PTU Golf Team is the Cutest!

The PTU Golf Team of Robert Rodriguez, Greg Pierson, Stephen Rodriguez and Dustin Cross traveled to Dallas in October for the Texas PTN Annual Conference Golf Tournament. "We played at the Texas Star Golf Course in Euless," said Robert. "It was a beautiful course and the temperatures were in the 80s."

Nineteen teams of men and women played in the tournament that PTU won last year. They were back to defend their title but they were also looking to gain a new distinction. "Several groups of people on the course wanted to take photos of us because of our distinctive and unique outfits," said Greg. The PTU team wore nice khaki, white, blue and green striped golf shirts with navy embroidery. The shirt was complimented by khaki knickers, navy knee-high socks and a navy golf hat.

PTU finished the day with a score of 50 which was good enough for a 3rd place finish. They were just 2 strokes out of first place. Although they didn't win the tournament, they did win the "Best Looking" team award.

PTU Bowling Team Rocks!

The PTU Bowling team consisting of Alex, Liza, Emma, Michelle and Brett participated in the JDRF's Bowl-a-Thon on October 3 at Fiesta Lanes in New Braunfels. Friend of PTU Donna Tousley organized the event to raise funds for Juvenile Diabetes Research.

We found out that we have some really good bowlers at PTU! Michelle was the stand-out athlete and had the high score for all the ladies bowling! On the other end of the spectrum, Liza and Emma were lucky not to go sliding down the gutter themselves!

"I hadn't bowled in a very long time but I really enjoyed it. It was nice to have a fun outing with my co-workers outside of work," said Alex.

All in all, everyone had a great time and some much needed money was raised for a great cause.

New Part-Time Tech Ashley Seale

Ashley Seale is the newest part-time physical therapy technician at PTU. She is currently a student at Texas State University but attended Northwest Vista Community College in San Antonio for 3 years. Ashley grew up in Mt. Airy, Maryland. Due to her parents' military transfer, she relocated to South Texas and has made it her home.

Ashley is a Sociology major but decided to volunteer at PTU to see if she was interested in changing her career path. Her volunteer job soon became a part-time job when PTU needed more staff.

She loves going out to listen to live music and enjoys all kinds except rap. Her favorite thing about working at PTU is helping people and being able to see the progress that they make every day. "The people who work at PTU and the patients are all very nice," she said. Ashley currently lives in San Marcos and wants to continue focusing on school.

Welcome Mary to PTU

PTU welcomes Mary Marino to the front office staff. Mary was born in New Braunfels but finished high school in New York. Upon graduating, she decided to stay in New York and attended Dutchess Community College in Poughkeepsie where she studied business administration and billing. "I worked in billing for a while but then I got an opportunity to do case management in social work so I was doing that before moving to Texas," said Mary.

With three daughters, Mary decided she wanted to move back to New Braunfels to be near her family. She and daughters Jacqueline 14, Jolie 6 and Janna 4 have been back for about a month. "Although it only took a month to find this position, it felt like it was a year," said Mary. "I'm excited to be a part of PTU and I'm anxious to learn more."

Although Mary will miss the great New York hiking trails and the colors of the fall, she looks forward to working and raising her children in New Braunfels.

PTU Golf Team

The PTU Golf Team picked up their sticks and played in the Vaaler Creek monthly golf tournament in August. The four-man team consisted of PTU's owner Robert Rodriguez, PTU's Canyon Lake therapist Dustin Cross, PTU's Golf Fitness Assistant Greg Pierson and PTU's Construction Manager Kurt Muniz. Greg Pierson is back from a serious surgery in May to fuse several vertebra. "My game is not completely back but it's getting there," said Greg.

Although it was a very hot day, the steady breeze made the weather a bit more tolerable. The team withstood the heat, played very consistently and shot 12 under par. They narrowly missed first place by less than two strokes in the 16-team "Captain's Choice" tournament.

The highlight of PTU's tournament was Robert's 180 yard shot to the green that led to an eagle on a par 5. Not to mention Kurt's closest to the pin win on a par 3.

"There was a good crowd and it was a very well organized tournament," said Robert. "We will definitely be back."

The team left with gift certificates to Vaaler Creek's pro shop and an enjoyable day on the course.

