Shane was born and raised in southern Georgia, and has spent significant time in North Carolina, New Jersey, and Colorado. While living in Colorado, he had the opportunity to work as a PT aide at an outpatient orthopedic clinic with an outstanding staff. After seeing the impact that these individuals had on their patient's lives, he decided to pursue a career in physical therapy. Shane completed his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Arcadia University in Philadelphia. As a DPT, Shane is able to practice using the most current evidence and has a passion for learning new skills and concepts that will help him develop serve his patients. Shane’s professional interests are in general orthopedics with a special interest in pain science. What he values most about being a physical therapist is the opportunity to learn from each patient in an effort to be a better person. In his free time, Shane enjoys the outdoors, travel, dancing, and learning Spanish. He also enjoys taking on new challenges, and believes that one key to a fulfilling life is to always be willing to try something new.
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Eric and his family have called Eugene, Oregon home for many years. Eric spent 7 years in the US Navy as both a combat medic then a physical therapist assistant. He earned his Doctorate of Physical Therapy in 2013 from the University of Washington. Outside of work, he finds balance with playing music, and spending time with his two young children. His fitness pursuits include kettle bell training, battle mace, running, and body weight conditioning. He is also interested in lifestyle optimization that includes nutritional science, stress management, circadian rhythms, and sleep hygiene. Eric's treatment approach includes achieving and/or restoring pain free movement, improving body mechanics and postural awareness, goal and task appropriate strengthening, and teaching symptom self management techniques. Eric's areas of specialty include help for neck pain and headache, spine and rib pain, running and sports rehabilitation, post-operative rehabilitation, and advanced athletic training to re-integrate you back into your sport or activity. Tina recently moved to Eugene from New York, where she taught Mat and Apparatus Pilates in a classical studio. Training with 2nd generation Pilates instructor Simona Cipriani has transformed Tina into a skillful, and intuitive instructor. Her focus is to help each student realize their potential through Pilates and reach the goals they set for themselves. Tina has found using Pilates not only strengthens the body and mind, but it also enriches all aspects of life. Jen earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota. Having worked both as a personal trainer and a physical therapist, she is a huge believer in exercise as medicine. She has experience working with the Y Cancer Survivors exercise group helping those undergoing cancer treatment or in remission return to functional activities. Jen has also received training in Parkinson's Wellness Recovery aimed to maintain the physical abilities of those with Parkinson's Disease. She is also interested in working with those with orthopedic issues return to completing daily tasks or athletic pursuits. Jen values physical therapy’s role in helping patients improve their independence, mobility, and quality of life through movement and education. She is grateful for the opportunity to work one-on-one with patients to help them achieve their unique goals. Jen has worked with pediatric patients ranging in age from 2-weeks to 17-years-old. She's worked with kids with varying needs including those with neurological disorders who had goals of keeping up with their peers in PE class, to patients with athletic injuries who were trying to get back to competition. She also has experience treating infants with both congenital and acquired plagiocephaly and torticollis. The stage of each child's physical development is considered when creating a physical therapy treatment plan so that it is both safe and effective. In her free time Jen enjoys exercise, biking, kayaking, reading, and advocacy projects. As a transplant from the North Dakota prairie, she is beyond excited to experience the outdoor adventures available in Oregon. If your arthritis was so severe that it resulted in getting a total knee replacement, you should know there are several ways to reintroduce activities that were too painful and difficult for you before surgery.
Assuming you are in physical therapy and cleared by your doctor to resume activities (in most cases after about 12 weeks), you should be ready to start a new sport or physical activity. Staying active will also help you strengthen your knee and make it more likely to function well for many years. Even if you're not hurting anymore post-surgery, it's completely normal to feel nervous that you’ll damage your new knee joint if you participate in physical activity. However, knee replacements have improved quite a bit over the last few decades and artificial replacements are designed to mimic a natural knee. This means that, like a natural knee, it needs exercise to function properly. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) recommends up to 30 minutes of exercise two to three times per day during the early recovery stages, in addition to daily walks. In general, low-impact exercises are best so you don't cause undue stress on your knees. Aerobic Exercises
Strength and Flexibility Training
At Staszak Physical Therapy & Wellness Center, we want to make sure you are able to heal and get back to doing what you enjoy. Between our therapists and the instructors and trainers at Evolve Fitness Studios, we have a great team here to make this happen for you. For physical therapy, give us a call at 541-505-8180. For workout support with trainers focused on injury prevention, call Evolve Fitness Studios at 541-844-1295. by Brynna Ellison
I am the first to admit, I have continually struggled to motivate myself to workout until I began hiking. Getting out into nature was almost a way of tricking myself into routine physical activity. Gaining strength is only the baseline of the benefits from hiking. The physical benefits go deeper than the surface. Getting out into nature allows different and beneficial bacteria into your gut's microbiome. This diversity supports your microbial health and helps boost your immune system. Personally, it has been nine months since I have been ill, six of which I have been hiking at least once a week. Starting from zero, I definitely take breaks when hiking on an incline. During those times, I take a moment to stretch, hydrate and take a mindful break in the forest. This practice is known to have incredibly positive effects on your wellness, such as optimizing your metabolism. Hiking has quickly climbed to the top of my list of favorite pastimes and activities. Hope to see you out on the trails! Inspiration Source by Jennifer Dunn, DPT
One works with a physical therapist due to some sort of pain, injury, or functional limitation. Physical therapists often give patients a few exercises to work on at home to get them moving better. It can seem time-consuming, but sneaking a few PT exercises into one's day can make a world of difference in physical recovery. Here are a few ideas on how to make it work. Set A Phone Alarm Consider a recurring alarm. For example, set it for shortly after you will get home at the end of the day or at a time when you typically have a break in your day. Multitask Some exercises can be done while you are completing other tasks (e.g. stretching, strength, posture, or balance exercises):
