BenchMark Physical Therapy

This Physical Therapy Month, our #upstreamfamily associates are offering their thanks to the physical therapists that have been a true inspiration to them personally and those who have gone above and beyond to support their patients, community, and clinics. Thank you, Sarah Christopher, DPT, for inspiring those around you! "Sarah Christopher is the new clinical director for this location. At first, I was afraid of how a new boss would be. Sarah is kind and concerned with not ...only her patients but her employees as well. Our patients enjoy working with her, and I feel they really look forward to conversing with her when they come in. She is good at remembering what her patients last spoke about and their concerns. I have had patients call me back after their appointment with her to tell Sarah, "thank you." She takes the initiative to market for our clinic and takes women's health courses to open up another branch of people we can help. She is awesome, and I want her to know that what she brings to our clinic does not go unseen, and we at New Vision want to thank her for all her hard work. Thank you, Sarah Christopher!!!" #Upstreamfamily #PTmonth #ThankATherapist

Physical therapy is a medical, hands-on approach to relieving pain and restoring function. So, what can you expect at a physical therapy visit? It's pretty simple. So simple, we've broken it down into four sections. #PTMonth #ChoosePT #UpstreamFamily

Help us prevent devastating, proposed Medicare cuts that reduce patient access to outpatient physical and occupational therapy! You can start by sending a letter to your lawmakers in Congress asking them to oppose Medicare cuts to specialty providers. To #FightTheCut, visit https://bit.ly/3iZie3S and select the option Contact Congress Today and Raise Your Voice Against Medicare Cuts.:

We love to hear our patients’ success stories. How has your life improved through your experience with us? Are you moving better and feeling better? Do you have a therapist you want to applaud? Share your experience with us, and we might include your story in one of our upcoming emails or social media posts. https://bit.ly/3uhLypR

Physical therapy wound care is for patients who have open wounds as a result of pressure, vascular insufficiency, trauma, surgery, or diabetes. One of our therapists, Emily Myers, DPT, answers the common questions regarding wound care and physical therapy. #PTMonth #ChoosePT #UpstreamFamily #AskATherapist

"Sports have been part of my life since I was a young girl. I played baseball/softball, soccer, basketball, volleyball, and even a year of flag football. When I reached high school, I knew I wanted to do something that involved sports for my career. Throughout my time in athletics, I experienced no serious injuries until my senior basketball season when I tore a ligament in my knee. When this happened, I thought I was going to miss out on my senior softball season, my favorit...e sport I played and one that I aspired playing at the collegiate level. Carley Casado was my Athletic Trainer at the time and was the main person that supported me throughout my recovery and helped me return to softball and have a record-breaking season, which led to me being able to play at Penn State Altoona. After going through this experience, it made me realize that I wanted to be on the other end of this situation. I wanted to be the one that would help athletes to recover from injuries and return to playing the sport they love. There are so many aspects I love about being an Athletic Trainer. However, my ultimate favorite part is the relationships that I develop with the athletes. I get to be one of their biggest cheerleaders and be with them through all the successes and failures. I am the first person they see when they get injured, and the last person they see before they return to the sport they love. This process allows me to create important relationships and help shape them into not only a better athlete, but hopefully a better person overall. I hope to always have a positive influence on all my athletes’ lives in whatever way I can, whether that’s being an ear to listen, a shoulder to cry on, or someone to be their biggest advocate. The best part about this is that they also have a big impact on me as well, both as a clinician and as a person. They help me to grow every day as well!" ~Ashley Struble, ATC Happy National Athletic Training Month! We are celebrating by taking a time out with some of our athletic trainers to find out what athletic training means to them. Our athletic trainers and clinical staff work closely together and are committed to providing superior sports medicine services. #NATM2021 #UpstreamFamily

Tomorrow is the first day of spring - are you ready for some spring cleaning? 30 minutes of housework is considered moderate exercise. Who knew that getting your home into shape could get you into better shape, too? Now that the winter hibernation is over and it’s time for our spring cleaning, let’s take a look at how your household chores can improve your fitness.... https://bit.ly/3bZaDiG

Our clinic in Lake Oconee - Greensboro GA will be opening soon! The clinic is located at 6183 Lake Oconee Parkway and can be reached at 762-445-1940. For more information and to request an appointment, visit: https://benchmark.urpt.com/locations/lake-oconee/

Our clinic in Berwick - Savannah GA will be opening soon! The clinic is located at 5710 Ogeechee Road Suite 440 and can be reached at 912-777-3378. For more information and to request an appointment, visit: https://benchmark.urpt.com/locations/berwick/

Feel the benefits of physical therapy: 1. Stress Relief When you remove the stress of being unhealthy from your mind and body, you lower your cortisol levels. High cortisol levels have been linked to atherosclerosis, reduced cognitive functioning, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. 2. A Better Understanding of Your Condition Through physical therapy, you can learn more about your condition. 3. A Stronger Core Physical therapy focuses on core stability and strengthening to restore pelvis and back muscle health (whole body support).

