by Dr. Loni Rodriguez | Jan 6, 2020 | Client Achievements, Uncategorized
I met Debbie while attending an OrangeTheory Fitness class last summer. She was the incredibly energetic one in the lobby talking to everyone, psyched to go sweat her butt off for an hour. Despite noticing her personality and energy, I also noticed that she had a brace on her knee and NEVER ran on the treadmill. This was obviously something I noticed being a performance-based PT who helps people get back to running all the time. Class after class, no running… I did not want to ask her, I figured (like most) she will call at some point.
Sure enough, one morning I get a text on facebook and it was Debbie! She wanted to know how she could get back to running.
This is her story…
“After 30+years of running, last October, 2018, I had minor knee surgery In order to a correct an ongoing problem. As I said, the surgery was minor. The realization that I wasn’t going to run again was not so easy for me to accept. Running had always been my “go to” exercise. It kept me sane. The thought of having to find a new “go to” was difficult.
As much as I wanted to accept the elliptical as an alternative, that wanting to run kept nagging me. Months of routine physical therapy after my surgery was helpful but not to the point that I was satisfied with my progress. My workouts at Orange Theory Fitness are amazing and the coaches are second to none. Their assistance in giving me alternative exercises when needed was/are fabulous. I have to say that as I struggled through some workouts, many of the coaches mentioned Loni Rodriguez to me and suggested that I meet with her. Finally, I did and I am so grateful for her help.
Her approach to physical therapy is so different than what I had experienced previously. I think that one of the biggest realizations that I’ve had is that some of my problem was psychological. I lacked the confidence and was very insecure about trying to run again.
Loni helped me to break through these psychological barriers and after 2 months of knee strength training and some real baby steps, I’ve started jogging with minimal discomfort. I love it!! I really never thought I’d be actually able to do this again.
I will continue my therapy with Loni for as long as I can. Her ability to break through and help me conquer my frustrations is something that you don’t get with other physical therapists. I recommend Infinite Potential Physical Therapy and Loni Rodriquez for any rehabilitation program.“
This is why we do what we do. I am not going to turn Debbie into a runner overnight or even get her back to 100%, but we set realistic expetations and goals to achieve. She is now doing very well and back on that treadmill every few classes. Of course, there are still some aches and pains but she has gotten back to something she loves to do!
Thank you Debbie, for being such a hard-working client. We are all very proud!
by Pippa Teague, Strength Coach | Nov 5, 2019 | Client Achievements
I have been working with Allie since February 2019. She is 10 years old and is a competitive figure skater. She does off ice training at Infinite Potential three times a week -twice in a group setting and one private session.
She trains on the ice 6 days a week 2-3 hours a day. With all of that tough on ice work it is very important for her to maintain strength and conditioning off the ice. This is imperative for injury prevention but also to give her some extra help in being able to get through her skating programs with strength and stamina. Off ice training strengthens her muscles, tendons, joint flexibility and core strength helping her with her sports performance but also is setting her up to be a strong adult with knowledge of correct form and posture and a solid baseline of body strength.
In our sessions we work on strength by lifting weights in squats, deadlifts, upper body push and pull movements, conditioning by getting her heart rate up during full body exercise , flexibility with specific stretches to help her skating moves such as the splits, back bends etc, as well as balance and core.
Hands down she is the strongest 10 year old I know!
This fall she is competing at The New England Figure Skating Regional Championships and we all wish her the best of luck !
by Pippa Teague, Strength Coach | Oct 7, 2019 | Abdominals, Back Pain, Client Achievements, Conditioning, Exercise advice, lifts, Recovery, strength training, Uncategorized
Today we are highlighting Michelle who has been with us since August 2018 after dealing with severe lower back and hip pain.
“I was in constant pain in my lower back and afraid that I would have to accept this as a new standard of living for myself. On July 4, 2018, I went to bed with excruciating pain in my lower back and tingling in my leg. I never had this happen in my life and had no idea what to do. The pain came out of nowhere, but now I realize that it was probably building for some time and came to the surface then. I was in my 20s and felt like I was in my 90s because of what I was told by doctors about managing my lower back issues and overall pain levels.”
Upon meeting Michelle, I quickly realized that she was in need of reassurance and was really looking for someone to guide her. She was desperate for answers and did not know where to turn as her symptoms were not just resolving on their own. She was provided with conflicting advice and was not sure who she could trust. This is a major issue that I see in many of my clients and it is my job to help make sense of some of the things that they have been told.
“My struggle affected every part of my daily life. I was always thinking about the pain when I was at work or out with friends and family. I didn’t want it to come back and was afraid that everything I was doing was making it worse whether I was exercising or staying still. I felt out of control in my body. I had no idea what I should do. My doctor told me to wear a neck brace and to essentially stay still. My spine specialist told me that I had a disc herniation in my lower back, which was scary to hear. I was not in a car accident and have always been healthy, so I did not understand why this happened.”
Michelle was in a tough position coming into our office. Many of our patients experience pain that affects their daily life and it is sometimes extremely difficult to manage on their own.
“Loni helped me get to a place where I felt stronger and comfortable in my daily life. I got to a point where I stopped feeling the pain. I gained the confidence to exercise regularly and lift boxes, etc. without being scared to injure myself. I would not be where I am today without Loni and Infinite Potential.”
Michelle has been a pleasure to work with from day one. She has shown endless appreciation for what we have provided and is also very open to new ways of thinking about her pain, alternative approaches to treatment, and has shown willingness to trust the process. Michelle has made consistent progress since beginning with us and has sought care past her original injury committing to strength training since completing her time in physical therapy. Strength training was not a part of her regular routine but she has since adopted the practice as a regular weekly activity. She has made significant progress in the realm of strength, endurance and power achieving goals that she never thought were possible.
