Louie worked with this patient on a personal basis, which seemed to be greatly appreciated, by the patient. This man received an ultrasound on his shoulder, a machine to use at home for exercises, and therapy from Louie. Louie pulled this man's arm around until he hurt but when the man left he said he felt better. Louie also recommended the Dubuque Orthopedic Chair for the man to sit in to improve his posture. .
I realized the level of competency a physical therapist must have to be able to feel confident that the pain they put the patient in is good and necessary. Next Louie and I had a break while his physical therapist assistants were preparing the next patients to see the therapist. Louie took me to his office and let me sit in "his- chair. The chair makes you sit correctly. He says that if people sat correctly they wouldn't have so many problems with their back, necks, and shoulders. Louie invented this chair; the design is his. He is trying to work out a deal with Flexsteel to build his chairs for him. Until the deal passes he has been assembling them in his basement. The chairs are very expensive. Seeing this surprising invention made me realize that physical therapists may develop other skills related to their job, which could connect them to a sideline secondary career. .
While on break Louie told me that therapists couldn't make a patient better; it's all up to the patients and how badly they want it. Our next patient was a slacker. She never did her exercises but pretended she did. Louie says the physical therapist always knows when the patient is doing the exercises. She asked Louie why she wasn't getting better and what was he supposed to say? She had a window of opportunity for a limited amount of time for her knee to get better, and the window was about closed. Louie put her in a machine that bent her knee for her. The pain she went through all because she didn't do the exercises was so obvious on her face.
