Staff Spotlight: Morgan Wood

Staff Spotlight: Morgan Wood

Morgan grew up in St. Johnsbury and after living in Burlington for 10 years moved back to the Northeast Kingdom to be closer to family and her 3 nephews.

Morgan is a huge fan of live comedy and concerts and one of her bucket list items is she wants to travel to Red Rocks  to see her favorite band (Dirty Heads) play their favorite venue.  She also enjoys decorating cakes (what she went to school for).

You can find Morgan behind both desks in Lyndonville as well as St. Johnsbury clinics

Staff Spotlight: Megan Lynch, PTA

Staff Spotlight: Megan Lynch, PTA

Megan has been employed as a Physical Therapy Assistant at Dan Wyand, PT & Associates since October, 2005. She graduated from River Valley College in 2004 with an Associate’s degree in Allied Health Science.

Her clinical interests include lymphedema and pulmonary rehabilitation.

Megan’s hobbies include spending time with her family, hiking, reading and snowshoeing.

Staff Spotlight: Brigitte Brosseau-Berry

Brigitte Brosseau-Berry
Administrative Manager, Lyndonville 

Brigitte is a Physical Therapy Aide at Dan Wyand, PT & Associates and has been with the business since 1985.  Currently, she can be seen buzzing around the Lyndonville clinic in her managerial role but also as a  Rehab Aide.

Brigitte graduated from Lyndon State College with a BS degree in Physical Education with a concentration in teaching K-12th grade.

A native of the Northeast Kingdom, Brigitte enjoys gardening, golfing, reading and spending time with her family.

Staff Spotlight: Kelly Wilkins

Staff Spotlight: Kelly Wilkins, MPT

Kelly has been employed at Dan Wyand, PT & Associates since December 2003. She graduated from the University of New England in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science and went on to complete her Master’s in Physical Therapy in 2003.
She has continued her education through multiple courses geared towards women’s health, including Pregnancy & Postpartum, Beyond Kegels I and II and Female Pelvic Floor Dysfunction. She has also received training in various other manual therapy techniques.
Kelly loves watching her two kids compete in athletics and has never missed a game.

Creasing your Hips in Squat

Creasing your Hips for Better Squats

I always want to make sure clients are initiating the correct joints and muscles throughout a movement, and with the squat I always look at where the hips are at the beginning of the lowering phase.  I verbalize ‘crease the hips’ and what I mean by that is to reach  back with the hips or flex the hips while pushing heels into the ground. 
Doing this before initiating the knee bend puts your hips in a place so that you are able to squat over your heels, your knees don’t scream forward over the ankles, and you are more likely to feel your heels drive into the ground and drive through your heels on the ascent.  
Take a look at the example in the link below in the video and how I reach with the hips first before the descent.
Additionally, as a coach, it is very helpful to have some verbal cues to instruct the patient/client on how to perform the hip crease effectively. Some verbal cues that help me relate what I’m looking for with my clients: 
Crease the hips
Lower your body into your heels
Hip Crease for Better Squats
Utilizing the hip crease before performing the squat sets your patient/client up for success and helps accelerate appropriate form which will improve movement skill and eventually healing/strength.

Ben Warstler, CSCS, NSCA-CPT, USAW-1, KBA, YFS-1

Ben, former owner of Fortitude Fitness Systems, INC (Bens Bootcamps) for 12 years is returning to his roots in rehabilitation. Ben graduated from the University of Maine at Presque Isle with a degree in Athletic Training in 2001. Expanding his Sports Medicine skill at Amherst College for 2 years working with 40 varsity athletic teams, Ben moved more into the strength and conditioning field but has always pulled on his athletic training background. He enjoys seeing his clients realize their potential and break through previously thought barriers in their movement and abilities.

Ben, originally from Maine, moved to Vermont in 2005 and lives in Lyndonville with his 4 children, and wife Nedah. In his free time Ben enjoys weightlifting, spending time with his family, and tending to his chickens.

Staff Spotlight: Jennifer Hemond

Staff Spotlight:

Jennifer Hemond, MPT

Jennifer has been employed as a Physical Therapist at our clinic since June, 2007. She graduated from Lyndon State College in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in Health Science and from the University of Vermont in 2007 with a Master’s in Physical Therapy (MPT).

Jennifer continues to further her education and develop her skills through orthopedic evaluation and manual therapy courses.