We asked Michelle what she wants others to know about her experience with Infinite Potential PT. Here is what she had to say:
“I want others to know that they should go to Infinite Potential (IP)! The business is different than the standard physical therapy at out-patient centers or hospitals, but this is what makes her special and one-of-a-kind. I had been in and out of PT at hospitals before being a client at IP. I was only there for a few weeks (6 at most) and then discharged and my issues would come back. I wasn’t given one-on-one treatment plan like I get here. Loni spends the time to really understand your needs and help you not just for a short time, but for your life. I wish everyone could discover what I’ve found in Infinite Potential. Loni has been life-changing and I will follow her wherever I go. I live closer to the North Shore now and commute to see her weekly! She’s the best!
Our passion at IPPTW is to empower people to realize their full potential. We strive to decrease their fears, help them understand what is going on and what can be done in the long and short term. We want to be YOUR resource for help and feel strongly that we can give you informed guidance to help you make decisions about your health.
If this story spoke to you, or speaks to someone you know, please pass it on. Can you relate to Michelle? Let us know by replying to this email.
by Pippa Teague, Strength Coach | Sep 6, 2019 | Client Achievements, Flexibility, Jumprope, Ladies, lifts, Personal training, Running, strength training, Uncategorized
-Pippa Teague
Infinite Potential Personal Trainer/Strength coach
NASM CPT
Starting in May 2019, Niamh, Isabel, Grace and Georgia have been working with me twice a week for personal training sessions.
They are all competitive Irish dancers and their teacher wanted them to improve overall strength and power to perform jumps and upper body control to help them in their dancing performances.
From day 1 they showed amazing discipline and hard work. Even though they are young (11-14) they definitely know what they need to do and are motivated to be able to achieve their goals, trying anything I ask of them (without complaining !) and putting their full effort into it.
They even made it to their sessions twice a week during summer vacation!
We work mainly on building strength using dumbbells, kettlebells, barbells, resistance bands and body weight in a circuit style or CrossFit style workout.
I love working with different kids involved in different sports. It’s so fun watching them improve and to see results! It can be challenging at times to keep the workouts fun and varied but I look forward to my sessions with them.
Niamh and Isabel’s mom, Claire said ‘The girls love working with Pippa, they tell me that they have a lot of fun even though it’s hard work! Their power and strength have definitely improved. They have a lot more body awareness and control. I can actually see the physical changes in their legs! ‘
They all recently competed in the North American Irish Dance Championships and all four got recalls! Grace also qualified and is heading to Dublin to compete in the World Championships this April!
I am very proud of these girls and can’t wait to see what else they can achieve!
by Dr. Loni Rodriguez | Jul 19, 2019 | Client Achievements
Today we are highlighting Roy, a client who has been working with us for almost a year.
Before you delve into what we had to say about him, Roy was nice enough (and tech savvy enough) to give us a video version of our highlight. Hear Roy’s Story!
Roy was a very active man all his life playing sports as a young boy all the way up through his college years. He remained active after college by regularly working out at the gym, running, and practicing yoga. Despite his activity level, Roy began to develop back pain over the years and it eventually became debilitating. Slowly over time, he began to be in constant pain and discomfort. It ruled his life not only in regards to his workout routine, but also with his day-to-day. Roy had said that he just was not himself when his pain was severe.
Prior to coming to IPPTW he had seen other PT’s, chiropractors, practiced yoga, tried cupping, and acupuncture with varying degrees of relief, however no long-term improvements. I will never forget the first call with Roy. He explained all his concerns with what he was dealing with, what he had tried, what worked short term, what didn’t work at all and what his goals were. I knew that we had some work to do, but I knew that I could help him.
Roy was an excellent client and a true joy to work with. His determination and drive to improve showed each session. I know that sometimes he was hesitant to believe that we could make the improvements that were promised, however he always stuck with it and never gave up. One thing about Roy that set him apart from many is that he was 100% committed to the plan from day one. He will be the first to tell you that he did not buy all of what I was throwing at him, however, with time, the improvements began to creep in he was sold.
When asked about how the treatment helped him he responded with the following:
“I was shocked that Loni was focusing on strengthening my back. As an old but active former athlete, I thought I Knew that stretching was the cure for me but that I just couldn’t get the stretches into the areas that I needed to. I Thought that Loni was going to assist me with that. Instead, she convinced me (over time) that while I was generally fit and strong all over, that my back was weak. Other muscles had taken over for my back and my back muscles had essentially fallen asleep. Loni first woke them up with preliminary strength training through bands, balance and table exercises and then within a few weeks, she decided I was ready to attack these sleepy back muscles with squats, dead lifts, chops, etc. I felt small improvements immediately and after the first month of twice a weeks, I became a true believer.”
Roy went from barely being able to bend over to touch his knees due to unbearable pain and fear of spasm to being able to fold forward without thinking about it. He went from light bodyweight exercise to lifting over 100 pounds.
“My low back felt like one thick block. Had pain in every position. I had no range of motion. I couldn’t bend over and touch my toes. I thought about it 24/7.”
How is his life different? Well, here is what he had to say:
“I work out daily with no back pain and no restrictions on my workout or daily activities. I don’t think about my back at all.”
Front my perspective, I know that he has had some major achievements with tasks around the home. These include being able to garden, move around his boat dock, and carry out all the summer furniture (with the help of his wife – credit to Kristen) without worrying about this back.
Roy is a true IPPTW success story and I know that he will make continued improvements as he stays active going further. He has been able to demonstrate an incredible amount of success and I could not be more proud.
“No matter your prior athletic or workout experience/knowledge, or how many books or articles you have read or YouTubes you have watched, you need to give your over to Loni completely and commit to her (and yourself) for a minimum several months.”
