PHYSICAL THERAPY
HEALTH PERFORMANCE

Category: Success stories

Dry needling helps Clyde Alcon get to Hawaii

Hawaii Bound thanks to PT

Clyde D. Alcon enjoys an active lifestyle, especially fishing and working out. While getting up from a chair, Clyde twisted his back and immediately felt intense pain. He was unable to move or without experiencing some degree of pain.

“If I tried to sleep or work out on my back, my front thighs would hurt,” said Clyde.  He decided to come to Baudry Therapy Center for dry needling and manual therapy. “About a week after I started physical therapy, I could feel the pain subsiding. The dry needling really helped.”

Josh Bryant, DPT said, “Clyde came in frustrated with his back and was worried that he would not be ready for his vacation. After the evaluation, we came up with a plan and started working towards his goal. Clyde had a great attitude and I could tell he was working hard on his exercises at home. After a few weeks, he started moving much better and had confidence he could make his Hawaiin trip.

“Josh and the entire Baudry team were a pleasure to work. They were professional, friendly and informative. I left with the proper education and exercises to help keep me active and pain-free.”

The Dry Needling Process

The way Dry Needling works is a certified practitioner will insert a fine filament needle into the taut band of tissue. This provokes what is called a deep twitch response in the muscle. When this happens it is like hitting the reset button. The muscle will immediately release and lengthen.

The amazing part about this technique is not just the immediacy of the muscular release and the noticeable improvement in mobility, but also the referral pattern of symptoms the recipient will feel. For example, a trigger point in the hip may send a sensation of relief all the way down the outside of the leg. As pain sufferers we often believe we know the generator responsible for our pain. But sometimes its origin may surprise you.

If you are feeling pain, call us today! Baudry physical therapists can use trigger point dry needling techniques to provide relief from muscle tightness, joint mobility, and symptoms of pain and dysfunction. You only get one life, so make sure you’re living yours to the fullest!

College tennis player returns to court after a torn meniscus

Rachel Beck is a member of the Millsaps College tennis team. She had only been playing  collegiately for one year when she tore her meniscus.

“There was no sudden movement or impact that I was aware of,” Rachel recalled. “My injury was simply from wear and tear. My knee was hurting for about two months before I got it checked out.”

Kevin Dessauer, DPT who treated Rachel said, “This is actually a pretty common injury amongst college tennis players.  The amount of mileage a college tennis player accumulates over a season through practice, conditioning, and matches is tremendous.”

When asked how it felt being injured, Rachel said, “It was both physically and mentally challenging.  Some days were more painful than others, and it was then I had to push myself harder. Staying positive was difficult because I had to be patient with my body.”

“The collegiate athletes we treat are often times some of the hardest, yet most rewarding patients,” said Kevin. “They have an unwavering commitment to training and extraordinary talent in their sport. Making them slow down, listen to their body and be patient is usually the most difficult part. They’re used to training hard and giving 100%.”

Rachel’s physical therapy included total body conditioning to restore mobility, strength, balance, power, and endurance as well as a tennis-specific program to allow for a safe return to tennis.

“I was scared and nervous to return to tennis. I feared re-injury from going too hard, too fast,” said Rachel.  “I also didn’t trust myself with a lot of the tennis-related movements. There was a big difference between feeling confident and stronger in physical therapy versus actually getting back on the tennis court.”

“Rachel was able to build confidence through our return to sport testing.  It was a blast watching Rachel develop strength both physically and mentally through this process.  I’m confident that she now moving better than ever.”

Rachel concluded, “My experience at Baudry Therapy Center was amazing! My first half of PT was done in Jackson, MS while I was at Millsaps.  PT at Baudry was incomparable. Everyone was excited to work with me and positively encouraged me through my rough days.  The return to sport program built me back up physically and gave me the confidence to get back on the court.”

Rachel finished the 2016-2017 season with an impressive 8-4 singles record and plans to build on her success this year as she enters her final year at Millsaps.

Learn more about BRIO’s Return to Sport program

The #1 predictor of injury for athletes is a previous injury. So when an athlete is injured, BRIO’s Return to Sport team gets to work with evidence-based care that gives our clients the confidence they need to resume athletic activities. For more information on BRIO’s Return to Sport program, CLICK HERE.

