Healing Hands: Achieve Rehab Celebrates Initial Year of Success in Unique Field

Believe and Achieve - A year after opening Achieve Rehab, David and Karla Gonzales stand in front of their successful business. David is an occupational therapist and the only certified hand therapy provider in Great Bend. The couple works together to help injured or debilitated patients work toward achieving independent and satisfying lives once again.

David and Karla Gonzales knew they wanted to open more than just a business; they also wanted it to be a service and educational resource for the community.

Now that they have owned and operated Achieve Rehab for a year, they are achieving their goal - one patient at a time.

The Gonzaleses opened their one-of-a-kind rehabilitation center at 1410 Polk on Nov. 1 last year. It is the only certified hand therapy provider in Great Bend.

A Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) is an occupational or physical therapist with at least five years of clinical experience, including a minimum of 4,000 hours in direct practice in hand therapy.

David has been an occupational therapist for almost 25 years and a CHT since 2004. Karla has been a certified occupational therapy assistant for almost 20 years.

Hand Splint - Custom splints are made to heal hand injuries. This particular splint is used for tendon healing after a cut tendon is surgically repaired.

"We chose occupational therapy to help people," David said. "Our philosophy is to provide hands-on expertise, using the most up-to-date treatments to help people get back to their active lifestyles.

"We want our patients to have less pain with more function and learn how to prevent future injuries," David continued. "Both of us are committed to giving our patients the personal attention people need and want the most."

Patient-survey results indicate their philosophy is paying off. Survey comments note the understanding, friendly, honest and genuinely compassionate approach at Achieve Rehab. Patients also appreciate the quiet atmosphere and comfortable surroundings at the clinic.

"We have had some wonderful people visit our rehab center," David said. "Each of us gets to know our patients one-on-one, which is so important. It is great to enjoy such a good rapport and get to know them."

While Achieve Rehab's specialty is referred to as 'hand' therapy, a CHT also specializes in the shoulder, elbow and wrist.

Hand Therapy - Karla provides an ultrasound treatment to a patient who has scar tissue as therapy to soften the scar and help prepare for scar mobilization.

"If you have pain in these areas, if you have weakness with normal activities or if you are recovering from surgery, you need a therapist with advanced skills in rehabilitation of the upper extremity," David commented.

Arthritis, tendonitis, carpal tunnel, sports injuries, rotator cuff repair or any kind of arm pain can be treated with CHT. David also noted it is helpful for post-stroke patients who are trying to get back to their normal activities.

Some conditions require only one visit to Achieve Rehab, while others may take several weeks. For example, it may take only one visit to fit a patient with a hand brace, or instruct a patient in how to be independent at home, but it may take a several appointments if therapy is for post surgery rehab.

The Achiever - This Achieve Rehab Logo represents "Achieving," the return to an active pain-free lifestyle.

Conditions involving the shoulder rotator cuff or other types of surgery such as wrist or hand surgery often require more time.

"One patient had both arms in casts," David recalled. "We taught him how to take care of himself with as much independence as possible." Achieve Rehab also has access to some adaptive equipment in-house. Or it can order equipment or refer patients to other businesses. In most cases, the patient goes home with a written exercise program to help the healing.

David acknowledged that some relatively minor conditions might improve on their own, without therapeutic intervention. However, in other cases, people ignore problems only to see them worsen in time.

"If someone sprains a shoulder and it still is painful in a couple of weeks, they should seek therapy," David said. "If they don't they could end up with a more severe problem, such as 'frozen' shoulder. The shoulder freezes up and you can't use it. It can get tighter and tighter." Achieve Rehab also offers pediatric therapy for youngsters who need help with balance, coordination and motor skills.

Within Reach - Reaching for cones on a rocker board helps patients stimulate automatic balance reactions.

"These are children who don't qualify for therapy at school because they are not severely delayed," Karla said. "They just need a little extra help.

"In addition, we can help with some sensory-processing issues," Karla added. "These are children who have difficulty focusing and paying attention. If it is sensory, not behavioral, we can help."

No matter what the patient's age, the Gonzaleses strongly encourage occupational therapy before medication or in combination with medication. "We want people to understand that it often to a person's advantage to try OT first before trying medications," Karla said. "Although medications are needed in many cases, exercise and lifestyle changes are encouraged to be the first choice."

Since prevention of health problems is crucial, Karla added, Achieve Rehab hosted an osteoporosis workshop where Dr. Jodi Henrikson of Great Bend explained the bone-thinning disease to approximately 30 women. Karla said Achieve Rehab hopes to sponsor more of these types of sessions in the future.

Finger Splint - After hand therapy, joint stiffness is improved with a small spring loaded splint, as seen in this photo.

Karla also noted that patients are sometime confused about the differences among healthcare providers. Therefore, she offered an explanation that may clear up some misunderstandings: An occupational therapist will ask: what do you need your shoulder to do in your day-to-day life? The answer to that question determines the right treatment for keeping the shoulder mobile and allowing the patient to be an active participant in his own life. Using the latest evidence based approaches to the recovery of the shoulder, an occupational therapist would also apply a functional approach to the rehab. Whether the person wants to return to a specific sport, a work or leisure activity, therapy is tailored for that specific function the patient wants.

A CHT must pass a comprehensive test of advanced clinical skills and theory in upper quarter rehab. And because of changes in the profession, every CHT is required to demonstrate continued development and competency by recertifying every five years. David and Karla are both licensed by the state of Kansas.