OPTM Physical Therapy August 2018

OPTM Physical Therapy August 2018

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A Community Worth Serving GIVING BACK TO SARATOGA

I’ve lived in and around Saratoga nearly my entire life. In fact, I was born at El Camino Hospital, right up the road in Mountain View, and attended Saratoga Elementary, Redwood Middle School, and Saratoga High growing up. And though I went off to L.A. for the latter half of high school and attended UC Berkley and USC for higher education, my roots have always been firmly planted here in this beautiful little town. When it came time to start my own physical therapy clinic, I jumped at the chance to base it in the exact same neighborhood that I’d grown up in years before. Now, in addition all the work my team and I do at OPTM Saratoga, I do everything I possibly can to give back to the wonderful community that has provided me with everything I could possibly need, every step of the way. When you’re running a small business, it can be difficult to make room for everything you want to do, but I make it a priority to engage in as much community service as possible. First, there’s the Saratoga Rotary club, which raises tons of money for a wide slate of humanitarian projects and organizations around the world. As an assistant director of operations for the big annual Saratoga Rotary Art Show fundraiser, I’ve got my hands full making sure the event runs without a hitch over the past three years, but it’s a challenge I truly enjoy. It may sound cheesy, but I genuinely love the fellowship, the relationships I get to build with my colleagues in the organization and the people we help in the community, and, of course, the gratification that comes with doing something small and positive for the world. It’s the same reason I got involved with the local Age-Friendly Commission, a group of like-minded individuals who work together to develop programs to increase the quality of life of Saratogans of all ages. From activities like social

events to the RYDE senior transportation program we launched last year, it’s consistently rewarding to help this often-underserved subset of our community and give them all the tools to live happy, healthy lives. On a similar note, I was also recently elected to the Board of Directors of the Saratoga Senior Center. While I’m still settling into my role there, I’m excited to offer my expertise in helping local seniors get access to all kinds of fun and enlightening programs. The Senior Center is a real community hub, and I feel honored to be a part of that. Saratoga has always been known for its abundant natural beauty, its quiet yet driven atmosphere, and the wide range of stuff going on at every moment. But to me, the most important part of this incredible place is the people. I’m grateful to have a career helping local patients get back on their feet and doing the things they love to do, but my own personal mission ranges farther than even that. I strive to do all I can to earn my place in this wonderful community and to help make Saratoga better in any way I can, whether big or small. Dr. Fabrice Rockich

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For over 10 years, Todd Rollins has been a familiar face around OPTM Saratoga, steering countless patients toward healthy, pain-free lives. Across more than a decade and over thousands of conversations with his patients, he’s established genuine relationships with many of the people he serves. With that in mind, we’re guessing that many of his patients, both current and past, would like to join the OPTM Saratoga team this month in congratulating Todd on the birth of his newborn baby son, Rocco! Rocco came into this world in early June, happy and healthy as could be. Todd will be the first to admit that the weeks since have been a hectic adjustment, but of course, in the best way possible. Todd is over the moon about the little guy. Every once in a while, Rocco will even make an appearance around the clinic, so make sure to say hello if you get the chance! Back at the clinic, Todd is the same passionate, skilled, and attentive physical therapist he’s always been. He knows better than anyone that, though we often treat the same injuries, no two patients’ circumstances are exactly the same. “There’s a lot of variety in what we do,” he says. “Every once in a while, you’ll get a more unique, complex case — I welcome the challenge and the opportunity to learn something new or to try a new approach.” Recently, his son Rocco has also helped provide a source of motivation for his patients. “A patient came in with a brain injury, and it was my job to help her relearn how to walk,” he says. “So to stir up motivation, I told her that I had a child on the way. Before I left for my two-week break to take care of my son, I told her that I hoped to see her up and moving by the time I returned. When I came back, I was happy to see her condition had seriously improved!” Meet Todd Rollins … And His Newborn Son, Rocco!

TONY’S LASER SUCCESS STORY

I went to see Fabrice at OPTM Saratoga last year to see if his new laser could help me with my chronic pain and lack of flexibility in my elbows. I’ve been suffering from this pain for many years due to tendinitis in both elbows and, more specifically, to an old injury in my right elbow. I could barely even straighten my right arm out the whole way. I purchased a six-pack of laser treatments from Fabrice and immediately felt the benefit after my first session. After my third session, I could already straighten my right arm the whole way. After my last session, I could work out and do arm curls without the pain I had become accustomed to. I was so impressed with the quick results, I told Fabrice I wanted to open up a new business in Morgan Hill that focused solely on laser treatments! A few months later, I injured my right knee and had a pretty bad sprain. Every morning for the first four mornings after I hurt it, it would take me about five minutes just to get out of bed because of the blood rushing into my knee after laying horizontal all night. So much pain! I called Fabrice that day and asked if the laser would help. He said, “Let’s give it a shot,” and then squeezed me in that same day. Again, I felt the results right away, and the next morning I got out of bed with minimal pain in my knee. It was incredible. I already believed in the laser due to the success with my elbows, but this one sent me over the top. I texted Fabrice right away and told him this laser thing is flat-out amazing. I went in for more sessions on my knee over the next two weeks and it really accelerated the healing process. It just works. And it works well. And I am a very skeptical person when it comes to this type of stuff, which is why I lived with my elbow pain for so long, and why I would have just gutted out the pain and let my knee heal on its own over a longer period of time. The laser changed all that for me. Thank you, Fabrice! –Tony Del Monaco 6/9/18

It’s these kinds of real connections that Todd forms with his patients that make him such a popular, skilled therapist around OPTM Saratoga. It’s hard to imagine someone more dedicated to achieving the best outcomes for his patients. We’re so happy about the latest addition to his family, and we’re grateful to have him in our clinic!

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Shoulder Pain: All You Need to Know

As we wrote about in June, shoulder pain is a lot more common than most people realize. But when you consider how intricate the connections between your upper arm (humerus), shoulder blade (scapula), and collarbone (clavicle) are, it should come as no surprise that they are highly susceptible to injury, especially as we age. In particular, the bundle of muscles we call the rotator cuff, which surrounds the shoulder joint and keeps the structure in place, easily becomes irritated and inflamed. This is especially true if you’re a swimmer, pitcher, or tennis enthusiast, but rotator cuff injuries also frequently result from repetitive use in your ordinary day-to-day activities, after a traumatic fall, or even from degeneration as you get older. In the vast majority of cases, either an inflamed bursa — the fluid sacs responsible for lubricating your shoulder — or tendinitis is to blame for your pain. But in more serious cases, you may be suffering from a full rotator cuff tear. Regardless of the source of your pain, the first step toward treatment is a comprehensive assessment to pinpoint the precise cause and nature of your injury. A physical therapist can guide you through a number of simple tests to determine your range of motion, find specific problem areas within your shoulder, and diagnose the culprit.

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