Quarterly Newsletter
Winter 2015
Favorite Quotes
Back Bubble
by Josh Coenen, Spine Physical Therapy
Spine PT works hard to stay abreast of all the
latest methods for treating low back pain.
There is a new way for patients to benefit
from self-traction, and this is with Chase’s
Back Bubble. When one of Randy’s patients
asked him about the Back Bubble, he
investigated it and decided to try it himself.
The Back Bubble utilizes an
inflatable cushion that wraps
around your body attached to a
spring that allows people to hang
from it causing spinal
decompression. The Back Bubble
may be appropriate for some
patients with stenosis or
degenerative changes to the
spine. The reason for this is when
there is traction (pulling vertebrae
apart to allow more space
in-between) this allows not only relief of load
on your spine, but also allows relief of nerve
root pressure. During traction, fluid
surrounding the discs is able to enter
the discs helping in the healing process
and in helping to prevent further
degeneration. Decompression or traction is
not good for everyone or every condition.
Individuals should consult with their
medical provider before trying.
Traction has been used in Physical Therapy
for many years to relieve some types of back
pain. As far as “home” options, they are either
very expensive or require one to be inverted
to one degree or another. Some folks can’t
tolerate the partially inverted position due to
blood pressure, eye issues, or even dizziness
problems. The Back Bubble allows for a
lighter amount of traction in either an upright
or laying down position. It is also easy to use
and less expensive than other home options.
“You don’t have to be
great to start, but you
have to start to be
great.” -Zig Ziglar
Did you know...
95% of people feel
uncomfortable when the
TV volume is an
odd number.
www.funfactz.com
Massage
Massage Therapy has been
shown to: reduce
stress/hypertension, boost
immunity, improve circulation,
relax and soften injured and
overused muscles, and more.
There are various positions that this can be
done, which are easily achievable for most
people. This includes: leaning, crouching,
sitting, and lying on your back. The Back
Bubble has a home model that can be
purchased, and can be hung on a pull up bar
(which is included) that goes into a
doorframe. If you’d like to learn more ask your
therapist or visit the Back Bubble website a
www.thebackbubble.com.
1-Hour Massages are $65
when purchased individually or
$165 for a “3-Pack” of
1-Hour Massages.
“Like Us” on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/spinept
Spine Physical Therapy ● 7125 Stadium Drive ● Kalamazoo, MI 49009 ● 269.492.6575 ● www.spinept.org
Slip & Fall
by David Lee, Pennings Accessible Living
I know the risk of slip and fall accidents
and it is a leading cause for someone
getting injured and having to leave their
home. This time of the year ice and
snow contribute to a lot of injuries,
however these other areas go unnoticed
such as; uneven sidewalks, obstructions
on the floor or walkway, slippery tile,
thick carpet, throw rugs or area rugs,
and poorly lit walkways and stairs.
Handrails should be on both sides of the
stairs and grab bars placed at the
entrance doors and in the bathrooms.
There is also a lot of confusion regarding
ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)
that was passed in 1990 to insure
accessibility to public buildings. This
does not apply to your home, although it
can be used as a guideline. The
proper location of a grab bar is
the usable height for the
homeowner.
areas that need improving with the focus
of helping people live in their homes.
Pennings Accessible Living
5829 West KL Avenue Kalamazoo MI 49009
269.372.1930
www.penningsandsons.com
Pilates After PT
by Marlayna Davie, Pilates in Kalamazoo
Whether you've just left therapy or have
been out for a while, Pilates is a great
place to come for continuing
rehabilitation, education and support of a
healthier body. Joint and spine injuries,
neuromuscular conditions, and
osteoporosis are just a few conditions
that see great benefit from the
supportive training of Pilates.
Results often seen in Pilates are
increased flexibility and abdominal
strength, improved posture, balanced
muscle activation, greater spinal mobility
and less shoulder, neck and back pain.
Pilates is not just a women's activity
and you don't have to have been a
dancer to enjoy its benefits.
A great example of the products
available through Pennings Accessible
Living is an accessible shower with a
fold down bench and everything on the
walls are grab bars. The corners have a
shower caddy shelf for shampoo and the
one in the center is a soap dish. All of
the items tie in with the handles of the
shower door. This look is what I would
call Universal design. This does not
scream accessible or ADA it is functional
design and elegant.
Pennings Accessible Living provides
onsite home evaluations for free to have
a professional help you identify these
In fact, it was created by A MAN
named Joseph Pilates ("A guy?! Gasp! I
thought Pilates was just for women &
dancers!" Nope, keep reading...). The
Pilates philosophy of exercise was
Joseph’s way of training for his favorite
athletic activities, as well as how he
overcame the limiting health conditions
he struggled from growing up. So, now
that the cat's out of the bag, let's stroll
down history lane (that's a thing, right?
