Joe: 00:14

Welcome back to another episode of the Freedom Talks Podcast, everybody. This is your host, Joe Ogden. This week, we get, an interview with one of our new therapists here that was hired out in Mukwonago. And super excited to have him on the podcast. Him and I have emailed back and forth, had to kind of move this podcast around a little bit.

Joe: 00:32

Mukwonago, our manager out there, Wes, has done a fantastic job of of really, really buckling down and doing everything he can to get that clinic really flowing and and really treating a ton of people, and and they've been doing a great job out there. So we had to hire another full time therapist and, also, so thankful to have some part time help out there, with another therapist who we really miss full time here in Fox Point. But, we've got doctor Ben Schaeffer, who is a new graduate from Carroll University, which I do have a little bit of bias towards, because I went there. I think think it's a great, PT school. They do a great job at, getting students ready to become doctors of physical therapy.

Joe: 01:13

So a great hire, I think, by Freedom, and we're super excited to talk to Ben today and kinda get to know him a little bit and understand some of the things that he looks for when he is treating people and some of the things that he likes to do, when treating patients. So, again, super excited to have this interview with Ben here. And without further ado, let's have a talk with doctor Ben. Alright, Ben. Thanks for coming on the podcast today.

Ben: 01:35

Yeah. Thank you for having me, Joe.

Joe: 01:37

Ben, give us a little background. I know, you kinda recently graduated. Give us just kind of a little background about, you know, where you're from, where you went to PT school, and, you know, kinda what led you to freedom.

Ben: 01:48

Yeah. So I grew up in Muskegon and live in Muskegon where I went to UW Waukesha for my first two years, just like a junior college and then transferred to UW Milwaukee to get my bachelor's of kinesiology and then went to Carroll University here in Waukesha for grad school and spent the past 3 years locally just, like, training at the different clinics, and then always fell in love with, like, body and health and helping people get better and back to the things that they want to do, which is what drew me into physical therapy all the years ago. And then for Freedom, I feel like they do a great job of that, of allowing the therapist and making the patients the priority and allowing the patient care to be the emphasis instead of just other factors that come with being a business and all that. And it's a family vibe to it, which I love about freedom, getting to actually know your coworkers and be able to talk with them instead of just being like, oh, hi. I'm here for my 8 o'clock check-in.

Ben: 02:54

I'm going out for my 4 o'clock checkout and stuff and never really, like, getting to know them on more of a personal level

Joe: 03:01

like that. So kind of a, I mean, unconventional route to becoming a PT compared to just how it's set up. Mhmm. For most people now, give did you know right out of high school that you wanted to be a PT?

Ben: 03:15

Not really. It was just something that I had learned about while I was looking the classic, like, senior year of high school going to family gatherings. Everybody asks you, hey. Why are you gonna be starting for college, and why are you gonna be doing all this and that and all that? And, like, I come from a big family where my mom has 9 siblings, so lots of people asking the questions like that.

Joe: 03:37

A lot of practice answering.

Ben: 03:39

Uh-huh. So I'm like I come up with a good answer and stuff and was looking around and found PT and always had the interest in health and movement, like, trying to better myself or increase my athletic performance because I have a brother who's 4 years older than me, so I had to use all my wits and any advance I could get in in health. There's so many things to to do. So then found PTN was like, I could see myself doing this. And then the more I kept digging into it, the more I chat or or the more people I talked with, I was like, yeah.

Ben: 04:14

This seems like a great fit for me. It allows me to do things that I'm passionate about and share it with others to help them get back to what they enjoy and being able to do it in a pain free or as minimal pain as possible.

Joe: 04:31

Did you apply to other PT schools?

