" I now know my feet and body can take me further than I had ever imagined. At nearly 55 that is a wonderful feeling. Thanks Dave!" - Paula Wheeldon
Success Story of the Month
August 2007: Carla Happel
Carla Happel
I entered into the world of sports injuries late in life. At 32, I dislocated a shoulder while skiing. At the time, my ortho said that since I was already relatively "old", it likely would not be a recurring problem.
And it wasn't until I popped it out again four years later while landing a parachute. Thankfully the jumping doctor happened to be on the ground and not on his way to altitude, so he popped it back into place within a few minutes. Good as new! Back to the weight-training, with no worries.
A few more years went by, until I hit 42, and my workplace began offering after-work yoga classes. That, combined with taking up running and starting to swim again, loosened that shoulder right up.
Over the next three years, the shoulder got more and more loose. It would start to slip when I leaned on it wrong, I would feel it slipping while swimming and have to pull back a little, and sometimes it would go ahead and slip out while I was in the water. I could always get it back into place, but it put a bit of a crimp into that day's swim practice! Not painful, particularly, but not comfortable, either.
I was playing "wallyball" with my Navy Reserve unit, reached up to smack the ball, and my arm stayed up. Ooops. This time I had to have someone hold onto my hand while I pulled away from him, to get the shoulder back into place. This time it ached a lot.
As fate would have it, I had an appointment with Dave Reed within a few days of this last injury. He worked his magic, I left.
It took a few weeks for me to realize that not only had the shoulder not given me any problems since seeing him, IT ACTUALLY FELT STRONGER THAN IT HAS FOR SEVERAL YEARS. I have not had any episodes of it feeling "slippery" or weak. Wow. It's hard to argue with that kind of evidence.
I now understand how important it is to see Dave ASAP after any kind of injury. I knew what he was doing is great, but I had not put it together how much it could help recovery.
I am now training hard for race season, and have completed several triathlons this year with no incident. Currently I am training for the Chicago Triathlon, with Team in Training, raising money for the Leukemia Society. With Dave's blessing, I am asking you to contribute to this wonderful organization. This is my second event with them, and I am very impressed with how they manage their money.
In addition, Indiana residents can donate $10 for free, simply by requesting a quote from Liberty Mutual. Contact Teresa Mullen at (800)379-2959 ext 220 or Teresa.Mullen@LibertyMutual.com.
The are very low-key and won't pressure you at all. Just mention my name or Team in Training.
Carla Happel
April 2007: David Berman
David Berman, 54, from Louisville, KY came to me with tightness in his hip and leg that seemed to impossible to resolve. He recently sent me an email that brought a smile to my face...
David Berman
"Dave, I hope this email finds you and your family well. My
condition is excellent! I have already competed in three bike races, one, a 55+
masters staged race. I came in 3rd overall in the "old fart" race. (I
was beat by 2.5 seconds in the 41 mile road race stage). It seems that
everything is firing (nerves) when I place demand on my running muscles. I am
transitioning into more training on the track and so far, my recovery after a
hard workout has been great. Your hands-on therapy, testing for muscle
imbalances, nerve and muscle activation exercises, and most importantly, your
constant attention and focus on my needs as a competitive athlete; have all
contributed to my improved performance on the bike and on the running track.
Thanks for all your hard work and support this past year.
Your Friend, David Berman"
Rocky Mount Stage Race: Shreveport, La
January 2007: Cathy Mayfield
Cathy Mayfield, 55, winner of the 2006 Outdoor Nationals 5K said it best during her last appointment, "I haven't taken a pain pill in over a year!" Cathy was dealing with chronic knee pain and neck tightness for years. After analyzing her mechanics, almost all of her muscular imbalances showed up in her neck. Once her neck was treated and functioning well, normal mechanics returned throughout the body. The knee pain went away and her neck function returned to normal. - DR
Cathy enjoying competition again. Look at the form!
I have been a competitive racewalker for many years and in 2005 I encountered a problem with pain in my Left knee. Eventually I went to my physician and was diagnosed with IT Band inflammation and was recommended to start ice, stretching and ibuprofen. For several months I experienced pain. In fact, it got to the point where I was unable to compete in the 2005 National 20K Championship. I wasnt about to give up though!
While working out at my gym I noticed a brochure for Dave and MAT and after a brief consultation with Dave I decided to give it a try. My first appointment with Dave went very well. He was very positive, knowledgeable and was easy to talk to. I even noticed a difference right away. After 4 visits the pain was gone and thankfully I was able to resume racewalking.
After seeing Dave in December of 2005, I was able to complete a full marathon in March 2006. It was the Bataan Memorial Death March in White Sands NM which was no small task. This past November I participated in the 2006 National 20K Championship and was able to shave 5 minutes off my personal best.
I currently meet with Dave as needed. In fact, Ive been doing so well that I havent taken a single pain pill in over a year. My racewalking has greatly improved and I also have an added benefit of no longer having neck related headaches which had also bothered me for years. I would recommend Dave to anyone not just the athlete.
If you or someone you know would like to be featured as the success story of the month, contact Dave.
December 2006: Carolyn Trueblood
Having fun again!
In 2004 after several months of increasing back pain, I was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease involving L4-L5.The pain was increasing in intensity and was occurring with almost all movements.It was so bad that I would spend the first 60 minutes of my day in a chair reading the paper until my back loosened up enough to start my day.I tried to continue walking daily andyoga classes, but this often caused more discomfort.I was advised against surgery and for 3 months I tried Physical Therapy for core strengthening to no avail.