People that have been affected directly by the coronavirus or who have limited physical activity due to self-isolation may have similar issues increased fatigue, weakness, difficulty breathing, decreased endurance, and reduced balance. The good news physical therapy can help! We take an individualized approach with each patient and perform a thorough evaluation that includes vital monitoring (heart rate, blood pressure, breathing function, etc.), balance testing, strength... and flexibility testing, and activity tolerance. These tests and measures establish a baseline of function. We then develop a plan to progress safely to the highest level of function. HOW WE DO THIS: Capacity Testing Musculoskeletal Evaluation Manual Therapy Corrective Exercise Balance and Gait Training Goal-Oriented Functional Activities Safe-Discharge Planning Evidence has shown that manual therapy, followed by corrective exercise, improves overall lung function. We teach strategies to minimize stress on the heart and lung systems and the rest of the body. Our ultimate goal is to return patients to their prior levels of function, improving their quality of life by getting them back to normal. #PTMonth

We’re excited to announce the opening of our Ringgold, GA location! The new clinic is located at 113 Poplar Springs Road and is led by clinic director, Matt Eller. Matt holds a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Georgia Southern University and a doctor of physical therapy degree from University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. His clinic interests include sports-related injuries and post-operative care. Matt is trained in the treatment of vestibular/vertigo disorders and has experience treating orthopedic conditions and neurological disorders. You can follow us on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/BMPTRinggoldGA/ To request an appointment, please visit our website: https://benchmark.urpt.com/locations/ringgold/

Outpatient therapy can play a vital role in helping the adult population continue to lead an active, healthy lifestyle. By providing services such as orthopedic rehabilitation, wellness programs, pre-habilitation, fall prevention, and pelvic health services, our trained clinicians can help improve independence, strength/conditioning, balance, and overall general well-being. Proposed Medicare cuts could limit your access to these very programs and services that keep you active and healthy. Help us #FightTheCut by visiting urpt.com/FightTheCut

It's #PTMonth and we are proud to continue to spotlight our physical therapists. This #SaturdaySpotlight is on Cierra Thornton, PT, DPT. Cierra initially aspired to become a physician, but after personal interactions with physicians she knew she would desire more face-to-face time with her patients. After some more research, she discovered a list of careers that not only allowed, but encouraged extended face-to-face time with patients. Physical therapy was at the top of the l...ist based on her interest at the time and the diversity of the field. After shadowing a therapist in high school, her interest in physical therapy grew even more. Cierra says best part of her job are discharge days. "Discharge days allow both you and your patient to reflect and often rejoice in the progress they have made. Whether if be three weeks after initial evaluation or 16 weeks, the feeling is the same," she says. "Physical rehabilitation is a process that has many highs and lows and to know you have equipped a patient with the tools needed to heal or manage their condition is an amazing feeling."

For athletes facing injury, the ultimate goal of physical therapy is to get them back in the game as quickly and safely as possible. However, athletes who return to sport too early risk the chance of reinjury. We take a multi-disciplinary sports medicine approach to treatment with our athletes by including coaches, athletic trainers, and physicians in the process, carefully guiding the athlete’s rehabilitation to ensure a full and safe recovery. Physical Therapy Benefits for... Athletes Include: Functional baseline testing Decreased soft tissue inflammation Relief of spasms Improved tissue healing Increased balance and coordination Personalized exercise program to improve mobility Regaining lost strength Targeted sport-specific exercise to return to pre-injury function Preparation to avoid recurrent injuries See more

Core strength enhances both balance and stability which can help prevent falls and injuries as well as reduce pain. Physical therapists can show you which exercises are best to properly engage your core and achieve your goals. #PTMonth #PTHumor

Manual therapy is one of the most important and beneficial treatment techniques used among physical therapists. Manual therapy is a personalized 'hands-on' approach aimed at improving the mobility of the joints, muscles, and neurovascular structures. It includes specific, evidence-based techniques to treat soft-tissue injuries and joint limitations to improve efficiency of movement. The below diagram shows conditions that can be treated by one of our skilled physical therapists using manual therapy techniques. #PTMonth

We care deeply about every patient's unique health history, diagnosis and personal goals. Thank you for the recommendation and kind words! #PTMonth #TuesdayTestimonial

Medicare program recently announced plans to move forward with - and in some cases - increase cuts to speciality healthcare providers in 2021. This rule includes a deep, across-the-board 9% payment cut to physical and occupational theray. Click the link to #FightTheCut https://urpt.com/FightTheCut/

Physical therapy plays a vital role in the healthcare continuum. From prevention to performance, our clinical staff is there for you during your journey to better health. - Prevention - screening of athletes, screening for falls, prehabilitation - Secondary Care - orthopedic injuries, neurologic and vestibular disorders, pelvic health, temporomandibular dysfunction, chronic conditions... - Return to Life/Performance - improvement of athletic performance, maintaining an independent lifestyle, post-COVID rehabilitation

Tell congress that you oppose Medicare cuts to speciality providers. We believe everyone deserves access to physical therapy! Click here to #FightTheCut www.urpt.com/FightTheCut

This week's #PTMonth spotlight is on Kelly Mueller, PT, DPT, OCS, from our Signal Mountain, TN clinic. Kelly chose to be a physical therapist because of her desire to have a career dedicated to helping others. Kelly loves the variety that comes with being a physical therapist - getting to work with patients of all ages and abilities, whether it be to get them back to sports or even the most basic daily tasks. Kelly says the best part of her job as a physical therapist is bei...ng able to improve someone's quality of life. She tries to make each session fun and engaging for patients, while keeping their goals at the forefront of her care. #SaturdaySpotlight #BenchMarkPT