Provider Spotlight: Bill Rein Helps the complex PT Patient

In order to know more about Bill Rein and one of his favorite topics, we needed to get past his least favorite.

“Yeah, I don’t really embrace talking about myself. So let’s get that out of the way,” Rein began.

Just did.

Once acknowledged, Rein spoke (quite willingly, by the way) about his passion for treating patients with chronic, persistent pain issues. He traced it back to the beginning.

“All of the professors and mentors I had were excellent working with their hands, but more than that they were great clinical decision-makers,” said Rein. “I wanted to model my career after those people.”

At Rein’s first job, he had the good fortune to work with a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Therapists, a provider who completed stringent post-graduation specialization programs in the field of neuro-musculoskeletal disorders and the use of hands-on treatments of muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints.

“I worked with him for two years, and he kind of pushed me in a direction to treat spine conditions, neck, back, headaches, the sacroiliac region. I really took a liking to that,” said Rein.

That pushed Rein to earn his specialty certification as an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS). After 2,000 hours of direct patient care in orthopedics and a rigorous exam showing they have expertise in diagnosing, treating, and preventing orthopedic conditions, the OCS brings that additional level of understanding to their patients.

And that’s what Rein did. Still, there was some frustration.

“I felt I was getting four out of five patients to where they needed to be, but it was that fifth one that kept me up at night,” said Rein. “So I needed to keep searching for ways to help those I wasn’t able to treat effectively, patients with chronic issues who had been seen by multiple healthcare providers and still weren’t getting the relief they sought.”

So Rein kept at it.

Doing a lot of reading, engaging in a lot of research on his own, and teaching as part of his orthopedic residency, Rein’s work delivered him to the place he is now, where treating the most complicated patients has become his passion.

“There's something about the shared collaboration, trying to figure out with patients exactly what is going on and how we can help them, and where we, the medical establishment, may have missed the boat in treating their pain,” said Rein.

Rein feels he can take the vast majority of those challenging patients and find something that he can offer them that will help. That’s not 100%, though.

“There are still patients where physical therapy just isn’t going to work,” said Rein. “But I feel confident that I can offer things to them even if it’s just in the way of explaining what they are going through, to plant the seeds that might help them to not have to get an injection, or be on medication, or have a surgery later on, if I give them the tools they need now.”

And he strongly believes in a team approach.

“I feel very comfortable collaborating to get patients the help they need, facilitating connections with providers—a physiatrist, an orthopedic physician, a primary care specialist—who excel in these cases,” said Rein.

Rein estimates that about a quarter of his patients have chronic conditions.

“There's someone on my schedule pretty much every day that has a persistent pain condition,” he said.

Rein’s interviewer (me) admitted to having low back issues for much of his life. Is that considered chronic pain?

“I’m definitely not saying the low back issues you just described, which are fairly common, haven’t been debilitating and life-affecting for you,” said Rein. “But that's very different than the patient who's had fibromyalgia for 30 years, has severe headaches every day, and low back pain with pain radiating down the legs and is barely able to move. That’s a more challenging population.”

It’s a challenge Rein embraces.

“It’s about taking the emotion out of the pain experience, looking at it objectively, being a detective with you and trying to figure out how your body is working. When you connect the dots, it’s a very powerful thing.

Bill Rein serves patients at Advanced PT’s Appleton West location on Casaloma Drive.

He received his master's degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and subsequently earned his Board Certification in Orthopedic Physical Therapy. Additionally, Bill is certified in ASTYM (augmented soft tissue mobilization) and Trigger Point Dry Needling (Level 3).

His professional interests involve seeing patients who have shoulder, knee, and spinal issues.

CranioSacral Therapy: Understanding the body’s response to trauma

“It’s not something that’s considered mainstream,” he said. “But it can be very powerful.” 

So, the discussion about cranial sacral therapy begins with Dennis Kaster, a longtime physical therapist at Advanced PT. 

Kaster has as much experience as a PT practitioner as just about anyone on the Advanced team. He confirms what his online bio states, that he has a great deal of experience in the areas of the spine, chronic pain, hand injuries, sports medicine, industrial rehab, and various manual therapies. 

One of those manual therapies is cranial sacral therapy (CST). This alternative treatment releases tensions deep in the body to help reduce pain, relieve dysfunction, and improve whole-body health and performance. Dr. John Upledger pioneered and developed CST in the mid-seventies at Michigan State University. It’s a gentle technique Kaster has used with patients for decades.  

Describe gentle. 

“When I went through training,” Kaster said, “the instructors described CST this way: ‘You’re using the same amount of pressure you’d use to bend the Legs of a fly.’ It’s that subtle.” 