Therapists Continually Strive for Knowledge

PTU Owner/Director Robert Rodriguez and PTU Canyon Lake Director Dustin Cross continually work towards keeping apprised of the newest and latest techniques in physical rehabilitation.

They both just completed a course in San Antonio called the "Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy: Practical Management of the Patient with Dizziness and Balance Dysfunction."

They reviewed the anatomy and physiology of the vestibular and balance systems. They performed detailed examinations and combined with patient history, they identified specific features of vestibular disorders and non-vestibular dizzines. Robert and Dustin also practiced prescribing rehab programs for vestibular dysfunction.

Overall they received an excellent review of vestibular rehab therapy and will put that knowledge to work at PTU.

"It was good to have a refresher course in that area of physical rehab. There's so much to know when dealing with different patients' symptoms and I'm always looking to learn more," said Robert. "It was also great to bump into a fellow therapist I hadn't seen in over 30 years."

Try This! Grilled Chicken Sliders

1 lb. skinless chicken breasts
4 kiwi fruit, peeled and chopped
1 tbs. chopped fresh mint
1 tsp. honey
6 whole wheat cocktail buns, split
3 tbs. honey mustard
12 red apple slices

1)Cut chicken breasts into 6 pieces. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Grill 10-12 minutes or until no longer pink in the center, turn once.

2)Mix kiwi, mint, honey and more salt and pepper. Spread bottom buns with honey mustard and add two apple slices, chicken, kiwi mixture and bun tops. Make 6 mini sliders.

Nutrition: 218 calories
21 g protein
3 g fat
27 g carbs
4 g fiber
59 mg calcium
2 mg iron

Young Guns of PTU

Andrew Clasen is an 18 year old graduate of Clemens High School. He received a baseball scholarship to Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska.

Andrew chose PTU's personalized fitness program to help prepare him for his first year of college baseball. "I was looking for someone who knew exactly what I should do to build muscle and strength specifically for baseball," said Andrew. "After speaking with Bernice, I knew PTU had the program for me."

"Andrew has been working on core exercises, large muscle building and plyometrics to prepare him for the strenuous workouts he will have to do at college," said Bernice Pierson, PTU's personal trainer.

"Bernice guided my workouts, motivated me and also suggested a nutritional program for me to follow," said Andrew. "I have suggested the fitness program at PTU to my fellow athletes."



Payton Mueller is a 17 year old high school senior at New Braunfels High. She is on the varsity golf team and plays in tournaments year round.

Payton trains with Brandon Summerfield at The Bandit Golf Course. "I really like to play at The Bandit," said Payton. "It is a really nice course. But my best round of golf was last summer at Northcliffe when I shot an 81."

Payton plans on playing golf for Shriner University in Kerrville after she graduates from highschool. "I chose Shriner because I like the Kerrville area and a friend of mine from highschool is playing golf there," said Payton.

When asked why she chose PTU's Golf Fitness program she said, "Chad Donegan, the Landa Park Golf Course General Manager, recommended it to me for my overall strength. I'm glad he did so because I really enjoy it and I can tell I've gained strength and flexibility. I also like the massage to loosen up some tight spots in my back."

Golf Fitness Hits a Hole in One!

Jerry Harlan was the first member of the Golf Fitness program and he is still going strong. He has completed 12 weeks in the program and has felt much progress. "The other day I got back on the abdominal machine and I was surprised that the weight I used to do was no longer a challenge," said Jerry.

With the help of the Golf Fitness core specific exercises, Jerry has added club head speed and more distance to the golf ball. Jerry said "I never used to be able to hit the ball over the water on that hole at Landa and now I can do it every time."

Jerry added, "I've lost 5 pounds and my abdominal area looks much better. I know I've gained a lot from the specific workout and motivation I get from the Golf Fitness program."

Specialized Fitness Training For All

Sometimes people need direction or motivation to get their workouts done. Let's face it. There are some many things to get done, that many people make appointments or to-do lists to ensure it all gets accomplished.

Put this on your to-do list...

GET FIT!

Join PTU's Specialized Fitness Training Program and you will be required to attend two fitness appointments per week. Make your health a priority. It is not only a great motivation to get fit, but it is also very affordable!

