Yvonne Ball spent 21 years as a physical therapist at St. Luke's South before joining the team at Restore Thrive. We asked her about root causes, what she wishes active adults over 40 understood, and what her own training looks like at 53.

What's the most common thing patients get wrong about their own injury?

Most patients I see believe their injury is the immediate result of moving the wrong way or "just getting old." They blame whichever tissue is currently screaming at them: a pinch in the front of the shoulder, a painful heel, or a nagging ache in the hip.

The analogy I like to use relates to being the middle child between my two sisters. If we got in a fight, the one who ran crying to mom rarely was the instigator, they were usually the victim of another's bad behavior. The same can be said for our body; often the part that is screaming is paying the price for a problem upstream or downstream. Much of what I love about my job is investigating movement patterns and past history to uncover the contributing factors behind an injury. Rarely is it just a singular problem.

What drew you to the whole-person, root-cause approach?

I think most of us have tried the magic-bullet, Instagram reel approach to a nagging problem at some point. Maybe it works briefly, only to be followed by the same cycle of reinjury or relapse.

Physical therapists are probably the worst when it comes to trying to "fix ourselves." That's actually what brought me to Restore Thrive. I had a persistent back issue that I couldn't quite solve, and I clearly needed another set of eyes and hands to properly diagnose and treat it. I also wanted to experience cash-pay physical therapy from the patient's perspective.

I came to see Jess, and I think my issue resolved after four visits. The culture that applauds independence and autonomy can make us believe we should be able to solve any problem if we just search long enough. But I discovered that we all need help sometimes.

What's a case you're proud of?

Honestly, this has less to do with my physical therapy skills and more to do with being willing to sit and listen.

One of my clients came in with a debilitating foot issue that made it difficult to do her job, which required her to be on her feet all day. While some of the interventions were helping, I started to hear about deeper issues. She had experienced tremendous loss over the previous five years, including some of it during the COVID lockdowns.

Taking the time to listen to her story and struggles, and to recognize the toll everything had taken on her physical, mental, and emotional health, helped her come to her own realization that she needed to admit herself for rehab and recovery.

We're still in touch to this day. The power of presence cannot be overstated. No one is just their "diagnosis."

What do you wish more active adults over 40 understood about their bodies?

Wow, this is a big question. The simplest answer is that what you were doing five years ago, even last year, helped determine who you are today.

Knowing that, you also have the power to make an immeasurable impact on who you want to be at 45, 50, 75, and beyond through the small changes you make today.

Why Restore Thrive? What's different about practicing here?

I had a fantastic work family and experience during my 21 years at St. Luke's South, but working at Restore Thrive has renewed my love for this job and given me the time and space to build meaningful relationships with my clients.

There's something really special about not having to mentally prepare yourself to go to work; instead, you feel excited when everyone is there on the same day because you genuinely enjoy your coworkers.

Dennis, Jess, and Tim each make me better when I'm around them: as a clinician, wife, parent, and friend. I never get tired of seeing new clients come in feeling unsure and guarded, then leave with relaxed shoulders and the confidence that we truly see them and care about them.

You're an active adult over 50 yourself. What does your training look like now, and what have you had to change?

I've always been active. I love the gym, I love the outdoors, and I love finding new challenges.

Right now, my training includes lifting heavy twice a week, plus a third strength-training day on Saturdays at a boot camp. I add in sprints one morning a week. Most of the year, I try to paddleboard at least once a week, but currently running has taken its place to prepare for a three-day trail fest in Utah, where I'll cover 40 miles over three days.

I also participate in a free, women's workout group 3 days a week that usually has HIIT or bootcamp components, but the greatest joy is the community element. It's a boost to my mental health.

The biggest changes have been the intensity, duration, and intent of my workouts. When I was younger, my workouts were much longer, involving moderate weights and a heavy dose of cardio, with no specific goal besides burning calories.

Now I warm up, work hard, and try to be done in less than an hour. I'm still working on paring down the overall volume of what I do, because my brain still wants to do it ALL, but my 53-year-old body needs more recovery time. Warm-ups and cooldowns are non-negotiable. The trade-off has been worth it. I'm stronger than I've ever been, and now I have to work to eat enough calories to maintain the muscle I've gained.

Ready to get to the root of what's holding you back? Schedule a free phone consultation with the Restore Thrive team, and we'll help you find the right next step.