STAFF SPOTLIGHT Sarah Freitas, DPT
Patient Success Spotlight John O’Keefe, Low Back Pain
Sarah Freitas has been with Bay StatePhysicalTherapy for10years starting as a clinical student and rehab aide in 2008. She graduated with her Doctorate degree from Northeastern University in 2009, and has been the clinical manager for the Abington office for the last 6 years. Sarah is now continuing to grow with Bay State Physical Therapy and will be the managing partner for the new location in Rockland. Sarah has very close ties to the town of Rockland as she considers herself a “Bulldog.” She graduated from Rockland High School in 2003 and was very
John O’Keefe has 15 year case of Low Back Pain as a result of an injury he sustained during deployment. He never received treatment while he was deployed, so when he returned back, 2 years later, his injury had progressed from pain, to numbness/tingling and weakness in his leg. The weakness progressed to causing his leg to buckle, when standing and walking. An MRI confirmed John had sustained spinal fractures and a disc herniation, which caused instability and nerve compression. John has initiatedavery specificandprogressivephysical therapy program to target core stability and strengthening for both static and dynamic postural support. The purpose of this program is to gain structural stability to reduce nerve compression and decrease the negative impact of his spinal fractures. John’s physical therapy plan of care also includes aquatic physical therapy to help improve pain free range of motion while exercising in a reduced weight-bearing environment. As a result, John’s pain and numbness has significantly reduced by 50%, compared to his pain prior to starting physical therapy. “I love it and I feel so much better when I leave. The pool is so helpful that it’s motivated me to get a membership here [the YMCA] to keep doing my exercises. I wish I could come get stretched every day”. Now, John is able to lift boxes at work with less pain and was able to help deliver turkeys to the underprivileged forThanksgiving (volunteer work is very important to him, and he was worried he wouldn’t be able to volunteer this season because of his pain).John is alsosleeping morecomfortably now, for approximately 6 hours each night, where previously he was only able to sleep 2 hours, secondary to pain. The attached photo shows John performing a core stability exercise to build postural strength and stability.
involved in theSchool’sacademics,athletics,andcommunityservice.She is excitedabout theopportunity tobring Bay StatePhysicalTherapy toher home town and be able to provide exceptional service while giving back to her community at the same time. Know someone who needs our help?
Do You Have Friends Or Family That:
� Can’t move without pain � Can’t spend time with family � Are afraid of falling at home
� Can’t walk for long distances � Can’t perform work tasks � Feel inactive and unhealthy
Name: Refered by:
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How to perform a bridging exercise Lie on your back with knees bent and feet hip distance apart. Place your feet close enough so they can be touched by your fingertips. Inhale and lift the hips. Keep the chest open. Hold for 30 seconds and repeat 10 times.
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