For only $195 (or 2 payments of $97.50) you will receive:

6 Weeks Gym Membership
12 Fitness Training Appointments
2 Deep Muscle Stimulating Massages
And constant dietary and fitness motivation!

Call Bernice at 830-609-2000 for more information.

Infant Swimming Resource

Classes being offered at Physical Therapy Unlimited's indoor pool in New Braunfels!



For more than 40 years, Infant Swimming Resource (ISR) has been teaching children critical Self-Rescue™ swimming skills -- giving children the competence and confidence to safely enjoy the water. ISR’s technique teaches babies from 6 months to 6 years of age how to save themselves if they were to end up in the water alone.

TECHNIQUE & LESSONS
ISR’s hands-on instruction technique has been researched and developed to offer a proven system for safely teaching your child to enjoy the fun of swimming, while at the same time teaching life saving survival swimming skills. Unlike other programs, lessons are:
Customized and taught one-on-one by a certified ISR instructor
Last for 10 minutes, Monday through Friday for 4 to 6 weeks
Emphasize health, ongoing program evaluations and parent education
Provide your child with the competence and confidence to safely enjoy the water

6-12 MONTHS OLD
Your child is gently introduced to the water by your instructor. As each child reacts differently, your instructor will work with your child to guide him through the lesson process and to build a level of trust and comfort in the water. Once this is established, your child will begin to learn how to Self-Rescue.

ROLL-BACK-TO-FLOAT
Think of how your child learned to roll from stomach to back as a young baby. A child 6-12 months will learn:
To hold their breath underwater
To roll onto their back
To float unassisted, rest and breathe until help arrives
To perform these Self-Rescue skills first in a swim diaper, then while fully clothed
During ISR lessons, your instructor will place your child face down in the water and help him or her learn to roll to the back and float. Your child never remains face down for more than a few seconds, and your instructor is always right beside your child.

1-6 YEARS OLD
You've seen it before, your toddler walks right to the edge of the pool, ready to jump in, whether or not you are there to catch him. His confidence is beyond his skills. ISR training for children between 1 and 6 years of age uses their confidence to help them build competence and the skills to Self-Rescue.
Your ISR instructor will work with your child's initial skills to help him or her gain both competence and confidence around the water. ISR has a deep passion for water safety and will not make your child over-confident or fearless, but will educate your child and teach them a healthy respect for the water.

SWIM-FLOAT-SWIM
Children over 1 year learn the following sequence during ISR's Self-Rescue swimming lessons.
To hold their breath underwater
Swim with their head down
Roll onto their back to float, rest, and breathe
Roll back over to resume swimming until they reach the side of the pool, crawl out or be rescued by an adult
To perform these Self-Rescue skills first in a swim diaper, then while fully clothed
With these skills your child will be able to swim independently and learn to move at his or her own pace toward the safety of the side of the pool or the shores of a pond or lake.

PTU Patients: Harry & Hema Amin

Harshad "Harry" Amin, age 66 and his wife Hema, age 62 started gardening in their hometown of Philadelphia almost 40 years ago. They have always enjoyed beautifying their home with plants and flowers and they likedhaving fresh vegetables. Gardening quicklyl became their beloved hobby.

A little over ten years ago, Harry was a research scientist on a business trip to visit his company's headquarters in Selma. He enjoyed the south Texas lifestyle so much that he proposed to Hema that they make a move. After spending several months searching for the ideal location, they decided to have a home built in New Braunfels.

Harry and Hema chose a lot, had their home built and immediately started working on their garden. They used to make wine from the mulberries and plums they grew in Philadelphia but they had to change their plant line-up due to the milder winters and the heat of South Texas.



Harry and Hema studied on-line and from books to find the best plants and flowers to grow in Texas. They browsed around the nursery for ideas and fished for suggestions.

It took Harry and Hema about two years to have a complete garden and now it is ever evolving. They both love working on their flowers and vegetables and they try to get out every day for a couple of hours in the morning and another hour in the evening. "We are retired now and we don't want to over work ourselves," said Harry. They try to stick to plants and flowers that take less space as opposed to the larger fruit trees that take a lot of land and a lot of work.

