Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Employee Spotlight: Shelly Owens

Shelly Owens, Office Manager Extraordinaire!
1. How and when did you start working with Team EIPT?
In 1998, I was experiencing neck pain that radiated down my arm making it numb and tingly.  There was a new physical therapy clinic in Wilton, and I decided to make an appointment.  I saw Beth Dessner, PT, who was running the clinic on her own.  I mentioned to her if she ever needed an office person to let me know.  After a couple months, I was hired and my neck felt great!

2. 
Describe your typical day with Team EIPT.
I am the Office Manager of our Wilton Clinic.  I greet patients as they walk in, schedule appointments, call insurance companies, and inform the patients of their benefits. There is always plenty of paperwork and reports to run.

3. What is your favorite part of working with Team EIPT?
My favorite part of working at EIPT is the patients!  They are like family.  I love working with people and enjoy seeing them progress and getting back to their active lifestyle.

4.
In what ways do you strive to provide a great experience for Team EIPT clients/patients?
I make it my daily goal to provided each patient with world class customer service.

5.
How do you spend your time away from Team EIPT?
I spend a lot of time with family and friends.   I enjoy walking, dancing, playing games and being outside. 

Monday, July 13, 2015

Employee Spotlight: Amy Shelangoski, PTA

Amy Shelangoski, PTA
1. How and when did you start working with Team EIPT? 
I started working with EIPT in 1998, when the company was formerly 21st Century Rehab, 17 years ago. I became a PTA in 1997, working at my first job as a PTA in Iowa City and dreamed of working with people in my own community. A year later I attended an open house 21st Century Rehab was hosting. I introduced myself to Beth. I informed her if she ever needed an assistant I am in the neighborhood and would be interested. Two or three months later she called, and that is all she wrote!

2. Describe your typical day at Team EIPT. 
My typical day involves treating patients that a physical therapist evaluated at our Durant clinic located within Heinsite Fitness. I also travel to any of the other clinic sites as needed. Our patients are young to no-as-young with various needs involving injury recovery, pain syndromes, post-surgical care, and overall strength and balance improvement. I also lead a group exercise class at our Durant clinic for people who wish to continue an exercise program for cardio and strengthening of upper body, lower body, core, and balance work. This occurs on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings for 1 hour.

3. What is your favorite part of working with Team EIPT? 
I enjoy working locally; treating friends, family, family of friends, and friends of family. If you don't start out fitting into one of these categories as a patient, you usually end up becoming friends and like family.

4. In what ways do you strive to provide a great experience for Team EIPT clients/patients? 
I strive to give individualized attention to my PTs, working together to get the best possible outcome for the condition(s) of our patients. I am always exploring exercises to try with people to challenge them and keep them interested. I also strive to promote long-term exercise habits and be a good role model myself. I love it when a patient we have been working with joins my exercise class after discharge form therapy or continues on their own at the fitness center.

5. How do you spend your time away from Team EIPT? 
My time away from work consists of anything to do with my family and friends. My children, Drake 11, Lainey 9, are involved in several sports and Scouts. I spend a lot of time working out and running. I participate in events from 5Ks to marathons. I have been known to do an occasional mud obstacle event, too. Anything outdoors is of interest. I am involved in my church and currently hold the church council president position.

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Women's Health: Success Story

In this guest post one of our patients, Cassie, tells her story about how Beth and Eastern Iowa Physical Therapy helped resolve her issues with stress incontinence, which Beth wrote about in a previous post.

Shortly after my first child was born 14 years ago, I began to experience “leaking” on a regular basis. This leaking would happen during exercise and sometimes even when I would sneeze. I had heard from other women that the same thing happened to them and that it was just part of having a baby and being a mom. They would suggest doing Kegal exercise or wearing a panty liner. Nobody ever offered any real solution. I mentioned it to my doctor as well and was told basically the same thing. I assumed since it was so common, there really was no solution.

About 2 years ago I began going to CrossFit. Movements during CrossFit such as doubleunders (jumping rope) and weight lifting were loud and pesky reminders that I had now given birth to three children and the leaking was not going to disappear on its own.  Fortunately for me, because of CrossFit I crossed paths with Beth and we became quick friends. One day she mentioned that women actually thought that leaking during CrossFit was normal. I sheepishly spoke up, telling her that I, too, assumed there was no way around it. I attributed it to birthing three children and even possibly to my lower back/disc issues that I had battled for over a decade. 

