Should I be stretching or strengthening?

Dr. Chandler contemplating the deep questions of the PT world.

“Hey, Siri, I have had months of pain in my lower back, and every doctor has told me that I need to stretch my hamstrings because they are tight. Do I need to stretch, or should I go work out like my friend from the gym tells me?” 

Ah, to stretch or to strengthen, that is a great question. 

“When is it a good idea to stretch?” 

Let's look at what the research says: 

When and how you stretch is important and heavily depends on your goals! 

When added throughout the day, stretching has many benefits, including increased tolerance to muscle tension and improved flexibility. It is also suggested that it reduces soreness following activity.  

Prolonged stretching for 30 seconds or more before activity has been shown to reduce maximal strength. Therefore, prolonged stretching after activity is recommended. This includes your standard hamstring stretches, calf stretches, upper trap stretches, etc.

Dynamic stretching can improve motion for activity without impacting strength. That’s why dynamic stretching is recommended before an activity. Some examples of dynamic stretching include air squats, lunges, high knees, butt kicks, side shuffles, cross-over stepping, leg swings, arm circles, cat-cows, thoracic rotations, etc.

“I’ve been stretching for a while but still have pain and tightness...Why is that?” 

That's because muscle weakness can also disguise itself as tightness.  

Mind blown, right!? 

Don’t worry, ours was, too, when we first learned about it. 

If you’ve been stretching one area, such as your back, hamstring, upper traps, etc., and the tension keeps returning, it’s time to consider a progressive strengthening program and load those tissues. This helps build tissue resilience to your symptoms at bay.

A proper evaluation from a Physical Therapist is the best tool for determining the root cause of your muscular aches and pains and working with you to determine the best course of action. 

Life, including stretching and strengthening, is about balance. 

Let’s work together to rebalance your approach and abolish your aches and pains for good.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Chandler at our Appleton North clinic, call 920-991-2561.

Or click here to find a location most convenient for you.

*Disclaimer: Stretching may not be the best option if you have an acute muscle sprain (e.g., you were sprinting, felt a pop or slipped on ice, did the splits, and felt your muscle pull with immediate pain after the incident). In these cases, follow up with a physical therapist ASAP to assess further and direct your journey. 

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Not sure if PT is right for you?

We do offer Free Screens to assess further and determine the best course of action with you.

Quenching the thirst for knowledge, one employee at a time

Advanced Physical Therapy’s Lynsey Hansen gives Wisconsin Rapids Officer Travis Plowman a gentle reminder about hydration: “Don't forget: Drink water and get some sunlight. We are basically houseplants with more complicated emotions.”

“Lots of people don’t like water,” she began.

Lynsey Hansen is one of Advanced Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine’s Industrial Athletic Trainers. It’s her job to care for employees of the companies, organizations and municipalities at which she works.

Hydration is one of her things. She brings it up a lot. But she tries not to hound.

“Being properly hydrated is super important, so I talk about it frequently,” said Hansen. “It can actually help improve your overall well-being.”

How that conversation starts is dependent on her audience—a police officer, a firefighter or someone in industry—but the questions that follow are the same:

“How have you been feeling lately?”

“How have you been sleeping?”

If the answer to either is “Not that great,” Hansen will touch on hydration in pretty short order.

If someone says they’re tired, she’ll ask how much water they’ve been drinking; Hansen uses the standard “drink half your weight in ounces per day” as the bare minimum, then adjusts that based on activity levels. If it’s about frequency and getting up at night, she’ll discuss front-loading the day with water intake. If it’s about simply increasing water consumption, she’ll provide tips to get reluctant water drinkers to move in the right direction (she sees sports drinks as a kind of compromise, which supplies some benefits but includes lots of additives).

Or, said Hansen, they might be complaining of being tired or in pain or struggling with some sort of issue that makes them reliant on eating sugary things or drinking caffeinated beverages.

“Many times in these moments when our body wants those things, we’re just dehydrated,” she said. “If you’re dragging or feeling like crap on a daily basis, you need to understand drinking more water can flip the script. Such knowledge can be a powerful motivator.”

