News Room
Patient Testimonial: Joseph Isosaki
My name is Joseph Isosaki. I’m 27 and I’ve been a bi-vocational missionary to Japan for five years.
In August 2019, I lead a team to Shingu, Wakayama which is a rural fishing village six hours south of Tokyo. Our team had a tight schedule leading English cafes, kid’s camps, cooking classes, and sports ministries.
Two days into the trip I suffered a debilitating lower back injury. I was unable to walk, stand, or sit, and the pain was worse than any injury I had ever experienced before. This was a devastating time to be injured as we had six days of ministry left prior to 30 hours of travel back to Cincinnati. A member of our team reached out to his mother, and she connected with another friend who connected me with Rick Schurman.
Rick has over 40 years of experience as a physical therapist and he is well versed in the McKenzie Method. Rick consulted me via a video app several times everyday guiding me through the method. We first focused on centering the pain in my back, and then increasing mobility via modified cobra stretches and backbends. Between our appointments I spent hours resting and stretching, giving my back time to stabilize. Each day I gained more mobility, and I was able to walk within three days. By the last day of ministry I was able to stand, sit, and move with limited pain. This had a huge impact on the success of our ministry.
Rick also consulted me on how to travel safely. I used a rolled towel to support my lumbar spine, walked the cabin frequently, and stretched every hour. Two months after the injury I have continued with the McKenzie Method. I’ve worked through the “How to Treat Your Back” book and have seen consistent progress. Rick has made me much more aware of the mechanics of my body, and I now understand how certain movements/postures can put me at risk of reinjury. I’ve had a great recovery, pain has subsided, mobility has returned, and I’ve been able to return to my normal level of fitness (yoga, strength, core, and plyometrics).
I’m so thankful for Ricks willingness to accelerate my recovery, as well as his deep expertise in the McKenzie Method!
Best Regards,
Joseph Isosaki
Director of The Beautiful Feet Project
Design Engineer in Robotic Surgery at Johnson & Johnson
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