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Courtney Boynton of Mass Bay Spine & Sport Completes the Disney Marathon in Support of Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Courtney Boynton

Courtney Boynton, a Certified Athletic Trainer at Mass Bay Spine & Sport Physical Therapy (MBSSPT) in Marshfield, participated in the 20th Walt Disney World Marathon in Orlando, FL in January in support of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Ms. Boynton ran in the 26.2-mile Walt Disney World Marathon as a member of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Team In Training to raise funds to help find cures and better treatments for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma.   Among the 20,679 male and female runners who finished the race, Ms. Boynton placed at 9,529 overall and 3,944 among the female runners.  Her clock time was an impressive 5 hours and 28 minutes.

Ms. Boynton ran the race in honor of her grandmother, Lucille Boynton who was diagnosed with lymphoma last year.

“My mission is to help find cures and more effective treatments for blood cancers. My grandmother is now in remission thanks to foundations such as LLS. I wanted to choose a fundraising cause to help other people with similar cancers as my grandmother. With the donation support I receive in running this marathon, I can help improve the quality of life for patients and their families as well,” explained Ms. Boynton.

Ms. Boynton met her fundraising goal of $4,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

“We’re very proud of our colleague Courtney and support her every step of the way.  She did an amazing job and the funds that she raised will help advance cancer research and treatment,” noted Brendan Carman, MPT, ATC, founder of MBSSPT.

About MBSSPT

Mass Bay Spine & Sport Physical Therapy (MBSSPT) is an orthopedic outpatient physical therapy practice. MBSSPT, a state-of-the-art facility owned and operated by a physical therapist, has earned a reputation for superior clinical care and delivery of services to South Shore community members as well as physicians from Boston to Plymouth.

The practice’s highly trained staff is committed to providing clients with an experience that will ensure their condition is resolved effectively and efficiently, while empowering them with the necessary tools and knowledge to prevent future problems and maintain optimal health.  All of the practice’s physical therapists are trained to rehabilitate a variety of conditions utilizing treatment techniques that include soft tissue massage/mobilization, therapeutic and strengthening exercises,  neuromuscular reeducation,  gait training, patient education, and lumbar stabilization,  to name a few.  MBSSPT accepts Medicare, Workers’ Compensation, auto insurance, and most private insurance plans.

Mass Bay Spine & Sport Physical Therapy is located at 506 Plain Street in Marshfield.  For more information, visit www.massbayspineandsport.com or call (781) 319-0024.

Courtney Boynton of Mass Bay Spine & Sport Completes the Disney Marathon in Support of Leukemia & Lymphoma SocietyRead More

Mass Bay Spine & Sport Physical Therapy Helps Rehabilitate One-Armed Marshfield Golfer

Brendan Carman, MPT, ATC, Director of Rehabilitation

Marshfield resident Jim Kilroy had been playing golf with one arm for over two decades after having his left arm amputated in 1985. But, the stress from playing golf with just one arm over the long-term began to take its toll on his shoulder. He developed arthritis and a bone spur in his shoulder, which eventually led to a massive tear in his rotator cuff last summer. The doctors at Mass General Hospital told him he needed surgery and had to give up golf.

Brendan Carman, MPT, ATC, Director of Rehabilitation at Mass Bay Spine & Sport Physical Therapy (MBSSPT), who oversees the state-of-the-art orthopedic outpatient physical therapy practice in Marshfield, entrusted Kilroy’s care to physical therapist on staff, Melissa Bodzinski, DPT, ATC, who believed that physical therapy after surgery could get him back in the game.

Kilroy, a Vietnam Veteran who lost his left arm to cancer (which was directly related to Agent Orange exposure), loved golf and did not want to give it up. He was referred to Dr. JP Warner, orthopedic surgeon at Mass General who performed rotator cuff surgery and told Kilroy it would take one year for him to recover fully.

Kilroy was determined to do whatever it took, no matter how long it took, to recover the use of his golfing arm and sought the care of MBSSPT’s practitioners to receive post-surgical physical therapy on his right arm. Bodzinski followed Dr. Warner’s protocol to the letter. It wasn’t long before Kilroy could chip and putt – well before the one year mark.

Kilroy claims to be an average golfer, shooting an 85 (46 on the front and 39 back, three over par). In anyone else’s opinion, Kilroy’s ability is considered well above average since he golfs with one arm. He had a 13 handicap, but went to a 20 prior to his rotator cuff surgery. Kilroy’s thrilled with his recovery, which has been slow, but steady. With his handicap already close to his pre-injury level, pretty soon he’ll be back on par.

“Mass Bay Spine and Sport is just a great office and Melissa and Brendan are personable and friendly. I thought I might never play golf again. Golfing was my therapy when I was suffering through three cancer surgeries, amputation and my wife dying of melanoma,” explained Kilroy.

He continued, “The surgery, follow up and physical therapy all work together. My arm feels brand new. I played 36 holes, three times a week during a recent trip to Florida.”

He credits his miraculous recovery and gleeful return to golf to Dr. Warner and his physical therapist, at MBSSPT, Melissa Bodzinski.

