Here's What Patients Are Saying :

I read the White Sands ad in the newspaper and thought, what if I could wake up without back pain? I went on the internet and learned the qualifications of the staff and was impressed and decided to give it a try. My physician was familiar with White Sands and impressed and didn't hesitate to give me a referral. Between the physical (stretching and massaging) part and aquatics, I feel so much better and now most days I wake up and get through the days without pain. On a pain scale of 1-10 (1=Lowest) I range from 0 – 2 and most days are 0. I do my home exercises and these are a great help.

White Sands had a peaceful and non-clinical atmosphere about it which immediately made me comfortable.

Every inch of the facility is spotless and the staff is professional but also very friendly and pleasant. They are attentive to every patient and provide information on what they're doing and why and are willing and able to answer any of your questions.

I feel so much better than when I arrived there. I know that I will always have to be careful and may have some limitations but I will find different ways of doing some things to maintain my lifestyle.

I have been singing your praises since I started and have run into many of your former patients who feel just as I do.

I can't imagine going anywhere else should I require physical therapy again. Thanks for your help!

Sincerely,

"After nearly a year of agonizing shooting pain, I felt immediate relief by the end of my first treatment. I highly recommend White Sands Physical Therapy & Aquatics."

Regards,

I hope you had a very happy holiday season! I want to thank you again for your expert care and treatments. Thanks to you I was able to travel home comfortably and I even went skiing yesterday and felt great!

Thank you so much,

Happy New Year!

When I suddenly experienced severe back pain I was fortunate that a friend was able to recommend Jane at White Sands Physical Therapy & Aquatics. The friendly staff was able to give me an appointment quickly so I was able to start therapy within a few days of the pain onset. They coordinated all of my insurance and doctor referrals. They were terrific! At my first appointment with Jane she was able to diagnose my problem and laid out a therapy program for me. After only 3 sessions Jane was able to reduce my pain by 50% and after only 6 sessions I am 99% pain free. I am confident that the next session or two will get me back to 100%. I would definitely recommend her to anyone who needs help! The hand on approach to therapy is outstanding. Whether it is on the therapy table or in the pool you are always with a therapist. I look forward to coming to my appointments. The entire staff there is friendly, caring and patient while being very professional. I have complete confidence that the entire staff is working towards my well-being.

Thank you all at White Sands!

I want to send my kudo's to John Sutherland and his team at White Sands Physical Therapy.

Back in Dec, I couldn't even walk up one set of steps with any stopping once or twice. I could hardly drive or go to the store without serious pain.

After 2 months of therapy I'm 100% better!

Thanks again to White Sands,

I have had lower back pain for many years and I have had Physical Therapy at least four separate times over the last several years. So when I came to White Sands I was very skeptical, I was thinking to myself, here we go another bout of therapy that will not help. Before I started at White Sands I had pain from my lower back all the way down my leg to my big toe. For the first two weeks I did not have much of a change in my pain, but then the pain relief from the therapy really kicked in and my pain dropped dramatically. At White Sands they do not use stationary bikes or treadmills like at other clinics. They use their hands to gently mobilize the spine and spinal muscles. White Sands also has a 93° pool that is deep enough to do exercises with floating. I can now stand and walk with minimal pain. I am thankful to the staff at White Sands for getting my pain back down to minimal.

My lower back was so painful on a trip to New York in early summer that my doctor ordered an MRI of my entire spine and sent me for therapy. When I started treatment at White Sands Aquatics and Physical Therapy, I could be on my feet for about an hour before the pain got to a level of 8 on a 1 to 10 scale. I went three times a week for about 90 minutes a session starting the end of July. I took about 10 days off for another trip to New York around Labor Day, returned to White Sands and finished up the first week in October. I was a lot better; I could be on my feet for a good two hours and only get to a 4 on that pain scale.

