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Allison has provided a great service to me as I dealt with some pain and structural problems with my feet. She gave me tools to address my problem and also a sense of purpose as she motivated me along the way. Thank you for helping me, Allison! ! George Vanderzwaag May 16, 2019

Before coming to Peak, any slight running, no matter the activity, would cause pain in my ankles, shins and knees. After just a few weeks of working with Andrew and company, I was able to do my favorite activities with little to no pain. Now I can do just about anything with no pain and all thanks to Andrew, Margaret and Jenna (his interns) for helping me to get to where I am. ~ William Rauber May 4, 2019

I was treated for pain in my right foot and a small stress fracture to my ankle. I started in the fall with limited ability to even stand without pain. Now I am able to run and work out daily. I am still making progress every day. With Allison’s direction and encouragement, and my hard work, I have gained strength in my calfs, ankles and legs. Allison has helped me realize a lot about my body and has given me so much advice and exercises that I will continue to work on. I’ve learned that this is a process and to never give up. Thanks, Allison, for helping me turn this around! Natalie Memmel May 7, 2019

Andrew and Margaret have done a great job strengthening my shoulder so normal activities rarely give me any pain. Overall I’m very pleased with my results. I highly recommend Andrew and Peak Performance…and Margaret is going to be a great PT! Joseph Hinchman May 6, 2019

Thank God for knowing Allison and getting a quick referral to Peak Performance. I was able to quickly get an appointment with Andrew and his intern, Margaret. This dynamic duo was able to take me from a constant dull pain and tenderness in my ankle to less pain on DAY ONE. From there, they taught me to be more mindful of my movements and gave me exercises to do outside of our sessions. With each visit, I was getting stronger, more mobile and really understood my movement. I work on my feet most days and I still feel great. This team was patient and kind, and took their time to really teach me how to move. I highly recommend Andrew and Peak Performance PT! Morgan Aldridge May 2, 2019

Transformational. That best describes the competent and compassionate care and coaching I received at Peak Performance from Andrew, who is engaging and supportive. I arrived with knee pain and hoped to alleviate the pain, avoid surgery, and return to full function. Andrew not only accomplished all three goals, but also diagnosed the instability in my left ankle as secondary to a foot problem and implemented orthotics, which totally fixed the issue! Under Andrew’s care, my knee is comfortable and functional, my balance is vastly improved, and I am definitely stronger for all activities. Thanks, Andrew—and the entire staff—for improving my life and developing a strategy of exercise to maintain my knees, balance, and strength. I enthusiastically endorse the philosophy and techniques at Peak Performance! Christine Platt April 25, 2019

I came to Peak Performance after struggling for years with tight muscles on my right side in my legs and gluts. I was having difficulty sleeping and sometimes was very uncomfortable at work. There was no specific instance that caused it or made it worse. Mike measured and observed week after week and gave me stretches and exercises. He also did some mobility hands-on work. Eventually, we were able to decrease and manage the pain. Mike has superpower abilities and the persistence to identify root causes and provide targeted stretches and strength exercises to improve it. He does not rely on formulas to solve issues and he constantly progressed me to the next level. My goals were to keep the pain managed, sleep better and to keep doing the sports I love, such as racing dinghy sailboats, riding my bike, hiking and working out to stay strong. I’m 55 years old and I sit all day at work. Keeping fit is a high priority in my week so I can play on weekends. Now that I’ve “graduated” from Peak Performance, I have a series of things I do regularly to keep myself as pain free as possible. I highly recommend Mike and his team at Peak Performance. They are game changers! ~ Mary Ellen Brown

