physical therapy

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.”

From Setback to COMEBACK… It’s all about RELATIONSHIPS

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By Bill Huddleston

In sports at every level, winning championships requires talented athletes motivated by their coaches, all working together to create a team bond of strength that can overcome every challenge. The same can be said for the day-to-day commitment of Excel Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine to form a relationship with patients for a lifetime of care.

One of the many advantages of the therapist owned practice is the team at Excel Therapy including Shawn Mayes, PT/DPT whose journey to a career in Physical Therapy went through physical therapy.

“While competing in football and track in high school and college, I had six knee surgeries,” recalled Mayes, a 20-year veteran working in orthopedics and sports medicine in the Tulsa community. “I missed my entire senior year at Washington Community HS in Illinois, which got me to rubbing elbows with a physical therapist that knew how to push my buttons to get me better. At some time during that journey I said this is what I want to do.”

A lifetime journey of commitment fuels the efforts of Mayes as well as the team at Excel Physical Therapy that includes 13 locations statewide proudly serving Oklahoma including four offices in the Tulsa metropolitan area. Mayes and his team serve the Tulsa market at 51st and Yale.

“I love working with athletes, passionate about that, but athletes come in many forms. It can be the 8-year old that got wrecked on a trampoline to the athletes in their seventies. I just evaluated someone today that wants to get back to playing pickle ball. If it’s a sport or an activity, I’m going to work to get them back to doing what they want to do,” replied Mayes. “And at Excel Therapy, our team really cares about the patient, about the person, about the heart of the person. The decisions we make are not about business but they’re about people.”

Or as Mayes describes, at Excel it’s all about relationships.

“That’s probably the most fun part of physical therapy. It really is about developing a relationship with a patient, getting to know them, getting to know their goals and desires as well as their hesitations and their fears,” smiled Mayes, “and, then walking through that journey of getting them back to doing what they want to do. I would call it holy ground, that when you get to interface with a patient in an area of struggle, pain or loss and be able to be a part of their lives in that puts us in a high-trust category.”

Among the many advantages available through Excel Physical Therapy is direct access to get their patients on the road to recovery the very next day.

“Direct access means that you don’t have to have a physician referral to start your medical care. We can be the entry point for care for your sprains and strains as soon as something happens,” Mayes explained. “In Oklahoma, direct access is good for 30 days and if we can get you back and return to your normal activity in that time frame great but if not then you have to return to your doctor or go to your doctor to get a prescription to continue with therapy.”

Among the many success stories of recovery, the team of professionals at Excel Therapy provides the proper professional treatment for all kinds of injuries from back pain or ACL reconstruction as well as shoulders, ankles, hips and other orthopedic-related pain, they also specialize in helping men and women, boys and girls of all ages to prevent an injury. 

“It’s our passion at Excel Therapy,” said Mayes, “we’re about developing relationships with our patients for a lifetime of care. Not just one injury or a complaint, it’s a lifetime of care to get them and keep them at the highest level of function. That is the true joy of physical therapy and the game plan for success at Excel Physical Therapy.” 

Foundation Under Foot

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Darrell Platt, PT – Excel Therapy South Tulsa Clinic

The feet and ankles are an important part of sports performance– they are the foundation of our movement.  The activation for most athletic movement starts with the feet, ankles, and toes.

Ensuring that the feet, ankles and toes are functioning properly is not only important for injury prevention, it goes a long way toward maximizing speed, mobility, agility, power, force production and explosiveness.  Like all skeletal muscles, the anatomy that surrounds the feet and ankles are designed for movement and force absorption. When these muscles don’t function as they should, it severely limits the shock absorption capabilities of the lower body. This affects the entire kinetic chain, promoting greater potential for injury from head to toe.  In fact, according to Sports Health News, ankle injuries are the most common type of injury in high school athletes in the United States.

One of the easiest ways to help protect your feet and ankles is by selecting the correct footwear.  Most modern athletic footwear is built for fashion as well as sport.  Teams are issued matching footwear in order to give a cohesive team look.  However, every athlete performs differently, thus the shoe they choose should be individualized to their body mechanics. So while looking good on the field is important, each shoe should be slightly customized for each athlete.