No?). The Pilates Method is a "mindbody" approach to exercise that was
created
by Joseph
Pilates in
the 1920's
to
improve
your
overall
health. Doing Pilates regularly will
enhance your posture, flexibility, strength
and stamina and teach you a bit about
your body so that you will become less
prone to "accidental" pain or injury.
Exercises are performed on a mat or on
specially designed Pilates equipment
and include work for every part of the
body and every kind of activity. Whether
you're an athlete looking to enhance
your performance or you're just trying to
look/feel a bit healthier, Pilates can get
As our patients know, Spine PT is
always “preaching” core. Pilates
with Marlayna is a great, safe way to
continue improving your core after
P.T.—Randy St John, PT, MDT
you there! Pilates has exploded
in the last 10 years and professional
studios can be found popping up in
countries all over the world. It's no
longer just the workout of the elite. It's
hit mainstream fitness and people of all
ages and abilities are loving it for one
simple reason…IT WORKS and you
FEEL GREAT doing it.
Pilates in Kalamazoo has partnered with
Spine Physical Therapy to offer clients a
safe place to exercise after treatment.
Pilates in Kalamazoo offers both private
sessions for those who require carefully
focused attention and small group
classes for when you are ready to get
your move on!
To learn more, contact me at:
Marlayna Davie
Pilates In Kalamazoo
www.pilatesinkalamazoo.com
pilatesinkalmazoo@gmail.com
248.933.5310
What’s FLU with
you?
by Diane Capalbo,
Advantage Private Nursing Services, Inc
The outbreak of flu (H3N2 virus) this
year has affected 43 states and it is not
over yet. We have seen a small decline
in those affected but expect another
peak occurrence in February. We
recommend that people continue
Find us on facebook at www.facebook.com/spinept
to practice the following precautions:
●Wash your hands often using warm
soapy water (singing Happy Birthday to
yourself!). If soap and water are not
available, use an alcohol based hand
rub.
●Keep warm! Studies are showing that
becoming chilled can make you
vulnerable to viruses.
●Avoid contact with people who are sick.
If you are sick, stay home (if it is
necessary to be in public, wear a mask).
●Avoid touching your eyes, nose and
mouth.
●Clean and disinfect surfaces and
objects frequently as they can become
contaminated with germs.
●Get a flu shot! Even though there is
debate about the effectiveness of this
year’s flu shot, vaccinations can still
provide protection and might reduce
severe outcomes such as hospitalization
and death.
Advantage Private Nursing Services Inc.
524 W. Centre Ave., Portage, MI 49024
269.324.1180
Direct Access…
Kind Of.
by Ryan Miller, Spine Physical Therapy
Many patients have asked us about the
status of direct access. As of January 1,
2015 the State of Michigan amended
1978 Public Act 368 which previously
prevented physical therapists from
providing treatment without a
prescription from a physician or
physician’s assistant. The new act (PA
260) now allows a Physical Therapist or
Physical Therapist Assistant to engage
in the treatment of a patient
without the prescription of a
health care professional, under the
following circumstances:
a) For 21 days or 10 treatments,
whichever first occurs. However, a
physical therapist shall determine that
the patient’s condition requires physical
therapy before delegating physical
therapy interventions to a physical
therapist assistant.
b) The patient is seeking physical
therapy services for the purpose of
preventing injury or promoting fitness.
What may confuse or surprise patients is
that despite Michigan’s adoption of this
direct access policy, insurance
companies may still elect to
require a prescription for physical
therapy in order to have such
service covered by and paid for by
that insurance provider. Public Acts
261-264 override PA 260 and allow
insurers to require a prescription for
physical therapy services to be covered.
BCBS and BCN of Michigan
acknowledge that “Public Act 260 allows
physical therapists to treat patients
without a prescription from a licensed
health care professional. But Public Acts
261-264 permit insurers to cover only
prescribed physical therapy services. As
a result, the Blues will continue to
adhere to our current medical
policy and existing processes by
requiring a prescription for
physical therapy services.”1 In
seemingly contradicting fashion, the
Blues’ policies in other states do not
seem to require this prescription for PT.
Also, some self-funded, employer
“Blues” plans do allow direct access for
physical therapy. These inconsistencies
beg the question, “If some customers
have the right to physical therapy without
the need for a prescription, shouldn’t all
customers have that same opportunity?”