Unfortunately, last winter was rough on their garden. "We were in Europe in India during the winter so we weren't at home to cover our plants and keep them from freezing," said Harry. "We lost our Bird of Paradise, a mango tree and our plumeria trees are gone but the Esperanza is coming back. Our Gardenia was almost lost but it appears to be coming back," he said.

"We are very happy with our garden right now. We make changes here and there just to add some variety," said Hema. "Everyday we are anxious to wake up and see what is new in the garden."

"We enjoy the staff of Physical Therapy Unlimited and would recommend them to everyone who needs therapy," said Harry.

Robert Rodriguez raised $1,005 for children with Muscular Dystrophy

PTU Owner/Director Robert Rodriguez was locked up on June 17 at T Bar M Resort. In order to be released, he received a total of $740 in donations as "bail money." The money he raised helped pay for muscular dystrophy stricken children to go to camp. Thank you!

PTU Student Physical Therapist: Mary Alexander-Simecki

Mary Alexander-Simecki is not what you would call a traditional physical therapy student. At the age of 40 she began working towards a degree in physical therapy.

Mary was a stay at home mom for 25 years and raised five children. “When I got married, I had two young kids and my groom also had two young kids,” said Mary. “We then had one together which made five young children all within 5 years of age.” Mary wanted to give the kids good stability and direction so she stayed with them while her husband worked out of town for 15 years. “My husband followed his job all over the place but I wanted to keep the family in the same house so we stayed in New Braunfels and have been in the same house for 24 years.”

Mary first entered college when her kids were still young. “I was an engineer major and went to school part-time when my kids were between the ages of four and nine. I had about 64 hours credit but then I quit.”She started back to school full time in 2001 and received a BS in Kinesiology from UTSA in 2001. After taking some time to get through the application process, Mary started working on her Doctorate of Physical Therapy in 2007. “I told my kids that I finally decided what I wanted to be when I grew up.”
She has since completed her classes and is currently working at PTU to complete her last clinical rotation.

Mary had several rotations in which she gained valuable experience. She worked in different settings including hospital based orthopedic outpatient, hospital based short term acute care, and long term acute care at a specialty hospital. “I really enjoy working in long term acute care because I work with challenging patients that have multiple medical conditions and I work with them long enough to build a rapport. I also love working with older patients.”

Mary sees herself working in a hospital based setting so that she can treat a variety of patients. “I will probably work full time for about ten years and then go part-time for five years more. I’d like to find a job that I can stick with for the rest of my career.”

Mary has enjoyed her time at Physical Therapy Unlimited. “The PTU staff is very friendly and they are all easy to get along with. It’s a relaxed atmosphere and it’s also very close to my house.”

When Mary is not studying or working she spends time in her back yard. “Landscaping my back yard is my passion. I like to make it nice so I can BBQ and swim with my friends and my kids.” Mary is also very handy and spent a year remodeling her entire house.

Robert Rodriguez is being locked up "for good!"

HELP! PTU Owner/Director Robert Rodriguez will be locked up on June 17 at T Bar M Resort from 1-2pm and he needs your donations to be released. His goal is to raise $1600 in order to pay for two muscular dystrophy stricken children to go to camp. Donations are being accepted now! You can donate on-line at https://www.joinmda.org/2010newbraunfels/ptunbtx
or you can donate with a cash or check at Physical Therapy Unlimited anytime or at T Bar M on June 17 between 1-2pm.

We understand that times are tough. However, if you have a few dollars you can spare please donate to the muscular dystrophy children. Thank you!

PTU Patient Neil Boll: Master Gardener

Some people perceive gardening simply as digging up dirt, planting something and watering it however to Neil Boll, it is so much more. Mr. Boll, a seventy year old patient at Physical Therapy Unlimited (PTU), is a part-time dentist at Fort Sam and a full time gardener at home. He proclaims that gardening as a hobby is mind cleansing and it satisfies his personality. “To me, gardening is an appreciation of nature,” said Boll. “I enjoy growing plants and sharing them with others who share that same appreciation.”

Boll started gardening in Houston after he got married in 1967. “I really didn’t have an interest in hunting or fishing and I wanted to stay home with my family so I started working in the garden,” he said. He learned to garden through trial and error and even recalls trying to grow vegetables in pots when he lived in an apartment until he quickly realized it didn’t work. “I was very proud to be married and a dad and I really enjoyed sharing my hobby with my daughters and as a result, they are now very active in gardening as well.”

