Core ReaXion, a new class from Mike

Friday, October 28th, 2011 At 9:00 pm

Core Reaxion’s mobility class was designed specifically to address mobility issues that Mike and Scott were seeing in their patients and athletes. This class will focus on increasing the mobility of each of the major joints of the body, as well as, focusing on the causations of immobility.

This progressive four week program is specifically designed to incorporate a total body approach that addresses all the elements that limit the body’s fluid natural movement. Some of the key elements to be addressed are soft tissue/joint capsule restriction, muscle imbalance issues, and how these factors lead to immobility and dysfunctional movement patterns.

This class will provide the participants with the tools they need to revitalize their total body energy dynamic. Join Mike and Scott for this four week course and rediscover what happy and healthy feels like. 

Classes to begin on November 14, 2011.  Call Capitol Rehab at 540-665-4444.

Welcome Garrett Sanders, P.T., D.P.T.

Monday, May 23rd, 2011 At 2:27 pm

Capitol Rehab of Winchester is proud to announce the addition of Dr. Garrett Sanders to our Physical Therapy staff.  He received his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Stevenson (MD) University and Doctor of Physical Therapy from Shenandoah University.  

Dr. Garrett Sanders’ personal experiences are what drive his passion and enthusiasm to provide excellent physical therapy care to patients of all ages.  Dr. Sanders believes that physical therapy is a dynamic relationship between provider and patient that utilizes multiple disciplinary aspects to achieve optimal outcomes. 

Dr. Sanders’ path to becoming a physical therapist has taken him from patient to practitioner.  A record-setting pitcher at the prep and college levels, potentially career-ending elbow injuries twice slowed stellar seasons.  However, he attributes proper diagnosis, surgery and physical therapy as the key to averting career ending status.  It was also then that he knew becoming a physical therapist was what he was meant to do. 

At Stevenson, he holds a number of game, season and career pitching records, in addition to becoming the first pitcher in SU history to pitch a no-hitter.  Dr. Sanders is an avid golfer and overall sports enthusiast. 

We are excited to add Dr. Sanders  to our outstanding staff of physical therapists.  Be sure to say hello the next time you are in.

Our Newest Physical Therapist

Saturday, September 11th, 2010 At 5:12 pm

Welcome Dr. Rose Schmieg

We would like to take this opportunity to welcome our newest Physical Therapist Rose Schmieg. Rose Schmieg graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in health and physical education with a concentration in athletic training from West Chester University in 1985. She became an ATC that same year. She received a Master of Science degree in physical therapy in 1987. In 2004, she earned the Doctorate of Health Science Degree (DHSc) from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences.

After five years of employment in a sports medicine facility, Dr. Schmieg obtained her first teaching appointment in 1992 at the Howard University Program in Physical Therapy. In 1995, Dr. Schmieg became an Assistant Professor at Shenandoah University in the Program of Physical Therapy and was the Program’s primary orthopedics instructor until the summer of 2000. In 2001, Dr. Schmieg was appointed as the Program Director of the Division of Athletic Training. In 2005, Dr. Schmieg was appointed the position of Program Director of the Division of Physical Therapy. She is currently directing athletic training program.

Her additional credentials include being a Certified Manual Therapist through the Institute of Physical Therapy, an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) given by the American Board of Physical Therapy, and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).

With such an accomplished resume we are very excited to have Rose on board. Welcome Rose.

Why Didn’t Physical Therapy Help?

Monday, March 15th, 2010 At 2:14 pm

I would like to answer this question with a case history. I was treating an ultra-marathoner who was preparing for his 10th 50 mile race. It was a big deal for him as 10 is a *big* milestone (understandably, not too many people have run 50 miles, no less have done it 10 times!).

A bad case of plantar fascitis!

The ultra-marathoner had a bad case of plantar fascitis. In an attempt to attain his goal, he ventured down a quest to find the cure for his condition. His quest started at numerous sports medicine doctors, months of physical therapy at 2 different locations and treatment by his chiropractor. Each one addressed a different aspect of his condition.

