Who We Treat
There are primarily three categories of people that we treat.
Patients seek out Progress PT for many different reasons. Some come after an acute injury or surgical procedure; some come because they are suffering from pain or dysfunction that is causing them to limit their activities; and others come just because they want to perform better in their chosen sport.
During every session, each patient's problem is evaluated and addressed in a therapy plan that includes stretching, strengthening, soft tissue work, joint mobilization and movement re-education. Each component is weighted to optimize recovery. Targeted stretches, strengthening exercises, and heat or ice therapies are prescribed for clients to do outside of their appointment time.
By using a combination of strategies that she has learned from top-notch practitioners from around the world, Dr. Lori von Alten is able to assess each of her patients and discover what is driving the pain or dysfunction that individual is experiencing. Patients often experience dysfunction in their movement due to injuries they believe they have fully recovered from. Injuries suffered even decades ago can have lasting effects because the human body adapts to limitations from an injury in order to function.
It can take some time to unwind dysfunction that has occurred over many months or years. By applying her methodical approach, extensive knowledge, and over thirty years of experience, Dr. von Alten is able to resolve her patient’s issues by isolating their dysfunction and helping them to correct compensation patterns, release tight muscles, and strengthen under-used muscles that are limiting movement. The end result is long-term relief from pain, suffering, and dysfunction.
Patients Requiring Rehab and/or Pre-hab Due To Orthopedic Surgery
All orthopedic surgery patients can benefit from physical therapy both before and after surgery, even when it is not prescribed by their surgeon.
Post-Surgery Rehabilitation
In addition to the normal post-surgery physical therapy that patients typically engage in, Dr. von Alten can help patients regain optimal function by ensuring they are working toward proper alignment in their body and by helping the patient activate and strengthen muscles that have been underused and weakened by the dysfunction caused by the situation the surgery is intended to correct or repair.
Pre-Habilitation, or Pre-Surgery Physical Therapy
Patients who are scheduled for orthopedic surgery can significantly shorten their recovery time by engaging in therapy prior to the surgery. A combination of pre-surgery manual therapy and a strategic strengthening and stretching program can help patients bounce back from the trauma of surgery, decreasing both discomfort and recovery time.
Individuals Suffering From: Pain, Dysfunction, Discomfort, or Physical Limitations
Patients come to Progress PT with a wide variety of issues. Because of Dr. von Alten’s experience and training, she is able to apply her unique method to determine what is driving her patient’s issues. This allows her to create a plan that will bring relief.
Common issues that bring people to Progress PT include (but are not limited to):
- Headaches
- Neck Pain
- Back Pain
- Hip Pain
- Pelvic Girdle Pain
- Incontinence
- Sports Injuries
- Sports PT
- Running-Related Problems
- Groin pain, Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI) Syndrome
- Scoliosis
- Diastasis Rectus Abdominis (DRA, or separation of the abdominal muscles)
- Non-Optimal Core function and Poor Abdominal Recruitment (Core Retraining)
- Shoulder Impingement
- Rotator Cuff Issues, Loss of Shoulder Motor/Neuromuscular Control (subluxation)
- Patellofemoral Pain
- Knee and Ankle Ligament Sprains
- Tendinopathies - Hamstrings, Hip Flexors, Achilles, Rotator Cuff and other regions
- Breathing Difficulties
- Concussion
- Repetitive Strain injuries
- Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
Athletes Who Want To Improve Their Performance
Professionals, amateurs and enthusiasts—athletes at every level—seek out treatment at Progress PT. Maybe pain is getting in the way of their performance. Or, maybe they are just looking to up their game. Whatever the sport, Progress PT can help any athlete be better, faster, sharper, and stronger because we consider all different systems and regions of the body and can apply our approach to many different problems and conditions. The ultimate goal is to improve options for efficient movement.
There are many reasons why we start to move differently, move less, experience pain, or lose our ability to perform the way we would like. Perhaps an old sports injury has changed movement patterns and now things feel effortful with exercise. Or, maybe over time, there has been a gradual layer upon layer of compensations due to postural changes or old injuries that make it difficult to get back to doing the things you love.
Whether a patient is in pain and simply wants the pain to go away, they have an injury and want to optimize their recovery, or their goal is to jump higher, run faster, or throw further, Lori can help.
