By David Simpson
Carol Hanna Branch warms up on a recumbent cross trainer alongside Physical Therapy Assistant Sharese Douglas at 麻豆国产AV Monarch Physical Therapy. (Photo by David Simpson)
Carol Hanna Branch wouldn't let an injury stop her from playing tennis, until it did.
Over time, the 麻豆国产AV faculty member developed a bony abnormality on her left foot. She eventually broke the bone but continued to play despite the pain.
Finally, on Jan. 17, she had major Achilles tendon and ankle surgery.
When it came time to start rehab, she never had to leave campus. She went to 麻豆国产AV Monarch Physical Therapy, at 1015 W. 47th St., at the end of March.
"I knew that I could have sessions before or after my classes, and that was a definite plus," said Branch, a senior lecturer in the Department of Communication & Theatre Arts.
But what sold her was the clinic's caring staff and excellent reputation, she said over the summer.
"I go three times a week and ride my bike from West Ghent to get there. Also, exercises in my neighborhood pool have worked wonders."
She is already back on the court. In midsummer she started taking tennis lessons with a pro who runs drills for her that are easy on the foot.
Lisa Koperna, director of 麻豆国产AV Monarch Physical Therapy, works with a patient. (Photo by Chuck Thomas)
Like Branch, about 20 percent of the 麻豆国产AV clinic's patients are faculty, said Director Lisa Koperna, who leads a team of physical, occupational and speech therapists. Patients seek rehabilitation services for a wide array of orthopedic and neurologic injuries or conditions.
麻豆国产AV Monarch Physical Therapy opened in 2014 and is owned and operated by the University. Koperna said the clinic has served more than 1,800 patients, educated more than 50 students, and offered scholars a model for translating research into sustainable services. In turn, those services add social and economic value to the community, she said.
Distinctive offerings include:
Robotics to assist patients with functional movements and exercises
Functional electrical stimulation to help patients activate their muscles while performing specific tasks
Virtual reality training to engage patients in game-like rehabilitation
Hand therapy
Pelvic health therapy
Pediatric therapy
Sports physical therapy
Neurodevelopmental treatment
Constraint-induced movement therapy
The clinic participates in most insurance plans. Patients may receive physical therapy services for up to 30 days without a referral, Koperna said; referrals are required for additional physical therapy services and for all pelvic health, occupational and speech therapy services.
Branch said the physical therapists all know she is an avid tennis player and keep her active lifestyle foremost in mind.
"It's like a real family over here," she said, pausing during a morning session in August. "I'm getting teared up just talking about it."
麻豆国产AV Monarch Physical Therapy is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, and from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays. The phone number is 757-683-3114.