Apex introduces new therapy techniques

It doesn’t sound cutting edge, but it is.

Apex Physical Therapy majority owner Pfitzner, along with partners Kane Freeman and Steve Oravec, have patients simulate their actual job duties in a controlled environment as part of a customized rehab routine.

So, if an injured worker hangs drywall in his job, Apex physical therapist Stan Stadig will have the worker hang drywall on a small building frame inside the company’s 1,500-square-foot industrial rehab room – part of Apex’s 5,000-square-foot office at 4730 S. National, Ste. C5.

The company opened there Aug. 8, after operating out of the Springfield Kraft plant for a year.

Pfitzner said hammering, walking stairs, shoveling rock and hauling cinder blocks at the clinic allows workers to test out an injury and gain confidence that they can actually perform their job. The results, he said, just aren’t possible by traditional methods.

Apex even plans to mount half of a real semi truck cab to the wall of its industrial rehab room to help injured truck drivers.

Apex still uses traditional physical therapy tables and standard gym equipment, but it emphasizes its industrial rehab program.

“(Workers) appreciate the fact that we’re trying to get them back to the task they need to do,” Stadig said.

The process is unique, but Pfitzner said companies have seen the light.

“You have to prove that you can get better outcomes,” Pfitzner said. “We’re results-driven. Companies become very loyal to us when (we) save them money.”

Pfitzner said Apex saved Effingham, Ill.-based Quebecor World 66 percent in workers’ compensation costs.

Apex maintains its Kraft office, 2035 E. Bennett, and it established an on-site office at Tyson Foods Inc., 800 County Road in Monett, three months ago.

Both locations house tables, weights and braces in around 700 square feet of space.

Carol Creed, disability case manager with Kraft, said she’s happy with Apex’s service but declined further comment.

Privately held Apex has its headquarters in Highland, Ill., and has five other free-standing offices, all in Illinois. Seven offices operate on-site at places like Kraft and Tyson.

Pfitzner said the company is worth around $10 million and has increased revenues 100 percent each of the past two years.

“Brad and I had the same vision of building a powerhouse in industrial rehab,” said Apex partner Freeman, noting the pair joined forces two years ago.

“To this point, it’s proven to be very successful.”

Pfitzner and company invested about $100,000 to open the free-standing Springfield office, including rehab equipment.

They’re leasing the space in National Office Place from Bill Reed.

Sweeping workers’ compensation law changes will take effect in the state Aug. 28 due to Missouri Senate Bills No. 1 and No. 130.

The changes are meant to place a stricter burden on workers to prove that job-related injuries are caused by the job itself and therefore qualify for workers’ compensation.

Attorney Jerry Harmison, a partner with Harmison & Pearman PC, 4730 S. National, Ste. A-1, said the changes are good.

“The essence of the reform, in my opinion, levels the field for employers,” Harmison said. “Prior to Aug. 28, employers did not stand eye-to-eye with employees in workers’ compensation.”

Pfitzner said he doesn’t see the law changes affecting Apex much, noting most workers’ compensation cases are legitimate.

“It really won’t have a direct impact on the physical therapy end of it,” he said.