October is National Physical Therapy Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the vital role that physical therapists play in improving the health and well-being of individuals across the country.

To boost awareness of the profession and the benefits of physical therapy, the American Physical Therapy Association is running a consumer awareness campaign entitled “PT for Future Me.” The campaign aims “to highlight physical therapy’s role in enhancing movement and function at every age to promote resilience throughout the lifespan. It emphasizes prevention, wellness, and the improvement of mobility and strength to support all aspects of work, life, and play.”

These goals align with our mission at KCP Physical Therapy, where our mission is to provide function and fitness…for life! We’d like to join with the APTA in spreading awareness about our profession and the benefits of physical therapy. If you’ve ever wondered about the extent that a physical therapist can help you, read on!

The Importance of Physical Therapy

First and foremost, physical therapists are movement specialists. Our goal is to help our clients move better and live better lives. We are here to help people recover from injuries, manage pain, and improve mobility.

A physical therapy treatment plan might employ many different techniques, including exercises, manual therapy, dry needling, ice, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, and patient education. All are designed to help patients regain strength, flexibility, and function.

At KCP, we work with each client to develop a customized plan that is tailored to reach their goals. We actively listen to understand the impact of our clients’ injuries or limitations and what activities they are eager to either return to or even pursue for the first time. There are no “cookie cutter” PT plans here! Every client is different and deserves a unique plan. Each plan is designed to improve function and mobility and to reduce or eliminate pain.

Who Needs Physical Therapy?

The most common reasons that people seek physical therapy are to ease pain, recover from injury or surgery, restore mobility and balance, prevent or improve chronic conditions, treat specialized conditions, maintain mobility, and prevent future issues.

At KCP, we see clients of all ages and stages of life and treat a range of injuries and issues.

• Some clients are very proactive in managing their health and come to address minor injuries or concerns about pains or limitations. No referral is needed for our services, which many people may not realize. (In the state of North Carolina, you can make an appointment directly with a physical therapist without a referral from your doctor; this is known as Direct Access. Always check directly with your insurance company for their guidelines regarding coverage.)

• Some are working directly with doctors or surgeons to manage injuries or conditions or potentially preparing for upcoming surgeries. In these cases, we work directly with the rest of their medical team to ensure that we are a united front in providing the best treatment plan together.

• Others come for regular treatment as part of a pain management protocol, often avoiding excessive prescription medications as a result. With conditions like arthritis and fibromyalgia, physical therapy is especially effective in providing a non-invasive and effective treatment option.

• Many take advantage of our Men’s and Women’s Health offerings. Women come to reduce pain and feel stronger through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum recovery. Men and women facing incontinence, painful intercourse, and other types of sexual dysfunction can also find relief here.

• Still others take advantage of our physical-therapist led exercise programs, which are designed to help our clients achieve overall strength, balance, and fitness.

The bottom line: physical therapy is for everyone across all life stages, ages and abilities! If you are ever in doubt, give us a call! Not only will we be happy to offer guidance on your issue, but we will also be happy to schedule you for a timely appointment (no long wait lists here!) or provide a referral if we don’t believe that physical therapy is the right option for you.

What Can Physical Therapy Do For Me?

Some of the key benefits of physical therapy are:

• Enhancing mobility and function
• Preventing future injuries
• Managing chronic conditions.

Enhancing Mobility and Function

This is the typical rehab side of physical therapy. For individuals recovering from injuries or surgery, physical therapy is often a critical component of the rehabilitation process. Physical therapists can help patients regain strength and mobility, reduce pain and swelling, and prevent complications such as blood clots or infections. This can lead to faster recovery times and better overall outcomes.

The goals of rehab are generally to improve mobility and function, in addition to reducing pain.  Physical therapists develop personalized treatment plans that address each client’s specific needs and goals. Plans may include exercises to improve strength, flexibility, and balance, as well as techniques to enhance coordination and movement patterns.

Preventing Future Injuries

In addition to helping individuals recover from injuries, physical therapy can also play a crucial role in preventing future injuries. Physical therapists can assess an individual’s movement patterns and identify areas of weakness or imbalance that may increase the risk of injury. They can then develop a personalized exercise program to address these issues and improve overall strength and stability. This is particularly important for athletes or individuals who engage in regular physical activity, as it can help prevent injuries and enhance performance.