The Thoracic Ring Approach™ and ConnectTherapy™ have provided Lori with a whole person framework to assess and treat her patients. This means that not only will she do an assessment of all painful or symptomatic areas, but she will also perform a thorough whole body movement assessment that allows her to determine where the true underlying causes of the symptoms are coming from--the driver(s). ConnectTherapy™ is a model that integrates knowledge from many sources and considers all different systems and regions of the body, so it can be applied to treat many different problems and conditions, no matter what your sport.
Tennis
Through an in-depth physical evaluation of strength, flexibility, stroke mechanics and movement analysis, Lori will identify each player’s weaknesses and potential sites for injury. Based on this analysis, she will create an individualized approach and prescribe the specific exercises, stretches and drills that will help each player reach their maximum potential.
Ballet / Dance
For more than 14 years, Progress PT was the official physical therapy Provider for The Carolina Ballet. Dr. von Alten has also worked with performers of modern dance, Scottish Highland dancing, and classical Irish dancing. With an appreciation of the specific and unique physical demands that dancers put on their bodies as well as an understanding of proper biomechanics and movement patterns, Lori can help keep dancers on their toes and doing what they love to do.
Cyclists
Cyclists often come to Progress PT because they are not comfortable on their bike, despite having had the bike fit to their bodies. Lori can help these cyclists by assessing the rider instead of the bike. A full body assessment can reveal regions of the rider’s body that are restricting the body from being able to fully adapt to the bike. Some common challenges that a full body assessment can uncover are one or both knees coming out at the top of the pedal stroke; a power output difference between legs; uneven pressure on the saddle; hips/pelvis rocking on the saddle; and uneven elbow bend or uneven weight on the hands. The full body assessment will also identify other issues that cyclists often experience, such as sore neck, shoulders, and/or low back; tingling or numbness in one or more fingers; and low back pain when climbing in or out of the saddle. Once these issues are identified, they can all be resolved through a combination of manual therapy and a personalized exercise program that will enable every rider to feel better on their bike and optimize the way they ride.
Golf
Golfers are constantly looking for ways to improve their golf game—thousands of dollars are spent every year on new equipment, lessons, and training aids. Dr. von Alten is familiar with proper golf mechanics, swing mechanics, and the common swing faults that lead to injury. She can facilitate the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of golf-related injuries. Components of the golf fitness program include retraining of motor control and movement patterns and attention to balance and stability; strength and power; and cardiovascular endurance. The program is tailored to each golfer’s specific needs, and includes a printed, personalized exercise program. This program can improve swing accuracy and consistency by enhancing postural balance and coordination; increase club head speed by improving muscle strength and power; increase club swing range by improving joint flexibility; and enhance motor control and motor performance, which can lead to improved coordinated weight shifts and movement patterns. All of these factors lead to improved driving distance.
Running
Whether you want to run the Boston Marathon or just around the block, either may seem impossible. There are many reasons why running can be painful. Plantar fasciitis, knee or hip pain, and low back troubles are just a few examples. Dr. von Alten can help determine why a runner is having pain and put them on the path to pain-free running again. With detailed analysis of every athlete’s walking and running gait, as well as identifying sites of weakness or inflexibility, Lori can develop a program that will improve efficiency and help reduce stress and strain on the body. She can also prescribe the proper running shoe for every foot type and gait pattern. Finally, she will assess the need for over the counter shoe inserts or custom orthotics that might help improve performance and alleviate pain. Lori has worked with recreational runners, collegiate and professional track and field athletes (including an Olympian), triathletes and ultra runners. Gait analysis is one of her specialties.
Ultimate Frisbee
Ultimate Frisbee is a steadily growing sport that Lori has a strong connection to as both of her sons participate at the D1-collegiate and/or Elite Club levels of this sport. She has treated both of her sons and many of their teammates and opponents for injuries sustained over the years. Ultimate frisbee is a free-spirited, highly dynamic sport and requires extreme athleticism at the highest level of the sport. Frequent sprinting, cutting, jumping, diving and collisions, in combination with a high rate of mixed skill recreational play, make injuries a fairly regular occurrence. Common injuries include Achilles tendonitis, sprained ankles, patellofemoral joint syndrome, knee ligament injuries and dislocated shoulders. While acute injuries occurring on the field many times cannot be avoided, more chronic and recurring injuries can, and this is where Lori can help.