When Boll started building his home in New Braunfels in the fall of 2003, the yard was in a state of disarray, overgrown with trees and brush. So in February of 2004, Boll started his full landscape renovation. His garden became a labor intensive art form that involved a large number of different plants. “I seek plants that will do well in our climate,” said Boll. “I usually choose plants from the Texas Superstars list on the A&M Horticulture website.”

“I’m most proud of my Mexican Orchid because it’s a hard plant to find. Unfortunately my orchid became freeze damaged this past winter but because of its root heartiness, it came back to life.” Boll also grows a number of herbs and vegetables including thyme, mint, chives, Echinacea, tomatoes, peppers, lemons and oranges.

Boll works in his garden every day and during the heat of the summer he tries to maintain morning and evening hours. “Sometimes I’m in the garden from six to eleven in the morning,” said Boll. “Occasionally I’ll go back out in the evening with a glass of wine and my pruners.”

Boll sought therapy at Physical Therapy Unlimited to help him with his neck stiffness and the curvature of his neck. He was impressed with the fact that PTU had been doing business in New Braunfels since 1984. “When I saw the website and read about PTU, I had a gut feeling that was the place for me,” he said. “And I really have enjoyed working with Robert Rodriguez.”

Emily Vyvial Completes the PTU Mentoring Program

Emily Vyvial volunteered her time at Physical Therapy Unlimited in order to receive school credit. She spent weeks learning and practicing therapy techniques from Director/Owner Robert Rodriguez and P.T. Technician Emma Martinez.

Emily completed her volunteer work and thus graduated in May from Texas State University with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Sports Science.

"I really enjoyed my experience at PTU," said Emily. "I especially enjoyed interacting with the diverse group of patients.

"Emily was very helpful in assisting us to provide quality, hands-on care to each and every patient," said Rodriguez. "We always welcome eager students to join us and learn in a real physical therapy setting."

"I highly recommend PTU's mentoring program to any and all students," said Emily.

Dustin Cross - PTU's Therapist and Canyon Lake Manager

Dustin Cross is Physical Therapy Unlimited’s therapist and manager of the Canyon Lake office. At 34 years old, he maintains a healthy lifestyle by playing golf, soccer and volleyball. Dustin started playing volleyball in 1995 when a bunch of his soccer buddies decided to play on the sand courts. “It seems like a lot of former soccer players play volleyball so I guess I just followed suit,” said Dustin.

He has been playing in the Seguin City Volleyball League since 2003 and plays at least once a week. Dustin plays in the ten team Men’s AA League. “There are men from 18 years old on up to 55 and it’s a pretty competitive league,” said Dustin. He is currently a member of PTU/Davila’s Volleyball Team who just completed the spring season in which they finished in first place!

Dustin plays volleyball year round. In the spring, summer and fall his league plays outdoors at Starcke Park. In the winter, they take the game indoors. “I love to play. It’s a way for me to relax, get some exercise and have fun.”

Dustin lives in New Braunfels and enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters. You will also find him playing golf and winning tournaments with the PTU golf team.

DMS at PTU!

Deep Muscle Stimulating (DMS) massage is offered at PTU! The DMS uses percussion, mechanical vibrations that reach deep into the muscle tissue to stimulate proprioceptive functions. The percussion vibration facilitates the patient or athlete with the benefits of:
Increased circulation
Reduced pain
Faster rehab from injury
Increased lymphatic flow
Break up of muscular scar tissue
Reduced lactic acid build up
Tissue regeneration
Soft & active tissue release

In short, the DMS can be used on patients for rehabilitation, on athletes for faster recovery from workouts or on anyone who might need relief from sore or tight muscles.

Call PTU at 830-609-2000 to make an appointment.
30 minute sessions $30
60 minute sessions $55

PTU Patient Linda Harris Rides!