 

 

 

Physical therapy helps teacher alleviate neck pain after fall in classroom

A fall on the job causes severe neck pain

Lynne Welty is a very active 4th grade teacher. While teaching in her classroom, she fell and hit her head on floor requiring sutures in her forehead. Her fall resulted in a concussion and whiplash which caused severe neck pain.

“My fall caused substantial neck pain and as a result, medication was necessary to function during the day and sleep at night,” recounted Lynne. “I was very concerned about falling again and re-injuring myself. My injury restricted my daily activity. Driving was even a concern.”

Lynne came to Baudry Therapy Center for manual therapy and functional exercise.

“Initially, I was apprehensive about going to physical therapy due to my neck pain and my busy schedule. The staff at Baudry was very accommodating in scheduling my appointments around my work schedule. Josh Bryant was my physical therapist and he was very kind from the very first visit.”

Josh Bryant, DPT, said, “When I first meet Lynne she was very nervous that her neck would never get better. She did not realize how big of a role posture plays in neck pain. We were able to make some changes to the way she would teach, sit at her desk, and sit to grade papers. Lynne was committed to getting better and was a pleasure to work with.

“Through manual therapy and exercise, Josh was able to help me regain range of motion in my neck. In just three weeks, I was pain free. Josh has a very calming demeanor and rather than feeling apprehensive about going to therapy, I looked forward to it to relax and “de-stress” after a busy day.

“I am amazed how much physical therapy helped me return to my usual activities. I am now living pain free. They taught me stretching exercises which I use at home to continue strengthening my neck and core muscles. In addition to alleviating my neck issues, Baudry helped strengthen and relax my shoulder and back muscles. I find I sleep much better than I did before my accident.”

“Going to physical therapy at Baudry Therapy Center was like being among friends. I am truly grateful to Josh, and the entire Baudry staff, for helping me recover from my injury.”

Construction injury leaves former rugby player in serious pain

Digging holes for a fence injures former rugby player

Brian Maurice, a former LSU rugby player, enjoys playing sports and performing construction work. Since his time on the rugby field, he has been living with minor shoulder pain. However, while lifting heavy bags of cement and digging holes for a fence, his shoulder was reinjured leaving him in unbearable pain.

“The worst part of an injury is being limited, and perhaps never returning to my previous form,” said Brian.

Brian came to Baudry Therapy Center and received manual therapy and functional exercises.

Josh Bryant, DPT said, “I knew Brain would recover quickly from this injury once he knew what direction to go in. He was exercising on a regular basis but needed to clean up his routine. I just made some modifications to what he was already doing and helped him problem solve. He was eager to learn and tried to keep a positive attitude regardless of how his shoulder was feeling.”

“The first thing Josh did was educate me as to why I injured myself. I learned what was going on inside my body. Then, he explained how he was going to fix it, and more importantly, how to prevent it from happening again in the future. I trusted them based on other testimonials, but I did not expect to see so much progress in a short period of time.”

“Josh Bryant went above and beyond for me during the course of my treatment. He took time to educate me on my injury and coached me into consciously thinking about the way I move my body as I get older. My pain is gone and I no longer have any limitations, which for me is such a relief.”

Living with pain is not really living

If you are someone you love is experiencing pain, consult a physical therapist today. You only get one life, so make sure you’re living yours to the fullest!  Invest in your #1 asset – your health.  Call Baudry Therapy today if we help you get back to LIFE!

Dry needling alleviates pain for tennis professional

Tennis professional returns to court after dry needling

Joey Kuchler is a tennis professional/coach and an avid tennis player. One day while playing, he landed on a tennis ball and turned his ankle. His pain led him to Baudry Therapy Center for pain relief and return to work/sport with dry needling. Here’s how Joey returned to the court:

“At first, I was a bit nervous about the dry needling, because needles! But the process brought immediate relief to muscles that had been glued stuck. Now they are relaxed. My ankle’s range of motion was limited, causing pain in my work as a tennis teaching pro.

The Baudry team performed ASTYM, dry needling, and manual manipulation of my ankle. Then, they educated me about how the injury was hindering certain muscles and joints. They measured some of my weaknesses resulting from injury, and showed me targeted stretches and exercises to develop better mobility and strength.
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I learned about how muscles and joints should work together. Mine weren’t performing properly due to my injury, but I am confident now to be able to return to tennis safe and pain-free.