As an active athlete and mother of two rambunctious young boys, it’s been easy for me to pretend that I have a bit of superhero inside. I was working out, golfing, and ballroom dancing with my husband-not to mention running, jumping, and roughhousing with my boys. I even had my eye on joining them in doing parkour, which nicely complemented my background as a gymnast and weightlifter. But then, I was derailed by the excruciating pain of sciatica twice in one year. The first time, I chose the less intelligent route and decided to “heal” on my own. Upon inevitable re-injury I wised up and went to see the team at Peak Performance. At that point, the burning, muscle-knotting pain extended from my lower back down to my knee every moment of the day. I was prevented from doing any normal activities, could barely concentrate on work and even sleep was a luxury…heck, just being able to put my shoes on would have been a major victory! Fortunately, my boys were more than happy to help me with that chore for almost three months. (So much for being a superhero!) From the moment I walked in the door, I could see that I had come to the right place. I’d been referred to Mike Napierala, who did a comprehensive review of my movements and abilities. He took a whole-body view, assessing past injuries along with the sciatica. He came up with a plan that addressed the root causes of my sciatica pain as well as identified immediate steps to alleviate ongoing pain. He even set out a plan to address a latent shoulder injury once my back was in a place to handle the additional exercises. My back and shoulder healed more slowly than either Mike or I preferred. It was the patience, ongoing customization of my healing plan and, most importantly, encouragement and upbeat attitude I got from Mike during every visit that inspired me to never give up. He looked at all of my activities and athletic pursuits from a holistic perspective and gave me exercises that built one upon the other to encompass the gamut of strengthening, neurological, and balance moves for my entire body—not just for my back. Today, I’m thrilled to have resumed my former life of golfing, dancing, playing with children and working out again. Even more exciting is that I’ve now become an avid parkour enthusiast! The confidence I have in my body now is such a far cry from the pain-filled sleepless nights I had…and I simply couldn’t have done it without Mike and Peak Performance! ~ Kelly Roland

Before coming to Peak Performance, I was experiencing difficulty sleeping on my side and had pain radiating down my leg while walking. Thanks to Andrew, I now have a battery of stretches and core-building exercises that relieve and prevent the pain I was experiencing. My pain-free activity level has increased significantly and my sleeping comfort has returned! Jill K.

Prior to Peak Performance, I was experiencing pain and tension in my upper back and neck. I had an overall tightness in my body, which is now a lot looser…I am able to comfortably sit and do work without having to stop due to tension. I look forward to continuing this journey to gain both strength and flexibility. Taylor M.

In July 2018 I was having several medical issues and during a hospital stay, I experienced an extremely painful “popping” in my body. Over the next week, the ache became excruciating groin pain, down my leg, to my numbing toes. The racking pain continued for over two months, making it difficult to take care of myself, do simple tasks, or drive. Finally, I was referred to physical therapy and given a list of PT options. A compelling feeling led me to choose Peak Performance. Appointments were made with Andrew Neumeister and I saw an improvement with my second appointment. Each week and with each achievement Andrew encouraged me and gave me the knowledge I needed to help myself heal. He listened to my complaints, explained and re-explained stretches and exercises, and adjusted and readjusted my improvement plan accordingly. I am at a point now that I am back driving and taking care of myself. And, if I have a setback, I also know what to do to improve. Andrew has given me confidence and valuable information and I am so grateful to him and Peak Performance. I am extremely appreciative of Andrew’s patience, knowledge and skill in his specialty work. I wonder if that “compelling feeling” I had was really divine intervention. I can’t thank you enough Andrew! Jean O’Connor

As the colder temperatures set in, we often see a rise in the number of patients who come to physical therapy for shoulder pain. Despite living in Rochester, the cold weather is not likely to blame for these problems! Overhead sports, all sorts of yard work and things like shoveling can really take a toll on your joints until they start to nag you so much that you change how you move. Eventually you’re forced to change the way you are functioning and...all too often...to STOP enjoying your favorite activities. Many different structures in the shoulder can cause pain. The rotator cuff ("rotor cup" as some would say), part of the biceps muscle, the labrum (shoulder socket cartilage ring), AC joint (small bump on top of shoulder), and multiple bursae (fluid sac friction reducers) can all be culprits that cause pain and limit function. But sometimes people are too quick to assume the cause is where the pain is and are "fooled" into blaming the shoulder when other nearby parts could really be at fault. Did you know that your shoulder pain can come from its nearby neighbors, the neck (cervical) or mid-back (thoracic spine)? Radiating pain from joints and nerves in both the neck and trunk can send symptoms to the shoulder blade and sometimes down the arm...which can be tricky as they pass right through the shoulder area. Pain doesn't have to be the only "feeling" that can raise a flag or concern; weakness or numbness/tingling can also be a sign that something is wrong. For those of you reading this thinking, "I know, stretching and strengthening exercises are the answer"…you might be right. Or you might not be. And do you know which ones are the right ones to do? You see, the real challenge is first doing an evaluation to determine the source of the pain, figuring out which tissue is making that shoulder hurt but then ALSO digging deeper to find any underlying causes for why it happened in the first place! Seeing a skilled, knowledgeable health care professional is that first step. A good history and a thorough physical exam are the key first steps to discovering why your shoulder hurts. Yes, there are times when "films” might be necessary. But be careful of ‘hanging your hat’ on X-ray or MRI findings. Studies remind us that plenty of people with no pain often have similar findings on imaging studies...so they’re sometimes part of discovering what’s going on, but they have to be interpreted alongside an excellent clinical exam. Too many of today’s common treatments focus on simply masking your symptoms. Temporary “feel good” options do work to block your pain or inflammation, but have they really helped handle the actual problem? Can you be confident this isn’t going to come right back again? Keep an eye out in your inbox for our next email and we’ll share a little more about understanding those different causes of shoulder pain better. Hope this helps!Allison Pulvino, PT, MSPT, CMP, CAFS and Andrew Neumeister, PT, DPT, FAFS

