Monty Merrill, owner of Lodi Physical Therapy, talks about therapy and its benefits. (Jennifer M. Howell/News-Sentinel)

Physical therapist educates patients to reduce pain

Monty Merrill is fascinated with how muscles and joints work. A physical therapist at Lodi Physical Therapy, he will often ask himself how much better he can make a person. He believes creating the right environment aids in the success of physical therapy.

"Our goal is to help a person and educate them so they can do it right themselves to prevent it," he said.

What types of problems does physical therapy help?

There are different areas of physical therapy to specialize in. We see patients who have been in car accidents, athletic injuries and work injuries. We do see some with neurological problems, such as those who have had strokes or head injuries. My wife is a women's health specialist. She works with incontinence issues such as after childbirth and with aging. We deal with pediatrics in developmental issues or birth defects, delayed development.

What types of exercises do the patients do?

It is dictated on what we find on the evaluation. For example, with back pain they do exercises to strengthen back muscles or the stomach muscles. If the thigh muscles are tight, we do exercises to strengthen those. We usually do exercises without the machines, such as gym balls or free weights.

What has been your greatest success story?

I had a gentleman come in some years ago. He was a police officer who was in a terrible accident and had a serious stroke. When he first came in, his goal was to make transitioning for his wife easier, so she could move him from place to place. He was athletic before and he worked his butt off. Over a period of a year, he went from sitting in his wheelchair to walking with a cane around the building. He was able to walk into his 50th birthday party. That kind of success comes from them and we just create the right kind of environment.

Has there been a time you couldn't help someone?

Yes, there have been several and when someone comes in and we evaluate them, we make sure they are in the right place. If we can't help them we make sure we get them to the right place where they can get help.

October is physical therapy month. What does that mean for you?

Physical therapy month for us is to try to let people know what we do. Last year we had a pump it up run, which is a 5k and a 10k run. This year, we are having it on Oct. 25 at Oak Grove Park. We want to let people know what physical therapy is about. The proceeds will go to local high schools for kids with equipment needs. We want to promote physical therapy and do something for the community.

What do you enjoy about it?

I like seeing people change and move better. I like seeing people happy.

Can a person go to a physical therapist even if they are not in pain, such as for improving posture?

Yes, physical therapy typically has to have a physician referral. That can be for poor posture, if it's causing them not to move as they should or have poor balance.

How long does rehabilitation usually take?

Typically, it runs about four to six weeks off and on about two to three times a week. It really depends on the injury. Some have a crink in their back or neck and they are in and out in one visit. For someone who has been in a car accident, we see for about a year. It depends on what the problem is.

When should a person seek out a physical therapist?

When they have pain or problems with functions. When they have trouble doing things they want to do. I'd rather see a person earlier than later before things get really broken down.

What is the youngest and oldest person you have ever seen?

Well, we have children in here around two or three months old for some developmental problems. The oldest, I think, was 98 or 99. The person came in to work on their balance. They were still active and still driving and wasn't the scariest person in the parking lot.

What would you like to see for the future of physical therapy?

I'd like to see people being able to come directly to a physical therapist, and I'd like to see all our practitioners practice on a truly professional level.