I am still doing the work they prescribed as a part of my daily routine to stay healthy. I highly recommend Baudry as a safe, knowledgeable, and fun place to work through your physical therapy.”

Living with pain is not really living

If you are someone you love is experiencing pain, consult a physical therapist today. You only get one life, so make sure you’re living yours to the fullest!  Invest in your #1 asset – your health.  Call Baudry Therapy today if we help you get back to LIFE!

What is Dry Needling?

Dry needling  uses a filament needle to achieve a twitch response that releases muscle tension and pain. The needle used in this therapeutic process is so thin that most therapy patients do not even feel it penetrate the skin. The twitch response feels like a muscle cramp that results in deactivating the trigger point, reducing pain and normal length function to the affected muscle.

Baudry therapists use trigger point dry needling techniques to provide relief from muscle tightness, joint mobility, and symptoms of pain and dysfunction.

Surfer shows waves of appreciation to PT after shoulder surgery

BTC helps surfer Ted LeClercq get back to riding waves after shoulder surgery

Ted LeClercq lives an active, healthy life. In fact, his favorite pastime is surfing. Earlier this year, he was afraid he would never surf again after discovering he would need shoulder surgery.

“Things have just been breaking on me recently,” said Ted. “First my calf muscle, then this shoulder injury. I want back into an active life quickly!”

After trying non-surgical treatments he determined he needed shoulder surgery. Following his surgery, Ted, with the recommendation of his physician, called Baudry Therapy Center to start physical therapy rehabilitation immediately.

“I’d been a patient at Baudry Therapy Center before and I know how important good physical therapy is to a successful recovery.  Rich and his team provided me with aggressive options to get back to surfing.”

Baudry did intensive physical therapy that included a comprehensive evaluation to develop a strategic plan. For Ted the plan was easy. Do whatever it takes to get it right.

“First, we needed to regain his range of motion. Then, we focused on getting his shoulder muscles firing again,” said Rich Baudry, Owner, Baudry Therapy Center. “We utilized tools like dry needling, ASTYM and manual therapy techniques to help him get there. With rehab, each case is unique with its own share of challenges.”

Ted needed to recover motion quickly and then strengthen. He responded well to therapy.

“I believe having a concrete goal is so important,” said Baudry. “Over the last month of rehab, we focused on functional restoration activities, specific to regaining the ability to swim and thus be able to surf.”

Ted’s experience is a great example of what having a goal, staying focused and hard work can do.”

Ted walked into the clinic and declared his goal to surf Folly Beach again in just 3 short months. The determination and fire could be seen in his eyes. He worked extremely hard during his time at Baudry and and it certainly paid off.

In April 2017, Ted mounted his surf board and crushed not only the waves, but his goal, in Folly Beach, South Carolina.


“When you break you want to get better quickly. Each time I’ve broken and broken significantly, Baudry Therapy Center has helped me get better and better quickly. To me, that’s essential for leading an active, fun life.”

Now Ted is back to riding the wave of an active life!

Soccer player returns to the field after knee injury

Knee injury doesn’t stop soccer player from playing

Rory Maxwell has been playing soccer for over 20 years, most recently in the New Orleans Coed Soccer league at City Park. While playing on artificial turf, he made a cut and immediately felt his knee give out.

“I wasn’t in that much pain and was able to limp off the field, but my knee just didn’t work right,” said Rory. “Over the years playing sports, I’ve seen many ACL tears but those were associated with instant pain. My pain level was low so I was optimistic about my injury. I didn’t want to go under the knife, so I researched other options.”

“While standing in a friend’s wedding with BTC’s Joshua Bryant, DPT, Josh told me about Baudry Therapy Center and assured me that he would get me back to playing sports without surgery. So I decided to give it a shot.”

“Josh taught me the proper running technique and how to change directions. Within 6 weeks, I was able to start jogging and eventually play soccer and kickball again,” said Rory.

RORY’S RESULTS

Physical therapy at BTC pinpointed the areas that Rory needed extra emphasis through the whole chain of movement.

“Josh had me work on plyometrics and took me through return to sport tests, which gave me confidence that my knee was strong enough to take the movements involved with playing sports. I also lost some weight working during my time at BTC, as well as built up leg strength to a higher level than before my injury.