I went back to New York yet again for Thanksgiving and here's my itinerary for one day, starting and ending at 57th Street and Second Avenue in Manhattan: walk to Third Avenue and 60th; bus to 86th Street, transfer to crosstown to Fifth Avenue; visit museum; walk down Madison to 72nd street and Fifth; bus to 47th street; brief visit to Saks for make-up, pit stop; holiday window viewing walk up Fifth to 60th and then back down to 57th and across to Second Ave. This took place over about six hours. My pedometer said 4 miles and my back did NOT hurt. It was near 60 degrees and an altogether pleasant day. And my doctor says I am the poster child for the White Sands protocol for back pain.

I have rotator cuff arthropothy.

In January, my right arm was very weak and some movements were very painful. After 9 weeks of therapy my arm is much stronger and my range of motion is pretty much pain free.

Thanks to the wonderful staff at White Sands.

White Sands Physical Therapy and Aquatics should be the number one choice to anyone seeking therapy for an ailment. The staff of therapists is professional, skilled, personable, and compassionate. They work together and complement each other's skills.

The protocol used is far and above any other physical therapy I have experienced elsewhere. I can't thank the therapists at White Sands enough for getting me pain free and back to a normal life style.

My doctor told me if I wanted to get better fast then I needed to go to White Sands and he was correct. In 10 visits I was pain free and released from therapy and able to go do hiking in Costa Rica.

I would certainly recommend White Sands to others interested in a comprehensive therapy program.

Thank you one and all,

When I first began therapy at White Sands I was in considerable pain making walking difficult due to pain in my back, hip, & legs. Standing upright, walking, and sitting was very uncomfortable for me. My doctor recommended White Sands Physical Therapy and I'm so glad he did.

Because of the aquatic exercises, massage therapy, and helpful therapists, today I'm feeling so much better, standing taller, and moving very well.

White Sands is well maintained and clean clinic. It was a comfortable place to go and the therapists were terrific!

Thank you very much for making me feel so much better!

Yes, I would recommend White Sands to others and I would return if I need P.T. again.

I have undergone P.T. at my facilities in the past 30 years and White Sands is by far the most professional, thorough, and skilled. I have many muscular issues and Jane evaluated and recommended water therapy with Stephanie. Jane did some deep tissue massage and closely monitored my progress and made post-therapy maintenance suggestions.

I am stronger because of my care at White Sands. I thank Jane and Stephanie for their patience and skill. You're the best!

Thank you to all of the wonderful people at White Sands for getting me back on my feet and for allowing me to be faster than my daughter! Keep up the great work!

White Sands provides all the good things we look for in health services: professionalism, caring, skill, and comfort. I wouldn't consider going anywhere else. They even listen! My recovery under their care rates five stars for excellence.

The Therapists are very professional and very caring. Highly recommended and would come again in the future, if needed. I see progress each and every day in my recovery. Many-Many-Many thanks to all the therapists

After reading in the newspapers, listening on the radio, touring White Sands, being in pain/numbness for over a year, and countless tests, treatments, etc. on my hands and legs with nothing helping improve my medical condition….I convinced my neuro Dr. to let me go to aquatic therapy at White Sands.

Well now I stopped falling, losing balance, and I'm gaining security in all my movements.

This facility is "amazing" and really helps all situations!

White Sands Physical Therapy proved to be the very best Physical Therapy program I have ever experienced. Over the course of my long life, in many different states, it has been necessary for me to utilize P.T. at various times, for various reasons. White Sands has proven to be the best!

It is a warm, friendly, professional environment located in a family neighborhood with very convenient parking.

Although I did not require the aquatics part of their program, the one-to-one care, the massage aspect, the traction, etc. helped me so much.

The staff makes every effort to accommodate its clients, customizes the program and makes one feel as if every member of the staff truly cares about the individual client.

White Sands may be smaller in size than the larger facilities, but it is much bigger in expertise, compassion and old-fashioned, excellent care!! I cannot recommend them highly enough.

Thanks, everyone!

As a generally, healthy and active 72 year old male, I have had half a dozen experiences with physical therapy over the years. My last several were at a local hospital-affiliated therapy complex which was larger and superficially more "impressive" at first glance. What they severely lacked was a "HANDS-ON" approach.

This is what sets White Sands apart from the others, a completely "hands-on" treatment. On day one my P.T. Crystal executed a very thorough exam of my rotator cuff-related shoulder pain, as well as writing extensive notes about all other joints, range of motion, and muscle tension restrictions.