When I first came to Allison, I had severe pain in my shoulder and arm and expected to have surgery to unfreeze my shoulder. It was very hard to move my right shoulder, which made it hard to do everyday things like drive and get dressed. My arm and shoulder hurt even when I was sitting still and this made it hard to sleep. Since working with Allison, my arm has improved greatly, I have much better strength and mobility, it rarely hurts and my surgeon agrees that I no longer need surgery! I can also do most of my normal activities. Allison has done a great job of increasing my exercises as I’m able to do more. Thanks, Allison! Kathleen Dorr November 9, 2018

Surprisingly great experience! I walked into this facility with my left hip hurting with bursitis and my lower back in pain. On my first day, when the session was over, I walked out with no pain and had no need to continue taking pain medication. My ability to walk up and down stairs has improved considerably. Due to the leg exercise I am no longer breathless when I get to the top of the stairs. When I do experience any pain in my hips, I just do the stretches. I am happy to no longer take pain medication…no more chemicals for this body! Andrew is an exceptional therapist, displays considerable expertise, is very friendly and quickly builds rapport, and is very knowledgeable in his field. I am very fortunate to have met him. Theodore “Ted” Mozeleski October 31, 2018

Friend, I'm gonna come right out and say it: Ice doesn’t reduce swelling. Does that feel like a pretty big shock to you? Like maybe I bumped my head and got my facts confused? With school sports back in the schedule some of you are sure to know a young athlete who has tweaked something and wants to use ice as that first self-treatment. It can be a great idea to get the injured tissue cooled quickly too, since studies of ice actually DON’T support the ages old recommendation that using ice will decrease swelling. A bit surprising I'll bet! Here’s the key…once the tissue has already swollen it can be tough to get it down quickly, by any means. But ice CAN reduce the metabolism temporarily in the area and reduce pain. And those ARE good things. So try to apply it quickly after an injury. And remember that even though you may already have some swelling that applying cold still may help control your pain and minimize the formation of even more swelling from activity. So it can still be worthwhile. But how do you ice properly? Well, I’ve got a trick for you that I learned many years ago. It’s actually a really cool scientific fun fact for you. Think about your windshield wipers in the winter. Your windshield fluid doesn’t freeze the moment it hits the windshield, does it? Why is that? The chemicals in there help lower the freezing temperature so it doesn’t harden as quickly. While some people choose to create this SLUSH ICE PACK using windshield washer fluid, I'd recommend using isopropyl alcohol…it does the same thing. You just get two large (quart or half gallon size, depending on the body part) seal-able plastic storage bags. Water test the seals on them first, just for safety. Then use 3 parts crushed ice with just a bit of water and add 1 part isopropyl alcohol. Do this with the bag laying relatively flat on a tabletop over a towel, with the opening pointed up to minimize any mess. Get most of the air out and then seal the bag. It should be a relatively flat pack and not a big blob/ball. Place the other bag over the top just as an extra layer of protection in the event of a leak. Your bag should then remain a moldable, flexible slush pack rather than a block of ice. It’ll easily mold around rounded body parts. If it’s too watery after the first overnight in the freezer you can add more crushed ice. If it’s too hard, add a little more isopropyl alcohol. (Just be careful… if your freezer is set really low, like 28 0 F, the slush pack may get cold enough to more quickly cause frostbite if you don’t use protective layering properly.) Usually ice treatments are around 20 minutes or so. It’s safest to use a protective layer like a paper towel or a damp hand towel (if not damp it’ll just block the cooling!) to avoid the chance of overcooling your tissues. I’ve seen these reusable slush packs last years if taken care of properly. Always check for leaks as you don’t want to ruin other things in your freezer. If you need to use ice in the future this is a great way to have a reusable cold pack that molds around curved body parts nicely without the pockets of air that occur with most ice packs or frozen veggies we use. See ya, MikePS...There are some people who have trouble with topical icing. If you have a cold allergy or have gotten frostbite easily in the past or have been advised by your doctor that you shouldn’t use ice then just pass this info along to your friends instead! If you’re not sure that a medical condition you have(especially circulatory problems or nerve related issues or wounds) is safe to use ice with then it’s always best to check with your doctor.