Ben: 04:33

Yeah. I applied to all the Wisconsin schools, which is, like, 6 of them except for my kid, and applied to Mayo Clinic up in Minnesota. And I everybody has the top choices and stuff like that, but I just felt it was a bigger thing to get in and be able to start practicing sooner and helping people sooner rather than being like, oh, I'm only gonna go to this one school even if it takes me 3 years to get in. So I wanted to get out and make an impact sooner rather than later where it took a bigger spread and came with Sean, then Carroll and Concordia were 2 schools that accepted me. And then after comparing apples to apples between the two schools, came down they wanted to choose Carroll and could stay in the community and continue to develop that community impact and involvement with

Joe: 05:35

Yep.

Ben: 05:35

A place that I grew up and enjoy living in.

Joe: 05:39

Are you and you said you're still living in Muskegon?

Ben: 05:42

Correct. So what

Joe: 05:43

is it, 1, 15, 20 minute drive to

Ben: 05:46

Yeah. Just under 20 minutes on a good day and stuff. The worst thing, traffic is not a bad it's just the snowing response in, which so far, we haven't had any snow this year, really. So

Joe: 06:00

Where do you live in Muskegon? My wife and I are basically just up the road, like, barely into Berlin compared to Muskegon.

Ben: 06:06

Okay. I'm more on the edge by Wind Lake if you know where, like, in the middle school, like, Crowbar and Kelsey is.

Joe: 06:12

Yeah. That subdivision right there. Okay. Tell us a little bit just kinda about, you know, I know you just graduated, but kinda give us a little background on just kinda your, kinda clinical experience so far and and, you know, kinda some of the, kinda attributes or traits that you think are important for you and and how you treat people.

Ben: 06:34

Yeah. So, Carol, they do 4 clinical rotations. My first one was a 6 week one, which I did at doctors of physical therapy up in Beaver Dam. So that's a similar setting to what Freedom is, an outpatient one. Enjoyed that and learned a lot while I was in the middle of my schooling, so there was a lot of back and forth between me and my physical therapist I was working under.

Ben: 06:58

Then my second one was a 8 week one at Aurora inpatient down in Mount Pleasant. So the hospital sounds quite different than the

Joe: 07:08

Is that the newer one, Devin? Is that the newer one, Devin?

Ben: 07:12

So it was a great facility and nice, but with it being the newer facility, they didn't have as many specialties, especially compared to, like, St. Luke's up in Milwaukee. So there was a different, like, atmosphere because it's still trying to get the word out and get the specialties like that, but it was a nice eye opener and seeing that side of PT and comparing it, which I also had some experience with the hospital because I worked as a rehab tech at and or or, like, St. Luke's throughout my grad portions in that hospital. So would help and see what a physical therapist does that way, but not the same as the clinical experience.

Joe: 07:56

Yeah. Of course.

Ben: 07:58

And then my third one was at, like, Apex Network down in Arizona, which is a outpatient clinic similar to, like, Freedom. We're dealing with patients coming and going, and that one was great to experience. And it was at the end of my schooling, so I had a lot more hands on experience and able to learn more that way instead of just observing and being able to see them. Then the last one was in Aurora Sports Health up here in Grafton, Wisconsin, and that was also for 8 weeks. So, again, outpatient setting similar to, like, Freedom, but the different companies.

Ben: 08:38

So logistics are always slightly different, but that one, again, with it being at the end, was just a lot more hands on and learning and seeing how everybody's body reacts differently. And you can read that in a textbook and stuff where the teachers say, yeah, everybody responds differently. But then to actually experience it hands on is really cool to see and learn from because it just goes firsthand to be like, oh, yeah. I gave this one exercise to patient Joe, and he did really well. But then I gave this other that same exercise to patient Ben, and he did really bad.

Ben: 09:19

Like, what happened? And that's where part of the fun of PTE, or at least, I find it fun at times, although can be a headache is figuring out, okay, why did it work well for this person but not well for the next person.

Joe: 09:33

Yeah. Yeah. Of course. And you've been with us now when did you start? November?

Ben: 09:38

Yeah. The end of November, like, November 21st.

Joe: 09:41

Yeah. How are how are things going? I mean, how do you how do you feel like, you know, that because you kinda join for people that don't know, typically the end of the year, deductibles are met. So essentially speaking, physical therapy is quote, unquote free because you met your deductible. There's no deductible to be met.

