When Kyle Burke began experiencing sudden, intense back pain that had him hunched and leaning to one side, he was rushed to the emergency room, where it became clear his situation was serious.
After assessment and injections to relieve his pain, the ER physician gave an immediate referral to Kitsap Physical Therapy (KPT), and although it was days before Christmas, he received an emergency appointment with a KPT spine team specialist.
KPT has a team of therapists certified and specializing in the McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT). MDT assesses mechanical musculoskeletal problems that cause pain and movement issues, then assesses the patient’s movements to determine the body’s directional preference.
The therapist then prescribes a series of repeated movements and/or positions to relieve the pain and stiffness. Research has proven when MDT therapy is used for acute back pain, the sooner you see a specialist there’s a greater chance of avoiding surgery or an opioid prescription.
When Burke left his first session, he was no longer leaning, but he had a long way to go. After six visits and diligently following a home protocol, he had recovered well enough to run a marathon the next month.
Kyle has also seen KPT for his Temporomandibular Joint – or TMJ – pain. His dentist recommended surgery, which insurance doesn’t cover, due to his successful treatment at KPT he went back for help.
He’s better, and didn’t have to have surgery. KPT wants people to understand there are specialists here in Kitsap County who can help, and you don’t just have to live with discomfort or pain. You need to reach out and seek conservative measures first when possible.
KPT also provides specialty programs for conditions ranging from post-operative, sports injuries, lymphedema, vestibular, pelvic health, scoliosis, concussions and more.
Ysabel Sittser suffered debilitating migraines after a concussion. Treatment with a team of certified vestibular and concussion management specialists at KPT has her feeling better than ever.
Ysabel Sittser was a state champion wrestler and team water polo MVP who suffered a concussion. She saw a doctor, who cleared her to return to sports, but nobody followed up with her for further vestibular or cognitive screening.
Over the next year her headaches developed into daily incapacitating migraines, cognitive dysfunctions and other symptoms that progressed to the point that she had to leave school for six months due to her pain.
“My head hurt so bad and there was nothing I could do,” she says. “When the pain was too much, it was like if a car was coming toward me, I wouldn’t jump in front of it, but if were coming at me I wouldn’t have jumped out of the way, I just wanted the pain to stop.”
Sittser then began treatment with a team of certified vestibular and concussion management specialists at KPT, and after a year of therapy, she’s now attending college, working part time and is doing better than ever. “I am so thankful for my KPT concussion team, they literally saved my life,” she says.
With eight locations in Kitsap County, KPT aims to be the premier provider of specialized physical therapy services in the region, by delivering extraordinary customer service and the most up-to-date, evidence-based care.
Find out more on Facebook and Instagram, or visit KitsapPT.com to book an appointment.