Physical Therapy Unlimited patient Linda Harris started road cycling 27 years ago when her home town of Comfort sponsored a 10 mile ride/walk. "My husband wanted me to do something for my health so he dared me to ride. I just wanted to prove to him that I could do it so I took my three speed bicycle from Sears (which was probably my daughter’s bike) and I rode.” Unfortunately Linda didn’t make it up the last hill so she got a ride back in the safety car. But that didn’t deter Linda’s will. Immediately following the ride, she was more determined than ever to keep cycling so she and few friends decided to make it a habit.

Linda and her cycling buddies met twice a week for nine mile rides and every year they registered for the two road rides that their club sponsored. Less than a year after her very first ride, Linda was sporting a brand new Peugeot road bike.

Linda moved to New Braunfels in 1995 and continued riding. She met fellow cyclist Gary Gibson at the PTU Fitness Center. After Gary taught PE all day, he would ride his bike to PTU to work out. They quickly became friends and started cycling together.

Linda currently rides her reconditioned Peugeot road bike, another road bike and a Marin hybrid cross over. She trains at least once a week during the school year and three times a week during the summer. She and her crew ride the annual 30 mile Cuero Wildflower ride in April and the 40 mile Goliad Mission Tour in October. These rides take them anywhere from one hour 45 minutes to two hours 15 minutes.
“Riding has really prolonged my active lifestyle,” said Linda. “It motivates me to keep going and not slow down and I really feel like I’m in great shape. Riding has also been a fun social activity as well.”

When asked what her biggest cycling accomplishment has been Linda replied, “Even at age 68, I feel like I’m getting fitter and stronger. I can sprint and go faster than ever before.”

Linda is currently dealing with some tightness in her low back and hamstrings. PTU is helping her to get stronger and more flexible so she can keep riding and lifting her grandchild.

PTU Employees Survive the Alaskan Wilderness

So you think it was cold this past winter? Try living in the Alaskan wilderness from September through December with no electricity, no running water and no conveniences of home. Bernice Pierson PTU's Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist/Marketing Director and Greg Pierson PTU's Golf Fitness Manager lived entirely off the land in a 200 square foot cabin in Alaska's Wrangell-St. Elias mountains. The project was part of the Discovery Channel's hit television show called "The Alaska Experiment." (Season 1)

Greg and Bernice lived in a 60 year old 200 square foot trappers cabin. They spent hours each day chopping and gathering firewood to fill their wood burning stove so they could cook and keep warm.


They had to hike almost a mile everyday to get water. Their watering hole was a glacier fed river that melted from the glacier above their cabin and ran down to the glacier below. Eventually the river froze and they had to chip at the ice and carry the heavy chunks back.


Greg was able to hunt and kill a 300 pound mountain goat which they preserved and ate. Bernice caught several salmon, canned them and made them last for several months. They also sustained themselves with the wild blueberries that grew nearby and a couple of ptarmigan birds.

You can see some video clips here.
You can purchase the DVD's here.

Golf Fit Club at PTU

Do you want to be fit, expecially if it helps your golf game?

Do you want more power to increase your shot distance?

Do you want to increase your club swing range and speed?

Physical Therapy Unlimited (PTU) in conjunction with the City of New Braunfels & Landa Park Golf Course offer personalized, six week GOLF FITNESS sessions that use stretching and strength training to develop all of the key physical elements you need to improve your golf swing and to prevent injury. PGA Golf Pro and General Manager of Landa Park Golf Course, Chad Donegan provides video golf swing analyses to further enhance your golf game. There are several different class times to choose from and they are all conveniently located at PTU’s own gym.

A golf fitness training program will

· Improve your golf game
· Improve your over all health
· Prevent golf injuries
· Improve your club swing range by improving your flexibility
· Increase your club swing speed by developing your muscle strength
· Increase your club swing power by training your dynamic postural balance and segmental coordination

Prerequisites

The GOLF FITNESS program requires no previous gym experience. All you need is the desire to develop a better golf swing. If you are capable of playing 18 holes, you can safely do this program. As with any exercise program, it is recommended that you consult your physician for clearance. If you feel pain, dizziness or nausea with any of the exercises, stop and report to your doctor immediately.

Requirements

A certified fitness instructor will test your Fitness Handicap and design your personalized GOLF FITNESS training plan. You will be required to attend two group gym sessions per week in which you will train with the group while following your own specific guidelines. You will be required to complete your homework and submit your results to your instructor. You are required to play golf, have fun and improve your game!

