As a physical therapist in orthopaedics and sports medicine at the MetroHealth Rehabilitation Institute, Matthew Brown, PT, DPT, OCS isn’t just there for the patients who visit him in his office.
In fact, he’s trying to keep patients out of his office.
That’s why, as part of a collaboration between MetroHealth and Cleveland Metroparks, he found himself on a tee box last June at Sleepy Hollow Golf Course during the Fox 8 Golf Outing. Wearing a bright red shirt that said “Making Every Move Count” on the back, a woman came up to him while their group was waiting to tee off.
“Is it true that if I get a little knee pain with my golf swing, a PT can help?” Brown recalls her asking.
“I told her that we can see what’s limiting her and causing pain, while helping her to address those deficits,” says Brown. “We want to keep people active and moving with the activities they love. The funniest part of the interaction was when she went back to her group and exclaimed ‘He said yes!’”
“There’s a whole group of people who are active but active with pain,” Brown says. “Being out in the community at Cleveland Metroparks events helps people understand that you don’t have to feel less than 100%.”
A Unique Collaboration
The collaboration between MetroHealth and Cleveland Metroparks—one several years in the making but recently reenergized—is about more than pop-up visits from physical therapists on golf courses. And, as Brown sees the collaboration—which has included identifying accessible trails, Be SimplyWell health talks in Cleveland Metroparks facilities, consultation from neurodevelopmental clinicians on sensory-friendly spaces and events, and providers accessible during events to answer questions—it unites two organizations with a passion for the community.
“I came to MetroHealth in the first place to work in the community, and that’s true of a lot of our employees” says Brown. “Our goal as rehabilitation professionals is to help people do the things that are most fulfilling to them. And, as we’ve found, those things often happen in the spaces available at Cleveland Metroparks.”
The unique footprint that Cleveland Metroparks has in Cuyahoga County helps. With 49 neighborhood locations across the county, it’s likely that a MetroHealth patient can find free, accessible activities around the corner. And, as patients recover from anything from an acute injury to a complex condition, Brown sees the benefit of having a space to explore on the journey to health.
“So many of our patients are surprised at the natural beauty that’s right in their neighborhood Metropark,” says Brown. “The evidence we have on the influence of green space on mental and physical well-being is undeniable.”
But these spaces mean more than a place to explore—they’re a site of rehabilitation.
“By finding a space to stay moving, active and healthy, our patients can maintain what they’ve worked so hard to achieve in their rehabilitation,” says Brown. “And, because they’re available at no cost and in your neighborhood, it’s similar to the way MetroHealth works to provide care to those who are un- or underinsured.”
Impact in the Real World
Sometimes seeking out physical therapy or other rehabilitation services can be scary for patients. That’s why Brown likes the moments he gets to be on the tee box.
“It’s not just about sports medicine or orthopaedics when you’re out talking to people on their turf,” says Brown, who was recently board certified in orthopaedic physical therapy. “But when we start with what’s on the patient’s mind when they’re in the real world, we can make those connections to better health and mobility.”
Moving Forward, Together
The partnership between MetroHealth and Cleveland Metroparks isn’t content with the progress they’ve made. Physical therapists are starting to “prescribe nature” to patients who are feeling well enough to explore the Metroparks, including a card with a QR code that lists accessible trails. And rehabilitation clinicians in neurology are planning a collaboration regarding adaptive sports in Cleveland Metroparks.
“Patients tell us what they need, want and are sometimes unable to find,” says Brown. “Cleveland Metroparks often has what they want, but it’s our work to help bridge the gap to our patients.”
“Ultimately,” Brown says, “Our patients will have more avenues to get involved in something that brings them joy—and sustained mobility.”
