By Kate Scriven
Aches and pains are common as you age. Sometimes we ignore them, too busy to take the time for a doctor’s visit, opting instead to push through with a few ibuprofen and the heating pad. Sometimes they go away. Sometimes not.
If not, you’ll find yourself in the doctor’s office, finger’s crossed that the word “surgery” doesn’t escape their lips. Surgery or not, you’ll likely be referred to physical therapy. And if you are lucky, (or better yet, at your request) you’ll be referred to a physical therapist at Olympia Orthopaedic Associates, where their top-notch facilities reflect the diversified talents and compassionate care of the therapists working there. Physical therapy services are found both in the Westside Clinic, near Capital Medical Center and at the Eastside Clinic near Providence St. Peter’s Hospital.
Oly Ortho’s philosophy, in all departments, is to put patients first, showing care and compassion in all aspects of their experience. Nowhere is this seen more clearly than with physical therapy (PT). PT is unique in that the patient and therapist spend a lot of time together, one-on –one. Depending on the level of therapy needed, patients could see their therapist a few times or ongoing for several months.
In that time, a relationship and bond develops that Bill Hinson, a Physical Therapist at Oly Ortho’s Eastside Clinic, cites as his favorite part of his job. “I really enjoy being able to work directly with people – talking with folks as you are working with them. Lots of what we do is hands-on, manual therapy, so we get to sit and chat with people and over the course of their therapy, we really get to know them.”
And Oly Ortho makes every effort to foster that relationship, keeping patients with one therapist throughout their care. No one likes to tell their sad story of “how my knee got so bad” over and over again.
Many people wonder when they may need physical therapy. The answer isn’t always straight forward, but the general consensus is sooner rather than later. Remember those aches and pains you were treating with the heating pad? If you visit your doctor before they become limiting to you – before you can’t lift your arm or turn your head – you will likely be sent to PT. And, will be much more likely to avoid invasive surgery to correct something left too long.
“As we get older, the tissues don’t respond as they did when we were younger,” explains Hinson. “So those things we like to put off – the arthritis or tendonitis – can snowball into something much bigger. So when you get those ‘out of the norm’ aches, we like to see people at that time, before it gets to the point where it limits them from doing things. Then many of the preventative things that we as Physical Therapists can do – it’s just too late for.”
The good news is, when caught early, many issues can be addressed in a few visits with exercises at home. It’s when we ignore things too long that you get really cozy with your PT….and maybe your surgeon as well.
For Olympia resident, John Kauffmann, preventative PT wasn’t enough. His ongoing knee troubles required Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction this year with Oly Ortho’s Dr. Jerome Zechmann. Following surgery, John was referred to the Eastside Clinic’s Missy Schlenker for PT. “I’m thrilled with the results I got working with Missy. Not only did she get me back on my feet and doing the things I enjoy much quicker than I thought, but she inspired me to achieve a much higher level of overall fitness than I was in on the date of my injury.”
While the Physical Therapy Department is part of Olympia Orthopaedic’s Associates, patients can be referred from any physician in the area and some self-refer, taking advantage of the specialized services found in the Eastside and Westside clinics. There are a total of 10 Physical Therapists, treating a variety of patients but also specialize, giving patients more focused care for specific needs.
Kate Sisco specializes in hand therapy and works closely with Dr. Gregory Byrd, Oly Ortho’s hand surgeon. Diana Roberts is a certified athletic trainer, Bike Fitter, and USAT Triathlon coach in addition to her extensive PT credentials, and works with elite athletes to ready them for races and address injuries. Hinson focuses on rehabilitation of the back and neck using manual therapies to get patients moving again. Missy Schlenker works with patients experiencing vertigo and balance issues, focusing on aging patients with fall prevention. Jeanette Clarke is a Certified Work Capacity Evaluator, helping people get back to work.
Not hurt? The PTs at Oly Ortho also offer a variety of clinics and classes including the FREE “Run for Success” class, helping all levels of runners be their best. Keep tabs on these offerings through the Oly Ortho Facebook Page.
The diversity of care available is rivaled only by the quality of care and support provided by the greater Oly Ortho organization. With referring physicians often in the same building, a state-of-the-art MRI center within the Westside clinic, and specialists in all aspects of musculoskeletal medicine available for consult, the Physical Therapists at Oly Ortho really can, and do, offer the best care in the South Sound.
