Couple’s practice offers marriage of perspectives

Mary and Chris Kelly worked for large health systems in Florida before relocating to Illinois. They each have close to two decades of experience in physical therapy and opened their practice one and a half years ago with the goal of blending their knowled

Updated: August 12, 2012 6:12AM

Mary Kelly says that some adults experience physical conditions that could have been prevented if addressed in childhood. As a physical therapist who co-owns Fox Valley Physical Therapy and Wellness in St. Charles, her background in pediatrics now benefits adults, since the practice integrates her approach with that of her husband, who specializes in adults.

“It was our vision to merge pediatrics with adults,” said Mary Kelly. “They’ve always been two separate entities because we did not have the flexibility or environment to collaborate, but now we look at clients together.”

Mary and Chris Kelly worked for large health systems in Florida before relocating to Illinois. They each have close to two decades of experience in physical therapy and opened their practice 1½ years ago with the goal of blending their knowledge to benefit patients, Mary said.

“Postural things, tightness, those are things that if not addressed (in childhood) can lead to orthopedic complication,” she said. Pediatric and adult patients are treated for injuries and illnesses at Fox Valley Physical Therapy and Wellness.

Chris Kelly said adolescents in the Chicago area seem to be very active in sports and often not suited for their training demands.

“There seems to be a lot of over-training because kids are starting so young,” he said. “Their bodies are not strong enough to handle all of this activity.”

Any reports of pain are an indication that a child may have an injury or condition that needs assessment, Mary said. “But a lot of kids are encouraged to push through something like that.”

She also said they try to treat the root of the problem instead of the symptoms and hope to build long-term working relationships with clients.

“Since we are a family-based business we can treat the whole family,” she said. “Their needs will change, and our goal is to enable them and to help them know how to care for their bodies as they age.”

Now that the Kellys own their own practice, they’re able to spend more time with their patients, they said. That means individualized relationships — and treatment plans.

“We don’t have an exercise prescription for each diagnosis,” she said. “It’s not a cookie cutter approach. It’s very specific to each person.”

Patients’ progress

Shari Czerwinski met Chris Kelly about 10 years ago when he began treating her at another facility.

“I have a complicated medical situation, and Chris has researched to help me get better. When others would give up, Chris would just try harder,” she said, adding that she continued treatment with him at his new practice because of his commitment to her treatment and wellness. “I usually am in therapy at least a few months each year. I appreciate so much the amount of time he spends trying to get me to best achieve my full potential.”

Theresa Dobek’s daughter Jill, 4, has been a patient of Mary Kelly’s for nearly two years. Dobek said her child’s serious condition has greatly improved with Kelly’s advanced knowledge of the growing adolescent.

“Jill started seeing Mary after she was diagnosed with hemiplegic cerebral palsy due to a stroke she had before she was born,” Dobek said. “Muscles in Jill’s left arm and leg were tight due to the CP and weak from lack of use. Working with Ms. Mary every week has dramatically improved Jill’s gait.”

The Kellys consider their focus on relationships key to their practice, because it means patients see the same therapist every treatment.

“It’s a special rapport,” Chris Kelly said.

More information about Fox Valley Physical Therapy and Wellness is available at www.fvphysicaltherapy.com.

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