Re: PT experience....what a joke!!

March 4, 2001

Hello Heidi,

I just read about your first experience with physical therapy and I

want to let you know that you and your husband are correct - that is

not what should happen during a pt session. During Owen's first

visit, the therapist worked with him for an hour, had me practice the

exercises while she looked on and then gave me the handouts with

specific directions on when to do them and how many times a day.

Owen had severe torticollis and we went once a week for quite a while

and then progressed to every two weeks. Just a few weeks ago he had

his final session and the difference in him is just incredible. So

please, pursue other options and get the right physical therapist for

Luke. It really pays off in the end!!

Good Luck!

Colleen (Mom to Owen 08/07/00)

> Hi,

> wanted to share my first experience with physical therapy today.

My son has

> pretty bad torticollis and the exercises at home aren't going so

well so our

> ped referred us to physical therapy. We were very anxious to have

them

> " work " with our son and help us with his stiffness. We got there

and the

> only thing the lady did was give us handouts and tell us about how

to do

> them. We were expecting her to do them and really work with him

(even

> through his tears). She had the hardest time even remembering and

figuring

> out which side needed the work. My husband and I kept telling

her. Then we

> started giving our opinions and advice about what we think Luke

needs and she

> just said " yeah do that to " and basically repeated and reiterated

what we

> already know. Needless to say we walked away VERY bugged and

concerned

> about what we should do. At the end of our " session " she said work

on those

> for 3 weeks and come back and see me................WHAT 3 weeks

before you

> want to see him. Should we request to go somewhere else or is this

normal?

> Please respond if you've had PT.............or not

>

> Thanks,

> Heidi & Mark

> Parents to Luke

March 5, 2001

Find a New PT. Maggie hated every minute of PT but the guy we had

was great. He showed me step by step what to do and then actually

did the PT on Maggie with her screaming uncontrollably. He never

showed his frustration even though she screamed all the while. He

was very patient and kind. He showed us many different exercises and

also showed us how to check her progress. He did have us do the PT

at home 3 times per day and come in for office visits once/week for

PT with him. He actually did the hands on PT despite the screaming.

He is the owner of the facility and did always saw Maggie himself and

not any of his other therapists. You should call around and find

someone who does PT with kids and who has experience with

plagiocephaly. I called quite a few places before I found him.

Good luck and keep us posted. Kaycee in Albany