If you are looking for a dose of enjoy-life fresh air, then a sit down, standup, or even an email pass-by with Vicky Marquardt is necessary.
Beyond funny, Marquardt is also hard-working, caring, determined and optimistic that tomorrow has the makings to be better than today.
But a lifetime of being on the go, competing and challenging herself at every stop, took a physical toll on the 67-year-old dynamo.
Luckily for Marquardt, Amy Isherwood, PT, DPT/Clinic Manager, a gifted therapist at Rock Valley Physical Therapy’s Gretna, Nebraska-based clinic and a standout Division I basketball player in her day, enjoys a good challenge.
Or two.
Challenge one: Helping Marquardt achieve success through rehabilitation – and return to her never-slow-down pace – following rotator-cuff surgery on her right shoulder.
Challenge two: Assisting Marquardt through therapy to find her way back to an active lifestyle following knee-replacement surgery.
Mission(s) accomplished.
“Rotator cuff injuries are the worst,’’ Marquardt said. “I am an Iowa girl, so we were fortunate enough to have girls’ athletics as kids. Great fun, limited knowledge of proper training. Then I was fortunate enough to play softball and volleyball in college. I coached softball and volleyball for years and taught secondary physical education for 30-plus years. My poor, old shoulder just wore out. ‘’
Decades of over-use for some, but a normal lifestyle for Marquardt, made the simple chores unmanageable.
“I couldn’t put away dishes, couldn’t reach above shoulder height, couldn’t carry groceries, and couldn’t push a door open, ‘’ she said. “I became a pickleball fan, and the better players knew I could not overhead smash, so they would lob one and – like an idiot – I would try to smash it. Oh my God, the Ibuprofen I went through. It was years of fun/abuse that finally caught up with me.’’
Prior to surgery, Marquardt turned to Isherwood and Rock Valley to strengthen the affected area. Their time together allowed Marquardt to understand the test before her and that Isherwood was knowledgeable, caring and someone she could trust and rely on.
“I treated Vicky for her shoulder for two months prior to her surgery, so I was able to establish a good rapport with her,’’ said Isherwood, who in her playing days at Creighton University, established a then-school record for blocked shots. “I had always told her she would know when it was time to get it fixed, and she decided sooner was better than later so she could get back to her active lifestyle.’’
The warnings that some tasks might be uncomfortable post-surgery did not register with Marquardt, a mistake she – in her own unique way – admits.
“I thought I’d coast through rehab and healing,’’ Marquardt said, adding that it was not the case, and she would not have made it through the lengthy and demanding rehabilitation process if not for Isherwood’s dedication, persistence, and expertise.
Isherwood was there, every step of the way, working three times weekly at first with Marquardt, then twice a week and eventually once per week. Within five months, thanks to Isherwood’s guidance and Marquardt’s dedication, Marquardt was back to doing the things she loved.
Her trust and faith in her Rock Valley therapist were game changers.
“Mostly it was Amy doing range-of-motion things and me swearing,’’ Marquardt said. “For real. It was terrifying because I had to trust her so much. The littlest movement hurt so badly, but it was necessary. Amy was gentle and did not push any more than I could handle, but every session she pushed a little more. It was so important to me to get back to “normal.’’ My normal was at a standstill and I was dependent on her to understand that, granted, I was an older patient (65), but I did not knit and play canasta. Pickleball, golf, restaurants, kayaking, etc. is my kind of fun.”
“I was willing to work hard,’’ added Marquardt. “Amy accommodated that, and we clicked. She was creative and patient and I am sure I tested her more than some, but today two-to-three times a week, I play pickleball with ease, and am pain-free in my shoulder with no limitations. Unbelievable. ‘’
Marquardt’s dedication to getting better, her sense of humor and her athletic background were key components according to Isherwood.
Returning Marquardt to an active lifestyle following knee replacement took on a similar – yet different – theme for therapist and patient.
“Amy again had me in pre-surgery strength training, and it was effective,’’ Marquardt shared. “I was strong going into the surgery, and we started rehab three days post-surgery. By then she knew I was impatient to get better, and she had a great plan. In about three weeks I was walking a mile in my neighborhood, and by six weeks I was playing pickleball again.”
Having a motivated patient who knew goals could be reached through a modicum of work and a shred of patience helped Isherwood while working with Marquardt.
“By the time Vicky got her knee replaced she was a seasoned veteran of PT,’’ she said. “She came in with the same drive she did with her shoulder and rocked her knee rehab. She was frustrated at times but never showed it in the clinic and always worked hard, wanting to get back to golfing and kayaking as soon as possible.’’
At age 67, Marquardt says she has more yesterdays than tomorrows, but takes great comfort knowing Isherwood and Rock Valley are there for the difficulties along the way.
“If I can stay healthy, and mobile, my tomorrows look bright,’’ Marquardt said. “I cannot sit around and enjoy life. Modern technology allows us to live longer and better than ever, but our bodies cannot last forever. Mine, however, is going to come close. I have a professional who wants to help me do that, and you darn bet you I will ride her stupid bike and do stupid lunges and sit on her stupid wall if it will let me play and enjoy life a little longer.’’
By: Johnny Marx, Rock Valley Storyteller