In December of 2005, a personal trainer suggested I try MAT.I thought she suggested it because I was 50 years old and didn’t think I could handle much else!
I must admit, I was skeptical at first, but thought it couldn’t hurt me.Dave was very helpful and immediately picked up on some physical limitations I wasn’t aware of.To my surprise I noticed a difference the first week.At first I thought it was all in my head, but I hadn’t felt this good for months.I continued a series of treatments and saw improvements in pain quickly.I was so encouraged by my decreasing pain and increasing ability to get back into physical activity.I now try to see Dave every 3 months to continue my progress.
After spending most of one summer sitting in a chair, since MAT treatments I’ve been able to play golf, walk on a regular basis, bike, and have resumed yoga.I even lifted weights for the first time in 2 years last week.
I would recommend MAT/Dave to anyone with a chronic pain condition.The benefits can be amazing- and this is coming from a skeptic!!!
Relaxing with family after a day of golf in Georgia.
November 2006: Sarah McGuire
As a former swimmer and soccer player my body has taken a hit or two. In fact, I had stretched out my shoulder so much so that three years ago I had to have surgery to tighten everything up.Neither shoulder had been the same since. I had tried everything under the sun to build strength in my shoulder unsuccessfully. I was even told by some medical experts that my joints were just unstable by nature which gave me the impression that there was no hope in sight.
I came to Dave three years after surgery. My initial consult with Dave made me feel confident that MAT was going to bring my muscles back to life. I also found out that the muscles in my back and neck were contributing to the problem. Once those were working well, my shoulders followed and after three and a half months of treatment I am pain free and building strength in my shoulder. I am amazed every day what Dave and MAT have done for me. I am able to hold my daughter and have no pain. I can even swim again, all pain free!
OCTOBER 2006: Nick Marson
It was January 2006 when I found myself in a predicament. The long, cold winter was filled with ailments and a decrease in activity that left me feeling Geriatric at the ripe old age of 25. The tonsillectomy I was required to have in December 2005 was the first of a few events that eventually left me with some unneeded weight loss and chronic lower back pain.
Just days after my surgery, I convinced myself I was feeling fine and took a ski trip to Northern Michigan. I spent half the trip in the Ski Lodge, fatigued and with a sore back while my buddies continued tearing up the slopes! At that time, I realized I was tired of feeling well past my years; that’s when I decided to take action, and call Dave Reed.
Now you may be asking how having your tonsils removed relates to lower back pain…and that’s a valid question. Weeks of not feeling ‘up to par’ combined with a lack of appetite after the surgery led to an unneeded loss of thirteen pounds and a significant decrease in stamina. It wasn’t until my first meeting with Dave that I learned the extent of my physical condition.
Dave explained how the dramatic change in my lifestyle (ski slopes to surgery room to ski slopes) caused some of my core muscles to enter into “hibernation” mode. He introduced me to Muscular Activation Techniques (MAT), which helped “awaken” the muscles from their slumber and eventually returned my back to its normal self. After our initial meeting, Dave and I met once a week for MAT sessions that spanned a period of six weeks. Every time I left his office, I noticed instantaneous results in the way my muscles felt, moved, and reacted to my day-to-day activities. Not only did Dave knowledgably explain my body’s kinetics, but he also helped me create a personal fitness plan targeting my body’s core muscle groups. This has helped me put the weight back on and get back to feeling normal again.
I’ve continued to see Dave for MAT sessions once a month. Over the course of 4 months, MAT sessions with Dave have helped me answer the demands of skiing, sailboat racing, and even rigorous 9-5 days at the office. Thanks, Dave!
SEPTEMBER 2006: Paula Wheeldon
Almost there!
After years of minimal physical activity and putting on weight, I decided it was time to improve my fitness level. So I signed up to walk the Indy mini-marathon in April 2006. I had managed to complete the 5k walk in 2005. A longer distance was not the problem...as long as my feet held up. I have very tender feet which have always hurt and gotten extremely hot when I try to exercise. While good shoes helped, no degree of training or exercise would rid me of pain. Finally I went to Dave Reed for a M.A.T. session.
When I met Dave, my ONLY goal was to improve my feet to the point that completing a mini would not be an agonizing endeavor. After telling Dave about my feet, I found it strange that he tested my legs and hips for strength imbalances. Then he worked on my lower back. "Hey it's my feet that hurt", I thought. Dave tested again and the imbalance was still there, so he worked even higher on my back. After several resistance tests he worked on my neck muscles before the imbalance finally was minimal. Then the session was over with Dave never even touching my feet.
Let's do that again!
I left feeling better but wondering if he did not understand my reason for going to him. I went to the track for a walk, Interested in seeing if any of this actually did help my feet. I was surprised and hopeful when walking a mile was easy, so I kept going and tried to jog a little. For the first time in 25 years I jogged an entire mile without stopping! What a thrill! I was amazed and sold on MAT.
I had weekly sessions with Dave for 3-4 weeks and during that time, completed TWO mini-marathons! I continue to have periodic sessions with Dave and can now try other things. Since the Indy mini, I've done two triathlons, an orienteering event and an adventure race. While running an entire mini is not a goal, I now know my feet and body can take me further than I had ever imagined. At nearly 55 that is a wonderful
feeling. Thanks Dave!