While we do work with athletes at KCP, we also work with regular people who want to live active lives. Our unique focus on fitness and injury prevention led us to create both small group exercise programs as well as 1:1 fitness sessions. We like to say that we can modify any exercise, which allows us to meet any client at their current ability and help them progress from there. Our fitness participants all go through an initial assessment so that we can understand their histories, abilities, and limitations. Clients can feel safe in knowing they will still receive personalized instruction within small classes.

Managing Chronic Conditions

Physical therapy is also beneficial for individuals managing chronic conditions, such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, heart disease, or respiratory disorders. Physical therapists can develop exercise programs that help improve cardiovascular health, manage blood sugar levels, and enhance respiratory function. They can also provide education and support to help individuals make lifestyle changes that can improve their overall health and well-being.

Conclusion

National Physical Therapy Month is an opportunity to recognize the important work that physical therapists do and to raise awareness about the many benefits of physical therapy. Whether you are recovering from an injury, managing a chronic condition, or striving to improve overall fitness, you may find that physical therapy can provide the expertise and support needed to achieve these goals.

We love the work we do here, and we love helping our clients return to the activities they love. If you’d like to learn more about us, please see our Services menu for more information about the services that KCP provides, or call our office at 704-541-1191 with inquiries or to schedule an appointment.

As a pelvic floor physical therapist, KCP’s Ashley Williams knows that the initial pelvic exam / assessment can cause anxiety among both men and women. That uncertainty may cause them to delay scheduling much-needed treatment. Two of Dr. Williams’ biggest priorities in her practice are educating her patients and ensuring that they are comfortable at all times. In today’s blog, Dr. Williams answers some common questions that patients have prior to their first appointments.

Appointment Preparation – What Are We Going to Talk About?

I want clients to know that we always start by talking first! We don’t ask anyone to undress before we’ve had a chance to talk and come up with a game plan that we both agree to.

I assure them that they are not likely to share something I’ve never heard before! I know that we are discussing details that seem very personal that they don’t typically share with strangers – or even friends – but these are usually common conversations for me, and nobody should feel embarrassed to share!

We’ll start by discussing the issues that clients are having as well as their goals for treatment. I would suggest that clients bring a list of concerns and symptoms. I like to understand how long the issues have been around, what makes the symptoms better or worse, and what treatments they have tried in the past. I also want to understand what activities clients are avoiding and what they would like to return to.

What Should I Wear?

Clients can wear anything that they are comfortable moving in. Shorts or yoga pants and a T-shirt are great. We also keep extra shorts on hand if you’re wearing a dress, skirt, or restrictive jeans and would like to borrow a pair while you’re here! As part of our assessment, we’ll look at movement patterns, posture, and strength. Don’t worry – there’s nothing to prepare for and we don’t ask you to do anything difficult!

I will likely also ask you to perform some simple movements while standing and lying down. I’ll be palpating some of your bones and muscles, so it’s helpful if you wear something that’s not too thick.

What Happens with an Internal Exam

Again, I want to reiterate that we always go at the client’s comfort level. It’s often helpful for me to do an internal exam to examine internal muscle structure, but it doesn’t have to be on that first day. I’ll always make sure that clients are comfortable first.

That said, if we do determine that an internal exam would be helpful, I’ll provide a gown, ask them to undress from the waist down, and then step out of the room. Once they’re ready, they can ring a bell and I’ll come back in.

The internal exam is a one-gloved finger vaginally or rectally. There are no forceps or additional tools involved. I’ll look at some of the structures outside the vulva. I’ll look for skin discoloration and see if there’s any vaginal dryness or irritation.  I’ll also be evaluating muscle tension in the pelvic floor and/or the degree and positioning of any pelvic organ prolapse. As I’m examining, I’m talking clients through the whole process, letting them know where I am and what I’m doing and asking how they’re feeling.

If for whatever reason during the internal exam, if someone is uncomfortable, they can just say the word and we stop. Maybe it brings up past trauma or they just decide ‘I don’t want to do this anymore.’ Whatever the reason, we stop and it’s completely okay. Consent is always a priority!