CST focuses on the connection between the cranium or skull and the sacrum or tailbone to relieve tension within the body’s connective tissue, called fascia. Kaster uses it frequently with his patients suffering from chronic pain. Many of those patients are women who have suffered physical or sexual abuse.  

“There’s a lot of trauma in their past, a lot of post-traumatic stress disorder,” said Kaster. “Probably half my caseload relates to migraines and headaches, and many of those patients have PTSD. 

Because CST isn’t mainstream, few people have been trained in the practice, and people looking for the relief it can offer can’t find clinicians to do it. Kaster says that he gets people all the time who come from a distance to see him. 

“I see patients in Stevens Point and other areas,” Kaster said. “One of my patients travels from Minneapolis to see me because she can’t find anyone there who does it.” 

So how is it done? 

For a typical PT visit (about 40 minutes), Kaster will use the technique when appropriate or combined with other approaches (such as manual therapy, functional exercise, and other interventions)

With the CST portion, Kaster is looking for a “rhythm or pulse,” feeling for the movement of the body’s connective tissues and any restrictions encountered.  

Cranial sacral therapy has differing results for patients. At times, the technique has little or no effect. With others, it’s life-changing.  

Kaster describes the technique as simply another tool in the toolbox.  

“I assess people to see if they have tightness and restrictions,” said Kaster. “For many people with headaches, any type of neck, low back, mid-back pain, tension, post concussions, chronic pain, CST can be a powerful tool.” 

By releasing the restrictions in the craniosacral system, Kaster says, you’re engaging the body’s innate healing processes, which has benefits for a wide range of physical challenges faced by his patients.

Kaster says another huge component of the technique is SomatoEmotional Release (SER), which expands on CST principles to help people rid their bodies of the residual effects of past injuries and negative experiences.  

Also a gentle process, SER facilitates the release of negative energy and allows the body to heal. Kaster describes it as working through layers of an onion. But the gentle process can bring forth some very emotional memories. 

“It’s important that the patient is working with a counselor before using SER techniques, as things can be brought to the surface that patients aren’t ready to deal with,” said Kaster. “But I’ve found it helps people to heal and get over deeply buried emotions, which is important because psychological trauma will manifest itself into physical conditions.” 

Kaster recognizes that some medical professionals will refer to CST and SER as “voodoo medicine.” That’s not his worry.   

“I’ve got 35 years of experience and a heck of a lot of training in it, and it’s helped so many of my patients,” said Kaster. “Like I said, perhaps not mainstream, but so very powerful.” 

If you have questions about Craniosacral Therapy or want to see if it’s a good fit for your treatment plan, please use our online submission form.

—

About the Author:

Dr. Dennis Kaster is a physical therapist at Advanced PT’s Stevens Point North clinic on Division St. He has been happily married to his wife Adrienne, who is also an extraordinarily talented physical therapist, for almost as long as they have been practicing. They love cycling, hiking, and traveling. They also love helping people feel better, which brings them joy.  

Tips and Tricks for Preventing and Managing Tendonitis

You wake up on a Monday morning with some forearm and elbow soreness.

You did a lot of yard work this past weekend- raking, pruning, and using the weed wacker. And last week, at work, you had to use several hand tools that required a lot of gripping and moving your wrist around.

You think back to several years ago when you dealt with a lot of pain and other issues with that same part of your arm…something they called “tennis elbow?

Boy, you’d really like to avoid another case of that!

So what should you do?

—

Tendonitis is a common experience . It is a musculoskeletal condition when a tendon, the thick fibrous cord connecting muscles to bones, becomes inflamed. Repetitive motions, overuse of muscles, or improper ergonomics can cause it. However, with proper awareness and preventive measures, minimizing the risk of tendonitis and effectively managing its symptoms is possible.

Recognizing Early Signs of Tendonitis:

Early detection of tendonitis symptoms is crucial for timely intervention. Industrial workers should be vigilant of the following signs:

· Pain or tenderness near a joint, usually where the tendon attaches to the bone

· Swelling or inflammation around the tendon

· Stiffness or difficulty in moving the joint

· Gradual onset of discomfort, especially after repetitive tasks

· Weakness in the affected muscle group

Stretches and Strengthening Exercises:

Regular stretching and strengthening exercises can help industrial workers maintain flexibility and muscle strength, reducing the risk of tendonitis. Here are some recommended stretches and strengthening exercises for the wrist and elbow.

Wrist/forearm/elbow:

o Wrist Flexor Stretch:

• Extend your arm in front of you with the palm facing down.

• Use your other hand to gently bend your wrist upward until you feel a stretch in the forearm.

