ReQuest Physical Therapy appears to be an above-average physical therapy center. State-of-the-art rehabilitation machines and spotless therapy tables are utilized by patients of all ages in the sun-lit center. Knowledgeable therapists attend exercises and stretches and smiling receptionists greet clients in the spacious lobby.
Past the smiles, pristine equipment and instruction from therapists lie the critical amenities that a casual observer could easily miss that make ReQuest more than “just another” physical therapy clinic. Location, technique, machinery and vision set ReQuest apart from any other physical therapy facilities.
Fitness and rehab run in the same compound as the Gainesville Health and Fitness Center (GHFC) backs up to the ReQuest Physical Therapy offices. Joe Cirulli is the owner of both facilities, which allows for collaboration that keeps both the health of attendees and the fitness of the community in mind.
Tim Day, director of ReQuest, said that the mission statement for the company is clear: “We want to see patients move from rehab to lifelong fitness. While it seems counterintuitive to our business, we want patients to graduate to health and not have to come back.”
The reverse could also prove true. Injuries often manifest themselves during exercise and a gym member can make an appointment to consult with a ReQuest rehabilitation specialist without a physician’s referral.
“We have clients that come in with and without orthopedic or doctor recommendations, and we give free [orthopedic] screenings at the facility,” Day said. “For example, if you are experiencing back pain and aren’t sure what’s wrong, we can assess the problem for you in five to 10 minutes and give possible solutions as well as address treatment for the problem.”
While the concept is not new, GHFC and ReQuest have merged to present a unified front for both rehabilitation and health. As rehabilitants gain strength and flexibility and become accustomed to gym equipment through ReQuest, they are given a free gym membership to continue to gain fitness on their own time.
“Patients can become familiar with the equipment we have in the facility and gain confidence using it,” Day said. “With the free gym membership during their six to eight week rehabilitation period, they can use the same equipment there to continue to get more fit.”
Unique to ReQuest are MedX exercise machines designed for fitness and rehabilitation.
“The MedX machines are valuable in their exercise and therapeutic value as well as for diagnostic value,” Day said. “The machines can help rehab an injury, but are also used to evaluate strengths and weaknesses of particular muscles and muscle groups.
Along with the general programs offered at most physical therapy facilities, such as postsurgical therapy and sports rehabilitation, ReQuest also offers programs such as the Cancer Fatigue and Recovery Program as well as weight loss programs for all ages.
Men and women recovering or undergoing treatment for cancer can sign up for the cancer recovery program. Stretches, exercises and massage techniques are all chosen to meet needs on the road to recovery – what type of cancer, the age of the patient and the intensity of the patient’s recovery process all become factors that contribute to their health plan, said Garreth Smoak, an exercise specialist at ReQuest.
Rehabilitation patients and people who want to lose weight can participate in the weight loss programs, which are overseen by Jeff Gilliam. Gilliam is the clinical director of the main center and spearheads the weight loss programs along with Smoak.
The combination of weight loss and physical therapy came to Jeff Gilliam in the 1980s when he noticed that many people suffering from knee pain were also overweight. Studies in 316 sufferers of degenerative arthritis later proved that even a 10 percent weight loss could result in better joint function and less pain[1].
Each program is specifically designed for their target audience and is easy to follow and maintain. A binder full of quizzes, diagrams, food logs (which also have a mobile app!) and instructional reading materials are given in the first meeting so that individuals can track their progress. Meetings are set up once or twice a week with a ReQuest weight coach to keep people accountable for their choices, Gilliam said.
Motivational materials are also provided and weight-loss goals are tied to important dates such as birthdays, weddings or vacations so they stay fresh and appealing.
The program has worked so well for ReQuest that approximately 35 other clinics have incorporated the same system.
The GHFC pool is part of the versatile offerings for treatment. Patients have the opportunity for hydrotherapy as they treat aches from arthritis or recover from other injuries. The day care center is another bonus – patients can leave children for up to two hours as they exercise or attend therapy.
Integrated massage is yet another way that ReQuest separates itself. Most clinics use heating pads or light exercise to prepare muscles. At ReQuest, clients can receive a half-hour massage, a privilege that Day believes benefits patients not just physically, but also psychologically.
But the most striking feature of ReQuest is their progressive desire to transition patients from injury, illness or weight issues to a lifestyle of health. Day shares this vision that expands past the individual; he and his staff hope to see the same goal spread to businesses and health care plans on a larger scale.
“The future of rehab is to get more people working together for fit lifestyles,” Day said. “I would like to see health insurance companies promoting health through rebates on health insurance rather than just individual companies.”
Over the next four years, Day hopes to develop a team that will gather data to link good health and regular gym attendance. The ultimate goal is to have more large health insurance companies provide rebates for those who are diligent about maintaining their health.
Patients looking for physical therapy services and unique programs for rehabilitation can take advantage of two locations: the main location in Gainesville and in Newberry at Tioga Center. Both of these facilities are connected to a gym for coordinated recovery and fitness gains.
ReQuest and the North Florida Regional Medical Center share a symbiotic relationship similar to that of ReQuest and GHFC. ReQuest is 49 percent owned by NFRMC and the relationship is enriched by the transfer of patients toward smooth and speedy recovery. Patients from NFRMC are referred to ReQuest and case managers at the hospital often schedule rehabilitation appointments before the patients go home.
“We are trying to make it easier on the patients,” Day said. “Often, people don’t schedule or forget to make appointments for follow up and physical therapy. Our connections make the appointments for them so they can simply be there.”
Each connection made, every technique used, each program defined and even each location developed has driven ReQuest farther from the competition and closer to their goal of fitness and health for the Gainesville community.
[1] Messier, Stephen P., Loeser, Richard F., Miller, Gary D., et al. Exercise and weight loss in overweight and obese adults with knee osteoarthritis: the arthritis, diet and activity promotion trial. Arthritis and Rheumatism: Vol. 50, No. 5. May 2004.