Crabapple Physical Therapy

A High Tech Practice with a Down-Home Feel

When Nancy OBrien, a retired RN, arrived at Crabapple Physical Therapy a couple of months ago, she was clutching the September 2017 issue of the North Fulton Family Life magazine that featured Crabapple PTs grand opening. As Dr. Chastain walked her into the treatment area, Nancy stated, Ive had PT before, but it got me curious when I read that you were a high-tech private practice with a hometown touch. Halfway through her treatment course, Nancy told Dr. Chastain, You know, this place really is high tech and also very down to earth and friendly. You have machines here no one else has, and youve used treatments that I have never had before, and I feel better than I expected I would feel. Even on the first day, I went home feeling better. The staff here really make me feel so comfortable, and they make me laugh. Nancy continued, I came here with bad pain from my neck all the way into my hips that was getting worse and worse. The combination of what they do to my back and neck with their hands, core exercises, hi-tech machines like the LASER therapy, and the neck and back decompression is what has really worked for me, and I am so much better.

Kim Chastain, DPT has earned recognition and respect from physicians and patients over the past 23 years while in private practice in Cobb and Cherokee counties. Having earned high trust from the medical community, Georgias largest hospital healthcare system reached out to Dr. Chastain to be the executive director of their new outpatient rehabilitation division while also acquiring her practices in January 2012. Dr. Chastain then developed a strategic plan and significantly expanded their outpatient rehabilitation footprint in Georgia. However, Dr. Chastain missed the private sector and working hands-on with patients. So, she took her extensive experience as an orthopedic physical therapist, and stated, I came up with new models of treatment utilizing cutting-edge technology to improve patient results and lessen the length of treatment for patients. Dr. Chastain also stated, I was very ready to immerse myself into a mom and pop, hometown-style clinic, which could partner with community businesses, schools, and families. I found my business and personal home in Crabapple. Downtown Crabapple is the perfect location because it is central to Alpharetta, Milton, and Roswell residents.

Patient Carolyn Turner had severe migraines and dizziness. Her post-concussion syndrome had severely affected her quality of life, sometimes rendering her incapacitated. Carolyn said, I had been treated by Kim Chastain in the past in Kennesaw, and when I wasnt getting better having tried three other PTs, I sought out to find Kim. I was so happy to learn that she was back in private practice. So, I drove from west Cobb to north Fulton to see Kim without hesitation because she is truly one of a kind.  Within three of the recommended six sessions of treating Carolyns upper neck and using LASER treatment, she stated, My condition was greatly improved. I feel normal again for the first time in years.

After Annette, a surgical nurse, fell at work and seriously hurt her back, she tried PT elsewhere and felt that she got worse, so she stopped and remained in pain. After reading about Crabapple PT, she decided to try PT one more time. Annette stated, For the first time, someone was looking at me as a whole person. I wasnt just a checklist of exercises left waiting on the table. They completed an extremely thorough assessment of what was wrong and gave me very specific instructions of what to do and not do. At every visit, my back would be reassessed, therapy would be performed, and then Id be asked to walk around to see if I felt better. If it wasnt 100%, then I would receive more therapy until I was just right, despite how long it took that day.

BJ Hopper came to Crabapple PT after having both knees replaced. The knee replacements resulted in severe, debilitating back pain, forcing her to use crutches to walk. Dr. Chastain used the LASER and the MedX Lumbar Extension Machine, among other things, and within only one week, BJ went from severe pain to almost gone!

Dr. Chastain has learned that patients want to feel better very fast and be heard fully. I am amazed at the tenacity of some patients when they have been through so many invasive procedures and are so worn down from pain and medications. I wish they had seen us first before going through all of that, and it is something I would love to help change in the current healthcare culture, she said. Being an empathetic and resourceful therapist herself, Dr. Chastain stated, I take great care in hiring only genuinely empathetic and attentive staff members, so patients are comfortable discussing any issue, and they always feel cared for and heard.

So, as the Crabapple community embraced Dr. Chastains private practice, it was time to add another physical therapist to accommodate growth. Blake Pugh came aboard in November 2017 as the clinic director. Not only does Blake have extensive, advanced training, but his approach and way of treating patients is much the same as Dr. Chastains.  Dr. Chastain stated, I had the great pleasure of working with Blake previously. Blake has a huge heart and spends a lot of time listening, designing, and rechecking all of his patients results and responses to various treatments. Blake believes it is important to always be adjusting the sails each visit, so the patients are always getting treated for only what they need and not wasting time doing things that they have already surpassed. He agrees that having access to the best technology in physical therapy can be a game changer for patient success.

For example, Jillian DiMarco, a varsity athlete on the Milton High School tennis team, has repeatedly sprained her ankle. Treatment with the deep tissue LASER sped up her recovery time and brought pain levels down faster. Blake noticed that Jillian had a balance issue that he felt contributed to her repeated re-injuries. He utilized the hi-tech, computerized Biodex Balance System to pinpoint her exact balance problem. The LASER and balance treatments are helping me so much, said Jillian who also exclaimed that, They (Crabapple PT) take great care of me, and I can even swing by after school, and Blake tapes my ankle before practices. I am so grateful to Blake for getting me back on the court, so I didnt lose my position on the varsity team!

Crabapple Physical Therapy was designed by Dr. Chastain for patients of every pain level, which is why there is aquatic therapy on site, so even patients in severe pain can succeed without fear of increased pain with treatment. Crabapple Physical Therapy treats patients of all ages with orthopedic and neurological issues, work injuries, athletic injuries, new onset of chronic pain, pre- and post-surgical issues, and older adults with balance issues.

Crabapple Physical Therapy is currently accepting and scheduling new patients.

Crabapple Physical Therapy
12220 Birmingham Highway, Building 10 in downtown Crabapple, adjacent to Milton City Hall

For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit CrabapplePT.com, or call 770-686-3700.

You can also email questions or inquiries to Kim:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.