• Hold the stretch for 2-4 rounds of 20-30 seconds each.

o Wrist Extensor Stretch:

• Extend your arm in front of you with the palm facing down.

• Use your other hand to gently bend your wrist downward until you feel a stretch in the forearm.

• Hold the stretch for 2-4 rounds of 20-30 seconds each.

o Forearm Strengthening Exercise:

• To focus on the muscles on the inside of your forearm, hold a light dumbbell or a resistance band with your palm facing up.

• Slowly curl your wrist upward against the resistance, then lower it back down.

• Perform 2-3 sets of 10-15 repetitions.

• Do this same technique, starting with your palm facing down to target the muscles on the outside of your forearm.

Modify your work:

Correct ergonomics and tool usage are essential for preventing tendonitis in industrial settings. Workers should adhere to the following guidelines:

1. Maintain neutral wrist positions while gripping tools whenever possible to reduce strain on tendons.

2. Take regular breaks to rest and stretch muscles during repetitive tasks.

3. Use ergonomic tools with padded handles and adjustable grips to minimize joint stress. Using anti-vibration gloves may also help decrease the demands on tendons while using power tools that create a lot of vibration.

4. Avoid excessive force or sudden movements when using tools, as this can strain muscles and tendons.

Preventing and managing tendonitis requires a proactive approach focusing on early recognition, regular exercise, and proper ergonomics.

By implementing stretching and strengthening routines and following correct ergonomics, you can reduce the risk of tendonitis and maintain optimal musculoskeletal health.

Please note that these exercises above are general recommendations. They should not take the place of advice from a medical professional.

If you would like a program developed specifically for you and your needs by one of our physical therapists, occupational therapists, or athletic trainers, contact us today!

In addition to elbow and wrist stretching, strengthening, ergonomic modifications, your plan may include things like manual therapy, trigger point dry needling, therapeutic cupping, functional exercise and so much more.

—

About the author:

Megan is our Sports Medicine Coordinator and a key player on our Industrial and Tactical Medicine Teams. She has utilized this preventative exercise and ergonomic strategies to help all the athletes she works with within all realms.

References:

• https://www.ptandrea.com/blog-posts/ergonomic-principles-and-hand-care-techniques

• https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324489

• https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Recommendations-for-hand-tool-handle-design-5_fig10_234056130

• https://www.harborfreight.com/anti-vibration-mechanics-gloves-x-large-58696.html

• https://steemit.com/sledge/@lindawilson/high-quality-sledgehammers-make-a-high-impact

Conquering Carpal Tunnel: A Guide to Conservative Treatments

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is like an uninvited guest in your hand, but it doesn't have to stay forever. Several simple treatments can help manage CTS and make your hands feel better. Here’s how you can take control of your recovery.

What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome arises when the median nerve, responsible for sensation and movement in your thumb, index, middle, and half of your ring finger, gets compressed within the carpal tunnel in your wrist. This compression can lead to tingling, numbness, weakness, and pain in the hand and wrist.

What causes the compression?

It could be a combination of things: inflammation, awkward or sustained working positions, repetitive movements, operating heavy machinery, muscular strength, and mobility imbalances throughout the forearm, upper arm, and even the neck.

Combating CTS: A Multi-Pronged Approach

Conservative treatments aim to reduce pressure on the median nerve and alleviate CTS symptoms. Here's a look at some effective options:

1. Splinting: Wearing a wrist splint, particularly at night, immobilizes your wrist in a neutral position. This helps rest the median nerve and reduce pressure within the carpal tunnel.

2. Activity Modification: Mindfulness in daily activities can significantly improve CTS symptoms. Identify tasks that aggravate your symptoms and make adjustments. This may involve taking frequent breaks, using proper posture, and incorporating ergonomic tools into your workspace, keeping your wrist in neutral while you work, or changing your workspace to set yourself up for success.

3. Manual Therapy: Mobilization and manual therapy to the transverse carpal ligament and surrounding structures, trigger point dry needling to the flexor or extensor mass, depending on where the restrictions or limitations can be found, and nerve mobilizations/ gliding for the median nerve.

4. Therapeutic Exercises: Gentle hand and wrist exercises prescribed by a physical or occupational therapist can improve flexibility, nerve mobility, and overall hand function.

Wrist flexion stretching, wrist extension stretching, median nerve glides, grip strengthening, and upper extremity strengthening exercises may be appropriate depending on the severity (how intense they symptoms are and how they impact you), irritability (how much activity is required to provoke the symptoms) and nature (what other factors besides activity impact your experience) of your symptoms.

*Disclaimer: Exercises are for education only and should not be used in place of a PT or OT evaluation or free injury screen by one of our skilled PTs or OTs.