Clean Up

Once I’ve finished the exam, I’ll leave the room again and provide wipes and tissues, allowing them to clean up and get changed again. I’ll tell them to crack the door open when they’ve finished, and then I’ll come back in and we’ll talk about what I found and what the game plan is moving forward.

Follow Up

Depending on what I find, I’ll suggest a plan of at-home exercises supplemented by in-person physical therapy. We may or may not need to do internal work on a weekly basis in the office; sometimes we’ll only have to do it again when we’re checking progress along the way.

Typically, we’ll schedule one to two visits weekly and monitor progress as we go. We’re always talking openly at each session with the goal of helping the client improve their quality of life. Pelvic floor dysfunction, like incontinence or painful intercourse, can be challenging issues for individuals to navigate. We want them to know that there are solutions to these challenges, we are there to help, and we love being a part of their journey towards greater freedom and abilities.

Who Should Schedule a Pelvic Floor Assessment?

There are many people needlessly suffering out there and dealing with pelvic floor dysfunction because they believe that their symptoms are ‘normal.’ I tell patients all the time, it may be common, but it’s not ‘normal,’ and many of these issues are addressable through pelvic floor therapy.

Some examples include, but are not limited to:

• Pelvic Pain
• Vulvodynia
• Painful Intercourse
• Urinary and Fecal Incontinence
• Urinary Urgency/Frequency
• Prolapse
• Pregnancy Preparation and Pain Management
• Postpartum Recovery
• Endometriosis
• Post-Prostatectomy Urinary Incontinence
• Erectile Dysfunction
• Chronic Pelvic Pain
• Scrotal, Testicular, and Penile Pain
• Constipation
• Low Back Pain and Sacroiliac Dysfunction
• Sciatica
• Hip Pain

Individuals can come to us directly if they are dealing with any of these areas, even without a referral from their doctor or gynecologist in most cases. You should always check with your insurance provider, but most allow direct bookings without referrals. We work hand in hand with the other members of your medical team and will be sure to collaborate to ensure that we are all working from the same page to provide the best care for our clients.

Schedule Your Appointment Today

If you’d like to book an appointment with Dr. Williams, call the office at 704-541-1191 or click here to Request an Appointment.

KCP Physical Therapy is thrilled to announce that Riley Gaase, PT tech, has been accepted to PT school!

Riley recently graduated from UNC Charlotte with a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science and a minor in Biology. She has been accepted to Campbell University where she will pursue her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree.

Riley has been a favorite of KCP clients for several years, always bringing energy and warmth to the office. At Campbell, she will join a program whose mission is “to graduate doctors of physical therapy who deliver compassionate, patient-centered care from a service-oriented, Christian guided view, with a special emphasis on rural healthcare environments.” We are so proud of Riley’s accomplishment and know that she will be successful at Campbell and in her future work as a physical therapist.

Riley will begin her studies at Campbell in June 2025 with a targeted graduation date of December 2027.

Please join us in wishing Riley all the best!

KCP Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist Ashley Williams recently had the honor of serving on a panel discussion about menopause at a recent screening of the short film, The M Factor. Designed to foster conversations around the topic of menopause, the event drew a sold out crowd. After the film, the audience was encouraged to ask questions to the panel of women’s health experts.

Many audience members had questions regarding the pelvic floor, which Ashley was able to address. For those who missed the event, we thought we’d share some of the questions and Ashley’s answers regarding her area of expertise.

Q: How can menopause impact pelvic floor health, and what are some strategies or exercises women can do to maintain their pelvic floor health during this stage of life?

A: As the film mentioned, estrogen plays such a big role in every system in your body, and that includes your musculoskeletal system. It doesn’t just stop at your pec muscles or your quads, it also includes your pelvic floor. Women who go through menopause tend to have a “weaker pelvic floor” or experience more urinary incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse. I see women all the time who come in and ask, ‘What can I be doing to stop this from happening to me or prevent it before going through menopause?’

It sounds really boring and generic, but taking care of your overall physical health and adding in more strengthening and physical activity is so crucial for your aging and development. It plays a role in your pelvic floor as well. I remind people all the time – your hip muscles are your pelvic floor muscles. So, if you’re not taking care of your hip mobility or you’re not strengthening your hips, you can’t be strengthening your pelvic floor. It goes beyond just doing kegels day in and day out – and if you are doing that, please stop unless you’ve been instructed to do so!

