Try physical therapy at MyoFit for what ails you
By Mary Malik
We’ve all seen the advertisements for medications that promise the fix for everything from back and knee pain to weight gain and depression. If you’ve got it, there’s probably a pill for it.
Instead of masking pain with medications that don’t fix the problem or undergoing surgeries that risk infection and are often ineffective, let MyoFit Physical Therapy Clinic provide you with the path to pain-free living.
“Physical therapy can and should be the first response to pain or injury,” says MyoFit CEO and owner Dr. Adam Cramer, PT, DPT.
“People see doctors seeking pain medications, injections and even surgery to ease their pain. These are not solutions and come with many risks, including addiction and infection. If you don’t want surgery then don’t consult with a surgeon first.“ Always consult with a independent doctor of physical therapy first which will deliver immediate results and have you avoid surgery all together.”
Dr. Cramer has had an interest in physical therapy since playing high school sports in Chardon and spending summers working manual labor jobs.
“I had my share of injuries, aches and pains, so I pursued physical therapy in college and received my doctorate (DPT) in 2010,” says Dr. Cramer. “I worked in acute care, skilled nursing and home care and often saw people returning home with pain, still in need of therapy to regain function.”
To address this problem, Dr. Cramer and his wife, Courtney Cramer, PTA, MyoFit’s co-owner and a licensed physical therapist assistant, started an outpatient practice where they treated patients in their own homes.
“One-on-one care is critical for the best outcome,” says Dr. Cramer. “We realized we could help more people by opening a clinic featuring one-on-one treatment while continuing to offer home care.”
In 2015, Dr. Cramer and Courtney opened MyoFit Clinic in Middlefield. The Chardon location opened in 2017 and the new state-of-the-art Ashtabula location will open this fall 2019.
“At MyoFit, you work with your own personal licensed doctor of physical therapy,” says Courtney. “We don’t put you on a machine and walk away to work with someone else. “We are talking with you, educating you about what we’re doing and why we’re doing it, while providing hands-on care during the entire treatment session.”
Education is a key component of the treatment at MyoFit, starting with the front desk staff personally guiding patients through the process. As an independent provider, MyoFit is not connected with hospitals or doctors. And with Ohio being a direct access state, no physician referral is necessary to access physical therapy services here. All treatment is covered by medical insurance including Medicare and Medicaid.
The doctors of physical therapy at MyoFit clinic have several techniques at their disposal to treat patients,including medical massage, dry needling, instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization, laser therapy and spinal decompression. They also help patients understand what’s causing the pain, how to treat the pain independently, and how to avoid potential triggers that may create exacerbations of symptoms.
“Everyone leaves here with handouts and a free app designed specifically for them so they can treat themselves at home,” says Dr. Cramer. “No one leaves in pain and we teach you how to stay that way.”
MyoFit’s doctors of physical therapy treat people of all ages who have pain, including those who want to avoid surgeries, total joint replacements, and rotator cuff repair, as well as those with herniated discs, neurological deficits, pain stemming from injuries, and issues like loss of balance and strength.
“We focus on changing what caused the pain in the first place and identifying risk factors,” says Dr. Cramer.
“We take your extensive medical and personal histories then work on reducing your symptoms by utilizing heat, manual hands-on therapy such as massage and trigger point release techniques. Once you’re feeling better, we teach you the right way to move, function and how to treat your symptoms independently.”
At MyoFit, movement is everything. If you’re not moving well, you’re not functioning well in your life.
“Because we are one-on-one, we see immediately what’s working and what isn’t, then fine tune your treatment,” says Courtney. “You have to change to get results. We guide you through that change and provide you with the tools for success.”
The MyoFit staff relies heavily on communication to motivate patients and ensure positive outcomes.
“We explain the physics of what’s happening to you and how the body responds,” says Dr. Cramer. “The more information you have, the more you can help yourself.”
With three MyoFit Clinics and the continuation of offering home care to all patients at no extra cost, Dr. Cramer and Courtney are fulfilling their dream of giving back to their community.
“With no ties to doctors or hospitals, we are free to treat our patients in a manner we know works best, based on scientific evidence,” says Dr. Cramer. “We are an evidence-based provider; we don’t perform any treatments that are not proven to be effective through scientific studies. The ultimate proof is the positive outcomes we see every day with our clients.”
MyoFit also partners with the Geauga Board of Disabilities. Therapists work in group homes, private homes and day program settings with adults and children, helping them to reach their full potential.
“Every employee at MyoFit is local,” says Courtney. “We care about the people of this community and looking forward to helping them to get moving again.”
MyoFit Physical Therapy Clinic is located in Middlefield at 14950 S. Springdale Avenue. Hours are Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The phone number is 440-632-1007. The Chardon location is at 11850 Mayfield Road, Suite 1. Hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 440-286-1007. Opening this fall, the Ashtabula location is at 2916 North Ridge Road. The website is MyofitClinic.com.