Shelley L. Lewis, P.T., is a Director of Physical Therapy, overseeing a staff of 16 physical therapists at four outpatient clinics in greater Kansas City. Early in life Lewis realized how much she loved the study of human anatomy, physiology and kinesiology, a love later pointing to her career.
With over two decades of experience in treating patients with pain, Lewis has this to say about sports medicine and back pain expert Dr. Sean Wheeler, and Dr. Wheeler’s soon-to-be-published book, UPRISE:
In UPRISE, Dr. Sean Wheeler changes the way we look at back pain and musculoskeletal pain. As physical therapists, there has never been “one way” to treat back pain, but often we traditionally focused on 4-6 weeks of stretches, strengthening, and modalities. Instead, Dr. Wheeler focuses on incorporating long-term stabilization into functional activities and sport.
As a result, the diagnosis has changed, the prognosis has changed, even the vocabulary we use with our patients has changed. For example, we now speak of Bracing Muscles in need of Circulation Training. There is no more “core”.
This refreshing physical therapy-centered model relies not only upon sports medicine and pain management doctors, but encourages collaboration with other healthcare professionals to offer the patient a period of pain relief, which then allows us to begin the stabilization—or Circulation Training—process. UPRISE offers a fundamental shift in the mind-set of treating back pain sure to impress and influence patients, medical providers, and healthcare insurance carriers worldwide.
Lewis received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology—Exercise Science from the University of Nebraska, and was awarded her Masters of Science degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Kansas Medical Center School of Professions.
Building on earlier praise for UPRISE from experts such as the alpha doc to professional athletes Dr. James Andrews, Hall of Fame Coach Bill Snyder, credited as Architect of the Greatest Turnaround in College Football History, award–winning Television Writer and Producer Lynne Litt, and Dr. Marc Valley, who advocates that the healthcare industry — from medical insurance providers to doctors themselves — become familiar with its teachings, UPRISE will soon add a powerful new understanding to the medical treatment of chronic back pain.
