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EVERYONE IS AN ATHLETE…with the help of EXCEL PHYSICAL THERAPY

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By Bill Huddleston

Athletes come in all shapes and sizes…all ages and all walks of life.  And, just like there’s a game plan for victory in every sport, there’s also a need for individual recovery strategies when injuries happen with the help of Excel Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine.

“Everyone is an athlete in their own way,” explained Kyle Dennis, MPT and clinic director of the Excel clinic in Muskogee, one of 13 locations statewide proudly serving Oklahoma. “We see high school and college athletes and we also see everyday moms and dads, farmers and ranchers and we treat them all the same.  At Excel, we’re committed to getting them back to peak performance safely by educating our patients as well as making sure they’re safe at the same time.”

A competitive athlete himself, Dennis has participated in Crossfit, a current fitness program trend where participants want to get back in the game whenever injuries occur.

“Everybody is getting into it and because Crossfit is such a very competitive environment, whenever someone is injured they want to get right back into the competition,” Dennis explained referencing his own experiences as an avid crossfitter. “At Excel, we’re committed to getting participants back to peak performance. We look at every movement they need to be able to do and break down those movements including the patient’s strengths and weakness and where they’re limited with mobility.”

Just like professional athletes have personal trainers, the physical therapists at Excel are committed to developing one-on-one relationships whether your setback occurs in the game, at home or on the farm.

“We see everyday workers from all types of jobs that have a lot of physical requirements as well as ranchers and farmers.  They have got to get back to doing heavy duty work as soon as possible,” Dennis explained. “In order to keep them on the job, we have to make sure their body can handle the stress and strains of everyday duties. Movement is key so we place a lot of emphasis on having the right body mechanics so they can understand how they can move more and feel better at the same time.”

As Dennis confirms, it’s the one-on-one relationships that make the difference at Excel Physical Therapy. 

“Relationships are priority one to recovery and patient satisfaction to get our patients on the road to recovery the very next day. It’s our commitment, our passion at Excel to develop relationships that last for a lifetime through a community wide effort of helping people enjoy life.”

EXCEL PHYSICAL THERAPY: Where Personal Experience Results In Total Recovery

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By Bill Huddleston

In sports and everyday life challenges, personal experience helps to create a winning strategy. And, when faced with overcoming injury setbacks, the first hand experiences of the physical therapists at EXCEL Physical Therapy provide a game plan for total recovery.

Molly Chaffin is the physical therapist and clinic director at the Sapulpa office for Excel, one of 13 locations serving the needs of Oklahomans.  A former volleyball player on the high school and college level understands the importance of creating a strategic plan for recovery.

“Growing up in Ohio, I was a volleyball player in high school who played year round before playing in college, recalled Chaffin, a five-year veteran at the Sapulpa location.  “As an overhead athlete, I dealt with some shoulder issues. I was in and out of therapy doing some strengthening so I could play. In college, I broke my ankle so I had to rehab that. The hard work helped me to push through the setback and get back on the court.”

It’s her year round playing experiences that translate to Chaffin’s dedication to helping others.

“The year round competition and single sport focus puts demands on the body,” confirmed Chaffin. “I’m seeing more and more younger athletes as young as 12 year olds that are softball players coming in with shoulder injuries.  I think the diversity we used to have years ago where kids were playing two or three different sports and got a break and did a different motion is really taking a toll and leading to the younger athletes not wanting to play as long and giving up a potential for playing in college. I hate to see that because if there were programs that provide appropriate strengthening and a rest period from time to time.”

After answering the initial question from young and old alike…how long is this going to take, Chaffin and the team at EXCEL will develop an individual game plan for success.

“I explain it truly depends on the injury and the time we have to work with. We do a lot of education up front to let them know this is our game plan.  This is where we’re going to begin and this is where we’ll get you,” Chaffin explained.  “If you want to play, I want to know that and that you’re going back to the sport. After the initial groundwork up front, I’ll push the athlete super hard toward the end because I want them to know and trust that arm, shoulder, knee or ankle.”

Total recovery demands a high level of trust between patient and physical therapist.