Hansen acknowledges that getting people on board with better hydration (and better health and sleep as well) is not always an easy sell.

“If you don’t want to do it, you’re not going to do it, regardless of what I say.”

But the resolute athletic trainer carries on, undaunted, sprinkling her discussions with tips that might resonate with the unenthusiastic H2O consumer:

• “Add low-sugar Liquid IV to your water now and then. It tastes great, keeps you in the hydration habit, and trust me, it enhances the functioning of your cellular transport chain!”

• “Athletes prioritize hydration. You’re an industrial or tactical athlete, so you need to have that exact mindset. Now drop and give me twenty!”

• “Put 6 rubber bands around your 16 oz. water bottle because that’s how many bottles you should aim to drink daily. Every time you drink one, take one of the bands and put it on your wrist. By the end of the day, all 6 should be off the bottle and on your wrist! Easy way to keep track!”

At the mention of rubber bands, Hansen segues into another subject near and dear to every athletic trainer: injury prevention.

“Sorry, that just made my brain go this way. Your muscles are rubber band-like, so when you're hydrated, your muscles have that fluidity and pliability. When a force comes on, your muscles can take it and bounce back. If you’re dehydrated, your muscles will be super tight, and any force that comes along can create damage. Staying hydrated helps you prevent injuries. So rubber bands are very cool on many levels.”

Speaking of injuries, Hansen has a concussion tale, a fall of about three stories from a pyramid.

And there’s another about tearing her hamstring from the bone (it didn’t stop her from what she needed to do, however).

She’s a tenacious one, no doubt.

But those are stories for another time . . .

Provider Spotlight: Dr. Will Hartmann, PT at Lawrence University

Dr. Will Hartmann working with an athlete in the athletic training room at Lawrence University

When you work with competitive athletes to get them back to their sports following injury, does it help if you were a competitive athlete who suffered a few injuries and endured lots of rehab yourself?

Physical therapist Will Hartmann of Advanced Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine thinks it might.

To a certain extent.

“It helps athletes relate to me if they know it,” Hartmann said. “But I'm the washed-up version now.”

The former Division 1 athlete played five years of college football with the Wisconsin Badgers and had a litany of injuries (concussion, patellar tendinitis, lacerated kidney) connected to his days on the gridiron. Eschewing any details or elaboration, Hartmann recited his traumas like items in a bulleted list.

Just tell me a little about your most memorable, then.

“Yeah, the elbow injury in my first spring game at Camp Randall. I picked off a pass and dislocated it when I tried to score a touchdown. After the game, the coach saw me in the training room and said, ‘That’s why you take a knee.’ Thanks a lot, coach. Lesson learned.”

Now in his seventh year working with Lawrence University athletes, Hartmann’s approach is, in many respects, just that direct, albeit without the sarcasm.

“I tell injured athletes, if you want to do this, we can do this,” said Hartmann. “Or if you don't want to do that kind of work, we’ll just take it down a notch. It all depends on what the person wants to put in.”

Much like himself in days of yore, several of his Division 3 college athletes view their sport as their job, working out multiple times a day just about every day of the year. They bring that same focus to the rehab process when they get injured.

“I’m working with a girl who’s coming into the athletic training room twice daily to do rehab. That shows the level of commitment familiar to me,” said Hartmann. “I’ve been there; I’ve done it.”

His role at Lawrence is to help with the treatment of complex injuries. Hartmann’s sports medicine background and orthopedic training allow him to treat anyone who enters the door. Working with Advanced PT’s athletic trainers at LU, Hartmann is included when his expertise is needed, typically when an injury isn’t improving or rehabbing something more intricate, like an ACL reconstruction.

To further progress his manual skills and meet a wider variety of patient needs, Hartmann completed an Orthopedic Residency. An additional year of specialized training, the residency includes one-on-one mentorships with experts in the field to enhance clinical decision-making. Combined with his Strength & Conditioning Specialist certification, Hartmann is well-suited to communicate and collaborate with LU’s athletic trainers and strength coaches.

“We do a good job at Lawrence treating these athletes and getting good outcomes,” said Hartmann.

