NeuPTtech Clinic Spotlight: MATRX Health & Fitness

The latest entry of NeuPTtech’s Clinic Spotlight series introduces us to Krystina Miller, PT, DPT, ATP and CEO of MATRX Health & Fitness, a therapist-owned private practice in Macomb, MI that’s built on delivering physical therapy through techniques and technologies that are supported by clinical research. 

In pursuit of a mission to provide neuro-rehabilitative services through innovative, high-quality care that will make them the provider of choice for neurological recovery in their community, Krystina introduced the NEUBIE to MATRX. And that’s when things got interesting…

Tell us about yourself, Krystina.

My own interests in sports and fitness were the primary motivator for my pursuit of my physical therapy degree. The early years of my career and professional development occurred in the setting of inpatient neuro-rehabilitation. 

I acquired advanced training and specialty certifications related to spinal cord injury rehabilitation after finding my passion in working with this population. I have always been driven to rise to the challenge of exceeding someone’s expectations of their own abilities.

Tell us about your practice.

MATRX stands for Maximizing Abilities Through Research-based eXercise. As an outpatient clinic with a strong focus in neuro-rehabilitation, we’re unique in the continuum of care as a bridge from hospital to home without a medical or clinical feel. 

The end goal for each patient is integration into a permanent, healthy lifestyle that includes maximal functional independence within an accessible fitness community and integration and exposure to adaptive sport and recreation. Our techniques and treatment approaches are guided by the latest in rehabilitation and fitness science.

How did you first hear about the NEUBIE?

I first learned about the NEUBIE through Brian Gallagher’s podcast called PT Private Practice: Secrets of the Top 10 Percent that featured Jason Waz and NeuPTtech.

What convinced you to add it to your practice?

I was offered a 3-month trial to see the NEUBIE in action. It quickly yielded results beyond what I was expecting.

What were your initial expectations with the device?

My initial intent with the NEUBIE device was to treat shoulder injuries and avoid surgery for my patients. Wheelchair users experience frequent shoulder overuse injuries. Surgical protocols are often impractical for them, requiring bed rest for an extended period of time because of their heavy reliance on their upper body for all mobility. 

At the time, I had an adaptive Ironman athlete who was struggling with his training because of shoulder pain. My hope was that the NEUBIE could help enhance performance faster than traditional treatments.

What is your experience working with Jason Waz and his team at NeuPTtech?

Jason and his team made special accommodations to host me for a training course to get started with the NEUBIE quickly. They led me through the basics of the machine use/set up, and general applications to hit the ground running. 

They have continually been available to assist with answering questions and problem-solving challenging cases.

What results did you experience with the NEUBIE?

I have had patients with long-term paraplegia and quadriplegia (one up to 30+ years after his initial injury) who have experienced improvements in the sensation below the level of their injuries. 

I have been able to help accelerate healing from an ankle injury to allow a patient to return to standing and walking with limited interruption in his progress. Since taking the course in micro-currents, I have also been able to further tap into the benefits of the machine for tissue healing, pain management, and muscle spasticity.

What has been the most surprising element of using the NEUBIE so far?

I was not expecting the neuro-recovery/neuro-rehabilitative benefits experienced with my patients with spinal cord injury. 

It was my expectation that this would be a tool for treatment of orthopedic injuries with my specialized population, but I have recognized benefits for use with everything from balance deficits to muscle strengthening to neuromotor recovery.

How have your patients reacted to using the NEUBIE?

I get constant referrals from providers and direct contact from clients specifically for treatment on the NEUBIE. There is also a huge interest in the fitness and exercise recovery benefits of the machine with our general fitness community.

What is your message to PTs who are on the fence with the NEUBIE?

The NEUBIE has greatly supplemented my skills as a therapist. It accelerates results in a way that traditional e-stim does not. 

This machine is so versatile and far more effective in comparison to any other neuro-stim device or modality we have access to (and I’ve used several over the years including the Bioness and Restorative Therapies RTI cycle). Give it a try!

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Thank you again to Krystina and all of the NEUBIE practitioners who keep sharing their physical therapy clinic NEUBIE success stories with NeuPTtech. This innovative device clearly has an incredible impact on their patients and, of course, their overall bottom line.

To read more case studies around the NEUBIE and receive a free NEUBIE ROI assessment for your practice – contact NeuPTtech today to learn more!