5. Functional Exercise: Using the fundamental strength and mobility built with therapeutic exercise to perform combined movements that mimic your job tasks, life outside of work, or hobbies that you may have.

The Takeaway: Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial for successful CTS management. By implementing conservative treatments at the first signs of CTS, you can prevent further nerve irritation and regain control of your hand function.

Consulting a physical or occupational therapist is vital for proper diagnosis and crafting a personalized treatment plan to conquer carpal tunnel and reclaim pain-free hand use.

—

About the author: Ron Lawrence is a physical therapist and strength and conditioning specialist at our Shawano Clinic on Green Bay St. and with our Industrial Medicine Team. He holds advanced certifications in Dry Needling and Nutrition. He is an excellent resource for any work-related or non-work-related aches you may have!

How to Decrease fatigue and reduce stiffness in 5 minutes.

Feeling sluggish or stiff at work?

Try these 5-minute breaktime exercises to boost circulation, reduce fatigue, and alleviate stress!

These short and simple exercises can be done during breaks to relax overworked muscles and activate those not used as often. This will improve your ability to perform your job with focus and reduce aches and pains. Dynamic stretches and postural reversals are critical to this process.

Dynamic stretches held for just 0-5 seconds increase blood flow and improve flexibility and strength.

Postural reversals, done throughout the day, counteract the effects of prolonged postures. Incorporate these exercises into your daily routine and feel the difference immediately! 

Dynamic Stretches:  

Dynamic stretches assist with restoring physical functioning & flexibility, elevating the core body temperature, increasing circulation, accelerating energy production, and improving speed & strength.

Increased blood flow to your tissues helps delay muscular fatigue. 

Perform each exercise until the muscles feel warmed up, avoiding any movements that cause pain.* Progress slowly and always move through a pain-free range. Stop when you feel a gentle pull. They are most effective if they are done a few times per day.

• Head Circles - Rotate the head to make circles. Complete in both directions.  

• Arm Circles - Lift arms away from the body. Move in a circle. Complete both directions.  

• Wrist Circles - Bend elbows. Move the wrist in a circular direction. Complete in both directions.  

• Squat-to-Fly: Stand with feet hip-width apart and push hips back as if sitting on a chair. Cross arms in front of your chest. Bend your knees to lower yourself into a squat. Stand up while uncrossing/opening your arms as wide as you can. Squeeze your shoulder blades together.  

• Toe-Touch to Side-Bend - Stand with feet hip-width apart. Try to touch your toes, and stop when you feel tension. Return to an upright position and lift one arm above your head. Reach to the opposite side. Re-center. Bend towards the toe and then reach towards the opposite side.  

• Butt Kickers - Stand with feet hip-width apart. Bend your right knee and lift your heel toward your butt. Lower your right leg and do the same on your left side.  

• Lunges: Stand with your right foot in front and your left foot in back. Move your hips forward while bending your front knee to tolerance. Repeat on the opposite side.  

• High-Knee with a Twist - Lift knee upwards towards the chest while rotating trunk. Bring opposite elbow to knee at the same time—alternate sides.   

This is an example of a program we use for our industrial clients; however, these are great for office workers too!

Postural Reversals:  

Postural Reversals involve placing your body in the opposite position or motion. They can be done throughout the day and only take a few seconds to accomplish. Postural reversals are more effective for combating muscular tension from prolonged postures than stretching alone.

• If you’re Standing, perform 5 squats every 30 minutes of continuous standing.  

• If you’re twisting your wrists a lot, draw circles with your wrist for 3-5 reps in each direction.  

• If you’re gripping a lot, Make a tight fist and then spread your fingers out as wide as possible, returning to the starting position with 3-5 reps total.   

• If you’re forward-bending a lot, Stand hip-width apart and reach up towards the sky for 5-10 seconds. Slightly bend or curve your spine backward, using your hands to support your lower back as needed.   

• If you’re Forward Reaching a lot, Stand hip width apart, arms out to the side, elbow bent at 90 degrees into a “Happy Cactus” position, perform 3-5 reps for every 15 minutes of work.  

• If you’re sitting a lot, stand and complete 25 high knees every 30 minutes of sitting. We can do this in place or march forward.  

• If you have low back discomfort while seated, arch your back and round your back for 5-10 reps as needed.  

You can perform these exercises wherever you have adequate space or surface support, as needed. 

Dynamic stretches and postural reversals boost circulation and reduce muscular fatigue. Incorporate these into your daily routine and feel the impact on your physical and mental health. 

*Disclaimer: Please note, these exercises are general recommendations. They should not take the place of advice from a medical professional. If you would like a program developed specifically for your or your workforce by one of our physical therapists, occupational therapists or athletic trainers or feel like you could benefit from manual therapy, dry needling or cupping to compliment these exercises, contact us today!