Advanced PT has deep roots at the collegiate level and has treated LU undergraduates—both athletes and students in the Conservatory of Music—for three decades.

At the time of this interview, Hartmann was preparing for spring sports at LU and the inevitable uptick of injuries by getting some care for himself: he had an arthroscopic knee procedure the following day.

And he answered the final question before it was asked.

“No, this isn’t related to football,” he said.

Preventing Pickleball injuries

Hi everyone, my name is Melissa. I am a physical therapist and a pickleball enthusiast! 

Over the last 5 years, pickleball has become one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States. Today, over 5 million people play pickleball on a regular basis, many of whom have not participated in a sport in the previous years or ever!  

Pickleball is a great sport to get into if you have not participated in sports in the past and are looking to do so.  

Although pickleball can have less running and impact than other sports, it is still important to properly strengthen and condition yourself to participate in pickleball. 

Pickleball generally involves making a couple of quick steps forward, backward, and side to side. It also requires repetitive wrist movements to hit the ball. These movements can lead to acute or chronic injuries, most commonly knee pain, hip pain, back pain, Ahilles tendinopathy, and tennis elbow, which is now sometimes even called pickleball elbow!

Don’t let these injuries scare you; there are so many benefits to your health from being active! 

So, how can we prevent these injuries from happening and taking you off the court?  

I would recommend doing a good 5 to 10-minute active warm-up, as well as a good strengthening and 

stretching program for after your activity.

Here’s what I do for my warm-up and stretching/strengthening program: 

Warm-up: wall calf stretch, calf raises, side stepping, walking adductor stretch, wrist extensor 

stretch, hamstring scoops, walking butt kicks 

Stretching: seated hamstring stretch, standing adductor stretch, wall calf stretch, wrist extensor 

stretch 

Strengthening: calf raises (easy: double legs, hard: single leg), hip abduction (easy: standing, 

hard: side lying), hip extension (easy: standing, hard: bridge or on stomach leg lifts), hamstring 

(easy: standing hamstring curls, hard: bridge slow slides), balance (easy: tandem stance, hard: 

single leg stance - always have something nearby to grab onto for safety) 

 *Disclaimer: This is not medical advice but is only for educational/informational purposes. If you are having pain or health-related complaints, please seek out te and develop a plan that is specific to you and your needs. 

I hope to see you on the court… not in our clinic, but if an injury does happen, come see us so we can get you back on the court ASAP!

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You can Schedule an appointment with Melissa at our Appleton North Clinic by calling 920.991.2561

To find a clinic location that is most convenient for you, click here!

Fighting Osteoporosis one Exercise at a time

Patients with osteoporosis have similar questions and concerns, but a common theme exists when talking with them.

They all fear their diagnosis and its impact on their lives.

They fear that they are fragile.

I want you to know that even with this diagnosis, you are strong, and your body is still resilient.

So, let’s look at what osteoporosis is and what you can do about it.

What is osteoporosis? 

Osteoporosis is a bone disorder characterized by decreased bone mineral density and mass. This condition reduces overall bone strength and increases the risk of fracture.

Fractures related to osteoporosis often occur in the spine, hip, and wrist bones. The disease most commonly affects postmenopausal women and older men.  

How can I reduce my risk? 

Some known factors that can decrease the risk of developing osteoporosis are:

• exercising regularly

• reducing alcohol consumption 

• quitting or refraining from smoking 

• eating a well-balanced diet 

• limiting caffeine intake 

• discussing the use of certain medications with your primary care physician 

How is osteoporosis managed?  

Your primary care physician may discuss using medications or supplements (calcium and/or vitamin D) to manage osteoporosis.  

Physical therapy can be another essential component of managing osteoporosis. Here’s how a physical therapist helps with your bone health: 

• Help strengthen your muscles, bones, and ligaments to improve bone health and overall wellness

• Gradually increase your tolerance to impact to decrease the risk of fracture

• Provide education on body mechanics and postural training  to decrease the risk of fracture

• Assess your balance and fall risk 

• Provide safe exercises to improve balance and strength  

• Provide pain management strategies following a fracture related to osteoporosis  

It’s never too late to start. Even if you’ve been diagnosed with osteoporosis, there’s still time to make meaningful changes.