Q: If you have pelvic floor therapy postpartum, will you still need more pelvic floor therapy in menopause? And how important is pelvic floor therapy for not just your sexual health, but for your overall health and abilities?

 

A: I just had a discussion like this with a client the other day. The client is also a healthcare provider, and she’s super well educated in her field. That was really the only way she had learned about pelvic floor therapy postpartum to stop her peeing. Everyone else in her life had just told her, ‘That’s normal, you just had a baby, it’s normal for you to pee your pants.’ It’s not.

Common does not equal normal. And not normal does not mean it’s not fixable.

Thankfully she came in not long after the problem began. It wasn’t something she had been living with for a very long time, and we got her better quickly. Sometimes when we get people better so quickly, they show some anxiety – they are afraid to leave pelvic floor therapy, thinking What if it comes back?

This same postpartum client had brought up menopause to me. She told me, ‘My provider said that I am going to pee my pants when I go through menopause. Is all of this work that we just did for nothing? Is it going to come back?

I told her that menopause does come with challenges. But there is also a difference among women who went to pelvic therapy postpartum when they were peeing themselves and those who have just been living with it. The women who never addressed their issues are now going through menopause and peeing their pants significantly more.

Addressing the problems earlier is going to make your outcomes so much better. And that goes beyond just the pelvic floor. Let’s bring up a joint, like the knee.  I love to talk about orthopedics, because they go hand in hand. It does the body a disservice to just look at the pelvic floor. We operate in so many different systems.

With the joint –let’s say you were having knee pain every time you tried to squat down to hand your kid something or help them put a shoe on,  and you continue to ignore it and ignore it. Years go by, and now you go through menopause and now this knee is bone on bone, and you have to have a knee replacement. You’re going to be questioning yourself, thinking ‘Should I have just gotten this knee taken care of and looked at earlier? What could I have been doing earlier to strengthen and /or support this system?’  I encourage people all the time to make the time to address little issues before they get the chance to become bigger issues.

If you don’t know if something is ‘normal,’ it’s good to ask your providers. Ask your PCP even before coming to pelvic floor therapy.  You can share with your provider and say, ‘Well, I’m having this issue, and I don’t like where my life is at right now.  I don’t want it get worse. What should I do?’ Don’t ever feel awkward asking your provider any question; that’s what we are here for. Especially in the pelvic therapy world, where people can be hesitant to bring up certain concerns – I tell people there is nothing that you can say that will shock me or that I probably haven’t heard before. It’s okay to share! We are there to help, educate, and get you on the path to better health.

If you’re having pelvic floor challenges at any stage of life (such as urinary or fecal incontinence, painful intercourse, low back pain, or pelvic prolapse), we invite you to schedule an appointment with Dr. Williams at our office near Ballantyne.

KCP orthopedic and pelvic floor physical therapist Ashley Williams had the honor of serving on a panel of women’s health experts at a recent event discussing menopause in Charlotte.

On Saturday, March 22, a sold out crowd gathered at the Independent Picture House for a screening of the short film The M Factor. Organized by Jasmine Cutlip of Signature Wellness, the event was designed to bring awareness about menopause, a topic that impacts millions of women annually. The film featured leading experts from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, The Menopause Society, Mayo Clinic and more.

Created with the goal of helping women to feel more supported in their journeys to and through menopause, the film exposed many of the challenges that women face while being ignored, ridiculed and / or shamed, and ultimately left untreated.

The film attempts to “shred the silence on menopause” and be a part of a movement to foster change in a broken healthcare system.

In the panel discussion that followed, Ashley was joined by other experts in the field to discuss some of the challenges that they have seen in their respective practices from women who are menopausal or going through perimenopause.

Ashley talked about the role that estrogen plays in women’s bodies and the effects that declining levels can have on the musculoskeletal system. A weak pelvic floor, accompanied by urinary incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse, can be a common occurrence during these years. “But remember – ‘common’ doesn’t equal ‘normal’, and ‘not normal’ doesn’t mean ‘not fixable,” says Ashley. These common issues can often be dramatically improved or completely resolved with the right combination of exercises.