In each of the proceeding sessions, Crystal brought me from a pain level of 8-9, down to less than 1. Every session she sent me home with new exercises and posture training techniques. She loves her work and is amazingly good at it. She is caring, aware, and a very highly educated P.T. The other therapists and P.T.A.'s are equally competent and friendly.

I not only recommend White Sands without hesitation, but I will likely need to return some day and I will with total confidence on a scale of 1-10, I rate White Sands an 11!

I am an 81 year old avid male golfer who has been troubled with a bad back. I have been to the Laser Spine Institute and was told by all of them that an operation would not improve my condition. My primary Dr. referred me to White Sands Physical Therapy and the improvement has been very, very satisfactory. I intend to start playing golf again in one month. If found the PTs to be qualified and friendly.

I want to thank John Sutherland P.T. and owner of White Sands Physical Therapy & Aquatics Facility. I also want to thank all the therapists who helped me especially Jane Schroeder.

Jane specializes in pelvic therapy that relates to spinal & back problems. I cannot say enough about Jane and how much she helped me improve under her care. My gait is better and I feel a lot stronger, and I'm able to do many more activities than before.

Also the aquatic with the water at 93° is so very helpful for back conditions.

Yes I believe that White Sands is unique and thank you again White Sands and all the staff.

"White Sands is terrific for Physical Therapy. The therapists are very knowledgeable and friendly. I have been doing therapy for 8 years after paralysis from a crash. They are terrific and have found new ways to challenge me. Aquatic therapy is unique and fun and helpful. I highly recommend White Sands."

I was very impressed with my aquatic physical therapy at White Sands. In the course of the two months of my therapy sessions I had tremendous improvement in balance, flexibility, and strength related to my hip.

All of the staff involved at the center was very professional. I would highly recommend this facility.

I am blown away (by White Sands), I have been to many other therapy clinics and have never received treatment like this before. I have been to an Osteopath for years and he told me that he has never seen my pelvis this level before and this was after only 4 P.T. treatments at White Sands.

Because of "fairly advanced degenerative changes both cervical and lumbar" and "no surgical solution at this time" I was referred for physical therapy. Cleveland Clinic visit resulted in decision to try aquatic therapy.

I could not:

- Walk without pain or sit very long
- Rotate head/ neck freely
- Get through the day without narcotics for pain

Then I dreaded PT because of previous treatments that were painful, confusing, and depressing.

I am now pain free, drug free and continuing exercises daily. I feel new and rejuvenated and confident!

I am blown away (by White Sands), I have been to many other therapy clinics and have never received treatment like this before. I have been to an Osteopath for years and he told me that he has never seen my pelvis this level before and this was after only 4 P.T. treatments at White Sands.

I would like to give The Staff at White Sands my Highest Regards! for their wonderful treatment plan and care.

I was going around for months looking for answers, for why I had random areas of pain that extended into my knee and ankle.

What was discovered was that it was coming from tight muscles throughout my mid and lower back. I learned so much about the benefits of Physical Therapy and the type of treatment that worked for me.

I was amazed at how I was improving every week, my mobility and my over all posture changed greatly.

I especially enjoyed the Aquatic Therapy, it was a rejuvenating experience. The combination of the experienced therapists that worked out the areas of tightness I had throughout my back and the exercises that they had me do in the pool really did it for me.

I would like to personally Thank the entire staff for their level of professional care, friendly atomshere and pleasant conversation. It has made my time

Thanks again,

"When I first walked into White Sands for physical therapy, I hobbled more than I walked. My balance was severely hindered by chronic neurological condition, and I had nearly lost hope that I would ever walk properly again.

Through compassionate, skilled treatment, I was patient led back to an upright, balanced gait. A combination of Deep Tissue Massage and Water therapy became a twice weekly routine. I gained muscle strength, control of my limbs and regularly had severe leg cramps massaged away. I can't thank the therapists at White Sands enough for giving me my life and independence back.

