Joel Rolefson, PT

My interest in Physical Therapy developed from my own personal experience. I injured my lower back at the age of 18 while doing a squat lift during college track and field practice. After 2 years of misdiagnosis followed by traditional physical therapy that made no change, an MRI showed that I had a ruptured L5-S1 disc with a loose disc fragment. I was informed that only surgery would correct this problem. I went ahead with the surgery but after it I continued to have the same severe back and left leg pain that prevented me sitting more than hour, standing more than 30 minutes or doing anything physically demanding. Injections, chiropractic treatment, and further traditional physical therapy all made no change. I was unsure of what to pursue as a career due to these issues, so I graduated with a degree in history and political science and found work doing loan servicing at a bank where I could alternate between sitting and standing to manage my pain.' During this time, since I could no longer compete as an athlete, I coached track & field for three years at Shorewood High School and then for one year at UW-Milwaukee. My love for working with athletes and my frustration with my continued problems led me to go back to school to become a physical therapist to learn how to help myself and others. I also became a personal trainer to help pay for my college expenses. Approximately a year after graduation I attended a Strain and Counterstrain course and was the beneficiary of treatment by the instructor as a demonstration (approximately TEN YEARS after the initial injury). After 15 minutes of treatment my pain and mobility improved by 60% IMMEDIATELY and the benefit lasted. I was amazed by the improvement. I sought further treatment after that which resolved my leg pain and reduced my back pain by 95%. This led me to pursue continuing training in Strain and Counterstrain which I have utilized for over 18 years. In addition, over the past 12 years I have utilized an innovative exercise concept known as “Total Motion Release.” This treatment effect was also discovered by accident by Tom Delanzo-Baker, PT. This has been a tremendous addition to our treatment approach since I find it consistently correlates with what I find with the Counterstrain assessment and can allow the patient to assist in self-treatment. I am currently only one of three therapists in the Greater Milwaukee Area to be certified in the Total Motion Release exercise concept. I am the only one to have the combination of experience and training with both Counterstrain and Total Motion Release in the Greater Milwaukee Area. My philosophy of treatment is to correct as much dysfunction as possible, provide exercise training to enable you to self-treat any future dysfunction, and provide education in posture and strengthening to help prevent a future strain. I primarily use exercises involving body weight or exercise bands that patients can do at home without needing specialized equipment so that they can continue that program independently. I look forward to working with you! ​