“Addressing the problem earlier is going to make your outcome so much better,” advises Ashley. She noted that many women begin experiencing some leakage postpartum and never seek treatment, thinking that to leak after childbirth is normal. These same women, who have been experiencing minor leakage for years, may be experiencing even greater issues with incontinence and prolapse in menopause. While it’s never too late to address the problem, clients are likely to experience results on a much quicker timeline when they seek treatment sooner than later.

We were thrilled to be a part of the event and plan to continue collaborating with other leaders in this field to educate women and provide resources for them in their perimenopause and menopausal journeys. If you’d like to learn more about working with Ashley Williams for issues such as incontinence, pelvic prolapse, painful intercourse, lower back pain, or other pelvic floor issues, please contact our office at 704-541-1191.

Anne had already been a client at KCP for the last several years. She initially came for shoulder rehabilitation and then found support for managing her arthritis and unstable pelvis. When she began to face urinary incontinence and prolapse around the age of 70, her doctor recommended pelvic floor physical therapy. Anne knew that this was an area of specialization for KCP physical therapist Ashley Williams and made an appointment.

Not knowing what to expect, Anne admits she had some nervousness about pelvic floor PT. “Ashley immediately put me at ease,” she says. “She told me the first visit would be just to talk. And we did. She asked me about the issues I was having. She asked me what the women’s center told me. And she kind of prepped me by telling me, ‘If you are OK with it, at some future visit I would like to do an internal exam.’ I left there thinking Holy Moly! You know, we were programmed to believe that you go to the gynecologist for that.”

Anne went back for her second visit. When asked if she was comfortable with the internal exam that day, she joked with Ashley about why she would choose such a career and admitted her nervousness. “Ashley is just really good with putting you at ease,” she says. “She told me we did not have to do this if I was not comfortable, but I just decided to trust her. She’s very mindful of your modesty. She tells you every single place she is going to touch and what she’s going to do before she does it. And she’s very attentive to not hurting you. She was just gentle and told me everything that was happening.  It was like being in a gynecology office, if you want to know the truth. And I never got embarrassed, which was amazing.”

In addition to the manual work during their PT sessions and the at-home exercises that Anne now does, she is also learning more about other factors that may be contributing to her urinary incontinence. “Ashley is also big on helping you understand the big picture. She talked to me about nutrition and gave me some handouts that listed foods that are irritating to the bladder. She also talked to me about making a daily diary of what I was putting into my body for a few days to see if there might be some connections with what was causing my leakage. The total approach was just wonderful. I can’t say enough good things. I’m just blown away by the level of care,” she says.

Anne says that she appreciates the lessons she is taking away from the sessions with Ashley. “I’m learning how everything works together. I’m also learning that just because I’m getting older, it doesn’t mean I have to stop doing the things that I like and accept them as they are. I can get help and work to improve my situation. You know, I’m approaching a big birthday, but when I walked out of there, I felt young. How’s that?!”

Marc was first introduced to KCP Physical Therapy many years ago by his family physician. He and his doctor were both runners, and Marc was preparing for a marathon at the time. After one of his long training runs, Marc began experiencing sciatic nerve pain and was barely able to move. Upon calling his doctor, he promptly received a referral to KCP. He says the experience with physical therapist Joy Pfuhl was positive and that she was able to help him in a short time and ultimately still run the marathon.

After that, Marc decided that running wasn’t the best form of exercise for his body and switched to walking. Compared to his time as a runner, however, he admits that he began to get more out of shape physically. Two years ago, his back began hurting. “I basically spent a whole Saturday on the couch, and then on Sunday I could not get up,” he says. “On Monday, it was so bad at work. Just trying to get from my office to the bathroom 40 feet away was awful – I had to lean on the water cooler along the way. So, I knew I needed to go back to KCP.”

He began working with Joyce Kight. “Basically, we started realizing that my core was weak and my balance was horrible,” Marc says. “We started some exercises and dry needling and stretching, and then I moved into strengthening and core balance.”

