Testimonials | Frequently Asked Questions Patient: 33 year old Female Her physician referred Julie for physical therapy treatment in March 2002 with a diagnosis of fibromyalgia. During her initial visit to Jay Kain Physical Therapy, I performed an evaluation, which included obtaining information about her current symptoms and past medical history as well as assessing her physical restrictions Julie explained that her symptoms began in April of 2001, although she could not recall a precipitating factor for her symptoms. She complained of pain in the low back and neck, both hips, knees, and ankles, elbows and wrists. She also had complaints of numbness and tingling in her hands and feet. She noted that her neck was very stiff and “cracked” whenever she moved it. She also noted a significant decrease in her energy levels and she experienced difficulty grasping objects and with the dexterity of her hands. The Celebrex she had been taking once a day for six months had helped with her pain. She also reported occasional abdominal cramping with certain food sensitivities. Julie’s past medical history included a fall down the stairs in February 2001 in which she hit her head. The results of a MRI were negative. She reported having the first series of Lyme’s Disease vaccinations in 2001 (she works outside as a landscaper), but did not finish the cycle because of adverse reactions. The initial evaluation revealed the following: With the information obtained from the evaluation, a treatment plan was devised for Julie that included; Integrative Manual Therapy™ techniques, soft tissue mobilization, visceral mobilization and myofascial release. The treatment plan focused on the systemic nature of her symptoms and targeted the lymphatic and immune systems, kidneys, liver and lymph nodes. Julie received 16 treatment sessions from March to May and met all of her initial goals. At the time of her discharge, Julie’s energy level had increased from struggling to work 40 hours a week in March to working two jobs (50+ hours a week). Her increased leg strength allowed her to garden and landscape for 6-8 hours, whereas before treatment she was able to do only one hour. She was able go up and down stairs without pain in her knees and to sit for more than two hours without pain. She was able to decrease her pain medication and was off Celebrex. Her range of motion had increased and the crunching in her neck, when turned, had decreased. Julie was discharged with a home exercise program and self-treatment techniques. She stated that her work capacity increased from 50 to 90%, her activities of daily living had increased 50 to 90%, and her recreation level had gone from 0 to 90%. Case Study by Melissa Henney, PT Linda was referred to Jay.Kain Physical Therapy with a diagnosis of low back pain and sciatica. She complained of pain in the left buttock and low back that had begun two weeks prior to her initial visit and was accompanied by a stiff neck. At the time of evaluation, she could not stand for more than 45 minutes without pain. Lifting and bending activities such as doing laundry were painful. She had given up hiking and her regular gym program. The low back range of motion was reduced 75% and lower leg strength was down 25%. A full fascial body map helped to establish an Integrative Manual Therapy™ treatment plan. Treatment began with improving pelvic and low backbone alignment and then restrictions were released in the pelvic floor soft tissue and tension in the blood vessels and nerves of the low back and lower legs were reduced. At this point pain levels had considerably reduced and the client returned to hiking once a week. As this activity was found to still irritate the low back to a lesser degree, Integrative Manual Therapy™ was continued, aimed at further reducing spinal tension and improving mobility in the spine. An exercise program was created to increase abdominal muscle strength and mobility. When Linda was discharged from our office, she had attained full strength in the lower legs and 75% increasing mobility in her lower spine. She was able to do laundry and groceries without pain, hike 6 miles and stand through a soccer game (1-1 1/2 hours) without low back pain. She will continue to do her exercise program at home. A Case Study by Holly Steinberg, PT George, a 46-year-old male was referred to Jay Kain Physical Therapy with a diagnosis of left knee pain post operatively. The patient has been kneeling down and suddenly sat back, which led to a swollen knee. He had arthroscopic surgery the following month. At the time of George’s initial visit; his symptoms included numbness and tingling in the medial and anterior aspect of the knee with pain levels of 2-3 out of 10. He also complained of right knee soreness and burning. His past medical history included left knee swelling and stiffness over the past four years. The patient was taking Motrin for pain. The patient’s left knee