It’s also never too early to start. Participating in a strength, balance, and mobility program throughout your life is preventative when discussing osteoporosis.

Let’s continue the conversation!

Contact us for additional guidance on strengthening your bones safely and effectively.

Phone: 920-991-2561.

Thanks for taking the time to learn more about osteoporosis and what you can do about it! -Dr. Kaylie.

References: https://www.bonehealthandosteoporosis.org/ 

Let's talk about Urinary Incontinence

Since no one wants to talk about urinary incontinence, we will break the ice.

Yes, it can be an uncomfortable and personal topic, but we want you to know that you have options.

And we’re here to support you in any way that we can as you navigate your journey with leakage, urgency, or experience while you are going or attempting to go to the bathroom.

First, let’s learn about what urinary incontinence is.

What is Urinary Incontinence?  

Urinary incontinence refers to the inability to control the urine flow, which can cause slight to significant leakage.  

Many women and men mistakenly believe it's an inevitable part of aging, but it's not!  

With the help of a trained pelvic health physical therapist, you can gain the necessary strength and learn techniques to minimize or prevent urinary incontinence. 

There are 4 main types of Urinary incontinence: Stress, Urge, overflow, and functional.  

Stress Incontinence is classified by the inability to control the flow of urine with increased intraabdominal pressure or higher-impact activities. It occurs during activities like coughing, laughing, jumping, running, or lifting.  

Urge Incontinence is classified by a sudden, intense need to urinate, often leading to leakage on the way to the bathroom. This urgency can significantly affect confidence in public situations.  

Overflow Incontinence occurs when you leak urine because your bladder is too full. It may feel that you haven't completely emptied your bladder at the time of voiding. Overflow incontinence can be caused by a blockage in the urinary system, other medical conditions, or dysfunction of your pelvic floor muscles.   

Functional Incontinence involves the sensation of needing to urinate but being unable to get to the bathroom in a timely manner due to factors such as muscle weakness, poor balance and coordination, dysfunctional movement patterns, or even a cluttered household.  

Life’s too short; there’s no time to worry about leakage or urgency. 

So much can be done in pelvic health physical therapy to address these issues. 

Contact us to schedule an appointment with a trained pelvic health physical therapist!

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Madeline at our Neenah clinic, call (920) 215-6225.

We also have therapists specializing in pelvic health at your Appleton and Ripon clinics. 

Everything you need to know about concussions

Over the last 2 decades, there has been a lot of talk about the injury known as concussion. There has been a growing body of research about concussions—what they are, what causes them, and how we can better treat them. For this reason, the clinical management of concussion care has significantly changed in recent years; however, not all health care providers have been informed about these changes.  

My name is Logan Curry. I am a physical therapist at Advanced PT’s Appleton North location with advanced training in treating and managing concussions. I frequently get questions from patients or their parents about these injuries. Here are the answers to some common questions that I get about concussions. 

What is a concussion?

A concussion is a traumatic injury to the brain, which causes a cascade of events leading to inflammation, blood flow restriction, and a depletion of energy needed for normal neurological function. This is a functional injury to the brain without visible structural tissue damage to the brain. It causes signs and symptoms (such as dizziness, headache, fatigue, etc.) which can occur immediately or over time. Although these symptoms can be quite severe, typically we expect them to resolve in days or weeks following the injury.  

How do you diagnose a concussion?

A clinical assessment performed by a health care provider is necessary to formally diagnose a concussion. Assessment may include but is not limited to testing for cognition, eye control and vision, posture, gait, balance, and neck motion.  

Do you need to get imaging after a concussion?

No, it’s not necessary, but sometimes it may be appropriate. Currently, diagnostic imaging for clinical use cannot identify people who have sustained a concussion, so CT scans and MRIs will show no signs of tissue injury. If a person sustains significant head trauma and their symptoms progressively worsen or create an unstable condition, they should receive a CT scan to rule out something more serious. In other cases, a person may receive an MRI to assess for structural injury to the brain in cases where symptoms persist longer than expected.  