Josh Bryant said, “When I first talked to Rory after his knee injury he was concerned that he needed surgery and would not be able to play soccer again. He was unsure about what direction he should go in and had little knowledge about PT. Following the evaluation, we came up with a plan, defined some goals, and put a timeline on his return to soccer. After this Rory’s attitude changed and he was ready to get to work. After 6 weeks of PT Rory was running again pain free and had full confidence in his knee. Rory recently ran the crescent city classic for the first time and said his legs feel better than ever.”

“The physical therapists at BTC are very friendly and knew exactly what was needed to heal and strengthen my body,” said Rory. They safely pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped progress my recovery.  I enjoyed working, sweating and learning new exercises that I still use today.”

Living with pain is not really living

If you are someone you love is experiencing pain, consult a physical therapist today. You only get one life, so make sure you’re living yours to the fullest!  Invest in your #1 asset – your health.  Call Baudry Therapy today if we help you get back to LIFE!

 

Corner to Corner…with a Little Encouragement

The Thing About Encouragement

When you speak words of encouragement, you inspire extra strength and confidence in people. For instance, when you encourage your little brother to play harder by yelling his name from the sidelines of the baseball field, you add to his strength and often his abilities.

The word encourage comes from the Old French word encoragier, meaning “to make strong, hearten.”  To encourage also means to inspire with hope.

Encouragement is a powerful, positive force that can truly impact an individual’s life. Take it from our client Sandra Wright:

“There was a time when I could walk to the corner and back. Then, I couldn’t. I didn’t know what to do; I need to walk. My walking journey began at Baudry Therapy Center with Mike Napolitano and Rich Baudry. I decided to make walking to the corner my 2017 goal. I posted it on the BRIO Goal Board that I would accomplish this by March 1, 2017.   

On February 8, I did it!  I was exhausted, but I kept going.  Mike was at my side with great encouragement. I will always appreciate Mike for his words of inspiration, for working with me  and never giving up.

I was able to write my accomplishment on the Success Board and it felt wonderful.  Now, I need to work harder at my other goals, but I will continue walking corner to corner.”

Everyone benefits from ENCOURAGEMENT.  Always try to be a positive influence in others’ lives. Encourage them by your words, and actions, equipping them with just the tools they need to succeed. Who can you encourage TODAY?

If you have fallen off of your New Year’s resolutions, maybe you just need some ENCOURAGEMENT… Baudry Therapy Center/BRIO is here to encourage you to challenge yourself, redefine your resolutions, and go for your dreams.

 

Life after a knee replacement surgery can be active with PT

Knee replacement surgery does not mean idle lifestyle

Edward Shwery enjoys fishing, walking, skiing, and hiking in his leisure time. But 6 months following a knee replacement surgery, Ed still found himself in a lot of pain and extremely frustrated about the things he couldn’t do.

After consulting with his physician (Dr. D. Allen Brown), Ed came to Baudry Therapy Center and received an extensive evaluation with trained physical therapists. His treatment plan included dry needling, manual therapy, and functional exercise.

Rich Baudry said, “First, Ed received an assessment of what wasn’t working. We found that he had swelling, weakness and lack of motion in the knee. We reduced the swelling and restored his range of motion. Then, we guided Ed through a progression of  exercises to restore strength, balance, and agility.  Ed was super easy to work with and really thrived in physical therapy.”

“My therapists helped me set realistic goals to focus my efforts. Together, we created milestone goals to maintain motivation and commitment so I would continue to do my home exercises. The therapists helped me understand which activities to avoid so that I wouldn’t set my progress back. I can honestly say that Physical Therapy at Baudry restored me back to health,” said Ed.

“Total knee replacement is a big surgery, which takes time to recover. But with a strong medical team and a great mindset, Ed achieved a great result! Seeing Samurai Ed in action during his travels to  Japan was the real reward for us. Ed is a testament to what setting goals,  hard work and determination can do. Congratulations Ed for your outstanding accomplishments!” said Baudry.

Unexpected benefits come from PT

“I began to really enjoy my home exercises. They helped my wife and I focus on changing our life style and being more active in my retirement. I am very pleased with my PT experience.  The entire staff was helpful and kept me on track,” said Ed.

If you are someone you love has had a knee replacement surgery and wants to return to the activities they enjoy, call Baudry | BRIO today and schedule your evaluation today!

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