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APTA CSM 2016 in My Shoes

APTA CSM 2016 in My Shoes

APTA CSM 2016 in My Shoes As I unpack and do laundry and try to readjust to real life again, I keep thinking about the themes that ran through all of my conversations this past week at APTA CSM. I feel like it’s really important to reflect on not just the content we learn at conferences of this scale, but also the 30,000 foot view of where our profession is and where we’re heading. Here’s a look at what sticks in my mind: Patients Are People This could not have been any more beautifully illustrated by two brave women who stood in front of a room full of physical therapists to share their very personal stories of the good, the bad, and the ugly they have experienced over the years in their journeys as patients. In the @womens_PT section in a session moderated by Jerry_DurhamPT, Erin (@mrsjacksoda) and Lisa (LISAMACNCHEESE) shared their frustrations with being looked at as a body part or a diagnosis rather than as a whole human being. These women gave simple suggestions that sometimes get lost in the healthcare shuffle, such as, “Listen to your patients” and “Tell your patients and their families the truth” and my favorite “If you don’t know, just don’t make shit up.” We would be well served to remember that interacting with other human beings requires a biopsychosocial model of care. Patients are whole people, with fears and anxieties and families and careers and everything else that plays into their journey through the healthcare system. As we shift as a profession to caring more about population health and early intervention, we need to keep in mind that true health and wellness involve a lot more than just exercise. We need to think about all of the aspects of wellness that affect […]

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In My Shoes

In My Shoes

People always ask me, “What are you up to now?” In my last update about a year ago, I shared that I was closing the patient care side of my practice to focus on my consulting, writing, speaking and media work. I have had a productive and successful year with my writing for Impact Magazine and Girls Gone Strong, I have spoken at conferences and met many people all over the country who are doing fantastic work, I have had the privilege of serving as an APTA Media Spokesperson, I have assisted five business owners in starting their cash based practice, and I was fortunate enough to better get to know Ryan Klepps and Scott Hebert of Strive Labs. I first met Ryan and Scott at PPS 2013 in New Orleans. They were impressive recent DPT grads who were venturing into the online space with a platform for home exercises and patient management. I followed their progress from a distance until we reconnected at WebPT’s Ascend Conference in September 2015. Listening to their presentation I thought, “Everything they are talking about is what I painstakingly did all on my own to connect and re-connect with my patients!” I immediately needed to know more about the way they had pivoted their business and developed a complete system for Patient Relationship Management. Over a hilarious dinner that will live in infamy, I got to know not just their business, but also their personalities. Both Ryan and Scott are bright, hard-working, humble, and dedicated to our profession. They have built not only a business, but a culture around their company, Strive Labs. As we talked, I knew that I wanted to be part of what they were doing. So, several hilarious dinners and outings later (shout out to Harry Potter World), I am […]

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What If Sex Hurts? Interview with Sandy Hilton, PT, DPT

What If Sex Hurts? Interview with Sandy Hilton, PT, DPT

I recently interviewed Sandy Hilton for the July issue of BossFit Magazine on the topic of sex from a Pelvic Health perspective. You can find that story here (the entire issue is devoted to sex – check it out!) Sandy shared so much good information with me, and since the magazine articles are under 500 words I had to pare it down. I wanted to share the entire interview with you here. Enjoy! Tell us about yourself: I am a Doctor of Physical Therapy and have been practicing since 1988. I am the co-owner of Entropy Physiotherapy and Wellness, serving Chicago to restore hope and movement in those dealing with persistent pain, incontinence or painful sex. I serve as the Director of Programming of the Section on Women’s Health of the American Physical Therapy Association and am a member in several international organizations dedicated to providing top-notch health care. What are some reasons that men and women might find sex to be painful? Over 1 in 7 people experience pelvic pain and roughly 90% of those will have painful sex. There are multiple causes of pelvic pain in men and women. If it hurts in your pelvis, groin, belly, genitals or the hips during or after sex, you should see a physician for a good evaluation! Find a pelvic health specialist in your area, look for Urologists, Urogynecologists or Gynecologists who are experts in pelvic pain and sexual dysfunction. Common causes that we see in the clinic are related to stiffness of the muscles of the pelvic floor (those that you tighten when you do a Kegel), sensitive nerves in the area (from injury, repetitive use like long bike rides, following an infection or even sudden onset with no tracable cause), back pain and gut problems. Diagnosis like Vulvodynia, Dyspareunia, […]

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Top 10 Tips for Opening A Cash Based Practice

Top 10 Tips for Opening A Cash Based Practice

I was asked this morning to write down my top 10 tips for what to avoid when starting a cash based practice. Since I always prefer to think in terms of positive ideas, I’m answering here with my top 10 tips of what TO do! I hope that this list is helpful: 1) Get really clear on your UVP and mission. Live it, breathe it. 2) Work with an attorney to set up your articles of incorporation, LLC, and all legal documents. 3) Obtain professional liability insurance. 4) Research your location. Talk to other business owners in the area. 5) Keep overhead low. 6) Negotiate a situation where you pay only for the time you are actually using the space. 7) Build relationships with everyone in the neighborhood where your office is located. 8) Do trades with personal trainers and massage therapists so they can get a feel for what you do (and refer clients that are appropriate). 9) Start at a pace comfortable for you (keep your day job and start with one day a week, or one patient a week, or whatever is financially a good decision for you). 10) Have a website (even if it’s simple). I love to help other therapists start their journey toward being an owner. If you found these tips to be valuable, you might want to check out my Webinar, Starting a Cash Based Practice. I cover these topics and more, to help you get on the path to building your ideal practice.

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You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)

You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)

You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) On a recent Saturday morning I woke up and turned over to grab my phone to see what time it was. All of a sudden WHOOMP, the whole world flipped upside down. “Uggggghhhh”, I moaned as I lay there motionless, trying to explain to my husband what I was wailing about. Vertigo. Unfortunately, this wasn’t my first experience with Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). I had my first bout with BPPV over 20 years ago, under the same circumstances (went to bed fine, woke up in the morning and turned over to discover the whole world flipped upside down.) At that time I had no idea what was going on. At least this time I did. BP…What? BPPV is the most common disorder of the inner ear’s vestibular system. 2.4% of people will experience it in their lifetime. Let’s first talk about the name of the disorder. Benign indicates that it is not life threatening and generally doesn’t progress. Paroxysmal indicates sudden onset of symptoms. Positional refers to the fact that the symptoms usually occur with changes in head position. Vertigo is a spinning sensation. How does it happen? Our vestibular organs in our inner ear consist of the utricle, saccule and 3 semicircular canals. The semicircular canals detect rotational movement of the head. When the head rotates the fluid exerts pressure against the cupula, the sensory receptor at the base of the canal. The receptor then sends impulses to the brain about the head’s movement. BPPV occurs when the otoconia (tiny crystals of calcium carbonate that are a normal part of the inner ear’s anatomy) detach from the otolithic membrane in the utricle and collect in one of the semicircular canals. When the head is still, the otoconia settle. When the head […]

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