What do you do after a concussion to help recover?

Initially, a period of relative rest (reducing daily activities and limiting screen time) for the first 24-48 hours following injury is recommended. After this period of time, it’s important to gradually return to physical and cognitive activity with minimal increase in symptoms. Sometimes people want to avoid all stimulation that provokes symptoms following their injury. Unfortunately, this doesn’t help their brain adjust to the stimulation that comes with daily activities. After a concussion, the brain needs to be gradually exposed to normal stimuli as part of the recovery process.  

How does someone return to school, work, or sport?

Often after these injuries, people need to receive modifications or accommodations to their school or work day to allow them to return to those activities at a sub-symptom threshold level (with minimal increase in symptoms). This they can do with the assistance of a healthcare provider. Returning to sport should occur in a gradual manner under the direction of an athletic trainer or physical therapist. Returning to full participation in sport should occur after fully returning to school/work activities. 

How long does it take to recover?

The majority of concussions recover fully in a relatively short amount of time (14 days or less for adults and 30 days or less for children). Unfortunately, there are cases and situations where concussion symptoms can persist because the brain needs some additional help to get back to normal function. 

Should someone receive care or treatment after a concussion? I

t is important to have oversight by a medical provider to assist in helping a patient who has sustained a concussion return to normal activities. ER doctors, primary care physicians, and athletic trainers are often the first health care providers to see people following a head injury. In some cases, they may recommend that a patient receive care or treatment from other health care providers such as a physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech and language pathologist, neurologist, concussion doctor, neuro optometrist, and neuro psychologist. Their recommendation will be based upon the provider’s experience and the patient’s symptoms following an injury. Sometimes providers may not be aware of some options that may be available to help get their patient better faster. 

How does physical therapy help people who have concussions?

The main goal of physical therapy following a concussion is to help gradually retrain the brain to process information and return to normal activity and function. Every concussion is going to present differently, so treatment can vary from one injury to another. The physical therapist will perform a comprehensive assessment and determine the most appropriate treatment strategy to help each patient address their impairments and deficits as well as work towards achieving their specific goals. Physical therapy may include aerobic activity, treatment for the neck, exercises for the eyes, interventions for the inner ear, balance training, reaction training, and sports/job specific activities.  

Concussions are a very complex injury and not fully understood. Despite our limited knowledge on the subject, there are many great things that can be done to help people feel better faster and to assist in managing symptoms. If you have any additional questions about concussions or are curious about what physical therapy can do for treating concussions, feel free to contact me at lcurry@advancedptsm.com or 920-991-2561. 

Patricios JS, Schneider KJ, Dvorak J, et al. Consensus statement on concussion in sport: the 6th International Conference on Concussion in Sport-Amsterdam, October 2022. Br J Sports Med. 2023;57(11):695-711. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2023-106898 

National Athletic Training Month Recap.

National Athletic Training Month is held every March in order to spread awareness about the important work of athletic trainers (ATs). The care provided by these experts, whether to middle, high school, collegiate or professional athletes or the industrial athlete, can be life-altering. The athletic training ranks teem with stories of current ATs drawn to the profession through their interaction with an AT who helped them through a devastating injury when they were young. Such profound encounters contribute mightily to the next generation of ATs so vital to the health and well-being of athletes of all ages and disciplines.

As providers of front-line care, ATs offer wide-ranging skill sets that go well beyond the physical aspects of sports medicine. Their ability to connect with patients is perhaps the true hallmark of the AT. Another characteristic shared by many ATs is their slightly annoying reluctance to highlight their own skills.

As it’s National Athletic Training Month, we asked them the following question:

What unique value do you feel athletic trainers offer their patients?

And forced them to answer.

Lynsey Hansen – 11 year in athletic training, previous experience with youth, high school, and collegiate athletics. Past year and a half with Industrial and Tactical Medicine.

“AT’s have the unique opportunity to get to know their patients before they get injured in most cases, which can help improve the patient's outcome, and the AT also gets to watch them successfully return to their career, hobby they love, etc. Having that sort of relationship can help keep the small things small, but also incorporate techniques to aid the mental and emotional aspects when those injuries are more severe.”