I would highly recommend White Sands to anyone seeking therapy for an ailment. The staff is greatly skilled and full of compassion. That is a rare combination of qualities to fine in an establishment of its kind. I've undergone therapy at a number of other facilities. But never have I encountered such a fabulous group of people. Nor have I ever walked away feeling so completely whole. I offer many thanks to those at White Sands who worked so diligently with me. I believe your hard work paid off in spades!"

Shortly before leaving for Florida, I experienced a very discomforting sciatic pain. I went to a physical therapist in my home town with no change in my condition.

Fortunately, I discovered White Sands in going on-line, and made an appointment.

I have never been more satisfied with any professional treatment than that which I have received at White Sands. The pain which was so severe at the beginning that it kept me up at night has been virtually completed eliminated.

I recommend anyone who is in the Sarasota area and suffers such pain contact White Sands. You will not be disappointed.

White Sands Physical Therapy & Aquatics is located in a suburban district of South Sarasota and it gave me a peaceful feeling just entering the parking area.

My doctor suggested White Sands for therapy, and, from the time I initially stepped inside the door I felt like it had been the right choice to start my rehabilitation. The consultation and evaluation gave me information on what to expect - approximate length of treatment and recommendations for types of therapy best suited to alleviate my pain.

I always looked forward to my physical therapy as their concern for my recovery always seemed to be the first priority. The staff therapists are all very personable and attentive and complemented each other so very capably. I appreciated the one on one time with each of them but could tell that there was a continuum of care (progress notes) always close at hand.In reviewing the notes by the physical therapist at White Sands, my doctor mentioned that she had really appreciated receiving the updates on my progress in such a timely fashion.

I would certainly recommend White Sands' to others interested in a comprehensive therapy program. I appreciated the staff and facilities.I didn't feel like I was completely on my own after finishing my initial therapy. It was good to know they have the post-therapy maintenance program available for any on-going therapy needs.

John, Laura, Stephanie, Jay and Joyce: Thank you all, for the role you played in my rehabilitation! I really do miss seeing you and hope I will be able to soon take advantage of the pool maintenance program and seeing everyone then.

I just want to thank you so vey much for solving so efficiently my sciatica leg and back pain that I had suffered from for several months before discovering White Sands Physical Therapy and Aquatics. The protocol used is far and above other physical therapy I have experienced elsewhere.

Your staff members are efficient and very pleasant, including the office receptionist. I compliment you on a great facility and will be happy to recommend you to others who need your services.

I plan to use your maintenance program to ensure continued good health.

Thanks again!

I was diagnosed with Spinal Stenosis a number of years ago. Over time I noticed that I was moving slower and seemed slightly bent over. This past February 2013 I moved in a way I shouldn't have and found myself in pain in my left leg with every step I took. Walking for more than 2 blocks was agony.

I went to my neurologist who ordered an MRI and told me the problem had gotten slightly worse. He sent me for a month of regular Physical Therapy where I was living in Boynton Beach, FL. After a month of exercises to "strengthen my core", I found no improvement in my ability to walk without pain. When I returned to him, he suggested I go for a series of epidurals, but cautioned me that I had to complete the series to get good results from them.

Shortly after that visit our home in Boynton Beach sold and we moved here to Sarasota. I found a new doctor quickly because I was still incapacitated while walking. I asked her for a recommendation to someone to begin the series of epidurals and to give me a handicapped sticker for my car as I could not walk very far without pain. She recommended that I try Physical Therapy here in Sarasota at White Sands Physical Therapy. I told her I had spent a month in therapy in Boynton Beach with no positive results. She said, "You haven't had Physical Therapy if you haven't been to White Sands." She explained that they have a different program for solving lower back problems and that she has recommended other patients there who have had good results.

I started at White Sands with great hope, and a prayer for a good outcome. The staff were all quite knowledgeable of lower back problems and used language that I could follow to explain what my problem was and what they intended to do to put as much as possible back the way it should be. I was promised that if I followed their program I would no longer have pain on walking and would be able to walk the way I did before the pain.

They and I working together have indeed accomplished this task. After the first full session with the therapists, both the "land and sea (pool)" portions, my pain was cut in half! The women therapists who assisted me in the pool were very caring, concerned for my safety and stayed with me throughout the program there. The therapists who did the other portions of the program constantly queried me as to my level of pain and did their procedures on me with skill and a regard for me as an individual person.

