The cornerstone of any great practice is relationships, bonds of trust formed by patient and physical therapist in times of struggle, pain and uncertainty.
“Our relationship is one of great trust,’’ Davenport, Iowa’s, Roberta Ramey-Lopez, said when asked about Rock Valley Physical Therapy’s Dustin Hawk, PT, DPT, OCS, CMT, TSAC-F. “I trust him at every turn, but he earned that trust immediately with his knowledge and his compassion for my issues. Working with Dustin truly has been life-changing for me. I have lived a life of pain and struggle – not complaining – and thanks to Dustin and Rock Valley, the struggles I’ve had are no longer.’’
Ramey-Lopez, bearer of a 10,000-watt personality and a five-plus decade “can do’’ attitude, has wrestled mightily with lower back pain since a sixth-grade scoliosis diagnosis.
A serious nerve issue in her neck in the early stages of 2022, led to great pain and hand numbness and slowed her always-on-the-go pace, leaving the upbeat mother of two and grandmother two eight (six family, two by close association) frustrated and in search of answers.
Through a friend’s recommendation and unaware she did not need a referral to seek PT care, Ramey-Lopez sought care with Rock Valley Physical Therapy, one of the nation’s largest therapist-owned and therapist-led private physical therapy practices. With it came Hawk, a bright, outgoing and caring sort, who earned his undergraduate degree in Exercise Science and Human Performance and Fitness and his Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from St. Ambrose University. Hawk represents Rock Valley’s Davenport, Iowa-based Five Points (1700 N. Division St. Suite 200) clinic.
“Roberta was struggling, but has a personality that does not allow her to back down from a challenge,’’ Hawk said. “She was determined to get better.’’
Through a number of exercises – and hands-on treatments designed to strengthen and stretch the muscles in the affected area – Hawk and Ramey-Lopez found success in alleviating the nerve issue.
“We also modified some of Roberta’s activities,’’ said Hawk, one of life’s truly good souls. “To her credit, Roberta was diligent in her work and stayed to her goals. It was great to be able to get past the pain and her struggles. All this was done knowing the issues Roberta has dealt with regarding her scoliosis diagnosis as a young age.’’
Opting years ago to forego surgery and cumbersome back braces to battle scoliosis, Ramey-Lopez has had to fight through lower back pain and hip struggles for decades. But with Hawk’s help through a variety of strengthening exercises and posture adjustments, Ramey-Lopez is now pain-free and moving better than ever. There is now a spring in every step she takes.
“Life-changing,’’ Ramey-Lopez said of the care she has received from Hawk and Rock Valley Physical Therapy. “I have been able to do things, to move about better than I have in years. I’m walking longer distances – about to tackle all of (Davenport’s) VanderVeer Park – and just put a dent in a room that was in need of being cleaned out at home. I can walk with my grandkids, I can even push strollers. If I stay diligent with the exercises Dustin has shown me and have made such a difference, there is no telling what I can do.’’
There is, however, a major goal on the to-do list for Ramey-Lopez, now that she is without pain and armed with ways – thanks to Hawk and Rock Valley Physical Therapy – to combat physical issues when they arise.
“I plan – someday – to go hiking in Glacier National Park,’’ Ramey-Lopez said. “I have lost 21 pounds, feel amazing and before I found physical therapy and Dustin, I couldn’t bend over and tie my shoes. I had tried just about everything through the years for my back and my hips and then found Dustin for the issue with my neck and everything else fell into place. It’s amazing what has happened to me.’’
Most importantly, Ramey-Lopez learned along her recent road to better health, she could simply find better health through a phone call to Rock Valley Physical Therapy. She now knows she has a choice who her provider is and does not need a referral to seek physical therapy care.
“I didn’t know I could just make a call and get better,’’ Ramey-Lopez said, marveling at the fact Rock Valley features 62 clinics covering three states. “I knew it was out there and was told Rock Valley was great at what it did, but I had no idea I could just call and get help. I can tell you I have shared that bit of information with whoever will listen.’’
Relationships and great patient care. The foundations by which Rock Valley Physical Therapy stands.