“That’s a huge part of the total recovery package,” agreed Chaffin. “You have to have that one-on-one rapport with them so they believe in what you’re telling them and they trust in what they’re going through in here.”

It’s also important to have a solid relationship with the parents of the athletes.

“I also emphasize the relationship with parents of the younger kids who want to help their child get back into the competition. It’s paramount to let them know that we have the ultimate best interest in order to accomplish the same goals and where we’re going on this road to recovery,” confirmed Chaffin.

And for Chaffin that also includes personal demonstration of the various recovery motions.

“I personally believe that if I can’t demonstrate the individual training steps and drills, I won’t make you to do it. By showing the patient how to do it makes it easier for them to believe they can do the training and achieve recovery,” Chaffin said with total confidence.

Just like Chaffin and the team at Excel, it’s a family of therapists solely focused on helping patients find a way to total recovery in order to get back in the game from setback to comeback.

“Excel Physical Therapy provides a total person picture,” said Chaffin. “We want to know what are your goals and be sure that we’re a unified team working together. Even though I’m the person giving you the care, I want to know that you’re OK with what’s going on and that together we’ll get you back to the things you want to do.”

Excel Therapy Spotlight with Mustang’s Ryan Flanary

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In sports and everyday life challenges, personal experience helps to create a winning strategy. And, when faced with overcoming injury setbacks, the first hand experiences of the physical therapists at EXCEL Physical Therapy provide a game plan for total recovery.

Ryan Flanary, physical therapist and clinic director at the Mustang office for EXCEL, recalls the his own first hand benefits of physical therapy while growing up in Henryetta, Oklahoma. 

“In high school, I played baseball, basketball and football and had some issues that involved me needing some therapy to overcome those,” recalled Flanary. “The great thing was that my cousin Mike Flanary, who is now a member of the Excel Therapy ownership team, was the one who helped me through those. Now today things have come full circle with both of us working together at EXCEL.”

A 19-year professional in outpatient physical therapy, Flanary enjoys the opportunity of giving back to today’s athletes by partnering with the Mustang Public Schools. 

“When you’re there you see the actual injuries happen and you know exactly how it happened giving you more of a personal relationship with the athlete,” Flanary said, “so when they come back for therapy, you’ve seen them in action so that you can better treat them and know what they’re going back to.”

The experience of Flanary and the team of physical therapists at any of Excel Physical Therapy’s 13 clinics across Oklahoma insure the development of an individual game plan. Regardless the injury, EXCEL PTs tailor to specific needs of each athlete on the high school as well as collegiate levels.

“Whether it’s cheerleading, tumbling and gymnastics or other times it’s football, soccer and baseball, it’s still the one-to-one relationships that get them back to the action,” Flanary explained regarding the wide variety of patients trusting EXCEL for their complete recovery.

“You see a lot of sprains and strains but there’s not one common injury, males or females. I also see a lot of ACL injuries, which are season ending injuries where you deal with the physical side of recovery as well as the emotional side of that athlete not being able to come back for that year. That’s again where the one-to-one relationship helps out to give the athlete complete trust in the plan to see their progress understanding there’s a process to getting that injury better and that we are going to get them returned to the field of play is our goal.”

Ryan Flanary has been voted Mustang’s Best Physical Therapist three years in a row based on producing excellent patient outcomes. 

And just like Flanary wanted to know when his setbacks required therapy, the first question remains the same no matter the age or the injury.

“I’m always asked how fast can I get back to playing my sport,” Flanary confirmed. “I tell everyone I’m going to return you back to action as soon as it’s safely possible. That way they know my goal is the same as theirs, to get them back, but we want to get them back safe.”

From youth, high school and college sports to the outdoorsmen as well as female athletes still competing in competitive adult leagues or everyday workers, Flanary and the team of specialists at EXCEL continue to meet the needs of all ages, treating the person not the sport while developing a relationship first and forever.

“I have a lot of people that saw me 12 or 15 years ago that are still coming in and now send their own kids or their nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles and other family members because of the individual care and therapy we provide at Excel,” said Flanary. “It’s a family of therapists who are solely focused on helping our patients find a way to total recovery in order to get back in the game.”

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