Get Your Head Back in the Game

Melissa interviewed Tricia Davis, DPT, and the cycling coach about closing the gap between rehab and performance. Tricia highlights her transition from the traditional insurance-based practice to her new cash-based physical therapy practice in Brevard, NC, that gets her patients back to 100% recovery, closing the missing gap that a traditional PT practice misses. She covers how the client-centric focus provides less stress, more one-on-one time with the patient, and a more personalized plan that results in better outcomes. Understanding how the body heals, why the injury happened in the first place, and knowing the client’s past issues/strengths and we...

Shari Bookstaff, a marine biology professor, suffered a devastating stroke following the removal of a benign brain tumor over 17 years ago. She shares her heartfelt story of determination, positivity, and love of whales and football that helped her regain her dignity, livelihood, and spirit. Shari's recovery in the hospital inspired her to create the non-profit Impact of Empathy, where she helps promote and educate medical leadership teams, students, and professionals on expressing heightened empathy for better outcomes. Shari is the author of "When Life Throws You Lemons… Make Cranberry Juice!" You can learn more about Impact of Empathy at: https://im...

In Episode 14, our guest, Dr. Tritia Finley, Ph.D., owner of Elite Performance Counseling in San Antonio, educates us on trauma. She details the importance of the mind and body connection in healing from a traumatic event. As a licensed professional counselor and adjunct professor at a local university, Tritia has over a decade of helping her clients transform anxiety stemming from traumatic experiences into energy for success. Learn more at https://elitepsatx.com/

In episode 13, Melissa Ross gives us an overview of her trip to the University of Pittsburg Medical Center's world-renowned Concussion Program. Melissa discusses the types of specialists and testing she received during her day-long appointment and the recommendations that were given to help her get to 100% recovery. After four weeks of following their protocol, Melissa is already seeing significant improvements in her progress! You can learn more about UPMC's Concussion Program at https://www.upmc.com/services/sports-medicine/services/concussion .

In Episode 12, Melissa talks with Lauri Atencio, a Certified Vision Therapist from Snowy Range Vision Center on vision rehabilitation, types of symptoms and therapies used for traumatic brain injury, and the dynamic visual system. Impacts to the head can disrupt the vision system. Lauri explains how the brain integrates vision with all parts of the brain and not just the occipital lobe. She also discusses different visual skills such as convergence and divergence, being able to fixate, keeping things clear, your perception of where you are in space, sensory-motor feedback, light sensitivity, memory, and more!  

In Episode 11 of Get Your Head Back in the Game, Al Rocco, a traumatic brain injury survivor and advocate for concussion warriors discusses his brain injury and road to recovery.  Al talks about the frustrations of navigating the medical world, losing his job, and being told he would never fully heal. After finding success through vision therapy and the concussion clinic at the UPMC - University of Pittsburg Medical Center, Al Rocco recovered 110% from his TBI! Al is spreading the message of hope and that recovery is possible through the right treatment. Learn more about the UPMC concussion clinic at: h...

In Episode 10, we dive into the vision system with Dr. Sue Lowe, a Developmental Rehabilitation Optometrist and a charter member of the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association for over 40 years. Dr. Lowe dives into the amazing vision system, our dominant sense, and what happens to our vision system when we have a concussion or TBI. Dr. Lowe addresses common questions about vision therapy, light sensitivity, and our perception of space. Vision goes beyond 20/20 as we learn about Fusion, Focus, Follow, and Fixate. You can learn more about vision therapy from Snowy Range Vision Center at: https://snowyrangevision.com/services/vision-therapy/ and also...

Kieran McPherson, a New Zealand-born professional off-road triathlete was in the midst of a successful 10-year professional triathlon career when in October of 2021, he had a horrific mountain biking accident, fracturing his lower spine and damaging his knee. After being airlifted from the race and told he might lose the use of his legs, he spent weeks of bed rest in an Italian hospital before returning home to his wife and children. Kieran discusses how he made every moment of his recovery count and within nine months, fought his way back to placing 3rd at the USA National Championships and 13...

Melissa Ross, host of "Get Your Head Back in the Game," talks about how to take control of your life and move forward on your healing journey through sharing what helped her through her traumatic brain injury. She talks about taking control of her routine, finding forgiveness, dealing with setbacks, celebrating small wins, and moving forward.