Joe: 10:00

Typically, people like to come at the end of the year. Things kinda slow down at the beginning of the year because deductibles reset and finances, you know, kinda change. So you kinda came in at the height of productivity, so to speak. How's how's your transition been, you know, kind of just kinda getting your feet wet and and getting things going? Mhmm.

Ben: 10:18

That's where I like to lean back on my clinical experiences, especially the 3rd and 4th one where that was at the end of my schooling, and it always helped me to ramp up and be able to take on a full full caseload and know what the day to day like, it was like that. So then transitioning to here, even during, like, the I see you mentioned, like, the higher periods of patients coming in because of the insurance reasons and all that made it a lot smoother transition because it was something that I was familiar to and not like, oh, this is new for the first time. How do I handle myself? And then having, like, the great team that we have here at McGraw and go specifically by even Freedom in general, like the other therapists, Wes and Abigail and even Nicole when she's here, have been tremendously helpful where I can ask them questions and they've explained things. Or sometimes you both treat the same patient different times and then have talked with them about, oh, like, how is it going, or what do you think about this?

Ben: 11:23

And it that is just, like, invaluable to me being able to especially tap into their experience and all their clinical knowledge like that. And then the front desk, they've been so good with all the insurance because we all know how that can go and be a headache at times and stuff. So, like, Molly and Genevieve, they've been great handling that and explaining it to patients to make it easier on them so that they don't have to deal with that headache as

Joe: 11:53

much. Tell us a little bit just kind of about, you know, kind of things you look at or or things that, treatment wise that you think kinda makes you unique or or things that you, really like to emphasize in in how you work with people.

Ben: 12:06

Yeah. I'd like to go back to that. I really emphasize getting to know each patient and knowing them just outside of, like, oh, they have a shoulder injury. Let me deal with that. Like, I personally emphasized, like, I wanna know you as a person and wanna be able to laugh with you and share jokes with you so that it feels comfortable and relaxing.

Ben: 12:30

And I've gone to different therapists myself with my previous injuries, like how I've had 2 elbow surgery. So know have gotten a lot of experience that way and know how impactful it can be when you feel comfortable with your therapist and they actually see you and not just doing, alright, we're doing these three exercises today because you're 2 weeks out from whatever and all of that. But it's, like, getting to actually see a patient, to me, is, like, invaluable and sometimes even more important than doing a, like, specific exercise because then the patients felt seen and heard in in the health care system. Sometimes that's Eric, Amity. So that's what I try to emphasize.

Ben: 13:24

And, hopefully, the patients I've had already feel that way. And it's something that I always continue to work on because because can always improve and be better with each patient and get better that way.

Joe: 13:39

Do you have a a specific patient population that you're interested in working with?

Ben: 13:45

They all present their own, like, pros and cons. With me being interested in sports and playing sports, I'd be biased and say I always like dealing with, like, a younger, like, athletic population and stuff just because it's very easy for me to relate to. And I've had some younger athletes here at the McDonough Clinic, which has been really nice. Just then just get to relate and share my experiences with them so that they can go through the sports and activities, hobbies, better in a better protected, more resilient way so that they can get by it. But, I mean, everybody that comes through, it sounds cliche and stuff, and it's cliche for a reason, but everybody has their pros in of, like, treating anybody that can make a positive impact on their life.

Joe: 14:42

Yeah. Are there any specific, you know, kind of, treatment techniques or, even, you know, specific exercises that you tend to lean towards or things that you like doing? You think they're the most beneficial for people or can address those people that you're working with?

Ben: 14:59

Yeah. One technique that I've recently learned and have found very beneficial from, like, both, like, previous patients saying other therapists that I've talked to at research literature is dry needling, and that's something that grateful that Freedom has helped me out tremendously with to, like, take the continuing ed courses to learn dry needling. Have

Joe: 15:22

you taken it?

