MyoFit Clinics are helping patients eliminate pain without drugs, surgery or expensive x-rays and MRIs
By Patricia Nugent
In economics, “cutting out the middleman” means customers buy directly from the manufacturer, without paying more money and spending more time dealing with a supply chain of wholesalers and retailers.
The same theory applies to receiving care for musculoskeletal injuries or conditions, says Dr. Adam Cramer, PT, DPT, founder of MyoFit physical therapy clinics.
“I wish everyone knew that they don’t have to see their primary care physician first,” he says. “It’s easier, more affordable and more effective to start therapy as soon as possible without delay. You can contact us directly to get started. You don’t need a referral.”
“If you don’t want surgery, then don’t consult with a surgeon first,” insists Dr. Cramer. “We see members of our community in this scenario all the time—where they are not offered physical therapy for injuries because they consult with a physician who specializes in surgery. And if they are offered therapy first, it’s likely available only at the surgeon’s practice, which is a conflict of interest involving referral for profit.”
ºMyoFit Clinic is a family-owned, independent, private practice that specializes only in physical therapy medicine and is not affiliated with any hospital system or physician. “There is no conflict of interest here,” Dr. Cramer says. “You have access to the best care possible—locally—with providers who are always working in your best interest to meet your goals. “
Diagnosing Injuries
The goal at MyoFit is to diagnose injury and address its root cause. The clinic treats patients conservatively, avoiding surgery, injections, and pain meds.
“As Doctors of Physical Therapy, we are trained to identify injury through the power of observation based on how the patient moves and responds to tests during the evaluation,” Dr. Cramer says. “It is not necessary to resort to costly x-rays or MRIs for diagnosis, as they often present a false picture of what’s really happening within the structures of the body. By observing and evaluating how a person walks or bears weight, we can pinpoint the best course of treatment, determining if there’s a fracture or injury to the muscle, tendons or ligaments right on the spot.”
Dr. Cramer says that we all have “abnormalities” that are normal in our bodies, such as arthritis, disc bulging, and fraying of tendons. “This normal aging of structures, however, does show up on imaging as abnormal, which can lead to a tunnel-vision approach by physicians,” he adds. “This often results in unnecessary procedures, including injections and surgery, when, in reality, those normal aging joints and discs are not the cause of the current symptoms.”
The root cause, Dr. Cramer says, can often only be identified through an extensive one-on-one evaluation with a Doctor of Physical Therapy who can view the entire body from a functional standpoint, identifying the source of the pain, then determining the best course of conservative treatment for that individual.
The key, he says, is timing.
“Most bumps or bruises should resolve themselves in three or four days,” Dr. Cramer explains. “If you have pain that doesn’t go away in seven days, it’s time to seek help. Ignoring pain is like ignoring the ‘check engine’ light on your car and hoping for the best. And covering up pain with meds or anti-inflammatories actually delays your body’s natural healing response because it makes you ignore the elephant in the room, which is typically the lack of strength and mobility required to support your daily demands. When we don’t have enough mobility or strength, the body still needs to do what it has to do, so it starts to strain and compensate—which can ultimately lead to injury. Pain meds, injections and surgery often will not help because they do not address this lack of mobility and strength.”
The Doctors of Physical Therapy at MyoFit Clinic specialize in eliminating pain, improving mobility and strength, and returning each patient back to normal without high-risk surgery, costly imaging or addictive pain medication.
Covid’s Negative Impact on Activity Levels
“Changes in our everyday activity levels—like we experienced when Covid hit—can push our bodies out of rhythm,” Dr. Cramer says. “For all the people who are working at home now, instead of waking up, showering and driving to work, they get out of bed and walk a few steps to their computer.”
These subtle disruptions and positional changes add up. For instance, he notes that those who are getting groceries delivered don’t even have to push a cart through the store anymore.
“With all of us spending more time on the computer, we are seeing the effect of those positional changes with more back and neck pain, and carpal tunnel syndrome,” he says. “We have also treated a lot of people who have suffered injuries from falling during the pandemic, and we attribute these increased falls to people sitting more, not getting out, and not being challenged by normal walking on uneven ground—activities we encountered on a daily basis pre-pandemic.”
Growing Demand for Telehealth E-visits
As we head into the snowiest time of year in Northeast Ohio, Dr. Cramer says their demand for telehealth e-visits has been growing.
“We realize how challenging it can be for people to get out to appointments,” says Dr. Cramer. “That’s why we established a telehealth program where our patients can receive treatment from their living room. Our therapists actively evaluate and demonstrate the therapy, putting the patient through a variety of physical test in order to diagnosis injuries. We’ve always taken a proactive path to caring for our patients, working together for the best outcomes. Telehealth is a good example of that.”
Dr. Cramer and his wife—Courtney Cramer, PTA—were both born, raised and live in Geauga County. Locating their family-owned business here was a no-brainer.
“This is the community that raised us,” he says. “We want to ensure that everyone gets the care they need and deserve to achieve their best quality of living. We see the challenges in healthcare; we see friends and family who have had unnecessary surgeries and the challenges that followed. All that could have been avoided if they saw a physical therapist first, one who is not affiliated with a hospital or surgeon. In our practice, we are doing things differently so we can achieve improved outcomes, lower healthcare costs, and reduce the risks associated with injuries—including surgery and pain meds. This is exactly why we started MyoFit Clinic in Geauga County in 2015.”
Founded by licensed Doctor of Physical Therapy Adam M Cramer, PT, DPT, MyoFit Clinics are located in Ashtabula, Chardon and Middlefield. Physical therapy and preventive checkups are covered by insurances, and the clinics accept Medicare, Medicaid and all commercial insurances. Visit MyoFitClinic.com to find out more. The Chardon Clinic phone number is 440-286-1007.