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The Manual Touch Physical Therapy

Whole Body Approach

Reclaim movement, function and life
For information, call: 847-541-7600
or email: info@themanualtouch.com
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Intention

December 24, 2014 By Denise Schwartz Leave a Comment

happy_holidays

The holiday season signals a time to begin reflection of the past year and set intentions for the new year.

At the end of a networking meeting I went to last week, each of the attendees stated their intention for the next meeting, which also happened to be for next year. As others expressed their business and personal intentions, it allowed me time to formulate my intention for the coming year.

Recently I re-read The Alchemist, a parable of a young shepherd boy looking for his true treasure, by Paulo Coelho.  The book is filled with life lessons for the reader to find his/her true path or dream. When I read this book many years ago the lesson I gleaned from the book – as I get closer and closer to my true path I will encounter harder challenges in order “to master the lessons we’ve learned as we moved toward that dream.” With acceptance of this truth, I have been able to conquer those difficult challenges over the years to move forward on my true path personally, professionally, and physically.

Personally, my husband and I have raised two happy, healthy children who are on their true paths, know exactly who they are and where they are going. My husband, after stagnating in a job for the past ten years, has a new job where he is well appreciated and compensated.

Professionally, at the end of 2013 I set a vision for business growth, that is well on its way. After embracing my inner, well hidden business woman, I confronted my fears and shattered them. Knowing I couldn’t do this alone I sought out mentor ship from numerous successful health professionals, who like me were business owners and hired other business professionals needed to move my business forward.

Physically, I am a runner. I went from thinking 2 miles was an impossibility, later to encounter 5 miles, a 10k, and then finally a half marathon. I am now injury free and in training for my 7th half marathon in Tampa, FL in February. No longer, do I think any distance is impossible, rather the challenge is now to stay healthy/injury free in order to run any distance I choose.

When reading The Alchemist this time around, I connected with a different lesson. “Listen to your heart. It knows all things, because it came from the Soul of the World”. Listening with your heart eliminates judgement, bias, negative emotions, and allows one to be fully present and non-reactive. My intention for 2015 is to listen with an open heart.

Thank you to all the people who have helped me on this journey to find my inner business woman, to my patients, family, and friends.

Wishing everyone a Happy, Healthy Holiday Season and may the New Year be filled with good health, joy and an open heart.

Filed Under: Real Stories Tagged With: injury free, intention, mentor ship, runner, running, the alchemist

