Lifechanging brace gave Lisa Dircks her life back. Now, it ‘keeps getting better!’
Lisa Dircks has dealt with knee pain for most of her life.
She had multiple patellar dislocations as a teenager, which happen when the patella (kneecap) slips out of its normal position. Dircks went to physical therapy and managed her pain well with conservative measures, but she continued to feel pain on and off throughout her teen and adult years.
That pain progressed severely 18 months ago, when Dircks fell down the stairs.
“At first, I was so sore and could hardly walk,” she said. “My usual treatments and activity modifications weren’t helping. I was still in a lot of pain. My knee was significantly interrupting my life and I couldn’t even sleep through the night.”
Dircks decided it was time to see an orthopedic doctor. She met with the sports medicine team at M Health Fairview Clinic - Blaine and was diagnosed with osteoarthritis, a condition where the cartilage in a joint begins to wear down and change the nearby bone. Other medical conditions prevented Dircks from getting a cortisone injection, so her care team recommended that she begin physical therapy.
Dircks had been seeing Matthew Sorensen, PT, DPT, a physical therapist at M Health Fairview Clinic – Brooklyn Park, for nearly a decade for other injuries. She scheduled an appointment with him to address her knee pain. Following her initial visit, Dircks was excited to learn there was hope beyond injections and surgery.
“It was so great that Matt was able to look at my X-rays and see that I could benefit from trying these braces,” said Dircks “I tried out two different braces while in the clinic and found one that made an impact almost immediately.”
For patients like Dircks, using a brace can quickly reduce knee pain and allow for an increase in exercise tolerance. Because of this, bracing can often speed progress in physical therapy and help patients reach their goals sooner.
How does the bracing program work?
The M Health Fairview Osteoarthritis and Lower Extremity Bracing Program enhances patients’ physical therapy experience by providing the opportunity to trial select knee and hip braces that can lead to a reduction in pain. The program is a collaborative partnership between M Health Fairview Orthotics and Prosthetics and M Health Fairview Rehabilitation Services.
“Once you identify a brace that reduces or abolishes your pain, the process is pretty seamless,” said Sorensen.
Once the patient has found their brace of choice, they make an appointment to have it formally fit by a certified orthotist. Patients also receive a customized therapy program including strategies, exercises, and activities that support the long-term management of knee and/or hip osteoarthritis.
“I have a well-rounded health care team in an inclusive system that makes my life easier,” said Dircks. “It makes it easy to schedule appointments and to keep everyone on my care team up-to-date with my progress.”
Who can benefit from this program?
Our bracing program can help address a variety of concerns, including:
- Hip and/or knee osteoarthritis
- Patellofemoral pain (or “runner’s knee”)
- Knee and/or hip pain or weakness
- Limited physical therapy progress due to pain
- Limited weight loss goals due to knee and/or hip pain
- Preparing for, delaying, or trying to avoid surgery
- Other knee conditions, such as tibial plateau fractures or articular cartilage defects
