I first met Donna at an integrative clinic during treatment for a sharp pain in my lower back after stepping off of a high curb.

I had been experiencing some occasional pain and stiffness in my back for some time, but had chosen to treat myself with Aleve and a poorly conceived exercise program.

My father had been treated for a stiff neck with acupuncture there and had commented to me on the fantastic results he had received. Based on his testimonial I felt that it was something that I could benefit from, so I asked him to set me up with an appointment.

I met with the acupuncturist and began a series of sessions that greatly reduced the pain I was experiencing but, even combined with massages, wasn’t quite reaching the root of the problem.
I was feeling better, but I was still plagued by recurring issues with my lower back, and from time to time my upper shoulder region. I continued to schedule acupuncture and massage sessions but I really didn’t seem to be making much progress.

The staff at the clinic had made note of this as well and suggested that I might benefit from a different approach. She explained to me that the problems I was having were more likely the result of a deeper problem with the mechanics of my body, not simply an old injury, which was my impression.

This diagnosis led to the next phase of my treatment and an appointment with Donna Schneider, the resident rehabilitation expert. The way I feel now, it’s difficult for me to remember just how it was, but I do remember being very impressed.

Donna took the time at our first meeting to get to know me and understand what was going on with my back, but especially what was going on with the mechanics of my body, which didn’t take her long.
She explained to me that the root of my problem lay in the fact that the core muscles in my body, specifically my upper back and lower abdominals were not “on line”, and probably hadn’t been for some time. This had led to a poor foundation for the rest of my muscles to work on and my body to function on.

After the initial new client interview, Donna proceeded to teach me some of the basic exercises and stretches I would be doing to correct the imbalance in my body. I must admit that although she only worked me for a little while that first time, I left a bit worn out, but pleased with my decision to put my trust in her.

I began seeing Donna twice a month to chart my progress and to learn new variations of the exercises that I was doing, usually slightly more difficult versions, and things progressed well. Periodically, I would also schedule acupuncture sessions and massages to help when things got rough.

Slowly, with her guidance, my efforts have begun to pay off and I have managed to progress from back rehab to actual physical development. During my rehab, Donna designed an exercise plan tailored to my strengths and weaknesses as well as modifications in my diet to help improve things with my health/weight management.

Donna has taught me a lot about body kinetics, muscle structure and how the body’s systems are interconnected. She has helped see me through core development, body foundation repair, via an orthotic expert associate, and beyond.
Because of her efforts, I feel so much better prepared for the challenges I will face in the future.

Sincerely,
Paul Wyman