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Testimonials

I am a pediatric  physical  therapist  who  (unsuccessfully) tried to treat my own shoulder pain for more than 1 year.  By the time I started PT with Denise, my pain was significantly impacting both my personal and professional life. After 2 visits with Denise, the pain lessened and my function improved.  After 8 visits, I was nearly painfree.  Denise and I continue to work together to improve my overall movement and muscle strength.  My body feels better than it has in years.  I hav… Read more
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In the four months I’ve been going to PT at The Manual Touch my life has changed for the better.  I was in a lot of pain in my back and right leg – Denise gave me a regiment of exercises to do.  In doing my exercises I have reduced my pain level from 9+ to a 2/3 — I truly believe a miracle happened here.  I believe the name should be changed to The Magic Touch.
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Denise is the best! 4 weeks before my first marathon she suggested a couple minor tweaks to my form and it immediately improved my comfort and speed. My next run was a 5 miler, and I felt so good that I ran it almost a minute / mile faster. Best run all year. My dreaded 20 miler training run was yesterday, and I ran 15-30 seconds/mile faster, and stayed consistent the whole 20 miles. It gives me quite the confidence boost leading into the marathon. Thanks Denise!
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I came to Denise with pain in my neck and upper back from a fall earlier this year.  In addition, I also have chronic low back pain. Denise evaluated me and went right to work giving me exercises and hands on therapy to help me. Today is my eighth session and I am happy to report that my back pain has been relieved and my neck pain is slight and so much better.
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When I started to work with Denise I had shoulder and lower back pain.  She taught me various exercises along with posture that resulted in significant reduction in the pain.  Also, significantly improved my balance.  Her massage therapy greatly reduced the sensitivity to pressure that was caused by my open-heart surgery.
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I have had very significant scoliosis and osteoporosis for many years and I have gone to very “reputable’ physical therapists through the years, but never felt satisfied.  A few years ago, I went to my internist for a physical and mentioned I was having back pain.  He recommended that I start seeing Denise at The Manual Touch.  Due to my past experiences, I was skeptical regarding the success that I could have with another therapist.  From my first visit I could tell that Denise had a ve… Read more
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I needed help.  Denise and the manual touch provided the best customized, targeted therapy I could have found.  She put my torn knee back together, straightened my back, worked with me to regain the mobility I’d lost due to a neck injury, even had me doing dance steps I’d not done in 60 years.  I didn’t think I could do this; she showed me I could.
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I can honestly say that Denise was the first physical therapist to listen to my story.   She has demonstrated more patience and compassion than any other therapist that I’ve ever met. For the past 8 years, I have been symptomatic with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS), a rare genetic condition which affects the connective tissue throughout my body. As a result of this disorder I deal with ongoing severe acute and chronic pain and a variety of other rare overlapping conditions such as thoracic outl… Read more
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I felt much better after initial visit and even more so after the second.  I would not have believed I could see such an improvement in how I felt after only two sessions.
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I’m a pediatric physical therapist and I was taking a yoga teacher training.  My left shoulder and neck were getting progressively tighter and eventually pain was keeping me up at night.  I knew I wanted treatment from a very knowledgeable PT with good manual skills and someone who excelled at evaluating postural and functional issues.  Denise is that person and she corrected my biomechanics with exercises and manual therapy.  There are only a few PT’s that possess skills like Denise.  … Read more
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Our Mission


We believe all body systems and mental/emotional health are connected. We take a whole body approach to discover why patients are not healing and what were the initial causes of their current symptoms. 

Our mission is to use this whole body approach to help patients heal and overcome pain and limitations, resulting in improved quality of life. We also aim to promote wellness in our communities through ongoing education. 
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Testimonials

I have had very significant scoliosis and osteoporosis for many years and I have gone to very “reputable’ physical therapists through the years, but never felt satisfied.  A few years ago, I went to my internist for a physical and mentioned I wa… Read more
Michael is a 75 year old man seen for long standing IT band pain particularly while sleeping and climbing stairs. “Coming in I was in pain during the day.  With Denise’s help, I have less pain and more mobility.  Denise is terrific and very … Read more
Just a note to thank you for the time you spent with me Saturday in evaluating my running technique and body alignment.  Your suggestions are already making sense and having an early impact.  After our meeting, I went out for a 5K run and found you… Read more
Denise is such a talented PT. She is able to evaluate my movements and how I use my body in such detail. Her integrative manual therapy skills are unique and get to the root of my physical problems. Along with her functional movement exercises, her m… Read more
I am a pediatric  physical  therapist  who  (unsuccessfully) tried to treat my own shoulder pain for more than 1 year.  By the time I started PT with Denise, my pain was significantly impacting both my personal and professional life. After 2 … Read more
I walked in to PT with severe back and knee pain, I couldn’t even tie my own shoe.  After 45 minutes of Denise’s treatment, I could tie my own shoe with mild discomfort.
I had 2 total hip replacements and a knee replaced.  I found the exercises to be tremendously  helpful.  Denise educated   me  on  how  I need  to move my body to keep  it in alignment and she was most helpful and encouraging.
Denise Schwartz at Manual Touch is a marvelous diagnostician and therapist. During the past few years, I’ve sought out Denise’s care for various physical limitations. I am continually amazed by her ability to determine my discomfort’s cause as well a… Read more
Last winter our daughter Maddie had had several eye and ear infections, and all required topical and oral antibiotics.  These were instigated by a plugged tear duct.  A pediatric ophthalmologist said there was little chance the duct would open up o… Read more
With improved balance by utilizing Denise’s exercises on a daily basis, I now have reduced the risk of falling and possibly fracturing a bone.  I am grateful for Denise’s expertise. If you have a balance issue I recommend a visit to Denise.
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