Marc transitioned from rehab on his back to 1:1 personal fitness sessions with Joyce. He later paired with another client of similar abilities and now attends a semi-private workout session with her and either Joyce or Karina, one of KCP’s exercise specialists. “It’s great because I save a little money and it makes the time go by faster,” Marc says. “We’ve been working out together now for almost a year. It’s fun.”

Since re-engaging with KCP, Marc says that his back pain has disappeared. He intends to continue with his weekly training sessions as part of his pursuit of an active life. “I don’t know if I could force myself to really do a non-stop hour of working out on my own,” he says. “They keep me motivated. I really, really like working out with them, and I just want to keep that up. I’m good at walking everyday. My mom is 81 years old and went for a 3.5 mile walk with me the other day. She still walks to church.  It’s good to see that if you take care of yourself, it pays off. I want to be able to do that, too.”

Joyce says, “Marc has come so far. He is back to walking and has been training with KCP for over two years without injury.”

70-year-old Anne says that she has arthritis “everywhere” and has experienced aches and pains related to it for over half her life. “There’s not a part of my body that hasn’t needed something,” she says. “I’ve had both of my shoulders operated on. I’ve had a hip replacement. I’ve had my foot done twice. I’ve had both my hands done.”

No stranger to the healthcare system or to physical therapy, Anne says she has had wonderful physicians who have helped her greatly but mixed experiences with their associated physical therapy practices. “The place that I went before was large. There would always be like a hundred other people in there and all different levels of PT’s. It just didn’t have a real personal touch,” she says.

Anne didn’t realize that she had a choice in selecting a physical therapist. While a member of a swim club, she began to hear several of the members talking about KCP Physical Therapy. Her friend Patty told her how much KCP had helped her, and she also explained that residents in North Carolina have “direct access” to physical therapists, meaning that a physician’s referral is not necessary to set an appointment with the provider of your choice.

Anne was having shoulder issues at the time and decided to try KCP. She made an appointment with physical therapist Joyce Kight. Soon after, Joyce encouraged Anne to get an MRI of her shoulder. The image revealed a torn rotator cuff and biceps tendon, which would require surgery.

“I relied on Joyce for her recommendation, because physical therapists have a better feel for what a physician does than anybody else,” says Anne. “They sent me to a great physician, and I was able to start PT within a couple of days of the surgery. Most people don’t get that option. But that was so important. I have 100% range of motion in my shoulder that was repaired. I cannot tell you how many people I have met who can barely raise their arm to their ear. So, I give KCP all the credit for that. I regained full use of my arm, and now I tell everybody to go to them and to start as early as possible after surgery.”

Anne says that KCP prepared her well for the physical therapy that would follow her shoulder surgery.  “It’s really painful,” she says, “but they tell you ahead of time what to expect. And they tell you what outcome you can achieve if you see it through. And I trusted them. Without that trust, you could wimp out and question the process. They would help you with pain control and listen to how you were feeling. They always knew the balance of how much to push and when to back down. They are so kind and compassionate and encouraging!”

Since that first experience, Anne has sought PT exclusively from KCP. She has learned how to manage pelvic instability, recovered from a hip replacement, participated in group exercise classes, and is now undergoing pelvic floor physical therapy to address pelvic prolapse and urinary incontinence. “I will never go anywhere else,” she says. “I can walk better today. I have great range of motion in my arms. I have so many things that they have fixed, and I also know that when I call them, I can get right in and not have to wait six months or six weeks. I have seen all three of their therapists, and I think that these three women are some of the smartest women I’ve ever met.”

“I tell all my friends about KCP, and I have referred several people there, including my husband,” says Anne. “And I tell them all that they have freedom of choice. You can pick your physical therapist. You do not have to go to the practice that is affiliated with your surgeon. Just because they are big and their physicians are good doesn’t mean their PT’s are good. If you want to be part of a cattle herd, go ahead. But I don’t want that. And after my friends have gone to KCP, they come back and thank me and tell me they wish they had done it long ago!”

“Ann was dedicated in her recovery and her desire to return to the activities she loves,” says Joyce. “It is such a thrill to see her back in the water swimming with her Masters Teammates.”

