Get to Know our Staff: Karina Zapata, Therapy Services

Get to Know our Staff: Karina Zapata, Therapy Services

by | Oct 5, 2020 | Therapy Services

What is your role at Scottish Rite for Children?
I am a physical therapist/research therapist in the Therapy Services department. I spend half of my time seeing patients as a physical therapist and the other half working on research or quality improvement projects. I enjoy being able to support effective implementation of evidence-based practice.
 
What do you enjoy most about Scottish Rite?
I love the mission – that we can do what is best for the child, regardless of families’ ability to pay.
I love being able to collaborate with so many disciplines to provide holistic care.
I love that we have a strong research team to have an impact on a wider scale. I initially thought that I was going to move back to sub-Saharan Africa to “make a difference,” but I realized that I can also make a difference right here at Scottish Rite. The unique opportunities that this organization provides, allows me to utilize my skills and talents on a daily basis.
What path did you take to get here? How long have you worked here?
I grew up in Kenya and Papua New Guinea. I initially thought that I wanted to use my privilege of studying in the US to return overseas, but once I learned about Scottish Rite for Children, my plans changed. My physical therapy professor in Los Angeles told me about Scottish Rite. She knew that Scottish Rite had a physical therapy method for treating clubfoot, which is a hot topic overseas. After graduating from PT school 13 years ago, I started working here.

What’s the coolest or most interesting thing you’re working on right now?
When I began working here, I noticed that we saw a lot of kids with scoliosis, but physical therapy did not play a large role in their treatment. In Germany, my other nationality, scoliosis-specific exercises are commonly performed. I ended up getting my Ph.D. while working here to evaluate whether scoliosis-specific exercises prevent curve progression and determining if it should be part of our standard of care.
 
What are you currently watching on Netflix/Hulu/TV/etc.?
Between work and staying active with my three kids, I fall asleep before I’m able to watch anything.
 
What would be the most amazing adventure to go on?
Traveling around the world for a year with my family.
 
What is special about the place you grew up?
Papua New Guinea has the most linguistic diversity in the world, with over 800 languages.
 
What is your favorite thing to do when you’re not working? 
Without kids, kitesurfing. My department director actually got me hooked. With kids, exploring a nearby state park.
Golf Community Comes to Frisco to Talk About Inclusion

Golf Community Comes to Frisco to Talk About Inclusion

by | Nov 1, 2019 | Therapy Services

Korban and Jordan are golfers thanks to programs designed to introduce and teach children with different abilities. Director of Therapeutic Recreation Dana Dempsey, M.S., CTRS, has organized Learn to Golf for our patients for more than twenty years. Through this program, patients like Jordan and Korban are given the tools and encouragement that allow them to play golf with their abilities, not in spite of their disabilities. More importantly, through golf, they both express they have learned some priceless life lessons.

Korban, 16 of Southlake, TX, was first introduced to golf by his dad, an avid golfer. “I started going to the driving range with my dad,” he said. After Learn to Golf, Korban was motivated to continue the sport. His dad, Roger described, “Because of golf, he started getting the confidence to try other sports.” Korban now plays corner on the football team and runs the 100 meter for the track team at Southlake Carroll High School. “Golf taught me work ethic and responsibility. Work hard, if you love doing it, keep doing it and try to be at a higher level.” Korban wowed the attendees with his swing and says he can hit the ball more than 200 yards using his custom, extended club.

Jordan, 15 of Henderson, TX, laughed a little as she tried to remember the first time she played. She said golf has given her the opportunity to enjoy time with other kids and make new friends. She said, “It helps me figure out more things that I can do that maybe I thought I couldn’t do.” Her mom, Lisa, shared how the environment has been unlike school, where Jordan feels included and she is picked to be on a team because of her abilities. Turns out, everyone wants Jordan on their team because she has some solid putting skills!

Johnny Knight, PGA Professional, and owner of Kingdom Golf, was present when Jordan first attended a Learn to Golf clinic in 2016. He noticed how much her personality has blossomed. He shared how using a ParaGolfer chair gave her an opportunity to evolve her swing from a two-handed to a single-handed swing. The attendees talked about changing the model for teaching golf to children with different abilities. 

This initiative of the National Alliance for Accessible Golf brought together a passionate group of individuals to evaluate the current model of youth golf programs and discuss the future of an inclusive golf community. Gianna Rojas, founder of Adaptive Golfers and known as the “One Handed Lady Golfer,” contributed her personal experience as a world ranked golfer with a disability. PGA executives in attendance expressed how this project aligns perfectly with current initiatives in their organization and how excited they were to participate and contribute.

The team committed to these next steps:

  • Incorporate kids with disabilities in PGA Jr League future content.
  • Identify NTPGA and PGA Jr. League captains who will welcome kids with disabilities.
  • Coach Jr. Golf League team for players with different abilities
  • Discuss making the 10-hole short course at PGA Frisco ADA accessible.
  • Develop a video project that includes instructions, promotion and success stories to increase visibility of children with disabilities playing golf.
  • PGA Jr. League will start to measure children with disabilities being served.
  • Increase advocacy and visibility for children with disabilities to play golf.
  • Provide more instructor training sessions geared to increasing their knowledge and skills for working with differently abled children to play golf.

We look forward to watching their progress and sharing it with you. Learn more about the programs mentioned above at these links:

Physical Therapy Treatment for Scoliosis

Physical Therapy Treatment for Scoliosis

by | Oct 29, 2019 | Therapy Services

Scoliosis is one of the most common pediatric conditions our experts treat and presents very differently depending on the patient. Our team is committed to providing the best possible care to each child, making sure that the treatment plan helps get them back to doing what they love.

Scoliosis specific exercise (SSE) is a treatment provided by a trained physical therapist. Several of our physical therapists have completed extensive training in one approach called the Schroth method. A child will be evaluated by one of our pediatric orthopedic spine specialists to diagnose the type and magnitude of their curve. For many patients, a physical therapist will teach proper form for the exercises and progress the movements over time. 

Like other SSE, the Scroth method lengthens muscles and ligaments to increase mobility, activates and strengthens muscles, improves resting posture and teaches how to perform daily movements in improved posture. Benefits of Schroth method include:

  • Improves pain
  • Prevent/limits curve progression
  • Improves lung capacity

Important information about the Schroth method:

  • Most effective for children who are still growing.
  • It can serve as a stand-alone treatment, but is also used in conjunction with other care, such as bracing.

Courtney Warren, a physical therapist at our Frisco campus, says that it is very rewarding to hear patients report that their work is paying off when dance instructors and coaches notice their ability to perform activities in a new posture.

Learn more about the care and treatment of scoliosis.