I now can say that having had 10 sessions, I am pain free, have discovered my midriff again (am standing straighter), and my husband has noted that I am moving faster and easier when I walk. It will probably take a little longer for me to stop thinking about and analyzing every step I take as I take it, but, WOW, NO PAIN!

My thanks to the entire staff of White Sands Physical Therapy and Aquatics for all you have done for me. You have returned to me a large part of my freedom and independence.

"I've felt really good from coming to therapy. I no longer have to use a chair in the tub. Sometimes I forget my cane when I'm walking. I walk a little funny, but I feel safe. I would have never forgotten my cane before."

What is unique about White Sands?

Real… Professionalism, Ethics, Service… provided in a casual and comfortable environment.

What ways did they add value to their service?

Personalized / customized service combined with great education and caring. Extraordinary communications skills…

Recommend? Absolutely …YES

Would I come back? Absolutely …YES

These questions are specific and poignant… but they don't come close to telling the true story of my experience time and again at White Sands. As a person who (in business) made my own professional commitment to personal service long ago… I believe… I recognize "real service" when I see it. It is today… rare. John, Laura, Stephanie, & Joyce make a team of people who know their jobs… do them with pride and precision… under what can be difficult circumstances.

To us "service aficionados"… The essence of Professionalism is communication. Those two words are very misunderstood in our culture today…Many businesses have a "marketing strategy "… but communicate poorly once they have "customers" in the door. They also use the word professional a lot…but their actions tell a vastly different story. There is an old saying in service business… "Customers don't care how much you know… until they know how much you care."

White Sands cares… but they are also excellent at their craft…their actions speak volumes about their professionalism. White Sands is a rare example of a business having it's focus on the right priorities…I recommend it highly… to anyone serious about receiving quality and high value PT services.

I privately…Thank them daily for their skills and commitment.

Our experience with a number of patients show that those who follow the full program have greatly improved afterwards.

" I would first say, I would recommend White Sands to anyone. Their scheduling and treatment arrangement is the best. This was the first time I had ever received P.T. and recommend it highly to anyone with pain. The therapists are highly trained with great professional techniques, combined with pleasant personalities and humor.

After receiving all treatments Medicare would allow, I was feeling so much better, but still having hip pain. Mr. Sutherland had suggested an orthopedist for a shot in the hip. I finally took his good advice and, so far, the shot has worked.

I'm so grateful for the care at White Sands that I joined their maintenance programs. The aquatics is the best!"

"Manipulation + Decompression + Warm Water Therapy + Maintenance = One Happy Camper! The care and treatment of my body (spinal stenosis) was thorough, compassionate and healing. Their attention to my needs exceeded my expectation. I would not hesitate to recommend White Sands Therapy to anyone who needs PT. John and his staff are great to work with!"

"I was desperate. I had had two MRIs and on my leg and on my lower back and my neurosurgeon did not recommend surgery!!

I am a 66 year old male who has had both knees replaced and torn rotator cuff sugery, four back operations culminating in fusion and eight stents in my heart. My life had been drastically reduced.

The wonderful therapists at White Sands Physical Therapy and Aquatics, through their specific methods were able to help me regain range and motion and drastically reduce my chronic pain.

FREEDOM!"

"Last May, almost a year ago, I was going back to Ohio for the summer. My back went out and I had a lot of pain. In Ohio I went to a doctor, acupuncturist, water therapy, pain management clinic and epidurals.

I returned to Florida for the winter and saw a White Sands advertisement in the paper. I went to the first session and felt it did more for me than anything else I had experienced. John and his staff are capable, caring and considerate to help relieve your problems.

I will look forward to coming back to their program upon my return in the Fall, and would highly recommend White Sands Physical Therapy. John and Laura are outstanding!"

I have had lower back pain for most of my adult life. I am now 76 years old. My pain was on the left side, associated with the sacroiliac joint in the pelvis. It would get out of joint with associated muscle spasms. This was treated for years with chiropractic adjustments and massage therapy.

