PTU offers GOLF Video Swing Analysis

Golf Fitness at PTU is a successful exercise program that promotes core strength and flexibility to golfers who wish to improve their games.

In addition to the fitness aspect of the game, PTU is now offering Video Swing Analysis. Chad Donegan, GM and PGA Golf Pro at Landa Park Golf Course will provide swing analysis and instruction on Thursday afternoons at PTU.

"I'm excited to be a part of this unique program," said Donegan. "Golfers must understand that strength and flexibility are a very important part of their games."

Video swing analysis is by appointment only. Please call Bernice at PTU 830-609-2000 to get more information.

Job Site Health & Wellness Sessions

PTU provides on-site health and wellness sessions for a variety of small and large companies.
Power Stretch
Deep Muscle Stimulation
Lunch Time Nutrition Advice

Studies show that healthier and happier employees require fewer sick days and are over all more productive at the workplace.

Employees notice when an employer shows concern for the health and well-being of their employee base. Further, it has been shown that employee turnover is significantly lower among employees that take advantage of a wellness program implemented by their employer.

Motivate your employees to stimulate their bodies and they will pay you back in productivity.

Fit Employees
• Are less likely to get sick
• Have more energy
• Have more self confidence
• Inspire confidence
• Tend to take on leadership roles
• Set and achieve goals
• Tend to have better attitudes
• Are less stressed
• Present team-building opportunities

Contact Bernice at Physical Therapy Unlimited to find out how your company can take advantage of a "mobile wellness program" for businesses of all sizes. 830-609-2000

Award of Excellence

Physical Therapy Unlimited received the Humana Military Healthcare Services AWARD OF EXCELLENCE on December 3, 2010.






The award was given to PTU for their conscientious efforts to ensure the highest quality medical care of TRICARE Beneficiaries.

Thanks to the entire staff of the New Braunfels and Canyon Lake offices, PTU continues to keep the standards of patient care at its highest.

Trail Runners of PTU

The adventurous ladies of PTU, Laura Goodwin and Bernice Pierson, did the 25K (15.5 miles) Tejas Trail Run at the Hill Country State Natural Area in Bandera on January 8.

The Bandera Trail run allows athletes to choose from a 25K, 50K or 100K course. There are lots of steep uphills and downhills which makes it a pretty tough trail to negotiate. The rocky trails are dangerous and require maximum attention.

With clear, sunny skies and temperatures in the high 50's during the day, the runners had beautiful views from the tops of the hills.

Bernice finished the 25k in 4 hours and 15 minutes while Laura finished in 4 hours and 55 minutes.

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.”