Michele Barney

I graduated as a Physical Therapist from Marquette University in 1985. I am as excited today, as I was 4 decades ago, with my profession and what physical therapy is able to do to help people regain their function and get their quality of life back. The human body is amazing and is so capable of healing with the proper inputs. To that end I have taken extensive continuing education in the area of orthopedics with an emphasis on manual techniques to facilitate healing to help my patients return to activity in a more effective way. I also am certified in the Myokinesthetic System, which has proven highly effective for pain relief, even when other approaches have failed, especially diagnoses like tendinitis/plantar fasciitis/carpal tunnel as well as CRPS (Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome) and neuropathies. I am continuing my studies of its application to the autonomic nervous system, as it is also proving helpful with many issues involving the internal organs.

A motto I developed early in my career, and that has served me and my patients well, is to treat each patient I see, the way I would want my family member treated, if they were receiving physical therapy. It motivates me to give my patients my very best. And, I don’t give up easily in trying to help my patients achieve their goals.

As a physical therapist who really wants my patient to holistically live lives they love, not just their musculoskeletal health, I have become interested in other aspects of wellness. I truly believe we are body, mind and spirit and sometimes it can be emotional, mental, nutritional or other aspects that contribute to the pain or difficulties they are experiencing. To that end I am a student of Therapeutic Nutrition Counseling, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT Tapping) and Psych-K. I also am a Certified Life Mastery Consultant, helping my clients tap into the power within themselves to facilitate deep personal growth and positive change by helping them shift their mindsets, clarify their values and align their actions with their true selves.

I feel so blessed to have found Body Renovation Physical Therapy. There are physical therapy practices where the PTs spend so little time with their patients before having to hand them off to ancillary staff. BRPT believes in providing quality, one to one patient care, strictly by the physical therapist and believes strongly in advancing staff education to continually uplevel the care we provide. It is an honor to work alongside such talented and dedicated staff.

See me for: Any orthopedic issue. I enjoy helping people regain their mobility after total hip or knee replacements and love helping patients feel at ease who are fearful about coming for Physical Therapy. Also, if you feel you have tried everything and are still having problems, give The Myokinesthetic System a try. It is a unique approach that treats musculoskeletal issues through working with the nervous system.

Why I chose to become a Physical Therapist: We had a Career Day my freshman year in high school. One of the careers I wanted to hear about didn’t have room, so they put me in the Physical Therapist talk. They talked about ways they helped people get their life back. It totally excited me. By junior year I knew I was going to go to Marquette University for Physical Therapy. No plan B.

Worst injury ever suffered: Lumbar disc herniation.

Craziest injury I have treated: So many in 4 decades, but 2 come to mind: Pubic symphysis that spilt apart over an inch when my patient fell from a billboard he was putting up and the harness he was wearing cinched as he fell and a woman with a frozen shoulder after suffering a crushing burn to her hand which was sewed into her abdomen for months to reduce chance of infection.

My favorite food to cook/bake: Christmas cookies.

If I could travel anywhere in the world: African safari.

When I am not at work, I am: reading, studying mindset principles, biking, ice skating, gardening, swimming, playing games, watching my sons play softball, hanging out with family and friends.

Bucket List Confession: take a Dolphin Accompanied Therapy class with The Upledger Institute

Best advice I've ever received: When things aren’t going like I would like, ask myself, “What would I love instead?” Focus on that. See it, feel it, as though it is happening now.

Quote to live by: Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you are right. -Henry Ford