—

About the author: Megan is a Physical Therapist Assistant at our Fond du Lac and Ripon Clinics. She is also heavily involved with our Industrial Team. She uses similar exercises to help workers thrive during their workday and prevent injuries for jobs requiring prolonged postures/positions and repetitive work.

Provider Spotlight: Ben Benesh PT, DPT, SCS

Sometimes you have to push people to get out of them what is needed.

When you interview a physical therapist with numerous specialties, advanced certifications, and the broad range of experiences that 20+ years in the profession provides, you know you’re talking with someone who can treat just about anyone who walks into his clinic.

“I love working with all my patients and getting them back to full function,” said Advanced Physical Therapy’s Ben Benesh. “It’s very rewarding.”

Yes, I understand, but is there a type of patient that is your favorite to work with?

“Well, I do love working with athletes,” he said.

BAM

“Those are probably my favorite patients and it's a pretty wide variety and wide age variety of athletes. But I do love the high school athlete, and those are the patients that often stick out in my head over the last 20 years, those kids that had ACL injuries, a reconstruction, and then they come to me,” said Benesh. “And working with them, getting them to that sports performance phase over the last few months, moving them into a guarded progression and then getting them back to their sport.”

Here Benesh discusses a local high school athlete who suffered ACL tears in back to back years.

“About 18 months of rehab, a huge commitment,” Benesh said. “She was so strong, maybe the strongest patient in my 20 years.”

We discussed the high school athletes he’s treated and the emotional toll wrought by such devastating injuries. Those patients, said Benesh, are the ones who often end up becoming physical therapists.

So was that Benesh’s path?

“Well, I played sports and was injured a lot, but I didn’t receive a lot of PT for it.”

For Benesh, it was an opportunity as a college student to work with a physical therapist from his hometown that was the catalyst. This “one man show” of a physical therapy practice influenced Benesh in more ways than he could count.

“I loved his life, his family life, his demeanor with patients,” said Benesh. “The whole experience was fantastic. And he wrote me a really nice reference letter for my PT school application.”

Nearly a quarter century and a bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree later, Benesh’s special interest in sports continues unabated. He’s received additional sports medicine training in a number of areas including advanced treatment of the shoulder, concussion management, and performance running video analysis.

He’s also a Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Sports Physical Therapy (SCS), a certification that identifies those who are experts within their branch of PT. It also provides enhanced opportunities to use those skills working with local sports teams, high-level athletes, and youth feeder programs (Benesh provided on field coverage for UW-Oshkosh football as well as for the Oshkosh Flyers, a competitive youth football club for fourth through eight graders).

And it’s a commitment with rigorous requirements.

“It’s a beast of an exam,” said Benesh. “There aren’t that many of us in the state of Wisconsin with the SCS certification, but it’s worth it. Keeps you up to date on the latest on sports performance, nutrition, emergency medicine, coverage on the field, a wide range of specializations.”

Benesh is used to seeing highly motivated patients ready to take on the physical challenges of rehab, but mental and emotional components must be addressed. This is where Benesh the dad, the coach of his children’s sports teams, and the clinician all meet.

“I think that the honesty that I can have with these patients is important.” Said Benesh. “I feel like it's a positive thing for injured athletes to talk to somebody other than their coach or their mom or dad. It’s also good for the parents to have a sounding board to have a thought process. I try to keep it as objective as I can, but I have daughters and a son. I feel I'm in a good spot to understand and empathize in these situations.”

Benesh has three children, all involved in sports. And at one point he was coaching all three at the same time. That’s no longer the case, and you’d think that would result in a more stable work-life balance.

“Oh, no, it’s way easier to make schedules work for me when I’m coaching all of them,” said Benesh. “Otherwise, things conflict.”

Working at the Oshkosh YMCA location affords Benesh the opportunity to utilize facilities with his injured athletes. If he’s working with a swimmer, there’s the pool; a hockey player gets to use the ice; the soccer player is on the pitch; the hoops player is on the basketball court.

“It's really nice to have that ability to see them at this location,” said Benesh. “Usually, I'll see them weekly for three to five months, whatever it takes to get them back, and then I do a return-to-sport testing with them before I release them back to their sport.”

Sometimes you have to push people to get out of them what is needed.

That’s what physical therapists do.

—

Dr. Ben provides physical therapy and sports physical therapy services at both Oshkosh Community YMCA locations in Oshkosh, WI (Downtown, 20th Ave). 920-305-7910

Physical Therapy Month Spotlight—Dr. PJ Christopherson, DPT

Dr. PJ and family: Sarah, Cooper, Declan & Micah

It would give us no greater pleasure than to shine the spotlight on EVERY one of our providers in October, otherwise known as National Physical Therapy Month, but that ain’t going to happen.

