As a plumber, Arkady Zharovsky of Woodland Hills can't afford to miss a day of work. So when a recurring pain in his lower back started interfering with his job, Zharovsky sought relief at the Disability Rehabilitation Center (DRC) in West Hills.

At the first session, Galina Architector, trained in Moscow as a neurologist and physiotherapist and practices in the U.S. as a PhD/physical therapist assistant suggested a regimen of activities and exercises the plumber could take to alleviate his problem.

"She helped me and explained what I was supposed to do to correct the problem," he says.

Surprisingly, one of her suggestions was to buy a pair of more ergonomically suitable shoes.

"It was worth it," he enthuses, "because I spend all day on the road. I'm in construction. When I wear the shoes she recommended, I have no problem at all with my back."

Architector began a course of treatment with Zharovsky by first bringing down the swelling in his lower back using her well-honed therapy skills.

"I went a couple of times because I was feeling really bad," he recalls.

Zharovsky explains that his problem was a recurring one that had nagged him over the years, but nothing he tried ever gave him long-term relief. That is, until he began treatment at DRC.

"It was a problem that would come and go," he says. "She knows what she's doing. After therapy, I started feeling normal again."

Zharovsky was pleasantly surprised with how quickly he recovered.

"It worked very fast," he says of the treatment.

In business, positive word-of-mouth is the most important and effective marketing tool, and Zharovsky told colleagues about his positive experience at DRC.

"There was a guy named Peter, who used to bring a helper with him on jobs, and he said he had a problem carrying the heavy stuff," he recalls. "He had a problem for almost three years and he couldn't sleep because of the pain."

Zharovsky told his friend about DRC and the miracle therapist there known to her patients simply as Galina.

The plumber didn't see his friend for a while but during one session at DRC, he asked the physiotherapist whether his friend had ever come in for an appointment. "Yes," she responded. " He came in one time and he was much better." He subsequently referred family members suffering with soft issue problems to DRC.

Incidentally, Zharovsky saw Peter again, and he no longer needed a helper.

"It was a miracle," marvels the plumber. "I was amazed. He showed up once and he didn't have to come back again. Galina is one of a kind because she has experience. She does what needs to be done and will tell you what needs to be done to get you feeling right again."

Zharovsky is only one of hundreds of patients that Architector and her colleagues at DHC have treated over the years.

She has more than two decades of experience working with patients with soft tissue and spine injuries.

In addition to Architector, DRC's physical therapy team includes Lyn Paul Taylor, RPT, consulting therapist, known in the U.S. and abroad for his efficient "Taylor techniques;" andRobert Plotke, RPT, MS, and professor at California State University Northridge, who is DRC's supervising therapist. All DRC patients receive a team approach. DRC is located a 23233 Saticoy St., Suite 106, in West HIlls. The phone number is (818) 887-9111.