes joint inflammation due to high levels of uric acid in the bloodstream resulting in painful urate crystal deposition in joints of the big toe, elbows, knees, wrists, etc. High uric acid is caused by a diet rich in purines which includes: high sugar content foods, beer, sardines, liver, live game, shellfish, and soda. Typically, this will be managed with lifestyle/diet changes and medical management.

In the end, any diagnosis of arthritis does not have to be a life sentence. Make an appointment to discuss your options with your PT and other medical providers to keep you mobile and functional! Remember: movement is medicine, motion is lotion, ______ (insert cheesy motivation here!)

All About Arthritis2021-09-01T23:27:21+00:00

Staying Home For the Holidays

2021-09-01T23:27:22+00:00

Can you believe the holiday season is already upon us?! 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic has presented its own set of challenges for health and wellness and we want to discuss some of this with you as we close out the year.

Currently, Colorado is in the “red” category of the dial system. This means that while we can stay open as a medical clinic, gyms are operating at a very limited capacity of around 10%.  On top of this, the weather is getting colder, making outdoor recreational activities much more difficult. So does that mean it’s time to throw in the towel on your physical activity for the year? NO!

In addition to mask wearing, washing your hands, and social distancing, there has been multiple sources of evidence that states regular physical activity can not only help prevent contracting infectious disease, but also prevents death from infectious disease.

Da Silveira et al performed a meta-analysis of the current literature (55 publications) supporting this theory. In his review he states, “This study shows that higher levels of habitual physical activity are associated with a 31% lower prospective risk of infectious disease and 38% lower risk of infectious disease related mortality.”

This is incredible! So let me get this straight:

Regular physical activity and exercise:

  • Lowers and/or prevents the risk of developing chronic diseases such as type-2 diabetes, metabolic disorder, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, etc. 
  • Modulates stress hormones and neurotransmitters related to experiencing depression and anxiety and can improve mood
  • Improves digestion and bowel function
  • Regulates sleep cycle 
  • Stimulates memory and cortical functioning
  • AND can help you battle COVID-19!!

Are you convinced? Today, make it your mission to MOVE! If you are struggling to find an at home exercise routine that can address your needs specifically, schedule an in-person or virtual appointment with us, your movement specialists, ASAP! 

Last but not least, from all of us at Integrative Physiotherapy, we wish you and your loved ones a safe and happy holiday season and thank you for your continued support of our practice. 

Reference

da Silveira MP, da Silva Fagundes KK, Bizuti MR, Starck É, Rossi RC, de Resende E Silva DT. Physical exercise as a tool to help the immune system against COVID-19: an integrative review of the current literature [published online ahead of print, 2020 Jul 29]. Clin Exp Med. 2020;1-14. 

Staying Home For the Holidays2021-09-01T23:27:22+00:00

Spinal Cord Awareness Month: Insider Insight with Dr. John

2021-09-01T23:27:22+00:00

September is Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month and at I.P. we have a unique perspective on this topic. In 2004 Dr. John suffered a spinal cord injury while playing football that resulted in severe loss of function in his entire right arm. While many people may know bits and pieces of what happened, we thought sharing his story would help shine some light on what motivated John to start Integrative Physiotherapy and help others MOVE! 

Tell us how your injury happened. 

I was playing cornerback, in a semi-pro league, on the left side when I went to strip the ball. My arm was fully extended and the safety crowned me in the elbow as the back kept running with my hand. I sustained a grade 3 brachial plexus strain with medial ulnar avulsion and a complete rupture of my tricep, UCL ligaments and 6 forearm muscles. I was writhing in pain and shaking immediately afterwards. I don’t have a sweet tooth but I have never had such a craving for sugar in my life. At the hospital they tried to yank my arm straight to get an X-ray, I kicked the tech as a response because of the pain. They sent me home with pain meds and told me that I was going to wish I broke my arm because the soft tissue damage was going to be way worse. Correct statement knowing the recovery from breaking my wrist 3 times… but that’s a different story.  I experienced chills, hot flashes, bowel and bladder symptoms, insomnia, nausea and vomiting for days and months, even the first few years after the event. 

