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| Barb Frey had never been to a physical therapist before and she didn’t know what to expect. At the end of October she started going to Jeff Booher at Peak Physical Therapy and Sports Performance to improve the range of motion in her “frozen” left shoulder. “We did a lot of manual therapy with her, joint mobilization, and range of motion and stretching exercises to get her range of motion back first,” Jeff explains. “Then we progressed to a strengthening program where we used a lot of resistance bands.” Jeff also prescribed ultrasound treatments to help break up adhesions and to loosen up Barb’s shoulder. The manual therapy took about 30 minutes, and then Barb spent another 30 minutes doing exercises and working with Jeff. “When I moved it, it just gradually kept getting better and better and now I am pain-free,” Barb comments. Barb says she found Jeff to be very encouraging and reassuring to work with. She was impressed by how well he explained everything and how knowledgeable he is. Jeff has 17 years of physical therapy experience, which includes working as a physical therapist and athletic trainer for the Professional Golf Association for nearly seven years. He also spent two years at a Scottsdale, Arizona clinic that specializes in sports and orthopaedic injuries. Helping patients find pain relief, enhance mobility, restore function, improve posture, and correct body mechanics is what Peak Physical Therapy and Sports Performance is all about. Jeff assists patients with spinal disorders; those who have had total joint replacements; knee surgery; rotator cuff injuries; and those suffering from myofascial pain syndrome and repetitive stress disorders such as tendonitis, bursitis, and carpal tunnel. “I’ve gone for physical therapy at several other places over the years, and they don’t begin to compare with what Jeff does,” says patient Don Niedt. “He’s helped me recover from ongoing leg, neck, back, and elbow pain. Jeff gets to the source of the problem and designs a program to correct it.” Don continues, “The atmosphere at Peak Physical Therapy is very comfortable. Jeff is a friendly, caring, knowledgeable person to work with. He makes therapy fun while producing the necessary results.” Jeff has a bachelor’s degree in athletic training from South Dakota State University and a master’s degree in physical therapy from Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He opened Peak Physical Therapy and Sports Performance at 5900 South 85th Street, Suite 101, in September 2010. Because he is the sole physical therapist in the office, Jeff says that he keeps things very personal. “I see every patient for every visit,” he explains. “We want to make it a familiar atmosphere. We want to get to know the person very well.” Jeff specializes in sports injuries. “We see a lot of sports injuries from overuse,” he says. He sees many middle school and high school athletes, but he serves all ages. Patient Mark Fahleson made a quick recovery from ACL surgery with the Peak Physical Therapy and Sports Performance team’s help, he says. “I was able to see progress with each session, and they scheduled appointments at times that worked best for me,” he writes. “Now I’m back to playing basketball and training for my first full marathon.” Working alongside Jeff are three part-time physical therapy technicians and business partner Ty Peterson, who owns Snap Fitness, a 24-hour fitness facility next door. The facility is filled with cardiovascular equipment, weight machines, free weights, and other fitness equipment. A connecting door allows Jeff’s patients—under his supervision—to use the equipment at Snap Fitness during their physical therapy sessions. Jeff has two goals regarding the equipment: rehabilitation and education. “So when they’re done with physical therapy they’ll know what to do,” he explains. “We try to educate them on how to use the equipment. One thing we’re trying to do is hit all aspects, from prevention to treatment to enhancement.” When he is seeing a patient for the first time, Jeff performs an initial evaluation and takes a full assessment of the injury. This includes range of motion, strength, and pain level to determine the source of the problem. “I ask them what their goals are,” he says. “We want to help them achieve their goals, whether it’s to play golf, work in the garden, or hold their grandchildren.” Then he puts together a care plan to help his patients reach those goals. Jeff uses strength training to boost physical strength, performance, and ability, as well as to help avoid future injury. His Sport Specific Training combines sport-specific exercises and drills to help athletes return to their sport at their peak level. Stair climbers, treadmills, bicycles, and elliptical machines are employed for cardiovascular conditioning to build endurance. Jeff can also design special exercise regimens for those wanting to address stabilization and flexibility issues. Patient Ellen Mayer looks to Jeff to keep her mobile, especially in the summer when she is working outside in her garden. Ellen suffers from an inoperable herniated disc in her lower back, and looks to Jeff for pain relief. “My back gets very tight,” she explains. “Jeff has helped me a lot.” A typical treatment session lasts an hour and may include soft tissue mobilization, stretching, and strengthening exercises. Jeff also specializes in joint mobilization, balance and stability, ultrasound, heat/cold packs, and electrical stimulation for nerves and muscles. “We don’t just hook you up to a machine,” Jeff explains. “We do a more manual, hands-on approach and exercise-based approaches.” Eventually, Jeff weans patients off their in-office treatments and helps them transition to doing exercises on their own. “We try to educate them to prevent further problems down the road,” he says. For example, Jeff gave Barb a pulley rope that she can string over a door and use at home. To help keep patients on the right path, Peak Physical Therapy and Sports Performance will pay for a one-month membership to Snap Fitness when they complete their treatments, Jeff says. Peak Physical Therapy and Sports Performance offers free consultations and screenings. With extended hours Monday through Friday (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.), the staff can accommodate patients before and after work and school. To schedule an appointment with Jeff, call 402-423-7325. For more information about his practice or to request Peak Physical Therapy and Sports Performance’s electronic newsletter, which includes practical health, wellness, and exercise tips, go to www.NebraskaPeakPT.com. |
Peak Physical Therapy and Sports Performance By Jodi Fuson   |
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