Walking, running and performance shoes are not created equal so do your homework when it comes to foot placement.  Some people walk on the outside of the heel, called supinating or rolling outwardly.  And some individuals walk on the inside of the heel, called pronating or rolling inwardly.  More than 80 percent of ankle sprains are a result of excessive inversion, which is an inward rolling of the ankle, resulting in damage to the ligaments on the outside of the ankle.

Excessive pronation and supination can cause a number of ailments that affect the foot, ankle, knees, hips and back. Some of the more common symptoms of excessive pronation and supination are listed below.

If you are suffering from pain possibly caused by a foot and ankle problem, an Excel Therapy physical therapist can help.  Our therapists specialize in treatments for orthopedic pre and post surgical injuries and rehabilitation for sprains and strains.  Manual therapy, dry needling and ASTYM could get you feeling relief before the season starts without you!

Excel Therapy Demonstrates “Cupping” on the News on 6

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Cupping, Excel Therapy Oklahoma, Physical Therapy, Ryan Flanary

ATTENTION ATHLETES! Just in time for the busy sports season, our very own, Ryan Flanary, PT, is here to assist you! Ryan appeared on KOTV – The News On 6 to demonstrate the ins and outs of CUPPING–the procedure made famous by this years Olympic Games. Watch to see if this technique is right for you.

And, if the bruising left by cupping is not your cup of tea, you’ll be happy to know there ARE other alternatives. Like Dry Needling and ASTYM Therapy, just to name a few. SEEK THE RELIEF YOU DESERVE THIS SEASON AND CALL EXCEL THERAPY TODAY!!

CLICK HERE TO VIEW NEWS ON 6 SEGMENT

Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy: The Key Ingredient for Athletes.

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A female high school volleyball player is sitting at the doctors office to get a look at her injury. Her physical therapist is working on her knee.

Another school year is about to get cranked up! And, with the busyness of all that school brings, comes activities that pull families in every direction. Whether it’s drama, dance, cheer, band, football or volleyball, the interests are wide and we ask our bodies to give more as we demand more.

We spend an extraordinary amount time finding the right coach, the right equipment, the right opportunities, the right food, the right fitness, and the right team. This culture has become an ever increasing portion of student life. These pursuits are a significant part of who we are and the activities bring us great joy and fulfillment.

The big question that must be addressed is what happens when we encounter an injury that potentially could limit our performance or involvement. As important as the equipment, team or training—is the role of a sports medicine resource.

Sports medicine is as important to the performer and athlete as is the baseball bat held in the hands of the clean up hitter. Orthopedic and sports physical therapy is the key ingredient that might be missing from your routine.

Having a relationship with a physical therapist that has knowledge of the process of injury, rehabilitation, and recovery is extremely important. When you encounter a challenge in your training or performance, a relationship with a PT could be your key to returning to activity as soon as possible.

Oklahoma now has direct access for care so the initiation of care following injury could happen the same day of injury. Delaying care is the greatest hurdle to a speedy recovery.

Get ready for the upcoming year of competition. Rehearse, practice, train, stretch, grow, build, conquer, and be sure to develop a relationship with a PT that can be a constant part of your health, fitness, and recovery. Excel Therapy has a tremendous staff of PT’s with knowledge and experience that will likely benefit you, as your reach and strive for greatness.  Let us be a part of your team! And go out there and HAVE A GREAT YEAR!

Shawn Mayes Midtown Tulsa Oklahoma Physical Therapy Excel Therapy

— Shawn Mayes, PT, DPT, Excel Therapy, Midtown Tulsa

Direct Access: The therapy you need without the hassle of a referral.

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Excel Therapy, Excel Therapy Oklahoma, physical therapy, no referral, recovery

DID YOU KNOW? You can be evaluated and treated by a Physical Therapist for thirty days WITHOUT A REFERRAL

from a physician or other health care provider? This is a huge victory for Oklahomans, who are now able to take a more active role in their own healthcare!

Excel Therapy provides a variety of services to help get your body functioning at its highest potential–whether you’re dealing with strains and sprains or recovering from surgery.

Give us a call at (877) 259-9520 to make an appointment for you or someone you love.

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