Ben: 15:24

I've taken level 1 so far.

Joe: 15:25

Oh, okay.

Ben: 15:27

In the works of trying to take the level 2 and level 3 course that they offer, but so have a little glimpse into that. Really like doing that because then it has been really beneficial for patients and stuff, although needles sometimes scare some people. So educate them on that, do it that way, where I like to incorporate that because that helps get the pain relief and moving better sooner generally from the experience that I've heard and seen myself. And then, like, some exercises, like, one in particular that I really like doing. It's called, like, a farmer's carry, where you just hold a kettlebellar weight on one side and then just do, like, a march so that it gets, like, the whole body, like, challenging the core and the back to stay upright in posture, and then the balance of being on one leg within lopsided weight on your body like that.

Joe: 16:29

Love it. I think it's one of the most functional core exercises you can do.

Ben: 16:32

Yeah. Gets all the favorite body parts, and I've even had a patient tell me that they're gonna steal that exercise and do it more at home. And the next time they came in, they're like, yeah. I even had, like, my spouse doing that too, and I was like, I love that. Like, girl, I always like it when I hear patients get excited about doing exercises.

Ben: 16:53

They're like, I'm gonna use that in the future, and, like, I'm gonna remember and do that. And I'm just like, this is part of exactly why I came into being a physical therapist is to hear comments like that where Yeah. Take the education and make their lives better and their family lives better and all of that.

Joe: 17:13

I know I know we just talked about needle needling a little bit. Just have you looked at any other continuing ed or anything else that kinda piques your interest kinda moving forward here?

Ben: 17:23

There's so many, like, continuing ed courses that I really like. Like, some of them deal with, like, the lymphatic system, just getting all the fluids moving or, like, the central nervous system, like, making exercises brain based so that you really get at involving the brain with how that controls every function that we do, essentially. Because and then thinking about, okay, how does incorporating even, like, eye movements affect it and all of that. But, like, the hands on manual, like, Wes has been great, and he told me about this, like, manual based course that is multiple days long where he's like, that gets really nitty and gritty into every joint. And so that's one thing I'm also excited and hopefully can take one day to learn the in-depth manual skills that way.

Joe: 18:19

Good. Good. And then, you know, I think here, you know, I think what we, as a company do really well is, I I I'm I wouldn't say I'm biased by any means. I I feel like I look at things kinda logically and then try and stay in the middle. I I think at a certain point, every single person, you have to put your hands on them to make sure that, things are moving correctly and in the right, positions at certain times before we just jump to the exercise piece.

Joe: 18:48

I think but by all means, professionals, you go through PT school and and you're you take a board exam. You're you're more than capable of treating how you want, but I just find it hard to, really give a full treatment if if you don't put your hands on anybody, at any time. So I I think here what's really good is we do promote that, manual intervention at some point and then and then divulge kinda off of that a little bit.

Ben: 19:17

Yeah. No. I would second what you just said. Like, it's invaluable to actually get the hands on because it's one thing whether you, like, see it on a chart or hear the patient say, like, oh, I have tensioners. My back has been bothering me because of this misalignment to whatever they've been told and stuff.

Ben: 19:36

But then it's a totally different story when you feel the muscles moving smoothly versus, like, feeling the knots or trigger points, tension in different areas, and feeling how the joint moves because not everything, as you know, moves the same. And then being able to compare that to the previous sessions to show that the patient is getting better or what the changes are happening. Even though they may not feel it, you can be like, oh, I feel your hip is moving more fluid and stuff like that even though they don't pick up on the minor differences.

Joe: 20:13

Yeah. For sure. Well, Ben, it was good to kinda touch base a little bit here and just kinda give, you know, some listeners just kind of, you know, a little background on you and, you know, kinda how you treat and kinda what what you do on Mukwonago. Mukwonago is really picking up big, we're really glad to have you out there.

Ben: 20:29

Yeah. No. I appreciate appreciate the time in doing all this and can't wait to keep going with the team that we have, not only here at Mukwonago, but even Freedom. Like, it's a exciting time.