Spine Physical Therapy continues to
believe that it is in the patient’s best
interest (short term and long term) when
all of the patient’s medical and health
professionals are involved and on the
same page. Spine PT’s physical
therapists appreciate working with the
patient’s Primary Care Provider (PCP),
Physiatrist, Surgeon, etc as an extension
of the team. You could say that we
prescribe to the theory that “two heads
are better than one.” A team approach
that might consist of the patient, medical
provider, a psychologist, a physical
therapist, a registered dietitian, a Pilates
instructor, etc could help the patient with
short term goals, long term goals, reduce
future costs of medical care, and
improve overall quality of life. An
w w w. s p i n e p t . o r g
Interdisciplinary Health Team approach
has been modeled at the Cleveland
Clinic, Mayo Clinic and Michigan’s own
Mary Free Bed. Spine PT would prefer
that a patient be seen and advised by his
or her physician’s office before beginning
physical therapy when possible. This
provides a valuable layer of
accountability and precaution. That
being said, Direct Access for Physical
Therapy for appropriate patients could
provide a safe and effective opportunity
for them to receive quicker care and thus
find pain relief sooner. Research on the
effectiveness of early physical therapy in
the treatment of acute low back
musculoskeletal disorders “showed
that patients in the early therapy
intervention group had more
favorable outcomes than the two
comparison groups. Specifically,
patients in the early intervention
group had fewer physician visits,
fewer restricted workdays, fewer
days away from work, and shorter
case duration.”2 Early intervention in
this trial was 0-3 days from injury or
onset of pain. With this research in mind,
direct access for appropriate patients
may not only present a cost savings to
the patient and the insurance company,
but more importantly yield better, faster,
and longer lasting results. We can get
acute (new/recent pain episodes) pain
patients in within 48 hours. Direct
Access could provide an opportunity for
patients to begin treatment earlier than
ever before.
The State of Michigan has made its
decision to allow direct access for
physical therapy. In doing so, it joins the
other 49 states, the District of Columbia,
and the U.S. Military. To confirm your
insurance providers policy on
prescriptions for physical therapy, please
call the customer service number on
your card. If your policy does not allow
for direct access coverage and you wish
it did, consider submitting your complaint
in writing.
1. www.bcbsm.com 2. Journal of Occupational &
Environmental Medicine. 42(1):35, January 2000.
Zigenfus, Gary C. MSPT; Yin, Jiahong BS, PhD; Giang,
Geneva M. MBA; Fogarty, W. Tom MD
Meet Our New Staff
The last half of 2014 presented several
opportunities for Spine Physical Therapy to
add new members to our team.
Rex Webb, PT, DPT joined
the Spine PT family in
September after completing
his final clinical rotation with
Randy St John last summer.
Rex is a Kalamazoo
Christian High School
Graduate and went on to
get his Bachelor of Science degree from
Michigan State University. He then headed to
the desert and completed his Doctorate of
Physical Therapy at Touro University Nevada.
Rex shares, “I have always been interested in
healthcare because I enjoy working with and
helping others. Physical therapy is a field that
allows a significant amount of one-on-one
time with a patient. I find that time to be
valuable to both the PT and patient. The
patient has time to have their concerns
addressed and receive individual attention
from the therapist. The PT has time to
understand more about the patient and
factors in their life that may affect their
specific situation.” Rex and his wife, Christine,
have a dog, Elvis, (who is not very bright but
makes up for it with good looks) and a cat,
Elsie, (who is spoiled and knows it).
Krista Moored has joined our team of Front
Desk Administrators. Krista and her husband,
Mark, have a son and
daughter. Krista’s past
work experience includes a
Certified Pharmacy
Technician and a Hair
Stylist. She enjoys knitting,
gardening, cooking, and
reading. Krista’s burning
desires include “to grow all the food my family
needs and raise chickens.”
Currently, Josh Coenen is
serving two roles at Spine PT.
In September he came on
board as our PT Tech and in
January he started his
internship with us as well. Josh
is in his final semester in Western Michigan’s
Exercise Science program. He will graduate
with his Bachelor’s Degree this spring and
plans to get his Doctorate of Physical Therapy
next. Josh enjoys exercising, being outside,
reading, snowboarding, and playing any
sport. Josh’s keys to success are “Not being
afraid to fail and staying curious.”
Where are they now? Pete Post, PT
moved to Columbus, OH where his wife took
a position with Ohio State University. Ryan
Wilson is now working at MPI in Mattawan.
Keesha Shankle (Olsen) has completed her
clinical rotations and is in her final semester
of Grand Valley’s Doctorate of Physical
Therapy program. Andrew Schimp, PT, DPT
works at Indiana University Health in Goshen,
IN. He works primarily with pediatric patients.
Need Balance?
Try Tai Chi
Have you noticed that your
balance isn’t as good as it used to
be? Research shows that Tai Chi
is one of the best ways to improve
your balance. While Tai Chi may
be beneficial to all age groups,
our class will be especially
helpful for those aged 55+.
Tai Chi is categorized as a
Chinese martial art. Although an
art with great depth, the basics
are easy to learn and it soon
delivers health benefits. Tai Chi
is gentle, focusing on fluid
circular movements that are
relaxed and slow in tempo.
A free trial class of Tai Chi at
Spine Physical Therapy will be
offered on Thursday, Feb. 26
from 10am-11am.
Please call to RSVP.
Spine Physical Therapy ● 7125 Stadium Drive ● Kalamazoo, MI 49009 ● 269.492.6575 ● www.spinept.org