Time commitment

· Gym session: 1 hour
· Weekly: 2 gym hours, 2 homework hours, play golf

Required gear

· One golf club
· Workout clothes/shoes
· Water

Recommended gear

· Heart rate monitor
· Stop watch
· Fingerless workout gloves


What to expect

· Improved core stability
· Better separation between your upper and your lower body
· More width in your swing
· A better set up posture
· Increased balance for improved weight shift & postural control through your swing


Program Includes

Video Swing Analysis
Golfer History
Fitness Handicap
Personalized training plan
12 group training sessions
6 Weeks PTU gym access
2 DMS manual stretch sessions

Price

$295/per 6 week session; pay in full by cash/check or $147.50 per month for 2 months by automatic credit card payment

Video Swing Analysis: Allows instructor to look at the student's swing at 1/4000 of a second. Allows instructor to check posture, alignment, swing plane, impact position and follow through. Being able to capture the swing at a slow speed, the instructor can pick apart the elements that need improvement. It also helps the student by seeing the correction for themselves.



Gym 101
Our GOLF FITNESS group training class combines fitness training, functional exercise, plyometrics and ballistic training. This type of training focuses on the core stability, strength and explosiveness needed to create stability and mobility for golf. The class promotes muscle strength, balance, flexibility, speed and explosiveness throughout your body while targeting muscles used in the golf swing.
Training classes involve a maximum of 8 people doing a golf specific circuit workout. The group setting is a fun and total body workout addressing all the major components in golf: agility, strength, power, flexibility and endurance.
Although the session is conducted as a group, you can expect our fitness specialist to tailor the workout to each golfer. Individuals of varying fitness levels can participate in the same group session.

Gym 102
After your successful completion of Gym 101, you are eligible for Gym 102. This class follows the same outline as Gym 101 but incorporates more advanced exercises.

Gym 103
Take this class after your successful completion of Gym 101 & 102. This class follows the same outline as Gym 101 & 102 but incorporates more advanced exercises.

Gym 104
This is the most advanced class in the series. You should have mastered the previous Gym 101, 102 & 103 classes and have demonstrated a good level of core strength and stability.

Stretch homework
This is a list of stretches you are to perform at home.

Manual stretching
Manual therapy is a hands-on approach to facilitate more mobility and flexibility that are needed to play golf. In some cases, an individual may stretch and not see improvement in flexibility. This can result from joint restrictions or knots that build up in the muscles that cannot release on their own. Manual therapy using a vibration percussion device can help “jump start” the physical limitation that may be inhibiting your swing and your game.


CALL 830-609-2000 FOR CLASS AVAILABILITY AND REGISTRATION

Limited space. Pre-registration required.

Sissy Skinner Wins!

PTU patient Sissy Skinner and her doubles partner won the San Antonio Senior Tennis Tournament. The win qualifies them for the Texas State Senior Olympic Tournament in October of this year.

Sissy had major knee surgery only five months ago and has been rehabbing it at PTU. She pushed it hard last week to win the tournament. "We played three hard fought matches," said Sissy. "My knee is swollen but at least we won!"

"Now I have a few months to do nothing and let it heal," said Sissy. "I will start training again about six weeks before our next tournament so I can be ready to win and qualify for Nationals."

PTU wishes Sissy the best!

PTU's Michelle Medellin Helps With the Fight Against Cancer

Physical Therapy Unlimited technician Michelle Medellin has a passion for fighting cancer! She and her family are participating in the 12 hour Relay For Life walk at Canyon High School on April 30. They have set an ambitious goal to raise $1,000 for the cause.

Relay For Life is a community gathering where everyone can participate in raising awareness of the disease. Teams of people will camp out at Canyon High School and take turns walking or running around the track from 7pm to 7am. Each team will have a member on the track at all times through the night—because cancer never sleeps. Relay For Life celebrates survivors, remembers loved ones and brings together people to raise money.

Michelle’s team includes her husband, her mom, her sister and her cousin. They have all seen close relatives succumb to the disease and therefore feel the need to contribute. “My mom and I did the Susan B. Komen walk last year and it was wonderful,” said Michelle. “We were crying a lot because we saw the survivors and heard their stories, but in the end it felt great to be there doing something about it.”

