A trainer at my gym noted that my lats were very tight, which was inhibiting some lat-involved…read moremovements, like front rack barbell movements. I signed up for a sports massage with Niels Pedersen, and after one lat-torturing (in the best way) session, I noticed that I had gained several inches on my strict toes-to-bar, another lat-heavy movement that I had been trying and failing to unlock for the last two years (but was not on my radar in relation to the massage therapy). I signed up for a second session with Niels, and the week after, to my astonishment (and to that of my cheering gym peers who witnessed my prior struggles), I suddenly can do strict toes-to-bar! Huge thank you to Niels and the magic/slight torture he bestowed.

Briefly, Ryan helped me regain near-normal knee flexion/extension by week 3 after a total knee…read morereplacement. He is amazing!!! Over the last few years, the limitations of osteoarthritis and other chronic degenerative conditions forced me to be more sedentary. I had multiple surgeries, including two bunionectomies, a spinal fusion and laminectomy, and, most recently, a total knee replacement. I started going to Milestones Movement Therapy because my daughter wanted to take a more holistic approach to my health, with Class IV laser treatments to promote healing and decrease pain as I recovered from my knee surgery and functional movement therapy to help me avoid future injuries. Working with Ryan gave me the opportunity to thrive; continue enjoying activities like hiking, paddle boarding, white water rafting, kayaking, and hula dancing; and maintain an active lifestyle as I approach my 80s. I am so thankful that he has been part of my recovery team! I think if I started seeing Ryan much sooner, I could have avoided the damage that caused me to need my previous surgeries. My first appointment was for laser treatment with Miles on post-op day 2. Before the session, my knee and lower leg were swollen like one giant, overfilled balloon, and performing my physical therapy exercises was so uncomfortable that I could barely get my knee to flex at 90°, even with strong pain medication. I was amazed by how much my pain decreased and my range of motion increased after that first visit! I started movement therapy with Ryan on my second visit (post-op day 4). He performed cupping, laser, and massage treatments to improve the circulation in my leg and around my knee, and I walked out of the office again with markedly decreased pain and stiffness. Over the next 16 days in which I had bi-weekly visits with Ryan, I felt stronger (less pained and more stable), stopped needing pain medication altogether, and was ultimately released early from in-home physical therapy when my flexion and extension measured at 130° and -4°, respectively. My outpatient physical therapist said "normal" flexion is 130° and extension is 0°, and he and my surgeon mentioned how surprised they were by the rate and extent of my progress. It is post-op day 30 now, and Ryan and I have started addressing some of my chronic postural/pedal concerns. I can walk without a cane, ride a recumbent bike, and navigate stairs. I am working on strengthening my muscles, improving the mobility of different joints, and trusting my new knee to support different loads. Ryan is a true professional. Every time I see him, he asks whether I have questions/concerns, actively and openly listens, and addresses things in a way that makes me feel very comfortable under his care, even while he pushes against the boundaries of what I think is possible. Ryan is extremely thorough when explaining different modalities and their benefits and knowledgeable about rehabbing the human body, so my family and I trust his judgment. When my extension plateaued at -10°, for example, and other health professionals were telling me to just focus on contracting certain muscles to get my leg to straighten, Ryan's insight into the rotational aspect of knee flexion/extension and knee mobilization treatments got me to -4°. Ryan is also patient, constantly showing my daughter different treatments and exercises to try with me at home; and funny, engaging, and motivating, always keeping my spirits high while we work through painful or physically/neurologically taxing issues. My daughter and I are very pleased with Ryan's quality of care and feel so fortunate to benefit from his expertise that we've told all of our friends and relatives about my recovery journey with him. Several of our friends have started or will soon start working with him. He and the rest of the team at Milestones Movement Therapy are amazing at collaborating to ensure you have the best opportunities for improvement. Working with them is definitely worth the investment!