With a holistic approach to physical therapy, Synergy Physical Therapy & Wellness provides patients with proven alternatives to surgery

By Laura Briedis

Offering an interdisciplinary and holistic approach to patients’ overall wellness, you will find more than just physical therapy treatments at Synergy Physical Therapy & Wellness. Physical therapists team up with health coaches, massage therapists and athletic trainers to treat the person as a whole.

“We take a patient-centered approach and can provide an effective alternative to surgery and medications to treat ailments,” says Dr. Cara Ogren, who worked with top physical therapists in the Netherlands and New Zealand before moving back home in 2008 to open her own practice. In 2011, she added a Berea office and last fall opened an office in Willoughby Hills.

“We believe that the best technology is our hands and we are committed to evidence-based practices with proven success,” she says.

“Many of our treatments focus on women’s health because there is a void in outpatient physical therapy addressing the specials needs of conditions that disproportionately affect women—from adolescents with eating disorders that lead to secondary issues to women with high-risk pregnancies to elderly women who have osteoporosis.”

“We also work with a lot of men, especially those with complex medical issues who need more one-on-one attention than they typically receive in a high-volume clinic,” she adds.

In the new Willoughby Hills office, everything is designed to create a comfortable place for healing—from the background music that goes unnoticed by design, dimmable lights to set a relaxing mood in each of the treatment rooms, to Diablo, a greyhound therapy dog that greets you.

“We go the extra step to help patients not only get back on their feet, but also back to full function so they can swim again, kneel on the floor with their grandkids or whatever they used to enjoy,” says Dr. Ogren.

Debunking the myth that physical therapy is needed just for post operation or after an injury, more than half of the patients come here for preventative wellness treatments to boost their overall well-being.

“Some patients want to get back to being well after an injury, some people who have not been well for a long time are looking for relief, and some just want to enhance their well-being,” says Dr. Rachel Wymer, a physical therapist in the Willoughby Hills office. “Even if you are in post-op therapy following a knee replacement, we don’t just focus on that surgical spot but instead look at the whole person to determine what may have led to the knee pain. Our goal is not only to help our patients get well, but also to stay well.”

While most treatments start with physical therapy, they often transition to other services offered at Synergy, such as health coaching, fitness training, massage therapy, guided meditation, dry needling, integrative pelvic myofascial release and biofeedback.

One of the pillars of the practice is health education. “We offer health coaching for stress management, sleep problems and any mental health issue,” says Annie Naples, Synergy marketing director and health coach.

“We integrate health coaching into all our physical therapy treatments, if needed, so our patients get that whole body health approach that defines holistic wellness,” she says. “Health coaching helps motivate patients to set their own goals, discover their own barriers and thrive in a way unique to their lifestyle.”

Synergy hosts wellness workshops in its three locations and also branches out to the community offering lectures at senior centers, schools and corporations.

“As an independent practice, it is important to note that patients do not need a doctor referral to come here,” says Dr. Ogren. “And we communicate to all health care providers and bridge that gap between your primary care doctor, surgeon or specialist to provide you the best care.”

Synergy Physical Therapy & Wellness is located 35010 Chardon Road in Willoughby Hills. For an appointment, call 440-260-7670 or visit SynergyPTAW.com for details.Synergy accepts all major insurances and is Workers Comp certified.