Michelle has been training for the 12 hour walk during her lunch time at work. “I walk on the treadmill whenever I get a chance,” said Michelle. “Last year I was exhausted after the 12 hours, but it was definitely worth it.”

Michelle’s team is called “Knock Out Cancer.” They are team #85 and their goal is to raise $1,000. They are currently accepting donations on-line as well as at the PTU offices in New Braunfels and Canyon Lake. Throughout the 12 hour relay, they will continue the fundraising by selling raffle tickets to win a relaxation massage and a deep tissue massage.

Please support Michelle, Relay For Life and everyone involved with the fight against cancer. For more information on how to donate to Michelle’s team, please call the PTU office at 830-907-2145.

Senior Olympian Sissy Skinner Entrusts Physical Therapy Unlimited with Her Care

Sissy Skinner is no ordinary sixty-two year old woman. She is an incredible tennis player who is currently vying for a spot in the 2011 Senior National Tennis Tournament. While many seniors find exercise in gardening or golf, Sissy finds it on the tennis court.

She started her tennis career at the age of nine when her best friend’s father took the girls to a park to teach them to play. Since then, Sissy continued to play competitively for 35 years. At one point she and her doubles partner were ranked number one in Texas and were amongst the top ten in the nation. Sissy herself was ranked as high as second in Texas in singles play.

After many years of competitive play, Sissy transitioned into a coaching role. She coached at Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches, Texas and later worked as a teaching pro at River Oaks Country Club in Houston. With her USPTA P1 status, Sissy was very well respected in the coaching community.

After a break from competing, Sissy took up tennis again. However, like many athletes who pushed their bodies to the limit through years of athletic endeavors, Sissy suffered through a knee surgery that forced her to put down her tennis racket. “I played and I kept playing until I couldn’t stand the pain anymore,” said Sissy. Her surgery and subsequent knee rehab has kept her from competing until now.

Sissy has been receiving therapy at Physical Therapy Unlimited off and on since last November. “Robert Rodriguez and his staff are a joy,” said Sissy. “I’m thrilled that he is so fabulous at his job. The PTU employees really care about me and they want to ensure that I get the proper treatment to get better. I will tell everyone I know that they must go to PTU for therapy.”

This week, Sissy is playing in a Senior Olympic Tennis tournament. She and her doubles partner are playing in the 60-64 age group and hope to finish in the top three teams so they can qualify for the Texas State Tournament in October of this year. “I just hope to be strong enough to have a shot at qualifying,” said Sissy. “It would be great to qualify for State and then go to the National Tournament in Houston in 2011.”

Introducing PTU's Newest Intern Emily Vyvial

Bienvenidos! Howdy! Willkommen! The PTU staff would like to welcome our newest intern Emily Vyvial. Emily is a vivacious 22 year old native of Katy, Texas who is currently living the high life as a student at Texas State University in San Marcos. In between playing volleyball, going to the movies and hanging out with all her friends, she is working towards her Bachelor of Science in Exercise & Sports Science and plans to graduate this May.

Emily's decision to intern at PTU for school credit was based upon PTU's highly recommended mentoring program. "I have learned a lot from the PTU staff but my favorite part of my position is interacting with the diverse group of patients that rely on us for help."

"Emily has been very helpful in assisting us to provide quality, hands-on care to each and every patient that comes through our facility," said Robert Rodriguez, Director and Owner of Physical Therapy Unlimited.

Listen up employers! Upon graduation, Emily hopes to work in Early Childhood Intervention. "Emily would be a valuable assest to anyone who employs her," said Rodriguez. "She has a great work ethic."

Ladis Aguilar is President!

Ladis Aguilar is a student Physical Therapist Assistant at Austin Community College and is the President of the Physical Therapist Assistant Club (PTA Club). The PTA Club is an educational non-profit organization that promotes interest in health care professions emphasizing the Physical Therapist Assistant. The club promotes wellness through participation in health care events in the community, assists students with funding for participation in APTA and TPTA events and promotes communication with the physical therapy community in Austin and Central Texas.

Ladis has been a valuable employee of Physical Therapy Unlimited for eight years.