Joe: 20:42

Yeah. For sure. And if anyone listening, lives in the Mukwonago area or the Mukwonago Clinic is is convenient for you, Ben, is working full time. Are you Monday through Friday out there, Ben?

Ben: 20:54

Monday through Friday, different hours each day, but generally, like, 8:30 to 5. Wednesdays are the late days here till 7 for me personally and all the Sunday's looks. But yeah.

Joe: 21:07

Yeah. If anyone, you know, or knows of someone that is in need of physical therapy, please feel free to reach out to any of our locations, and we can get you scheduled out in Mukwonago. Ben's a really talented young therapist, and, I always say this too. When I first started as a PT, I think it's really valuable to have a young PT, because they're up to date on the latest and greatest research and and what's being taught. Not that someone that's been out for, you know, 40 years is bad or anything, but there there's really good things that come with, new grad, physical therapists because they they just know the latest stuff on that's being taught that it it's really difficult to stay on top of.

Joe: 21:52

Even someone I'm 4 years out now. I mean, it it's hard sometimes to stay on top of the latest research, and I, I'm sure you would agree. I really think Carol in the ortho, category does a very good job making sure that their therapists that graduate are are very well versed with both skills and knowledge on what to do.

Ben: 22:13

Yeah. I would agree, Anne. Like you mentioned, the research is constantly changing, which I like to tell patients that's the beauty of it, but also the headache of PT and softness. There's always new things coming out, and it's fun learning the different research or the different techniques, the manual techniques, like, trying to gain a muscle from this angle instead of the old technique or doing different exercises for a specific instance in the recovery phase.

Joe: 22:44

Yeah. Perfect. Well, Well, Ben, thanks again for hopping on quick. I know I forgot to schedule one of them. There's a little mix up on my end with the scheduling, and then we kinda put this in in between patients for you here.

Joe: 22:53

So we appreciate you hopping on our podcast and and kinda letting us get to know you a little bit.

Ben: 22:58

Yeah. Of course. I mean, that's life. Things happen and whatnot. Gotta be fluid and dynamic, and that's what I like with freedom is enjoying the more freedom, and freedom means flexibility.

Joe: 23:11

Love it, man. Thanks, dude. We'll talk to you soon. Okay?

Ben: 23:14

Sounds good. Have a good one, Joe.

Joe: 23:16

Alright, buddy. See you.

Ben: 23:17

See you.

Joe: 23:20

Thanks for listening to this week's episode and interview with Ben. Again, I thought it was a really good conversation with him. It's really good to kinda get to know him a little bit, just because he's out on Guanaco, and I'm here in Fox Point. So it's not always, the most convenient for us to kinda talk with, you know, new therapists and just kinda get to know our coworkers from other clinics. So it was nice to kinda get on a podcast with him and to allow him to talk about himself and let us get to know him, as a therapist.

Joe: 23:48

So, again, special thank you to Ben. We're super excited to have him a part of the Freedom team here. And if anyone in in the Mukwonago area, as I said on the podcast, if anyone knows of someone in the Mukwonago area or you live close to Mukwonago, it's a really easy, nice location to go be seen for physical therapy. Get on Ben's schedule. Give us a call.

Joe: 24:06

You can even call us up here in Fox Point, and we can get you scheduled out in Mukwonago. So, again, thanks for listening to another episode of the Freedom Talks podcast, everybody. We'll see everybody in a couple weeks at our next episode that we're trying to get out biweekly again here in 2025. We're trying to get it more consistent and just kinda spread some positive information, have some good interviews, and just spread some good health and wellness information that pertain to physical therapy. It's our goal just to spread some positivity and empower people to improve their lives and enjoy more freedom, however they choose to define it.

Joe: 24:37

And a reminder again, we also have clinics here in Fox Point, up in Grafton, Brookfield, as well as Mukwonago. So thanks again for listening to another episode, and we'll see everybody in a couple weeks.