So you go into a therapy clinic and get evaluated. That process involves some subjective information from you, objective information from checking range of motion, strength, etc. Much of that process is to satisfy insurance obligations and you are not likely to receive much treatment. Then you go for a follow-up and you find that at some point the therapist is stuck writing a note, again, for insurance requirements.
An evaluation from Dr. Jacob Hamrick, PT, DPT will likely be a breath of fresh air. We will discuss your goals, concerns, and form a plan that keeps a focus on you.
So, what exactly-ish is Holistic Therapy? It means you meet with me for a concern. Lets say foot pain such as plantar fasciitis. You have had it for years and have already treated it in many ways (chiropractor, medical doctor, acupuncture, gadgets, etc), but nothing has helped. I will evaluate the entire you as it pertains to what may be the actual CAUSE of the pain. Perhaps mobility concerns in the foot, ankle, calf, knee, thigh, hips, lumbar spine, or even the mid-back or neck may be causing this pain.
Here is a scenario that I have come across many times.
- Client presents with foot pain
- Jacob evaluates the foot and leg and discovers no real cause of issue in the leg (insurance would still require we treat the foot)
- Jacob therefore evaluates up the "chain" to discover that there is a history of low back stiffness or pain
- We find that there is sciatic nerve involvement (the nerve behind "Piriformis Syndrome")
- Jacob mobilizes (improves blood flow) the joint in the spine at the origination of the nerve
- This reduces foot pain
But WAIT!!!
- Jacob evaluates the mid back to discover it is the cause of low back stiffness and will plan to mitigate that as well.
- We then evaluate the neck to find poor alignment in the neck.
- So complications in the neck is causing mid-back pain, which is causing low back pathology, which is creating weakness and pain in the leg and foot!
- What started as neck pain years ago is now creating foot pain.
- THAT'S THE POWER OF HOLISTIC AND FUNCTIONAL THERAPY!
- Insurance does not give us the freedom of practice to always attempt to discern the true CAUSE of the concern.