Accountability
Make PT Time "You" Time This is 10-15 minutes when you can focus on yourself and taking care of your own body by Jill Grider, PT, DPT, Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist
Have you ever felt a sensation of uncontrollable spinning despite not being in motion? You may remember this experience from playing as a kid when you would spin in circles super fast and then abruptly stop. Or maybe you’ve felt this spinning after drinking a little too much alcohol. This sensation of uncontrollable spinning is referred to as vertigo. Many people experience vertigo as a result of dysfunction with their vestibular system which is comprised of different parts of the brain and the inner ear. The most common vestibular disorder causing vertigo is Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo aka BPPV. BPPV is a prevalent disorder in which a person experiences acute bouts of vertigo when they move their head in certain directions. Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo is a mouthful but it makes sense when you break it down. Benign: not malignant Paroxysmal: comes on suddenly Positional: occurs immediately following a change in positions Vertigo: is accompanied by a sensation of spinning The vertigo symptoms last anywhere from a few seconds to a couple minutes. The vertigo is often accompanied by complaints of nausea, vomiting, and imbalance. Common movements that trigger the vertigo are rolling over in bed, rinsing hair in the shower, and bending over. So what causes this involuntary sensation of spinning in BPPV? You may have heard of having crystals in your inner ear. These crystals are called otoconia. In BPPV, these crystals are knocked loose in the inner ear. Most often these crystals spontaneously dislodge for no known reason but sometimes it occurs after a head trauma or inner ear infection. These loose crystals move with gravity when you move your head in certain directions. The loose crystals stimulate hair cells in your inner ear when you move one direction which confuses the brain into thinking you’re moving another direction. In response, the brain triggers an involuntary oscillatory movement of the eyes which makes it seems like the room is spinning. The loose crystals eventually settle and stop moving which then allows the spinning to cease. This is a simplified version of the process but this is the general gist of how BPPV works. BPPV and its accompanying symptoms can have a significantly negative impact on a person’s quality of life. Increased fatigue, difficulty concentrating, depression, and social isolation are often reported alongside vestibular disorders. The great news is that a trained physical therapist (PT) can easily treat your BPPV. The PT accurately diagnoses which part of your inner ear the crystals are loose. From there, the PT places you in a series of very specific positions that utilize gravity to put the crystals back where they belong. This doesn’t merely mask your symptoms but it actually fixes the problem. BPPV is a very treatable disorder so don’t hesitate to seek help if you think you may have it. We want to get you back to living the life you love without a fear of the spins! In the meantime, vestibular.org is a wonderful resource to help answer any questions. Schedule a consult with Staszak Physical Therapy & Wellness Center today at 541-505-8180. by Jennifer Dunn, DPT
You know the drill; when you're running short on time for your workout the first thing to get cut is either the warm-up or the cool-down. But be careful. Below are 3 reasons why a proper warm-up is important and how it decreases your risk for injury. If you already have an injury, the warm-up is even more important and might be a key piece of getting you back to your normal routine (like walking a few blocks and sitting at your desk) with less pain. 1. A warm-up increases blood flow to and mobility of working muscles Think of your muscles like spaghetti noodles. Straight out of the box they are rigid and break if you try to bend them. If they are boiled (warmed-up) you can bend them in to all different ways - you can tie 'em in a knot, you can tie 'em in a bow - without breaking them. Your muscles are similar in that they are much more mobile/extensible/flexible after a proper warm-up. All that means decreased risk of injury and less pain with movement! 2. A warm-up increases synovial fluid - your body's natural joint lubricant - to working joints Our bodies are very self-sufficient machines. Our joints automatically lubricate themselves when they are used. A great way to keep your joints healthy is to prepare them for exercise through gentle movement that gets the lubrication flowing before diving into the hardest part of your workout. The adage of "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" certainly applies to your body. Get your joints prepared for movement to prevent excessive wear and tear on them through a focused warm-up routine. 3. Perhaps most overlooked but very importantly, a warm-up primes your central nervous system - the brain to muscle connection - to get ready for movement This is so important, especially if you are already nursing an injury. A warm-up using the same movement patterns you will use in your workout helps you do the movement correctly when you are under resistance or moving at high speed. If you are injured, the CNS may need to be primed to correctly function with ordinary activities such as walking or climbing stairs. In other words, an important function of the warm-up is to get the right muscles on at the right time. A warm-up is an essential part of an exercise routine. If you have questions about your warm-up routine or are hampered by an injury, contact the Staszak Physical Therapy team for an evaluation today. 541-505-8180 by Jennifer Dunn, DPT Plagiocephaly, the flattening of one side of the head, is a relatively common condition in infants. Plagiocephaly is associated with uncontrollable factors such as multiple births, positioning in the womb, premature birth, and presence of torticollis, or a tightening of one side of the neck that causes the infant's head to be turned in one direction. Plagiocephaly and torticollis are also associated with controllable factors after birth such as positioning. Unaddressed plagiocephaly and torticollis can lead to permanent aesthetic changes such as head shape asymmetries, jaw malalignment, and ill-fitting head gear (hats, helmets) or glasses. Plagiocephaly and torticollis do not affect your infant's brain or typical development.
Fortunately, both plagiocephaly and torticollis are often successfully treated through physical therapy and variable positioning throughout the day. For a deeper look into plagiocephaly and treatment options, click here. If you are concerned about your infant's head shape or positioning, a physical therapy evaluation may be appropriate. Call our office today to schedule an evaluation: 541-505-8180 |
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