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Loving her new Pain-Free Body: Darlene’s Success Story

December 5, 2023 | Patient Success Stories
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By, Allison R. Weder

“I looked forward to going. Every day when I walked out of there, I would feel like I was stronger.” – Darlene, Bradford, PA Patient

Darlene Kloss was a Certified Nursing Assistant for 30 years, which meant she was always on her feet and bending her knees. After Darlene retired, she remained active, enjoyed life, and loved to travel until arthritis pain in her knee started taking its toll. For five years she struggled, trying many different treatments. Darlene recalls one trip to Florida. “Oh my gosh, it was so painful. I decided I’m not going to do this anymore.” Darlene took her doctor’s suggestion and had total knee replacement surgery.

Darlene and her Therapist, Kylie

Typically, after total knee replacement, physical therapy is prescribed. Darlene was on board, after hearing from her water aerobics friends about the important role PT can play in making a full recovery. Those friends also offered advice about which therapy clinic to choose. “We talk about everything. Some of the girls said they liked Phoenix, so I said, I’m going to try Phoenix too.” On her first visit to the Phoenix Physical Therapy location in Bradford, Pennsylvania, she knew she had made the right decision. “I was so happy. When I walked in there, I felt that they were going to help me. They came right over to me, and they were very welcoming. I knew I was in the place I should be. It was very nice, bright, and clean.” Kylie Howard, PT, DPT created an individualized plan for Darlene’s recovery after learning about her goals. At 75 years old, Darlene has plans to travel and keep up with her water aerobics and Zumba.

The first few days of physical therapy were rough on Darlene. “I had the surgery Monday and on Wednesday I was at physical therapy. The first part was when it hurt the worst. You had to lay down and stretch your leg out straight with the bands and that hurt.” But slowly, Darlene noticed improvements and more exercises were added to her sessions. “I was on the bike, I did the balls, I did the exercises with the bands and weights around your ankles. I would climb up and down the stairs. I stood on the cushions on the floor to work on my balance. I went 3 times a week and each time they would always give me an extra exercise to do.” Darlene began reaching her goals and was proud of her progress. “Every day when I walked out of there I would feel like I was stronger. I walked with a walker for a week and moved to a cane. I walked with the cane for a week and then started walking on my own. When I walked out without the cane, I felt like I accomplished something. I was there for six weeks. When I left, I was pain free. I really was. My knee was pain free.”

Darlene believes some prehabilitation exercises, exercises she learned from her Phoenix therapists before surgery, may have helped her recovery progress. “For two or three weeks I did my exercises at home on my bed. And I still do them (after surgery). I still do my knee bends and my stretches. Once in a while, if I don’t do them, it gets a little stiff in there. So, I do them at home too.” Darlene also maintains a positive attitude. “It’s a mindset. You have to be positive. There is so much negativity, if you think positively and spread positivity, it helps. And the girls were very encouraging too. (Kylie) would say, ‘take your time and it will be ok’, which it was. I knew that somebody cared about me, and I knew that the work I was going to put in would be beneficial. I knew I was going to be pain free and my knee would be very strong.”

Darlene took her new, strong, pain-free knee and body to a whole new level after surgery. “I’ve lost 82 pounds now too! I think the exercise I did at physical therapy helped me with more than just my knee. It made my whole body better. And (my therapists) gently encouraged me to do it. They want you to get better. That’s what they are there for, for you to get healthy and be able to walk out normally. For five years, I had a limp. I don’t even have a limp anymore.”

Darlene makes sure she lets everyone know about her experience at Phoenix PT-Bradford. “I tell everybody. (My friend) wasn’t going to do physical therapy. I said, please do it, and she is going to Phoenix now too. I told her, those girls were absolutely fabulous. They really were. I cannot say enough about them. They were kind and compassionate. They know their jobs. They know what to do to make you better. You need that guidance. They became like friends to me. They got to know you personally and that’s nice. You weren’t just a patient.”

The entire Phoenix Physical Therapy Team is committed to providing our patients with quality physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy in a safe and healthy clinic environment. We continue to follow the guidance provided by the CDC, WHO and public health officials to update you as new information becomes available. Let’s work together to keep each other safe and healthy.

The safety of our patients, communities and team members remains our top priority. We know you have a choice in your care providers and appreciate your commitment to Phoenix and our qualified clinicians.

Here are the actions we have taken to keep our patients, communities and team healthy & safe:

  • Flexible scheduling allows for social distancing
  • Regular cleaning and sanitation of all clinic surfaces
  • Facemasks must be worn by all Phoenix staff and are recommended for all patients
  • Screening questionnaire and temperature checks prior to entering clinics
  • 6 feet of social distancing throughout the clinics

Keeping Our Clinics Safe

Here are some tips on how we can keep each other safe:

  • Handwashing is your best self-defense against the spread of germs. When soap and water are not available and hands are not visibly dirty, use at least a 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Please stay home if you are not feeling well, especially if you have a fever, are coughing or sneezing, or are experiencing shortness of breath. If a patient shows up with symptoms, the clinic team will work with them to reschedule.
  • Be vigilant. If you have traveled to any of the countries where there are outbreaks of the virus, please follow guidance from the CDC website and our Travel Guidelines.

Here are actions we are taking to keep our clinics clean and safe:

  • Equipment will be wiped down after EVERY use with antibacterial wipes/sprays
  • All surfaces that patients or staff may touch including door handles, countertops, seating, pens at sign-in, bathroom and all other common areas will be disinfected regularly
  • Treatment tables will be 6 feet apart
  • Team members will wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, particularly after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing their nose, coughing or sneezin
  • Clinics will have hand sanitizer available at the front desk and in the treatment areas
  • Any Phoenix team members who are ill will be asked to stay home
  • We will maintain social distancing between patients in the clinic
  • Caregivers that are bringing a patient to the clinic should wait in their car or come back when the appointment has ended unless necessary (i.e. minor requiring a guardian or for assistance needs)
  • When possible, we will treat patients in private rooms to increase social distancing
  • Any patients that have underlying health issues (i.e. diabetes, respiratory problems, etc.) will be given the option to be seen during special clinic hours or can opt to be treated in a private room away from other clinicians and patients
  • All patients should be self-screening before entering the clinic. Our PCCs will perform a secondary screening during the check-in process and before patients enter the clinic including a screening questionnaire and temperature check.
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