motion was limited and he was limping at the time of his first visit. He was advised to use one crutch and instructed in its proper use. The patient’s treatment plan included soft tissue mobilization, strain/counterstrain, myofascial release and muscle energy techniques, as well as a home exercise program. Emphasis was on realignment of the pelvis, sacrum, and lumbar spine, as well as working on circulation, drainage and realignment of both legs. The patient did very well with treatment and was pain free and functioning 100% at work and home and had full range of motion and normal strength at the knee. Aall complaints of stiffness were alleviated as well as his right sided symptoms at the time of discharge. A Case Study by Gigi came to Jay Kain Physical Therapy with a history of chornic neck pain and headaches. She rated her pain levels to be at best a 3/10, and at worst an 8/10 (0 being no pain, 10 being “emergency room” pain). She noted throbbing pain in temples and the back of the head, as well as stiffness and “clicking” sensations in the neck when she tried to turn her head. She reported getting headaches (pain in the forehead, back of head, and jaw) four to five days a week, which lasted four to five hours. She was a massage therapy student and reported that she was unable to give even a 30-minute massage without pain in her neck and head. Lying on her left side more than a few minutes was not possible. Getting up from lying on her back to a sitting position was painful and difficult. She would get bad headaches after sitting at the computer for one and a half to two hours. She also reported that it was difficult to lift even a grocery bag. She noted she was functioning at about 70% with her work, activities of daily living, and recreation. Treatment included cranial therapy, advanced strain/counterstrain to the head and neck, myofascial release, muscle energy techniques to improve the mechanics of her neck, low back, pelvis and sacrum, as well as visceral mobilization techniques. The client was seen for a total of two times per week for approximately four months. At the time of discharge, she reported being pain-free (0/10) for a majority of the time. She did note that certain stressors increased her pain levels to 4/10. When she first began treatment, she had a constant level of pain of 3/10, which increased to 8/10 with certain stressors. Her headaches decreased in frequency, intensity, and duration. She also decreased the need to rely on medications for pain relief and learned self-treatment techniques to take care of her headaches and other aches and pains. She reported no more “clicking” in the neck when she turned her head. She was able to lie on her left side indefinitely (was only a few minutes at the time of her first visit). Gigi had met all of her treatment goals, which were:
A 6th grade screening revealed J.W. had a mild scoliosis. The following year, J.W’s screening revealed a severe scoliosis Ten weeks prior to her initial visit at Jay B. Kain Physical Therapy; J.W.’s thoracic spine had a 68º curve that had worsened to 77º. Just one month prior to the start of Integrative Manual Therapy™, J.W. was scheduled and would be undergoing surgery the following month. Her mother was told there would only be a 15% reduction of curve after surgery. While at a summer camp in the Berkshires, J.W’s was treated at our facility for thoracic back pain. Her initial evaluation revealed: On a pain intensity scale of 0-10 (0 being no pain and 10 being excruciating pain) J.W. reported pain in the left posterior (behind) rib cage with bending (3-7); walking a half mile caused pain (3-4-10) between the shoulder blades. If she rested after walking and then got up, the pain would be 10 in both areas. She stated she had headaches two to three times a week. JW’s range of motion was moderately restricted in the cervical spine as well as thoracic and lumbar spine. Her muscle strength was also mildly restricted (See Chart below) The treatment plan devised for J.W. included Integrative Manual Therapy™ techniques, strain/counterstrain on the aorta to reduce spasm in blood vessel, MET to improve alignment and Compression Syndromes to release protective reflexogenic responses. Although J.W. had one episode of mild pain while at camp, at the end of twelve treatments (one month) she was no longer experiencing pain, did not have headaches, was able to walk and run without pain and was able to play three games of “Ga-Ga” without pain, which she was previously unable to do. Upon J.W.’ s return home from camp, her mother remarked how much taller J.W. was. After a visit to her orthopedist, a repeat CT scan was requested to measure the “significant reduction of the curve due to physical therapy”. Insurance, however, would not authorize the CT scan. J.W. underwent surgery, and continues Neurofascial Process (self-treatment) with her mother.
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