Did you undergo surgery?

No and I should have. My tendon and ligaments needed to be fully reattached for me to have full function of my arm. I had the opportunity to have surgery at the time. I still was on my mom’s insurance for a few more months and the surgeon had told me he had only ever seen one case worse than mine and that I absolutely had to have surgery. But because I had met some mentors who had shown me how often surgery could be avoided, I challenged myself to see how much I could get done without surgery. In retrospect, it was appropriate that surgery should have been performed, but I also wouldn’t know what I know now about rehabilitation if I would have gone through the surgery. As far as function goes, the surgery was definitely necessary. That is an aspect I contemplate any time patients ask me about surgeries while there are so many variables that go into deciding to have surgery or not. I always say once the knife goes in, it can’t come out; but it may be the right course of action depending on the person and situation. That’s why it’s important to know the current science behind the efficacy of surgeries – for long term benefit and considering the dynamics surrounding each individual. A patient’s co-morbidities and lifestyle are huge indicators of whether it would be possible for someone to avoid surgery. Respecting every profession and their part of the comprehensive care process is paramount. 

What was the hardest part of your recovery process?

The mental aspect of how long it took to recover and the emotional changes that go into an altered self-identity post-injury… let alone the patience. The hardest part as an athlete with an injury that is that severe, is that you lose your ‘runner’s’ high’. You’re used to running and jumping and moving and competing. I’d been in an almost obsessive physical routine for the better part of a decade, and overnight I only had use of 3 limbs. I was injured; I wasn’t releasing my happy hormones from exercise. That emotional state really makes you question your motivations, who you are as a person, and how you decide what your new identity is going to be after experiencing something that traumatic. 

How long did it take you to regain function of your right arm for daily activities, and then also for sport/fitness?

Took about a year for functional activities and about 2.5 years for sport. At first my arm and fingers were curled in a rigid position. I could only use the very tips of my fingers for the better part of 6 months. Couldn’t eat with that arm, couldn’t brush my teeth, couldn’t do basic self-care ADLs… The first time I tried to wipe my own a** and using my left arm was very humbling to realize my body had never turned the other way. 

It was a painstakingly slow process of breaking down the whole system; the mechanical, chemical and electrical engineering. You have to take all the segments through the whole system – like trying to rewire a computer. Since the arm gets its strength from the legs, you have to take the arm all the way down the ankle. You keep going through this process..over and over again. Sometimes there are huge gains, and other times it’s the smallest little things that are battle victories. I keep working on each aspect of the journey…constantly looking for new and innovative ways to restore function. That rolls into being able to treat simple to complex cases with a lot of variability to pull from and push past plateaus. 

How do you apply your personal experience towards patient care?

My injury has fostered my ability to keep being innovative and creative while empathetic and sympathetic in clinic; approaching the patient as a whole person, addressing each point of that pyramid (chemical/emotional/physical). Addressing the emotional distress that comes with injuries/ailments is so important to consider in the recovery process. There’s a lot of evidence that shows if you believe you aren’t going to get better, you’re not going to get better. Addressing people as a whole by checking each point of their pyramid has enabled me to better see what they are needing at that time. Re-integrating a person back into their life, if you will. You see stories of amputees or veterans that have gone through so much and are still able to play basketball or handstand with or without the use of prosthetics or assistance. A neurologic injury makes you focus on body entities rather than muscles, requiring a restoration of a certain harmony between the systems to become your best current self. 

What symptoms do you still have to this day?

I’m still unable to fully straighten my right arm in a couple angles. I have difficulty with certain manual therapy techniques in clinic when I need to fully straighten my arm. I get occasional numbness and tingling and still have muscle atrophy from the lower motor neuron damage. There’s always something to work on, something that reminds you of what you once were, where you are, and where you are going. 

Spinal Cord Awareness Month: Insider Insight with Dr. John2021-09-01T23:27:22+00:00
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