Joint Pain:
Our ankles, knees, hips, shoulders, elbows, and wrists all have several ligaments, tendons, muscles, and nerves which can cause pain limiting our activity levels. Many of these aches and pains can be alleviated with Physical or Occupational Therapy. A thorough evaluation by a licensed therapist will allow for an indivualized rehab program to return you to your previous activity level. Whether the injury is old or new, we may be able to help.
Post-Surgical Pain:
If you've had or are planning on having surgery, Physical & Occupational Therapy can assist you with your road to recovery. Many common surgical procedures include a total knee, total hip, rotator cuff repair, all types of arthroscopic surgeries, hand repairs, and carpal tunnel. We can also help people who have had any type of surgery to get back to their pre-surgical activity levels. We will work with you and your surgeon in developing a customized rehab program to get you back to work, sporting activities, or just daily living. We can also assist people in designing a program prior to surgery to allow you to be as strong as possible heading into the procedure. The stronger and more flexible someone is prior to surgery, the shorter the road to recovery.
Sports Injuries:
Do you enjoy playing sports? Many of us use sports as an activity to relieve stress, improve strength, lose weight, interact with family, etc. An inevitable aspect of sports is injuries. This can include all sorts of aches and pains that limit our participation. The trained therapists at Choice Therapy can get you back on the playing field with a thorough and customized rehab plan. We will provide sports-specific rehabilitation to get you back to your sporting activity as quickly as possible. We may be able to help even those people who quit playing the sports due to some old injury. So, give us a call and we'll get you back to the sports you love to play.
Balance & Dizziness:
Are you experiencing dizziness when lying down or sitting up? This may be a sign of vertigo. Many times, a Therapist specially trained to help people with these symptoms can alleviate the problem in just a couple of sessions. We have the therapists trained in this area to help you. We also have specially trained therapists in balance and fall prevention. These programs involve improving strength, coordination, balance, safety awareness, and environmental precautions. We will design a program specific to your needs to help you now and in the future. So, don't delay, give us a call to get set up with a therapist specially trained to help you with balance and dizziness issues.
Ergonomics:
Ergonomics is the act of analyzing and adjusting the work task, employee's technique, and/or the work environment to the worker's needs to minimize strain placed on the body. This allows for a significant reduction in workplace injuries. Joe Kapaun, OTR, co-owner and practicing therapist, was certified in General Ergonomics from WorkWell Inc. in 2001. Choice Therapy provides on-site ergonomic assessments, as well as on-site ergonomic training to support OSHA requirements.
Industrial Rehabilitation:
Choice Therapy follows the WorkWell provisions for all industrial rehabilitation services. These services are as follows: pre-placement screenings, job analysis, ADA approved job descriptions, functional capacity evaluations (FCE), ergonomic and safety training. All of our industrial rehabilitation services are available on site or at Choice Therapy. Scheduling is flexible to meet your organinzations needs including consultation and training for night shifts and swing shifts. Joe Kapaun, OTR, has 12 years of experience in the Bemidji area working with numerous companies, and has successfully aided each company to reduce their workers' compensation costs, along with improving company morale and quality of life for their employees.
Hand Injuries:
Choice Therapy provides innovative treatment and care incorporating your personal choice needs and the specific directions of your physician. The Choice Therapy team has extensive experience in treatment and resolution of hand injuries such as those associated with arthritis, joint replacements, tendon injuries, over-use syndrome, and carpal tunnel syndrome. We are able to make custom splints to protect a new fracture, maintain ROM, or protect new surgery repairs. Splinting can also at times be used to help heal or prevent injuries to delay or prevent surgical needs. If you are experiencing troubles with your hands, give us a call or come see us, we'll get you back to using your hands.
Injury Prevention:
It is universally known that injury prevention is more successful than even the best post-injury care. Choice Therapy is dedicated to helping their patients and members of their community to gain and utilize injury prevention knowledge. Our egonomic and industrial rehabilitation services will significantly reduce workplace injuries. Choice Therapy also offers wellness classes to meet your goals both physically and mentally. These can be customized to your organizational needs. FREE injury consultation sessions by Choice Therapy staff will help you decide the best CHOICE for your individual needs. Identifying an injury early and taking proper care can help you heal faster, decreases the severity of an injury, and will get you back to work and doing the things you enjoy. We would rather avoid injury in life, but if you can't avoid it, let Choice Therapy help get you back to doing the things you love. Together we will achieve your maximum potential.
Fall Prevention:
Falls inside your home and in the community can have drastic effects on the entire family. These falls limit your ability to participate in the community, may produce a disabling and even life-threatening injury, and may even result in long-term placement in an assisted living setting or nursing home. Our team of therapists at Choice Therapy are specifically trained to assist you with reducing or even eliminating falls. We combine all factors involved in a fall: balance, strength, vision, environment, lighting, patient awareness, and several other factors. An individualized plan will be developed with your very own personal needs. Choice Therapy also offers community education through presentations and workshops, specifcally designed to educate and prepare people for falls in the future.
Back & Neck Pain:
Back and neck pain symptoms can range in intensity from mild to severe and even debilitating. Causes include trauma, posture, repetitive lifting with poor body mechanics, and occassionally genetics. Poor posture and poor lifting techniques lead to stress and strain on ligaments, muscles, joints, and discs. Other causes of spinal pain include; spinal stenosis, disc herniation, arthritis, and fibromyalgia. The specially trained therapists at Choice Therapy have over 30 years of experience rehabilitating back and neck complications. We individualize each patient's treatment, depending on their unique signs and symptoms. We have extensive training in manual techniques to restore proper function of the spine and sacrum. Our treatment sessions will combine these techniques with exercise to maintain the proper mechanics to the spine.