Joe Hanel – 8 years in athletic training. All in Industrial setting.

“I think the general public is starting to understand that AT’s have a very broad range of knowledge about all kinds of injuries, human anatomy, kinesiology and more. When it comes to the front line of care, AT’s seem to be most knowledgeable in whole-body care. Most LAT’s need to be ready to treat any injury so our continuing education is not often specialized, allowing us to stay current on a wide spectrum of healthcare issues. I believe this really helps us stand out.”

Heidi Bohl – 13 years in athletic training, previous experience in youth and high school athletics. Past 4 years in Industrial and Tactical Medicine.

“Athletic trainers offer multiple skillsets that dabble in a variety of healthcare spectrums including physical care as well as emotional wellbeing. The range of training allows us to guide and address the whole body.”

Traci Tauferner - 17 years in athletic training, previous experience in youth, high school, collegiate and semi-professional athletics. Past 15 years in Industrial and Tactical Medicine. APTSM’s Director of Industrial and Tactical Medicine.

“I work mostly in the tactical setting. So for me athletic trainers bring valuable expertise to police and fire departments by offering specialized injury prevention, rehabilitation, and fitness training tailored to the physical demands of their jobs. Our knowledge of sports medicine principles can also help in managing and preventing work-related injuries, ultimately promoting the overall health and well-being of police officers and firefighters.”

Sean Gough – 12 years in athletic training, previous experience in high school and collegiate athletics. Almost 1 year with APTSM in Industrial and Tactical Medicine

“Athletic trainers excel in being the go-to, that trusted face due to the long-term relationships we build with patients—especially in the athletic setting but also now in the industrial and tactical space. Not only do we get to see our patients at a time where they are vulnerable, hurt, or uncertain about their future, but we also get to see them at their best.”

Marc Viergutz – 8 years in athletic training, previous experience in high school, collegiate, and professional athletics. Past 3 years with Lawrence University.

“AT’s offer a truly sport-specific view which is unique in the world of medicine. From the way we are educated to the way we approach things. It’s always from a view with the athlete’s sport in mind. We have the opportunity to work every day with that sport and provide tailored treatment plans.”

Megan Werner – 14 years in athletic training, previous experience in youth, high school, and collegiate athletics. Past 6 years in Industrial and Tactical Medicine and as Sports Medicine Coordinator.

“I feel athletic trainers offer a huge value to our patients because of our dynamic skill set. With our roots in athletics, we naturally learn to be flexible and are quick to adjust based on the needs of our patients and clients. We are always looking for ways to help our patients recover from injury or continue to improve their performance, no matter if their “playing field” is an actual field or court for an athlete, a manufacturing facility for an industrial worker, or a burning building for a firefighter.”

So if you see your friendly (or even somewhat laconic) athletic trainer, invite them to chat about their chosen profession as well as their national organization’s tagline for the month-long celebration: “From Head to Toe.”

Actually, once the ATs got going they couldn’t resist answering our second question (“How does ‘From Head to Toe’ encapsulate what you and Advanced PTSM do in athletic training?”), which we combined into a tidy paragraph that represented the group’s thoughts nicely:

“As athletic trainers, we are ready to address almost anything our patient might need. Our education includes emergency care, evaluating and treating orthopedic injuries, injury prevention, as well as concussion care, nutrition, and hydration. We’re also typically in environments like working with a team or company where we get the chance to develop strong relationships with our patients and get to know them as a person, not just their injury.”

Advanced PT Recognized with Community Heroes Award

It’s important to craft a mission statement wisely. You only get one sentence, and it must stand the test of time.

Ours goes like this: The mission of Advanced Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine is to provide individualized care based on clinical expertise with a commitment to patient advocacy, education, and community service.

Fast forward 25 years since the creation of that sentence, and those words ring true. Well, maybe one of the words has undergone a change in definition: community. In 1998, Advanced PT consisted of a single clinic location in Appleton, so “community” meant just the Fox Valley.

