Request Expert

Expert has applied his exercise physiology background and knowledge of integrative physiology to physical medicine and rehabilitation for a multitude of chronic illness populations. This includes those diagnosed or at risk for; cardiovascular disease, diabetes, pulmonary disease, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, obesity, neuromuscular and balance disorders, and cancer. Understanding pathophysiology (the changes taking place in the body in the presence of disease) and the beneficial effects of controlled exercise in stimulating physiological adaptation (in disease management or prevention), Expert utilizes exercise science in selecting the particular mode, intensity, duration, and frequency of activity to meet the needs and capabilities of the patient. To optimize effectiveness, the exercise therapy needs to be individualized, enabling adjustments to meet changes in a patient's condition that may occur. His extensive early career directing cardiac rehabilitation programs in treating different types of cardiac disorders, including atherosclerosis, has intensified his efforts in advocating the need for all (not just those at heart disease risk) to engage in regular physical activity as preventive medicine. As with other lifestyle choices, understanding the importance of exercise should be fundamental in our health education curriculum.
Of major concern is our spiraling health care costs, not only more suffering from the debillitating effects of disease, but the cost we share in treating disease. From a "fiscal" health standpoint, this trend cannot continue. More in our society are not only becoming obese at younger age, they are growing morbidly obese. While bariatric surgery has been perceived to be the treatment option for obesity, it at best serves to assist what must be a long term activity and nutrition plan, as statistically those who have had the surgery who do not adopt these lifestyle habits tend to put back all their weight and more. Expert educates patients and the community on how our body composition changes with age and what we can do to alter these changes.
Along with the expanding obesity crisis, there has likewise been an inactivity epidemic resulting in increased musculoskeletal injury and lost-time at work. Expert helps health care groups and organizations address their rising employee injury rates as well as concerns with their high fall/injury risk patients being discharged home. Physical therapists are of major importance in treating injury as well as educating health care workers on proper body mechanics when lifting/transferring patients. Occupational safety specialists analyze and make recommendations on maintaining a safe work environment. Expert's focus in injury prevention is the human factor, as our bodies change with age. Muscle weakness and weight gain through inactivity greatly contribute to the risk/occurrence of injury. Evaluating and prescribing exercises to correct weakness and postural deficiencies can dramatically reduce the risk of (re) injury, while improving one's work (duty) fitness.
Expert educates patients and clients that physical activity does not need to be exercise equipment or location dependent, and in fact can be followed anywhere. In consultation with individual patients and clients as well as in his group presentations, he gathers information on the client's medical history, current physical limitations, and barriers (i.e. economic) to activity. If possible (and preferable) he evaluates the individual's baseline fitness (prior medical consent required) in order to prescribe a tailored exercise program. His primary focus is to explain how exercise will address the individual's health concerns, provide options how to design in-house equipment, and to emphasize and demonstrate proper exercise form.

Expert was brought in by the DuPont company's Experimental Station in North Wilmington, DE to analyze and make recommendations in addressing their particularly high laboratory worker injury rates. He determined that while work-station adjustments needed to be instituted, he found that the workers' repetitive movement patterns could be made more efficient, and also provided brief but effective workstation exercises that helped alleviate strain from these repetitive movements. Expert was requested by senior VNA (Visiting Nurses Association) staff to provide exercise/activity guidelines for their health care staff working with home bound patients diagnosed with cardiomyopathy.Recently requested again by VNA to analyze their home health worker high injury rates to help provide some solutions in reducing these rates. Expert evaluated staff's muscle strength, endurance, and balance, provided a home exercise program for staff to follow, and will re-evaluate again to measure outcomes as to the pilot program's effectiveness.Employer asked for assistance in Trauma, Orthopedics, and Nuclear Medicine's departments have enlisted Expert to work with them to help their separate areas develop a comprehensive fall/injury prevention program for their high-risk hip fracture patients. Employer recently reached out to Expert to develop a proposal to help lower the incidence of injuries in their officers. Expert included in his proposal a preventive exercise and joint strengthening program for the officers to follow wherever most convenient for them.