Teammates…
One for all and all for the betterment of the patient.
Working as a cohesive unit is one of the many amazing things that sets Rock Valley Physical Therapy apart from others in the world of physical therapy.
Someone across the Rock Valley landscape is always there to help. Sometimes it’s three therapists and a trio of always-there-for-you clinics.
Bright and ever-personable, Cheri Whitlow has been happily married for 35 years. She has two children and two grandchildren she adores.
For years, Whitlow has bravely battled Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a group of inherited disorders that affect your connective tissues – primarily your skin, joints and blood vessel walls. Ehlers-Danlos sufferers usually have overly flexible joints and are subject to daily subluxations (partial displacement of a bone from its normal position in a joint) and dislocations. Sometimes joints lock and those affected must deal with stretchy, fragile skin.
In her fight against Ehlers-Danlos, Whitlow had turned to Erich Ottervanger, PT, DPT, Clinic Manager at Rock Valley Physical Therapy’s West Des Moines, Iowa – EP True clinic. A gifted and knowledgeable therapist, Ottervanger is a foremost authority on treatment of Ehlers-Danlos.
When Whitlow sought Ottervanger for a TMJ disorder (severe pain in the jaw joint and in the muscles that control jaw movement), Ottervanger recommended Christopher Cass, PT, DPT, who at the time was the clinic manager at Rock Valley Physical Therapy’s Grimes, Iowa-based clinic. Treating TMJ disorders are among Cass’s many specialties. And when Cass was transitioning to manager of Rock Valley’s Bondurant, Iowa, clinic, Seth Bonifas, PT, DPT, the newly minted clinic manager in Grimes, began guiding Whitlow’s better-health journey.
Truly a Rock Valley Physical Therapy team effort.
“He (Ottervanger) recommended Chris, saying he worked with patients with my (jaw) condition,’’ Whitlow shared. “Chris was able to unlock (the jaw) through massage and manipulation.
We worked on placement, posture, workouts and knowledge. Chris is a funny, kind man. I believe he’s still a Los Angeles Chargers fan.’’
In addition to her TMJ issue, Cass also helped Whitlow work through her Ehlers-Danlos issues.
“Cheri presented to therapy with a history of left knee subluxations,’’ Cass said. “She struggled with sit-to-stand and navigating stairs. She has a history of EDS which contributed to her symptoms. We provided treatment individualized to Cheri’s needs and history, focusing on a combination of hands-on treatment and exercise. This helped stabilize her knee and reduce pain. Cheri responded well to treatment and made steady progress.’’
When Cass transitioned to guiding Rock Valley’s fortunes in Bondurant, Whitlow came to know just how gifted and personable Bonifas, the new clinic manager in Grimes, can be.
Both Cass and Bonifas hold a special place in Whitlow’s heart.
“They are two of the finest therapists/people I know,’’ Whitlow said of the two Rock Valley stalwarts. “Men of great character and amazing at what they do. I like the fact they make it fun while making you work hard to get better. It’s a unique skill. My knee locked and Seth was there.” Like Cass, Bonifas worked tirelessly to help Whitlow with her knee issue.
“Cheri’s left knee pain was due to recurrent subluxations of her patella (occurring approximately 20 times per day) stemming from an Ehlers-Danlos diagnosis,” Bonifas explained. “This limited her ability to conduct stairs, her ability to stand, and to get up out of a chair. Our goal with Cheri was to stabilize the joint with appropriate strengthening and reduce the incidence of subluxations. This was a slow, steady progression of strengthening while paying attention to her symptoms, so there were days where we would have to take a small step back to move forward. There was also a lot of education involved about proper knee positioning during functional tasks to raise awareness of what movements were likely to cause subluxations.’’
Like Cass, Bonifas marveled at Whitlow’s determination, her desire to get better, and the progress she made in the clinic and outside its walls.
“Therapy went really well,’’ Bonifas said of his time treating Whitlow. “Cheri has rid herself of the (knee) brace. She is able to conduct her daily activities, and is no longer limited by strength deficiencies. She went from not being able to get out of a chair to doing 14 reps on a 30-second sit-to-stand test, the normal value for her age. She has bought into her home exercise program and has a great attitude toward physical therapy should she need it in the future.
“Cheri was/is a great patient,’’ Bonifas added. “EDS isn’t a fun diagnosis to have and requires patience and persistence when it comes to progress. She was able to see past a few setbacks to reach her goals, and is looking forward to reaping the benefits. She was such a positive burst of energy to work with.’’
Whitlow says there are things she is able to do physically she had not been able to do in years.
“Seth worked very slowly with me,’’ Whitlow shared. “He helped me get muscles firing that I haven’t used in years. My knees in one place or another went out near 50 times a day each, now I am down to three a day. I also had a goal to squat to pick up grandbabies. I’m very close.”
“I have a shoulder (issue) I will soon see Seth for,’’ added Whitlow. “I will never be completely well but he makes me feel like if I work hard I can get stronger and I have.’’
Teamwork… It’s the Rock Valley way.
By: Johnny Marx, Storyteller