Now there are more than 30 clinics throughout Wisconsin.

But growing larger does not mean losing touch with what got you here in the first place: a commitment to doing things the right way.

As testimony, consider Advanced PT’s recent recognition as “Community Heroes” by the Wisconsin Office of Rural Health. Part of National Rural Health Day, which is celebrated on the third Thursday in November, the award is bestowed to practices and individuals for their outstanding contribution to improving the quality of and access to rural healthcare.

It also highlights the unique challenges rural communities face: provider shortages, an older population, and lack of transportation.

The Wisconsin Office of Rural Health describes our rural communities as “wonderful places to live, work, and visit. They are also communities where health care providers deliver innovative, affordable, and holistic primary care.”

Honoring the community-minded, “can-do” spirit that prevails in rural Wisconsin, the award recognized Advanced PT clinics in Ripon, Iola and Marinette.

PJ Christopherson, Clinic Director at the Advanced PT location in Ripon, views the award as a natural extension of the founders’ vision.

“We value supporting rural health care,” Christopherson said. “That’s been in our DNA from the beginning, not only to serve communities but to be part of them, growing with them and making them stronger.”

Adam Wirtz, Advanced PT Clinic Director in Iola, embraces the role he and his colleagues play to improve the quality of life for patients and communities.

“In America right now—for a lot of reasons—access to good quality health care is restricted in rural areas,” said Wirtz. “We take pride in working hard to address the unique healthcare challenges that rural citizens face today. It’s an honor to be recognized for our efforts.”

Serving communities for over 25 years, Advanced Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine is grateful for this award recognizing our commitment to rural health. We are proud to support the communities we work in, because we live in them too!

Advanced PT Pitches In to Move Research Forward

Dr. Barbara Van Gorp from the University of Iowa Rehabilitation Services & Physical Therapy presenting her research study with the support of Advanced PT in Sheboygan.

Advanced PT Pitches In to Move Research Forward The University of Iowa and Vanderbilt University Medical Center joined forces to study non-drug modalities to treat chronic pain. Sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, the clinical trial is focused on determining the effectiveness of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) for individuals with fibromyalgia, neck and back pain. Advanced Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine is one of five physical therapy partners helping with the study across a six-state area.

Clinicians from Advanced PT locations with expertise in working with fibromyalgia patients as well as TENS are contributing to the pragmatic clinical trial, which uses a normal healthcare setting instead of a university-based research center. The goal of the trial is to determine if the addition of TENS to physical therapy for patients with fibromyalgia helps to reduce pain, increase adherence to physical therapy, reach personal functional goals, and decrease medication use.

A recent study established the efficacy of TENS for the treatment of musculoskeletal pain in fibromyalgia patients; this study seeks to gain further insights in what is considered to be the first pragmatic trial conducted in physical therapy practices.

A chronic condition, fibromyalgia is characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep disturbance, and cognitive symptoms. Individuals with the condition often have reduced activity levels due to the fact that activity itself can increase pain. The use of a TENS unit, which delivers electrical impulses through the skin via attached electrodes, can reduce the pain signals going to the brain, which may help relieve pain and relax muscles.

It is hoped that the data, once collected and analyzed, will have significant ramifications for how to better treat individuals with chronic pain without the use of drugs. Advanced PT is providing eligible patients the opportunity to participate in the study. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, call 920.991.2561.

The following clinic locations are participating in the clinical trial, which continues through 2024:

• Appleton North (2105 E. Enterprise Ave., Suite 113, Appleton WI)

• Appleton West (1640 N. Casaloma Dr., Appleton WI)

• Fond du Lac (355 N Peters Ave., Fond du Lac WI)

• Iola (115 N. Main St., Iola WI) • Marinette (1931 Marinette Ave., Marinette WI)

• Menominee (3841 10th St. Suite A, Menominee MI)

• Ripon (401 Eureka St., Ripon WI)

• Sheboygan (2124 Kohler Memorial Dr., 110A, Sheboygan WI)

• Stevens Point North (641 N. Division St., Stevens Point WI)

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To learn more about the study from their website, click here.