Beth suggested I meet with her to discuss these issues further and go over some breathing exercises that might work. I can’t lie, I didn’t really think she was going to have some magical plan that would eliminate the leaking completely, but I am one who is willing to try almost anything so I decided to give it a shot. When I met with Beth she was completely professional and prepared with handouts and a short video queued up that we watched together. We talked about my natural posture as well as some breathing exercises she wanted me to try. I had a hard time believing my breathing could somehow be linked to my leaking issues, but I was wrong. I left her office that day with my handouts in hand, determined to keep an open mind to the possibility of finding a solution to my problem if I worked at it. 

After leaving her office that day in April, I was diligent about practicing my breathing exercises. It was something I could do anywhere, anytime. I practiced at work, while waiting for my kids at practices, when I was driving, while I was swimming and doing yoga. I used to be a “chest breather” and these exercises quickly helped me begin to breathe from my diaphragm. Within about 6 weeks I stopped thinking so much about the breathing exercises and I began to notice less and less leaking. It was incredible! I could not believe that I was seeing a difference. I continued to work on my breathing, especially during swimming and yoga. If nothing else, the exercises helped me in my swimming and in my yoga practice. I gave it a few more weeks before sharing with Beth what I was noticing. When I felt confident my success was directly related to the exercises Beth had taught me, I let Beth know what was happening and she was ecstatic.

Today I rarely have to think about my breathing. I believe the regular practice of the breathing exercises over time retrained how my body naturally inhaled. I still practice when it crosses my mind but when I do if feel much more natural than it did when I first started the exercises. I can’t believe the difference I have seen in a matter of a couple months. It truly is mind boggling to me. If you experience leaking at all, my first piece of advice would be not to ignore it. Yes, it might be common, but no it is not normal. Instead of treating the symptoms, go seek help from a licensed professional who is up to date on current women’s health research. The fact that Beth whole-heartedly believes in professional development and places such a strong emphasis on women’s health played a large part in my success with this problem.  Lastly, don’t take their advice lightly. If you commit to the simple work of practicing these exercises regularly every single day, you will see results almost immediately. I promise you if I see this drastic change in such a short period of time, you will too. Really, what do you have to lose?

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Do you experience headaches on a regular basis?


Guest post by Corey Dieser, DPT

At any given time, nearly 50% of people are experiencing a headache, often interfering with physical and mental functions, relationships, and emotions.1,2  Although a common belief is that these symptoms are best managed by medication, or if serious, a doctor (neurologist), seeking treatment from a physical therapist  can have a large positive impact on your symptoms.  There are generally three different types of classification: tension-type headaches, cervicogenic headaches, and migraine headaches. 

Tension-type headaches are usually on both sides of the head, do not pulse, and do not change with activity.  These symptoms generally have pain referral from neck muscles in a predictable pattern based on the specific muscles involved.3  Cervicogenic headaches are usually only on one side of the head, symptoms likely change with neck motions, and pain may shoot down towards the shoulder.4  These headaches are generally associated with joint structures in the neck.  Migraine headaches are usually related to blood flow problems for a variety of possible reasons.  Migraines present with sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, throbbing or pounding, or vomiting may be present.  If you have headaches, make sure you mention this to a healthcare provider.

Now that you have an idea of the different types of headaches and consider the effect it has on your life, see how a therapist can help develop an individualized treatment plan to decrease the pain and burden of your headaches.

1.      Jensen, R., & Stovner, L. J. Epidemiology and comorbidity of headache.population, 3, 7. 
2.      Wiendels, N. J., van Haestregt, A., Neven, A. K., Spinhoven, P., Zitman, F. G., Assendelft, W. J. J., & Ferrari, M. D. (2006). Chronic frequent headache in the general population: comorbidity and quality of life. 
3.      FernándezdelasPeñas, C., Cuadrado, M. L., ArendtNielsen, L., Simons, D. G., & Pareja, J. A. (2007). Myofascial trigger points and sensitization: an updated pain model for tensiontype headache. Cephalalgia, 27(5), 383-393.
4.      Sjaastad, O., Fredriksen, T. A., & Pfaffenrath, V. (1998). Cervicogenic headache: diagnostic criteria. Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain,38(6), 442-445.