She promotes utilization of aquatic therapy and oversees the aquatic program offered by Dan Wyand, PT & Associates.

Jennifer takes great pride in her family, and enjoys caring for her home, spending time with friends, running and staying active.

Knee Replacement Therapy: A Quick Reference Guide

Today Physical Therapy Assistant, Megan Lynch has a step by step process of the therapy process of recovering from Knee Joint Replacement. If you are thinking about a knee replacement or your doctor has mentioned this procedure, this can be some very helpful information.

When looking at a knee joint replacement or any significant surgical procedure, it’s important to prepare the body for surgery. One of the ways is to build up the strength of the surrounding muscles. The knee is no different. Some have physical therapy before surgery to focus on strengthening the surrounding muscles. This will ensure a much more smooth recovery post surgery.

 

Immediate post surgery, with a timeline of 1 to 2 weeks, will start with proper gait mechanics most often beginning with a front wheeled walker to a cane/walking poles, manual lymphatic drainage, soft tissue mobilization, and passive range of motion.

As weeks progress the therapist will wean out the manual lymphatic drainage once swelling is managed and focus more on balance exercises and Range of Motion and strengthening for Lower Extremity. The muscle groups included are Quadriceps, Hamstrings, Glutes, Inner thigh and outer thigh, calf and core stability.

Physical therapy will typically come to a conclusion when patients have achieved an end goal 130 degrees of flexion in the knee and 0 degrees of extension. This can typically take about 4 to 6 weeks.

 

Megan Lynch, PTA

Megan has been employed as a Physical Therapy Assistant at Dan Wyand, PT & Associates since October, 2005. She graduated from River Valley College in 2004 with an Associate’s degree in Allied Health Science. Her clinical interests include lymphedema and pulmonary rehabilitation.

Megan’s hobbies include hiking, reading and snowshoeing.

Staff Spotlight: Mike Matteis

Staff Spotlight: Mike Matteis

Mike is the familiar face in our Lyndonville clinic, doubling as clinic manager as well as physical therapist.

Mike received his Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2012 from the University of St. Augustine with a concentration in Manual Therapy. Mike’s 10+ years of experience have been concentrated on outpatient orthopedics, specializing in manual therapy and sports medicine. Mike loves his profession because he gets such satisfaction from assisting his patients in achieving their greatest rehab potential.

Mike is originally from the Northeast Kingdom and is proud to call it his home. His interests include spending time with his family, golf, ice hockey and outdoor activities. 

He spends much of his free time coaching youth ice hockey and baseball in the community. He serves as a board member for the Lyndon Area Sports Association and the Lyndon Institute Alumni Association.

All is Not Well: Living with Lymphedema

Lymphedema is a chronic, progressive abnormal accumulation of fluid in the subcutaneous (below the skin) tissue resulting from inadequate transport capacity of the lymphatic system that leads to disfigurement of one or more body part(s) involved.  It can affect the limbs, the trunk, the genitalia,   and the head and neck.  Edema is the more acute swelling of any body part caused by so many factors.  Edema of more than 3 months’ duration is termed chronic edema.
All chronic edema is lymphedema as by this time, cumulative damage to the lymphatic system may have transpired which would be responsible for the various signs of volume changes,   range of motion deficits, strength impairments, abnormal cutaneous alterations as well as for the symptoms of heaviness, pain/discomfort, and tightness in the body part(s) involved that pose varying levels of functional mobility limitations,   increase risk for infection, and cause quality of life to deteriorate.
 

                            Adapted from Avis Hospital Images

 

                  Adapted from The Vein Institute @ SSA

The lymphatic system is primarily responsible for the body’s immune function.  It also plays a major role in the body’ fluid balance.  In the past decade, with the revision of the Starling principle, now known as the Michel-Weinbaum Glycocalyx Model or the Revised Starling Hypothesis for Microvascular Fluid Exchange,   the lymphatic capillaries (not just the venous capillaries) have been found to subsequently reabsorb up to 100% of the fluid and proteins from the interstitial space (space outside of the cells) before it is transported back to the right side of the heart via the four lymphovenous valves located in the junction of the internal and external jugular vein with the subclavian vein. 

Therefore, any affectation to this system can cause interstitial fluid overload, damaged lymph flow, reactive inflammation and fibrosis, and connective tissue derangements that give lymphedema its characteristic signs/symptoms.

