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11/19/2008 A New Journey: Entering the Blogosphere
I have to say that as a physical therapist, I never quite thought that "blogging" is something that would become part of my professional being. But here we are, and I am excited about it! I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge fellow Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin blogger Dr. Bruce Campbell for helping me stumble upon this opportunity. I first came to know the blogs on my employer's Web site when I found Dr. Campbell's by happenstance. I thank him for his words of encouragement that physical therapy and sports medicine would lend itself well to blogging. I hope that I prove him correct!
I truly feel that physical therapy is a highly rewarding profession as it affords me the opportunity to meet and interact with hundreds of different people each year. My interactions with patients are by nature intimate in that I use my hands during treatment and work directly one-on-one with patients for a minimum of 30 minutes per visit. Each patient who crosses my path inevitably teaches me something that I hope makes me a better clinician as well as a better husband, father, son and friend. I intend to take some of my experiences and observations as a physical therapist and share them through this forum to help others be more physically fit, reduce injury, and enhance enjoyment of physical activities.
I invite responses and feedback at anytime. If you have suggestions for topics also pass those along.
Until next time, get out there and do something you enjoy! A body that's in motion ...
Jeff
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The following is feedback received for this blog:
Can you tell me more about Froedtert Sports Medicine and how you rank with other sports medicine facilities around town? Would it be appropriate to come there for a work related injury?
- Mark D.
Hi, would you plese address "myofascial release therapy" in a future blog? Thanks!
Mark,
In response to your question, if you are looking for a facility in town there are a few questions that you should ask. The things that come to my mind that I would pay attention to are as follows: experience and expertise of the clinicians, communication with your physician and level of personal attention provided.
What I can tell you about the Froedtert & The Medical College Sports Medicine Center is that we are a state-of-the-art facility with very experienced and highly trained therapists with little turnover. We routinely treat professional, collegiate and high school athletes. Our physicians are all fellowship-trained and board-certified, so they are specialists in their respective areas. I and my collegues have the good fortune to work very closely with our physicians on a daily basis. Thus, it is truly a team atmosphere in which customer service is a top priority.
With respect to a work-related injury, it may be appropriate to come to our facility for such an issue. We certainly do treat work-related injuries. Most of what we treat at the Sports Medicine Center are extremity injuries (shoulder, knee, foot/ankle, elbow, hip). I stress that picking a facility for your care is a personal decision that you should discuss with your physician. If you would like more information on our facility I direct you to our Sports Medicine Center Web site.
It is also very important that I mention that the content of this blog is not intended to be specific medical advice. I will not offer specific medical advice or attempt to diagnosis through this blog. If you have a medical condition or injury, please consult your personal physician.
I hope that answers your questions.
- Jeff Wilkens
I plan to continue reading your blog. Question: Are you the same PT who treated me in Madison at Dean Clinic (East) after I irritated or tore my rotator cuffs? I'm sure you treated lots of folks like me, but what made my situation unique is that all the while you were following protocol shooting cortizone into my shoulders and getting my muscles to relax and reduce inflammation, I wasa still unable to comb my hair or reach to do any number of ADLs. And then, during cooldown after my step aerobics class one evening in October, the instructor had us lie supine on the bench, repeatedly reaching fists straight up, then back down (leading with elbows), reach partway up, then down; and also doing flies partway out, in, all the way out, and in, to strengthen the shoulder girdle muscles. (The next day my pecs and lats were sore, but the shoulder muscles were strengthened, there was less weight pushing on the tender tendons and I was able to DO things again with my arms
. I recall teasing my PT about this. So, are you the same PT? If so, it's good to know you're now at Froedert the next time I need an EXCELLENT therapist!
- Barbara Ingalls
Thank you for reading!
First off, I am not the physical therapist you had worked with in the past. Given that I don't know you, it is not possible for me to comment on any particulars of your case or condition.
I am comfortable saying that each and every physical therapist is unique and will have subtle differences in treatment style including exercises prescribed. This is due to different schools, continuing education, mentors, and experiences which shape a respective physical therapist's career. In addition, not all exercises are appropriate for all patients. I always make an effort to personalize the program for each patient as this is what has provided me and my patients the best outcomes.
Lastly, it is unlikely that one specific exercise is the end all and be all in treating a condition. A comprehensive physical therapy evaluation followed by an individualized treatment is mostly likely to provide success. Good luck in your quest to find a new physical therapist!
- Jeff Wilkens
| Posted 1:31 PM |
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