“There was actually one time when I set my crutch down on an ice patch and went down on my right knee,” said the southwest Philadelphia native. “There was snow on the ground to break my fall, which was good — otherwise I would have had a busted knee on top of a bad ankle.”

Foot, knee or ankle problems can make it hard or downright painful to get around. Add to the mix having to rely on public transportation, and it makes it almost

impossible. This is the reality for many podiatry patients; already suffering from pain in their lower extremities, many don’t have a car or can’t afford to make frequent bus trips to their doctor.

“For a lot of the people we see, asking them to get to Main Campus for therapy or even to Temple Hospital for treatment is like asking them to go across the state,” said Steve Pettineo, DPT, director of physical therapy at the podiatry school. “They don’t have a car or they can’t drive. But having all of these services in one place makes it much easier for them to get the care they need.”

To that end, the podiatry school has developed a one-stop health shop of sorts, offering triage, surgery and most recently, Temple Total Therapy. This brand-new physical therapy clinic, complete with cutting edge rehabilitative equipment, is conveniently located within the Foot & Ankle Institute at 8th and Race Streets. Pettineo says while most of the clinic’s patients are in need of rehabilitation for the lower extremities, he does accept patients in need of upper body and spinal rehabilitation as well.

Walls has been going to Temple Total Therapy three times a week for the past few months to use stationery bikes, treadmills and leg press machines to strengthen his ankle. It’s been a little more than three months since his surgery, and he is walking almost entirely on his own. His doctors say he’s ahead of schedule in terms of recovery.

“It definitely makes it much easier to have the clinic here,” said Walls. “I can do my physical therapy here, and I see my doctor here. It’s better than trying to get to a bunch of different places.”

“In terms of patient care, collaboration is imperative for successful treatment,” said Kathya Zinszer, DPM, newly appointed chair of podiatric medicine and orthopedics. “When we as medical caretakers work together, it benefits everyone. It’s much easier to keep those lines of communication open between doctors when they’re under the same roof.”

In addition, the school still houses the renowned
Leonard Abrams Center for Advanced Wound Healing, which provides a myriad of treatment options for diabetics; the Gait Study Center, which monitors balance, foot pressure and strides to help diagnose more difficult cases; and the accredited Ambulatory Surgical Center, which allows podiatric surgeons to perform certain procedures on an outpatient basis.

“Offering so many different options for our patients in one place lets us treat them from start to finish, without having to refer them to a number of different specialists,” said Pettineo. “It results in a better experience for everyone.”