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By K. Reka Badger
In this wonderland of bike paths, hiking trails and playing fields, athletes and weekend warriors alike sometimes find themselves beset by aching muscles and nagging injuries. When pain from play, accident or simple wear and tear strikes, Santa Ynez Valley residents seeking relief begin their recovery by calling physical therapist Rob Rosenberry.
A generous and gifted practitioner, Rosenberry owns and operates Rob Rosenberry Physical Therapy and Performance Fitness, a multi-service facility designed to address a wide variety of diagnoses, including orthopedic, musculoskeletal and sports injuries. From manual therapy and aquatic rehabilitation, to exercise prescription and follow-up care, he offers patients the welcome prospect of long term results. |
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"This community is so active," Rosenberry says, "not just people in their 20s and 30s, but even into their 70s and 80s, and I look for ways to keep them going."
Rosenberry, an avid basketball player who has endured several ankle sprains, as well as knee and shoulder reconstruction, empathizes with his clients, and understands their drive to stay active.
"I still play year round," he admits, "and will occasionally resprain the same ankle. After all my injuries, I diligently did my own home training and strengthening. I'm a good patient."
In fact, it was an early experience as a patient that guided Rosenberry onto his current career path.
"I had a sports injury in high school," he explains. "I went to physical therapy and that piqued my interest. I was interested in the sciences through high school, and I just went for it." |
A long-held dream of RosenberryÕs was realized in 2003 with the opening of Performance Fitness, his state-of-the-art gym next door to the physical therapy clinic.
From left, back row: personal trainers Hannes Fritsch, Lydia Adame, Gym Manager, Jim Hunter. Front: personal trainer Shannon Stewart.. |
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"I attended Loma Linda University and did my training in Riverside, San Bernardino, Upland, L.A., wherever the condition of my car would get there and back without breaking down," he laughs.
In 1983, Rosenberry and his wife, De, returned to her hometown in the Santa Ynez Valley, and four years later, he started his clinic. As business grew, he relocated four times to ever-larger facilities, and following his most recent move, finally realized a long-held dream to open a well-equipped gym right next door.
Inside the spacious gym, natural light spills onto a dazzling array of exercise equipment designed to tone and strengthen every muscle group of the body. Regularly scheduled classes range from jazzercise, spinning and Pilates, to yoga, tai-chi and cardio-kickboxing.
"We opened Performance Fitness in December 2003," he says. "Anyone can join and members have access to two indoor heated swim-ex pools and all the classes. If someone has a concern about re-injury with regard to a particular exercise, we're there to advise them." |
| The clinic's study model is always on call at Rosenberry's clinic to assist physical therapy staff with explanations in their quest to help those recovering from injuries. From left: Michelle Allen, Michelle Leyva, Rob Rosenberry, Kerry McPherson and Jackie Jo Korte. Physical therapy staff person Dusty Nielsen is missing from this photo. |
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"What makes our gym unique," he adds, "is that our physical therapy clinic is just through the door. This benefits our clients, with injuries or without, because we're always available."
Along with maintaining his thriving practice and state-of-the-art gym, Rosenberry hosts Community Health Connections, a series of free public lectures covering medical, exercise, nutrition and elder care issues.
"One of my goals is to reach out to the community and educate people about how to stay fit and healthy," Rosenberry declares. "We have experts come in and talk about subjects of interest and provide the public with information to help them make good health decisions."
Pegging radiant health to regular exercise, Rosenberry advises clients to pick an activity and make it a habit, whether it's walking, swimming, gardening or playing a sport.
"Whatever flips your switch," he smiles. "Find what you like to do and do it consistently, challenge your cardio-vascular system to keep fit."
For patients recovering from an injury, Rosenberry offers appropriate treatment before encouraging them to resume regular exercise. Among the many modalities he employs, he finds a technique called Strain Counterstrain, pioneered by Dr. Lawrence Jones in the 1950s, to be especially useful.
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"It's a fantastic technique," he maintains, "very gentle and effective for treatment of injuries of the spine, back and extremities. If I treat someone using Strain Counterstrain, I may not have to do any other manipulation, but if I do, it makes subsequent treatments more effective.
"I was first exposed to it in 1984 through a continuing education course," he remembers. "After more training I got certified last November and have started hosting training courses here for other PTs from around the country."
In his quest to keep Valley residents healthy and physically active, Rosenberry is quick to acknowledge the contributions of his crack staff of licensed professionals, some of whom bear the credentials D.P.T., earned after the Master of Science in Physical Therapy degree was converted to the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. |
"Helping people stay healthy," he explains, Òyou want people on board who share your vision and are willing to grab an oar to help your boat get where you want to go.
"I have a great staff," Rosenberry enthuses, "I want to give them credit for our success, especially to our physical therapy staff: Dusty Nielsen, D.P.T., Jackie Jo Korte, PT, Kerry McPherson, M.P.T., Michele Leyva, A.T.C., and our Performance Fitness staff at the gym, headed up by General Manager Lydia Adame and Gym Manager James Goodie. There are 50 people that make up this team of professionals. Everyone works hard, and that makes it fun to come to work."
"It's challenging," he admits, "but I enjoy working with people, helping them get better and helping them achieve their goals, whether it's going back to work, returning to their favorite sport or just chasing their kids around."
Rob Rosenberry Physical Therapy and Performance Fitness is located at 320 Alisal Road, Suite 406, in Solvang.
For more information, call 688-5000 or visit www.performancefitness.biz. |
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Copyright 2006, 2007 Inside Santa Ynez Valley Magazine, All Rights Reserved
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