Kilroy, who was included in Let Me Tell You Where I’ve Been: Photographs and Interviews with Seven Vietnam Veterans by Janice Rogovin (1988), a book about Vietnam, the use of Agent Orange and the illnesses from exposure to the herbicide, has just been asked to get involved with other veterans returning from Iraq. He will be sharing his story as a cancer survivor, which will include a chapter on his recent shoulder (and golf game) recovery, with others.

About MBSSPT

Mass Bay Spine & Sport Physical Therapy (MBSSPT) is an orthopedic outpatient physical therapy practice. MBSSPT, a state-of-the-art facility owned and operated by a physical therapist, has earned a reputation for superior clinical care and delivery of services to South Shore community members as well as physicians from Boston to Plymouth.

The practice’s highly trained staff is committed to providing clients with an experience that will ensure their condition is resolved effectively and efficiently, while empowering them with the necessary tools and knowledge to prevent future problems and maintain optimal health. All of the practice’s physical therapists are trained to rehabilitate a variety of conditions utilizing treatment techniques that include soft tissue massage/mobilization, therapeutic and strengthening exercises, neuromuscular reeducation, gait training, patient education, and lumbar stabilization, to name a few. MBSSPT accepts Medicare, Workers’ Compensation, auto insurance, and most private insurance plans.

Mass Bay Spine & Sport Physical Therapy is located at 506 Plain Street in Marshfield. For more information, visit www.massbayspineandsport.com or call (781) 319-0024.

Mass Bay Spine & Sport Physical Therapy Helps Rehabilitate One-Armed Marshfield GolferRead More

Training for the Boston Marathon? Mass Bay Spine & Sport PT Shares Tips for Avoiding Injury

Brendan Carman, MPT, ATC
With the Boston Marathon around the corner, Brendan Carman, MPT, ATC, Director of Rehabilitation at Mass Bay Spine & Sport Physical Therapy (MBSSPT), shares his insight on the causes of running injuries and how to avoid them.

Carman, who oversees the state-of-the-art orthopedic outpatient physical therapy practice in Marshfield, has treated countless injuries in runners who are training for marathons and half-marathons over the years.

Below, Carman outlines the causes of certain injuries when training:

Over-training. Achilles tendonitis (painful inflamation of the achilles tendon), Plantar Fasciitis (which exhibits as heel pain) and shin splints (front of leg pain) are all serious injuries resulting from over-training. When training for the Boston Marathon, runners often focus more on endurance and stamina than on overall strengthening of the entire lower body. The first indicator of over-training is aches and pains.

“When a patient presents with aches and pains, its best to deal with it sooner than later. If caught early, one to two days of rest is usually all that is needed. But, aches and pains that are ignored can become more significant. The tissues break down and can become an injury if not addressed promply. Then, it can take weeks to resolve the issue,” explained Carman.

Achilles tendonitis in particular can get progressively worse and result in degeneration of the tendon if left untreated.

Abrupt changes in regimen. Adding five miles to that daily run or altering the pace are actually abrupt changes in regimen that can spark an injury. It will become worse if symptoms start and a runner tries to work through it. Achilles tendonitis is most often the result.

Poor footwear. Old, worn, broken down sneakers offer no support. Wearing the improper size sneaker also creates problems. If the size is too large, then there is an increase in the lever arm so force through the calf muscle is increased and the tendons break down. Improper footwear can also cause Achilles tendonitis. It is generally recommended that running shoes be changed for every 350 to 500 miles trained, depending on body type and training style.

Muscle imbalance. The fundamental problem most of the time is muscle imbalance or weakness that doesn’t get addressed. Training goes beyond just running. Training should include a strengthening and stretching program for the whole lower half of the body, including the muscles of the core.

According to Carman, “At Mass Bay Spine & Sport, we focus on a lot of functional movement type activities with empahsis on balance, that engage the muscles all the way through the hip. This is a significant component. Weak hips will cause problems with knees and ankles because they are not stabilized. Hip weakness is often a key contributing factor to the onset of shin splints and Plantar Fasciitis.”

About MBSSPT
Mass Bay Spine & Sport Physical Therapy (MBSSPT) is an orthopedic outpatient physical therapy practice. MBSSPT, a state-of-the-art facility owned and operated by a physical therapist, has earned a reputation for superior clinical care and delivery of services to South Shore community members as well as physicians from Boston to Plymouth.

The practice’s highly trained staff is committed to providing clients with an experience that will ensure their condition is resolved effectively and efficiently, while empowering them with the necessary tools and knowledge to prevent future problems and maintain optimal health. All of the practice’s physical therapists are trained to rehabilitate a variety of conditions utilizing treatment techniques that include soft tissue massage/mobilization, therapeutic and strengthening exercises, neuromuscular reeducation, gait training, patient education, and lumbar stabilization, to name a few. MBSSPT accepts Medicare, Workers’ Compensation, auto insurance, and most private insurance plans.

Mass Bay Spine & Sport Physical Therapy is located at 506 Plain Street in Marshfield. For more information, visit www.massbayspineandsport.com or call (781) 319-0024.

Training for the Boston Marathon? Mass Bay Spine & Sport PT Shares Tips for Avoiding InjuryRead More