Monday, May 18, 2015

Employee Spotlight: Sarah Costello

1. How and when did you start working with Team EIPT?  
I started working at EIPT in September 2009.  I was newly graduated (and a new mom!). I knew Beth from years before and she let me know that EIPT was looking for a new PT. EIPT was a great fit!

2. Describe your typical day at Team EIPT.  
I usually see 14-16 patients a day, 3 days a week, with a variety of diagnoses and backgrounds. Currently, I have patients from age 4 to 92. I work out of the Durant Clinic with Amy and Chris. Occasionally, I perform screenings for the exercisers of Heinsite Fitness and the Durant community. My days consist of seeing patients for follow-up visits as well as new evaluations and discharges. I am just beginning to add patients to my caseload with women's health and pelvic floor related problems. I also have several PT/PTA students throughout the year that train under me and complete their clinical rotations.

3. What is your favorite part of working with Team EIPT?  
I like the family-type feel of EIPT and the flexibility it allows me to be with my family and work around my family's schedules.  We have a great group of people to work with! 
  4. In what ways do you strive to provide a great experience for Team EIPT clients/patients?  
To treat my patients effectively and stay on top of current evidence-based practices, I regularly attend continuing education and trainings. I know that a patient's time is very valuable and I strive to make each treatment with a patient effective and timely. My patients know that they will be respected, sincerely cared for, and well taken care of from the moment that they walk through our door.  

5. How do you spend your time away from Team EIPT?  
I have 3 children ages 5, 4, and 18 months so I spend as much time with them as I can and they keep me quite busy! My husband and I are currently finishing a complete remodel on our home as well.  I also enjoy cooking, baking, running, kayaking, gardening, crafting, reading and traveling.  


Tuesday, April 21, 2015

#TeamEIPT Around the Towns

Tomorrow, Wednesday, April 22nd, is a busy day for Team EIPT. We will be hosting a vendor table at the UnityPoint Community Health Fair in Muscatine from 10 AM to 3 PM at the Muscatine Mall. This is our first time participating in this annual health fair and we are so excited to be part of it this year. We will be available to chat with you about women's health issues (e.g., stress incontinence), existing injuries, as well as offering free balance assessments. We are so passionate about the services we offer because we want everyone to live fully and move freely!

Also tomorrow, our West Branch Clinic will have it's Open House from 5 to 7 PM. We will be offering free injury assessments, light refreshments, and facility tours. Our staff will be on hand to explain the services we offer right where you live. If you have seen the flyer above around town, let us know where you saw it via email, Twitter, or Facebook and be entered to win a free t-shirt!

We hope you can come out and see us at either of these events. Stay tuned for our next quarterly newsletter, which comes out in May. And if you just can't wait to see us, we are sponsoring a Kentucky Derby-themed happy hour at Leland R. Smith Assisted Living on Friday, May 1st, from 3 to 4 PM.

Thursday, April 2, 2015

The Postman

Rain or shine, he rarely misses a day! 

Meet James Batchelor, a 95-year-old resident of Leland Smith Assisted Living, who walks his way to our physical therapy clinic (even on a day when many patients called to cancel due to ice) to log his daily hour on the NuStep. Since we had some free time that icy day, we decided to get to know James a little better and what a treat it was!

James grew up on a farm in the township of Montpelier, near Wildcat Den State Park. James received his teaching certificate from the Iowa State Teacher’s College (now UNI) in Cedar Falls, attended Augustana College, and graduated in 1958. After graduation, he relocated to Milwaukee, WI, where he taught high school physics for 30 years. In 1990 he returned to Wilton, IA, as his wife inherited the family farm, and he has been here ever since.

When asked what keeps him motivated to exercise, James reports that he wants to keep in shape and keep the weight off (noting the excellent food at Leland Smith). In addition, James had experience in our therapy clinic when he had a bout of back pain. When recalling his back pain, James states that he “couldn’t get out of bed” initially, but after working with our PT, Corey, and getting some exercises, his back is much improved.

Kudos to James Batchelor who is making the decision to Live Fully and Move Freely! #noagelimits