Free ScreenPHYSICAL THERAPIST OF 25 YEARS GETS PT FOR THE FIRST TIME
by Lindsey Klyn, Marketing Manager at Kinetic Edge
Star Wars fans are familiar with the concept of the student becoming the master, but at Kinetic Edge, we’re doing things in reverse these days. Clinic Manager, Doctor of Physical Therapy, and Athletic Trainer (Can we call him the master of our Newton clinic?) Matt Scotton underwent surgery to replace his ACL on October 18 after tearing it while doing a backward lunge. Now he’s become a physical therapy client for the first time ever.
This isn’t the first time Scotton has gone through ACL surgery though. As a 14-year-old, he tore his ACL playing football. Back then, a surgeon sewed the ligament back together and then after the surgeon placed him in a cast from his mid-thigh to his ankle for eight weeks. He was on crutches for almost three months.
“I didn’t receive any physical therapy after my knee surgery at age 14, but I wanted to play baseball and football again so I studied leg strengthening exercises and realized that I loved studying anatomy and biomechanics,” shared Scotton. “Turns out, that ACL tear was one of the best things that ever happened to me. It helped me find the perfect career for me.”
Since then, doctors learned much about the importance of early motion and prescriptive exercises from physical therapists so recovery from an ACL surgery looks much differently for Scotton this time around. He currently wears a locking knee brace and uses one crutch. Plus, his first physical therapy appointment occurred on October 22, just four days after surgery. Now he’s on the physical therapy schedule at Kinetic Edge twice per week, just like his physical therapy clients.
“Our entire team participated in Matt’s initial evaluation,” shared Physical Therapist Jared Gerber. “We rarely do evaluations together, and we all do things a little differently, so it was cool to all work together to develop a plan.”
Scotton has worked alongside hundreds of teams in his lifetime as an athletic trainer for over a quarter of a century. Now, he’s learning another example of the power of teamwork as he experiences being a physical therapy client of the team at Kinetic Edge Physical Therapy in Newton.
“I have learned that teams with great chemistry and common goals can accomplish much more than any team who has a few superstars and lacks tight-knit people who work together toward the same goals,” commented Scotton. “Both my knee and my heart feel better after working and learning from my teammates at Kinetic Edge because of how talented they are, the chemistry we share, and the genuine care they show.”
Already, his teammates have suggested modifications to some of the basic exercises that helped Scotton reduce swelling and regain his range of motion more rapidly. Scotton is confident his team will help him gain strength faster and get rid of his crutch sooner too.
Scotton’s counting down the days until he can resume his passions of biking and running without pain. Even little things like walking on uneven ground without knee instability are anticipated soon as a result of this surgery and physical therapy at Kinetic Edge. Scotton expects this ACL surgery will be even better than the one he did at age 14, giving him a stable knee for another 35 years or more.
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Physical therapy is a well-kept secret from many people, and many people don’t realize you don’t need a doctor’s referral to see a physical therapist in Iowa. Statistics report that 75% of people have muscular or joint pain during the year and less than 20% receive physical therapy.
At Kinetic Edge Physical Therapy, we’re committed to transforming lives and restoring hope through movement for each person we treat, whether you know nothing about physical therapy or you’ve been practicing it for 25 years like Scotton. If you have muscular or joint pain, give us a call at 866-588-0230 to see what Kinetic Edge can do for you.