This is a blog, not a book.

So we are choosing to introduce you to PJ Christopherson, and not just because of what he brings to our practice.

He had us with the first sentence that came out of his mouth.

“Yeah, I really tried to talk myself out of going into the PT profession. Because of my mom.”

Wait, what?

A Shawano native, Christopherson grew up with physical therapy. No, this is not an injury story. His mother, physical therapist Jean Darling, has been a fixture in the community’s health and fitness scene for a lifetime. Suffice to say Christopherson had significant exposure to all things PT.

“My mom lived and breathed physical therapy, so I was around it a lot,” Christopherson said. “But for some reason—and I’m not sure what that reason was—I thought of doing something else. Maybe I just didn’t want to pick something because my mom did.”

Christopherson nevertheless found himself gravitating to the health field. His high school anatomy class was an early inspiration; later, an introductory course on health careers at UW-La Crosse revealed the variety of career opportunities beyond PT that were available to him.

Following completion of the course, a turning point.

“Not sure I’d call it closure, but I had this acceptance that PT could actually be something I could see myself doing,” Christopherson said. “Maybe it was on my radar all along.”

Fast forward, Christopherson would earn his bachelor’s degree in Exercise & Sports Science and then (of course!) his Doctorate of Physical Therapy, both at UW-La Crosse. Newly engaged, Christopherson and his wife Sarah moved to the Milwaukee area, where she attended graduate school and he began his career at a small private physical therapy practice.

Not that he didn’t consider other options, including one at Advanced PT, the very place where his mom practiced and thrived.

“Fresh out of school I actually interviewed with (Advanced PT president and co-founder) Rob Worth for a job,” Christopherson said. “At that point, I felt like branching out a bit, doing my own thing.”

A year later, the couple—he from Shawano and she from La Crescent, MN—had the desire to get back to a smaller community. A job at Advanced PT’s Ripon clinic became available, so the Christophersons found themselves headed right where they hoped they’d be.

Now Clinic Director, Christopherson divides his time serving patients in several capacities. He works with his patients at the clinic on Eureka Street, which also happens to be the near-site clinic for the Ripon Area School District (RASD). Advanced supplies PT services to all RASD employees and is part of the care team delivering high-quality, low-cost care to the district since they recently transitioned to a self-funded health care plan.

The relationship began when the district’s primary care physician needed space. His arrival at 402 Eureka Street resulted in conversations (Advanced PT assists several districts with their healthcare via direct contracts) that led to the establishment of the near-site clinic with a range of providers, part of the district’s overall strategy to reduce costs by offering health services to employees free of charge.

“Being part of this means we can really help people on a community-wide level,” Christopherson said.

Christopherson also finds himself as part of the industrial team at Advanced, providing onsite physical therapy, injury management and rehabilitation services to employees at a manufacturing company in a nearby community.

“With these relationships, we’re more than just a provider of services,” Christopherson said. “We’re part of these communities, growing with them and making them stronger.”

Speaking of growing, the Christophersons are the proud parents of three young children; recently they moved to a larger house to accommodate the needs of the family and the extra space they were looking for. They both love where they live (Sarah is a home health occupational therapist), a beautiful area of closely knit communities with small-town values, thriving and upbeat downtowns, a wide variety of recreational opportunities and the convenience of being close to larger metropolitan areas.

“My Milwaukee friends joke that I live in the middle of nowhere,” Christopherson said. “No way. I live in the middle of everywhere!”

Compared to his Milwaukee experience (he also completed a physical therapy internship with the Milwaukee Brewers, providing orthopedic evaluations for prospects at their spring training facility in Arizona), Christopherson finds his current schedule just as jam-packed, perhaps even more so.

He wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I’m in the clinic four days, then one day a week I’m onsite, so I see a little bit of everything, neck to jaws, knees to ankles to shoulders, vertigo patients,” he said. “If you walk in the door, I will see you for X, Y or Z.”

That ability to treat a wide variety of patients is perhaps a gift from his mother, whose resume is ridiculously robust. The fact that he chose to follow in her footsteps makes her very happy, which has upsides when you have a three, two and one-year-old.

“Mom comes down from Shawano every week to babysit,” he said. “That’s been a game-changer.”

—

To learn more about Dr. PJ and/or the Ripon clinic, click here.

Providing Experiences for the Next Generation of Professionals

Getting people back to what they love is the job of an athletic trainer. Ensuring there are plenty of high-caliber graduates ready to serve active populations is the job of universities and colleges, whose programs provide interactive learning environments that will prepare students to enter the profession.