As I got older, the sessions of pain grew longer. My chiropractor had a CT scan done a couple of years ago and it showed spinal stenosis and bulged disc in the L4 and L5 area as well as the muscle spasms. I had a session (pain session) around the end of the last year that went on for several months. I was in intense pain and not getting any relief.

I went to an orthopedic surgeon who recommended an epidural cortisone shot. It didn't help. I then went for another CT scan. The diagnosis was L4-5 degenerative spondylolisthesis associated with lumbar spinal stenosis and what was probably neurogenic left posterior pelvis and buttock pain in addition to some arthritic back pain. Another epidural shot was tried with no help. Orthopedic surgeon than recommended surgery with fusion of some vertebrae.

I opted for physical therapy and went to White Sands Physical Therapy & Aquatics. Over a period of six weeks, John and Laura put me through the paces. About the third week, during therapy and a gem, I felt my lower back move honest. By that time, my pain was mostly gone.

I went to my massage therapist to leave some knots in my back about this time. She had been treating me for years and she said she could see the difference. My back was straighter, it didn't bulged out at the waist area and everything was much looser. She didn't find any major muscle issues as I had experienced in the past.

I started with white Sands on 4 February 2013. Today is 8 April 2013. I am doing my maintenance exercise here in a pool at our club and I am pain free. I recommend white Sands and the program without reservation.

"I have been suffering from sciatica and bulging discs for 20 years. While I could get partial relief from the chiropractor and massage therapist, it was very temporary and expensive. I lived in fear of back spasms and of becoming completely incapacitated for days at a time. My back problems consumed me. I thought 20 years of nerve damage was permanent.

My physician recommended therapy at White Sands and what a difference! The therapy was practically painless. And the time in the pool was fabulous. I rarely use my ice pack and I don't even think about my back most of the time. What I learned there I can continue the rest of my life. I can walk better, stand longer, and live better. I can focus on my life and having fun. I can plan a future without the fear of leaving my ice pack. And when I do something that aggravates my condition, it bounces back in a day or two.

While White Sands has a complete program for the entire body, most of the patients are like me. We have suffered with sciatica and back pain for years. And now we don't have to. And neither do you. Nothing is any fun when you are in pain. And I will always be grateful to the wonderful staff at White Sands."

"I recommend White Sands Physical Therapy and Aquatics to anyone who is suffering from any kind of back pain. Let me tell you why. I have been having "back problems" most of my life, and I have tried everything from Acupuncture (which gave some relief for a time) the chiropractic (also some relief) to. . . you get the idea. Nothing I did really gave me the relief I was looking for. And worse still, my pain kept on getting worse. Something as simple as sitting at my desk was becoming almost impossible.

Then I found a new Physical Therapy Clinic that had recently opened here in Sarasota. They actually took my insurance. (This was a first since almost everything I tried was not covered by insurance.) And they had a completely new protocol. First I was stretched by a special table called a Vax-D. (I had tried this before with very limited, if any, positive results, because it was used as the whole treatment and not just the first phase of the treatment.) Then I went into a heated swimming pool where I was fitted with leg weights and noodles to keep me afloat. I floated hanging straight down for about 20 minutes. (Delightful!) This is called zero gravity or non-weight bearing spinal decompression. Then I was asked to do some mild exercises, and then returned to waist high water where I did some more exercises and "extensions." under partial weight bearing conditions. Then it was out of the pool and off to physical therapy for more extensions and spinal mobilizations and a bit more exercise.

The results have been impressive. Computer work was becoming more and more impossible as sitting raised my pain level to 8. Now, as I sit here typing it is less than a 1. I have a friend who went through rehabilitation after a hip replacement. She says that if the Center had been open then, she would have been knocking the door down. The idea of being able to exercise with zero gravity would have been wonderful, and White Sands is the only place we know of that has a full sized pool with depths varying from 3.5' to 6.5' that is heated to 93 degrees.

And I might add that John Sutherland, PT the lead physical therapist and his Physical Therapy Assistant, Laura are both extremely knowledgeable and "good people" as well. I have been recommending White Sands to anyone with back pain, and everyone who tries it is equally delighted with the results."