Postural Restoration:
The basis for postural restoration therapy is to recognize the imbalances and typical patterns associated when an individual overuses one side or one system of the body to the point that other areas become weak and inefficient. When normal imbalances are not regulated by reciprocal function during walking, breathing, or turning, a strong pattern can emerge. This creates structural weakness, instability, and musculo-skeletal pain syndromes. The therapists at Choice Therapy have special training in the postural restoration techniques to return you to normal functioning. Contact us to get a more detailed explanation of what postural restoration can do for you.
Lymphedema:
Lymphedema is a collection of protein-rich swelling. This usually occurs as a result of removal or radiation of lymph nodes. If this fluid stays in the arms or legs, patients are at a high risk for infections of the skin that can become life-threatening. Lymphedema is a manageable condition, once someone has been instructed on the knowledge of what and what NOT to do. Cheri Ware, DPT at Choice Therapy has been a certified Lymphedema Therapist since 1998. If you or someone you know has lymphedema, contact Choice Therapy with your questions.
Direct Access:
“The ability of a person to see a therapist without a physician's referral. “
A physical therapist is able to evaluate and treat a patient for up to 60 days without a referral. Some insurance companies are still requiring a referral for payment. It is recommended to contact your insurance company regarding “Direct Access”; or our staff will gladly assist you with this question. Simply contact our clinic and we will set up an evaluation with a physical therapist.
Free Injury Consultation
Are you experiencing aches and pains with your daily activities? Physical and Occupational Therapy are excellent options for treatment of these symptoms. Come in for a 15 minute screening to help determine if you are a candidate for treatment. Whether your pain is old or new, we can help. Call us to schedule your free consultation today!
Sensory Integration for children
Typically, children are constantly moving and exploring their environment. Play and interactions are how they learn. Children have an innate drive to take in information from all their sense which helps their brains to develop and learn how to react to their environment. The Sensory Integration (SI) approach is rich in movement, heavy muscle work, touch, and eye-hand-body coordination; areas where many children with SI difficulties have underlying problems.
Sports Specific Training Programs
“Hit Harder, Run Faster”
SmartFITT and Choice Therapy offer sports specific training programs for athletes grades 7-12. Small groups of 10-12 athletes are put through a session consisting flexibility, strengthening, core strengthening, plyometrics, and sports specific drills. The focus is on explosiveness, coordination, and short bursts of speed/strength. 4 to 5:1 ratio of athletes to instructor is achieved. This allows for an emphasis on correct form and muscle recruitment. Our instructors consist of exercise physiologists, occupational therapist, physical therapist, and current/former college athletes. Classes usually run 10-15 sessions. Pre and post-tests are performed to show the athletes the improvements that they have made. Contact Choice Therapy or SmartFITT regarding any questions.
Long-Term Care
Choice Therapy is currently partnered with Clearbrook Good Samaritan Society, and Cornerstone Nursing and Rehab Center in providing rehab services for our community members residing in long-term care. Our therapists are highly experienced in treating our geriatric population with an emphasis on independence, creativity, and compassion during the treatment sessions. Contact either facility for more information.
Clearbrook Outpatient
Outpatient physical and occupation therapy services are now provided in Clearbrook, MN. We are located within the Clearbrook Good Samaritan Society Nursing Home. All rehab diagnosis are able to be seen with full services available on site. Please contact Clearbrook Good Samaritan at 218-776-3157 or Choice Therapy with any questions.
Bowel & Bladder Health
Issues with incontinence and pelvic pain are difficult to discuss for many people, but can have a great effect on many people’s lives. Did you know that bowel and bladder dysfunction, along with dementia/Alzheimer’s are the top two reasons for nursing home placement of the aging population? Bowel and bladder issues can affect men, women, children, adolescents, pregnant women, and be present with many other diagnoses. Bowel and bladder dysfunction can decrease physical activity, self-esteem, and independence. It can also increase the risk for falls, infections, skin breakdown, and depression. We have staff that can address these issues in a non-invasive manner, via re-education and simple exercise as well as relaxation and quieting techniques. So, don’t suffer any longer with the inconvenience and discomfort of incontinence and related issues. Come see us today!
Blackduck/Kelliher Therapy Services
Choice Therapy, your local Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy providers offers inpatient and outpatient services at the Good Samaritan Center in Blackduck, MN, and outpatient services in the Kelliher, MN community.
Choice Therapy of Blackduck is located in the Good Samaritan Society’s Nursing Home. Our address is 172 Summit Avenue West. We offer patient treatment by appointment from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. including the lunch hour. We look forward to treating our patients and helping them reach their full potential and getting them back to what they love. The phone number for our Blackduck clinic is 218-835-3425 and the fax number is 218-835-3433.
In addition to Choice Therapy’s Blackduck services, Choice Therapy has opened a satellite clinic in Kelliher, MN. Our address is 243 Clark Avenue North. Our operating hours are on Monday and Thursday by appointment, or additional times as needed. The phone number for our Kelliher clinic is 218-647-9569 and the fax number is 218-647-9596.
Our outpatient services cover general orthopedic problems, balance issues, vestibular problems, back and neck pain, post-stroke rehabilitation, workman’s comp injury, pediatrics, geriatrics, sports injuries, cognitive training, swallowing disorders, and speech and language disorders and delays.
Our inpatient services are offered to short-term rehabilitation and long-term care residents to increase independence to return to a safe level of functioning to perform daily activities.