Advanced Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine (APTSM) plays a vital role in the process.

“It’s important we offer internships and job shadowing opportunities for those on the path to becoming athletic trainers,” said APTSM’s Traci Tauferner. “The field is projected to grow 25% by the end of the decade.”

While there is a broad range of settings for the athletic trainer—physician practices, professional sports, clinics specializing in sports medicine, occupational health, and performing arts, to name a few—the vast majority of graduates will enter the field’s most traditional setting: schools.

That’s where Tauferner started out after earning her athletic training degree at UW-Oshkosh. With a robust resume developed since her graduation—she’s the Director of Industrial & Tactical Medicine at Advanced—Tauferner now devotes time both to her administrative duties as well as to the onsite therapy services she delivers at multiple locations.

Tauferner is committed to bringing attention to industrial athletic training, especially as the need for athletic trainers to prevent, evaluate, manage, and rehabilitate conditions faced by workforces—directly at companies and municipalities—continues to grow.

“Achieving injury prevention and cost control in this day and age for the industries and tactical groups we serve is not just a desired outcome,” said Tauferner. “In many cases, it’s a matter of survival.”

More than 55 Wisconsin companies and organizations utilize Advanced PT’s hallmark program of onsite wellness solutions. APTSM’s dedication to workplace health and safety has contributed to recognition at local, state, and national levels.

That kind of focus includes providing learning opportunities for those interested in pursuing a career in the field, and Tauferner is passionate about students understanding the paths available to them.

“It’s important for us to provide these experiences for the next generation, especially so in the bourgeoning industrial and tactical realms, as fewer than 5% of graduates are going into those sectors,” she said.

The connection between APTSM and Tauferner’s alma mater remains strong, as evidenced by UW-Oshkosh student Cade Littleton’s recent experience.

Littleton, a senior in the Masters of Athletic Training Program, spent the summer working through four specific rotations: clinical, hospital, professional team, and industrial/tactical.

Littleton said a few football injuries (“some hip and shoulder pain, but nothing huge like a blown ACL”) led him to seek treatment. Though his high school didn’t have a traditional athletic trainer, a nearby orthopedic group supplied the small school with a physical therapist, and Littleton found himself fascinated by the PT’s skills.

“I was just very interested in what he did, so much so that I actually job shadowed him for one of my classes,” said Littleton. “That set me on the PT path, but once I got to school and got a little more experience with athletic training, I became drawn to that, to work with a younger and highly active population.”

To meet the requirements of the program, one of Littleton’s rotations had him paired with Tauferner.

“This was actually the third time I had met Traci,” said Littleton. “I met her following a presentation she did on mental health, then at the WATA (Wisconsin Athletic Trainers’ Association) conference this year.”

For two weeks Littleton followed Tauferner’s schedule (“yeah, she starts early”), which included stints with the tactical groups she services.

“It was cool to see the firefighters and police officers and how they handle things at their own facilities,” said Littleton. “It was a lot different than my traditional experiences.”

With those tactical groups, Tauferner gave Littleton the opportunity to do full evaluations; she provided guidance, talking Littleton through treatment options and giving him the chance to “do his own thing.”

“Traci allowed me to do a lot more hands-on than I expected, so that was really cool,” he said.

He also learned about Tauferner’s use of and advocacy for modern cupping techniques.

“Just how she used cupping and explained it so it made sense to the client was very interesting,” said Littleton. “That helped me a lot because I’m still a student trying to figure this stuff out.”

Asked about key takeaways following the rotation, Littleton doesn’t hesitate.

“The experience pushes me to continue to learn, to ask questions, and to demand respect as Traci does.”

Littleton admitted he’d like to replicate the demeanor Tauferner exhibited throughout their time together.

“Traci’s vibe is straight confidence,” said Littleton. “The setting doesn’t matter.”

Summer rotations are complete, Littleton is now working with UW-O’s athletic trainer for 2023 football season. Set to graduate next May, Littleton is currently leaning towards working in the high school or college setting, but he’s not ruling anything out.

“I’m not 100% sure yet,” said Littleton.

If uncertain about his job setting, Littleton expresses a clearer view in the geographic sense.

“I’m up to moving,” he said. “I’m not a huge fan of winter.”

—

If you or a student you know is interested in experiencing what Advanced does every day, contact us today!.

Trail Blazer to Trailblazer

Ray Mack is inducted into the St. Francis High School Hall of Fame by Dr. Deborah Kerr, Superintendent of Schools, on December 9, 2022

Many physical therapists have an injury story that contributes to a career path.