I came to Peak Performance because of hip pain. It stopped me from doing all the movements required to play softball: running, pitching or fielding. I started with anti-inflammatory meds and then came to Peak for help. Andrew and Brittany were very helpful with showing me stretching and strengthening exercises. The medication helped some with the pain, but the exercises given to me have helped a great deal. Joseph M. February 20, 2018

I started by attending the workshop on Back Pain & Sciatica and was very encouraged by the presentation. After visiting my GP, he confirmed that my sciatica was caused by arthritis in my right hip. When I first came to PT with Andrew, he confirmed that my sciatica would always be with me. But he also taught me that with proper stretching and strengthening exercises, he could significantly reduce my discomfort. Boy, was he right about that! My pain went from extremely disabling to almost non-existent. Andrew was comforting and caring and very knowledgeable about the human body. I know that if I continue to work with the program that Andrew developed for me, I will continue to function with little or no discomfort. Joseph B. November 1, 2017

When I first came to Peak, I had pain in my left leg and limited movement. Over the course of my PT, Karen showed me the exercises that would overcome my pain and limited movement. I can’t thank her enough! Richard R. September 6, 2017

I had a great experience here! When I started PT, my pain was 9/10 and now it’s down to 0-2/10. Prior to PT, I had trouble sleeping at night, sitting in the car, and even walking more than a tiny distance. Now I can walk farther, sit longer, and sleep at night with minimal to NO pain! Thank you, Andrew! You have changed my life! Karen K. July 5, 2017

I have experienced lower back pain for many years. I’ve never tried physical therapy before but saw a shared post for Peak Performance on Facebook and thought I’d give it a try. Andrew welcomed me and I could tell he really cared about getting me back to a pain-free life. Before Peak Performance, I was always uncomfortable after a long workout or just sitting at work. Andrew showed me how to manage pain in simple ways I can do at home, at work, and at the gym. I am so appreciative for his time and knowledge to help me recover. Thank you so much! Maria D. March 30, 2017

When I came to Peak Performance, it hurt just to throw a football, let alone actually play in a game. My workouts almost entirely cut out anything that used my arms. Today, I have no limitations and feel confident that I can go back to playing all sports, and especially football, without any risks to reinjuring my shoulders. Ritchie C.

My issue was severe lower back pain. MRI results indicated surgery would be the most effective fix. Instead, I decided to try physical therapy at Peak Performance. My outlook now, after several months of therapy, is that I can carry on life without surgery and resume my favorite sport, golf. William T.

Before I came to Peak Performance, I could not fence because of my knee. When coming to PT, my knee hurt in many activities. During my time with Andrew, my knee was rehabbed and I’m fencing 100%, right back to where I was before my injury. Elliot R. January 12, 2017

I have had sciatic pain since 2003 and have done physical therapy years ago. I also had two shots in my spine for sciatic pain. The shots work fine, but I have not been incapacitated enough to warrant more shots. I just had pain that was mild but annoying, especially during long car rides. Peak Performance sent out an email about sciatica therapy and I thought about finding out how I could help myself, especially since I travel a lot and want to be pain free. I feel I have the tools now to take control in strengthening my body and preventing deterioration. Thank you, Andrew! Mary Ketchen January 5, 2017

Before starting PT, I had considerable pain doing simple tasks like working at my computer or doing a puzzle on the table. I had limitations on neck and shoulder movement. PT was extremely helpful in reducing pain and increasing function. I am able to do more and feel better doing it. Thank you! My shoulder is better now after working with you than it was with my shoulder PT! Sharlene C. January 5, 2017