Here is how it went:

• The MD gave him NSAIDS and also use an injection of corticosteroids. This gave him temporary relief but when he went back to his routine it came back.
• Because of his determination he read how chiropractic may help. So his quest led him to so-called alternative medicine. This next stop was to his chiropractor who manipulated his pelvis and hip. The chiropractor explained this was causing an abnormal gait pattern (how you walk and run) which affected how he was landing on his foot. His chiropractor also gave him some custom orthotics to help with an over-pronation of his foot.
• The adjustments did not seem to help (although they gave him relief of some low back pain he was experiencing) and the orthotics seemed to aggravate his feet. Increasing foot pain was not the reason for this visit so the quest continued.
• His doctor then sent him to a popular physical therapy clinic. This was a busy operation and what we call a PT mill. He was brought in as a number and run through the conveyor line.
• After 8 weeks of ultrasound, stretches, band exercises and told to ice at home he was losing hope. The ultrasound and ice helped a bit, but the calf stretches seemed to hurt so he stopped.
• Next stop, a physical therapist (PT) that was recommended by another runner. The PT was also a runner so this gave him some comfort. The program there was better. The PT spent one on one time , did some “massage on the fascia” that seemed to help and reviewed some stretching and even focused on a balance routine. He was improving quite well, but each time he tried to run, it would come back.
• The PT advised no running! This advice is almost impossible for any runner to comply with but the ultra-marathoner was desperate.
• After a few months he was better. He was ready to start training again. The race was getting closer only a few months out. After a few weeks though, the pain returned. He decided he would just run through the pain. He would finish this race if it killed him.

Still determined…

Still determined, this patient decided to continue his search. He researched on the Internet and found a technique call Graston. That is what lead him to our clinic. Graston is a very effective soft tissue technique that utilizes stainless steel instruments to break up the scar tissue and adhesions that build up with injuries such as this. He was sure this would cure him so he came in looking for the miracle pill and he was sure this was it.

On evaluation day, we informed him there is no miracle pill. Graston is fantastic but it is not your solution. Actually, it is not the only solution. The truth is everything he did along the way was correct. He needed manipulation of his SI joint as the restrictions in his low back were creating an abnormal gait, just as his chiropractor said. He also needed the orthotics. He was ovepronating and it was causing extreme stress on his fascia (this is why every time he went back to running the pain returned).

“Well the orthotics made it worse,” the ultra-marathoner shared. That is because of the adhesions and scar tissue that has built up over time. This is where the Graston will come in. It also needs to be applied to the calf, quad and low back as there are many muscular imbalances either as a result of this journey or one of the original causes.

We made all the corrections and treated him up to the race. We are happy to report the ultra-marathoner finished the 50 miles virtually pain free!

Important Takeaways

The moral of this ultra-marathoner’s story is two-fold:

• First, pain is usually not where the problem is.
• Secondly, the whole lower kinetic chain must be addressed when dealing with any runners injury.

This is why we have a multi-discipline clinic that combines the benefits of chiropractic, physical therapy, strength and conditioning for any injury. For additional information on Plantar Fascitis or the lower Kinetic Chain, view our article entitled Plantar Fascitis & Other Lower Leg Injuries or email us with any questions or comments.

New Article: Plantar Fascitis & Other Lower Leg Injuries

Monday, February 15th, 2010 At 9:45 pm

Whether your injury is plantar fascitis, achilles tendonitis, knee tendonitis, or any other inflammatory disorder, they all have one thing in common, the lower kinetic chain. Essentially, the lower kinetic chain is a stack of joints starting in the foot, and rising through the ankle, knee, hip, and lower back. The relationship is very important to understand and address when treating any lower extremity injury.

Learn more via Dr. Doepper’s newly authored article:

Plantar Fascitis & Other Lower Leg Injuries