But most don’t include a connection to a legendary Wisconsin team whose mad dash to a national championship helped make March Madness what it is today.

Ray Mack of Advanced Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine vividly recalled a high school football injury from six decades ago that led him from athlete to athletic trainer.

“As defensive end, it was my job to get crushed first on a student body left,” Mack said. “Hurt my back and that was it. To continue participating in sports, I decided to become a student athletic trainer.”

And the rest, they say, is history. A history that includes the improbable journey with the Marquette Warriors basketball team from 1973 through 1977.

Understand that at the time of Mack’s injury, circa 1970, athletic training was in its infancy: it was the coaches who primarily handled injuries to their athletes. Outside of football hotbeds like Texas, the presence of athletic trainers was few and far between.

The year after Mack’s injury, he became the student trainer at St. Francis High School and would continue for the remainder of his high school career.

“I wanted to continue participating in sports and I had the aptitude for the health and medical stuff,” said Mack.

As a result of his performance, the St. Francis football coach obtained a scholarship for Mack to Marquette University as a student athletic trainer, which also allowed him to attend physical therapy school there. He covered multiple sports at the university including soccer, wrestling and cross country/track. Ray was also one of the first student athletic trainers for the new Marquette University's Title IX women’s sports program.

It was Division 1 college basketball, however, that powered the engine that was Marquette sports.

“I was blessed to be part of the national championship at Marquette in 1977 under legends Al McGuire, Hank Raymonds, Rick Majerus, and Bob Weingart,” said Mack. “All Hall of Fame members.”

While many know the names of the coaching legends, Mack highlighted Weingart’s impressive resume, which included 38 years as Marquette’s head athletic trainer as well as trainer for the USA track team in the 1972 Olympics.

“He was the man at Marquette,” said Mack. “Working with Bob was both an honor and an opportunity.”

It was during Mack’s senior year stint as the Warriors student athletic trainer when he was told he couldn’t continue with the basketball program during his second semester, as he was being sent to New York for his physical therapy residence—exactly when Marquette would make their run to college basketball’s ultimate prize.

Though Mack didn’t exactly appreciate the timing of the move, he later came to appreciate the wisdom of the choice his advisors made, sending him to areas that took him well beyond his identified niche in sports medicine.

“As a function of that experience, I became through my VA tenure an amputee specialist and a medical surgical clinic specialist,” said Mack. “It broadened my horizons dramatically.”

After 45+ years as a physical therapist, Mack continues to treat patients, specializing in the non-operative treatment of orthopedic-related injuries of the spine/pelvis and extremities. His personal interests are as vast as his medical pursuits and include photography, website development, history, learning theory and aquatics.

Oh, throw in mustaches and Hawaiian shirts too.

Mack described his work as an athletic trainer and physical therapist not as an occupation but a vocation, something he was meant to do in life. And while there is plenty to look back upon, there’s much more ahead.

“I'll do this for as long as I feel like I can contribute and make a difference.”

Near-Site Care for School Districts

Advanced Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine's location at 402 Eureka Street is part of a multi-specialty clinic delivering high quality, low cost services to Ripon Area School District employees in 2023.

Only a generation ago, you’d be hard-pressed to find a school district in Wisconsin self-funding their health insurance.

Oh, how times have changed.

About 40% of school districts statewide are now self-funded, and that number continues to trend upwards. With self-funding, employers pay for claims out-of-pocket as they are presented instead of paying a pre-determined premium to an insurance carrier for a fully funded plan.

In essence, the employer becomes the insurance company.

One of the most recent to join the ranks is the Ripon Area School District (RASD), which will go self-funded in 2023. They will add a near-site medical clinic as well, with multiple care providers including a primary care physician, cardiologists, an orthopedic surgeon, and physical therapists available free to RASD staff.

Advanced Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine, a leader in direct contracting and onsite/near-site physical and occupational therapy care, will supply the physical therapy at the near-site clinic.

School districts must be laser-focused on the cost of health care, generally the second biggest budget outlay after salaries. With rising health care costs, districts know that money has to come from somewhere, and the simple truth is this: when revenue doesn’t increase and the cost of health care and operations does, those dollars will come from just about every student-centered program in the district.

Becoming wise consumers of health care is on every district’s and employer’s agenda—looking at data, doing their homework, finding the best care at the best cost—so money that is saved can go to the education of students, facility needs, or employee cost of living increases.

To learn more about the money-saving steps being taken in Ripon and other districts across the state, read Bethany Gengler’s article from the Ripon Commonwealth Press here:

https://www.riponpress.com/news/ripon-area-school-district-will-make-switch-to-self-funded-insurance/article_873ec986-605e-11ed-a2af-17529821152a.html

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