Lynne is an active 62-year-old empty nester with a demanding corporate job. Running and cycling are two of her favorite activities, and she relies on them as fun and active outlets. “I just gotta exercise!” she says. “I want to stay active so that I can be strong and fit during my retirement.”

“As I have gotten older, I started getting injured more,” she shares. “The last bad one was a couple of years ago when I was training for a marathon, and I literally had to use a cane to walk because my lower back just couldn’t take it anymore.”

No stranger to KCP, Lynne returned to see physical therapist Joyce Kight. “Joyce has seen me so many times. She understands and remembers my body, so she knows how to help me get better. She got me fixed up again like she had so many times in the past, but this time she recommended that I start coming to her fitness training classes. She said it would help strengthen my other muscles and help prevent the reoccurring back pain and injuries. So, I started doing that, and it really made a big difference in my overall health,” she says.

Lynne attends a workout group twice weekly with other active members her age. “It’s a small group and it’s a customized set of exercises that changes every session,” she says. “Joyce is very deliberate about trying to help us improve our posture since so many of us sit hunched over a computer all the time. She also helps us with strength and balance, and I can do harder things than I might not have otherwise done. And with the group, we’ve all become friends and have seen each other through kids’ weddings and parents’ aging issues and life. I’m not only there for the workout. I’m also just seeing my friends and being a part of a community. “

Lynne says that the community environment at KCP is important to her. “The staff is always welcoming, and you never feel like you’re just there to grab a number like you do in a large clinic. Everything is customized, and it’s very evident that they all care about the patients and their overall welfare.”

Joyce says, “Lynne is committed to maintaining her healthy and active lifestyle. She is back to cycling and paddle boarding and playing with her grandchildren. She realizes that her exercise program is the key to staying healthy and active.”

Robert is a 63-year-old avid swimmer, backpacker, and cyclist. When hip pain started keeping him off the trails, he went to see fellow swimmer and physical therapist Joyce Kight about the problem.

The two worked together to achieve some success, but Robert continued to have pain at night and with walking. Joyce advised him to see an orthopedic surgeon, who performed an MRI and discovered a significant tear in Robert’s labrum in addition to arthritis in the joint. Robert agreed to have hip replacement surgery and continued PT and cycling until the surgery date. “It was low impact motion that kept the joint lubricated, so it was helpful to keep moving until the surgery. But we had to wait until after the surgery to start making real improvements,” says Robert.

Robert had the surgery in May. Initially, he focused on managing the swelling. “I borrowed an ice therapy machine from a friend who had used it after her shoulder surgery, and that machine was a godsend,” he says. “It was my best friend in keeping the swelling down.” Shortly thereafter, he was able to begin walking and exercising.

“It was a good thing I was retired,” Robert says. “I had lots of time to do my PT religiously. Every day, I’d walk a couple of miles and do some gentle stretching and exercising or go see Joyce. We would go through my exercises, and she would make sure I was doing them right and give me more exercises to try.  I’m an engineer, so I’d always put my assignments in a spreadsheet. Sometimes we’d also do dry needling or ice and stim (electrical stimulation) if I needed it.”

Robert says that he recovered quickly, receiving clearance in July to begin his Peloton workouts and returning to cycling the roads by August. In November, he and his wife Kim completed the 67-mile Three Bridge Cycling Tour in Sunset Beach, NC.

While Robert has been able to continue enjoying the activities he loves, he says he still goes to KCP once or twice a month as he works through a few remaining issues with tightness in his leg.

“Obviously I respect her, and we’ve worked together on setting up a home routine to keep me stretching and strengthening and staying active,” he says. “We’re always tweaking things to make sure I’m getting the most out of my home workouts and my office visits.”

Robert says that he appreciates the relationship he has developed with Joyce and KCP. “I’ve always trusted that Joyce will not be over-aggressive with me. I never felt like I was doing things that might make an injury worse, and I can’t say that was my experience with other PT groups before. It always seemed like they were working off the queue sheet and not listening to what patients were trying to tell them. That’s not the case with KCP. They understand your abilities at any given moment and can give you what you need at that time. They’re always listening and adapting based on how I’m progressing,” he says.

Joyce says,” Robert was so dedicated to his recovery! He followed his home exercise program religiously, and I am so happy to see him back to enjoying cycling again.”