 


According to the World health Organization and to some European studies made in the last ten years,  there are an estimated 250 million worldwide living with lymphedema of which 10 million Americans are afflicted,  which is more than HIV, ALS,  Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, and ALS combined.  Currently, there is only one certified lymphedema therapist available for every 1,000 Americans struggling with this disease, increasing burden of care.  30% of cancer survivors have lymphedema.  American veterans suffering from trauma, injuries, infection, and those with burn pit exposure are at risk for lymphedema. 

Lymphedema staging is based on its manifestations.  In Stage O/subclinical stage, the lymph system is injured but still works well enough to manage the flow of lymph. There is no swelling but you may have early signs of numbness, tingling or fullness.
In Stage I,   swelling is mildly visible as the lymph fluid begins to accumulate, characterized by pitting edema.  Patient can test for pitting edema by pressing a finger firmly against the skin for a few seconds and a dent or pit is left behind on the skin.  There is no swelling in the morning, but it comes back and worsens as the day goes on.  Swelling typically goes away when the body part is elevated for a while.
Stage II lymphedema has a swelling that does not get better on its own without physical therapy.  The tissues become fibrotic where it gets hard and thicken from scar tissue formation.  The patient is at higher risk for skin problems, including cellulitis.
Stage III lymphedema makes the arm or leg engorged and movement of the limb is difficult. The skin may get very hard and scaly. Lymph fluid may leak from breaks in the skin (lymphorrea). There is a higher risk for recurrent infections and other medical problems related to lymphedema.

 Adapted from More Than Fat, A Story of Lipedema site

 

COMPLETE DECONGESTIVE THERAPY at DAN WYAND, PT and ASSOCIATES

Currently, there is no cure for lymphedema but a program called complete decongestive therapy or complex decongestive therapy provided by a certified lymphedema therapist trained with at least 135 hours of in-person/hands on training along with a 90-hour online theoretical framework exposure can help you with symptom amelioration and mitigation.  This program consists of manual lymphatic drainage, multi-layer short-stretch bandaging,  proper skin care, lymphedema remedial exercises, and patient education/training during the reductive phase/Phase I in the lymphedema clinic followed by maintenance phase/Phase II at home.
Lymphedema therapists work with patients and DME provider to procure needed durable medical equipment consisting of appropriately-fitting compression garments and pneumatic compression devices that can assist with the success of the maintenance phase at home.
At Dan Wyand, PT and Associates, with referral from your oncologist or your primary care provider, we ensure that these services and treatment program are provided to you.  If you or anybody you know have swelling, both acute and chronic,   ask your doctor about lymphedema to ensure that needed treatment options are offered to you.
 

Jacqueline E. Abella, PT, DPT, CLT

Jackie trained to be a certified lymphedema therapist at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan, NY through the Norton School of Lymphatic Therapy and has helped so many individuals in Vermont and New Hampshire struggling with their lymphedema and swelling since 2011.  She provides complete decongestive therapy at the Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital medical/surgical unit with appointments made through the St Johnsbury Dan Wyand, PT and Associates clinic.

Jackie joined the team in 2018 to be the main inpatient physical therapist at NVRH after working in community-based rehabilitation, hospital inpatient, hospital outpatient, and pro-bono physical therapy settings in the Philippines for over 10 years and after working in various skilled nursing facilities in Vermont towns of St Johnsbury,   Lyndonville,   Newport,  Greensboro,  Windsor,  and Springfield as well as in the home health setting. 

 

She graduated from Silliman University in her home country of the Philippines in March of 1998 with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy degree and is committed to working with individuals in fostering achievement of their highest mobility.  Jackie earned her doctorate degree in Physical Therapy from Arcadia University in Glenside, PA in 2017.

 

She loves to spend time with her family mountain biking, kayaking, hiking, and participating in walks for a cause.

 

References upon request

Staff Spotlight: Sara Stinson

Sara Stinson, PT, DPT

Sara graduated from the University of Vermont in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and from Franklin Pierce University in 2009 with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT). 

She has been employed with us since 2009 and has completed several advanced courses in management of vestibular and neurological disorders, and is LSVT Big Certified.

Sara lives in Danville with her husband and their two children. She enjoys running, hiking and volunteering as Girl Scout troop leader.