LPST Staff Embraces Training Opportunities

The staff at Longview Physical & Sports Therapy (LPST) has taken an active role in upgrading skills and knowledge by completing advanced coursework in recent months.

Physical therapist assistant Clint Parham attended two seminars that focused on treatment of the foot and knee. “The training improved my understanding of how the knee and foot relate to each other in gait and function, as well as when orthotics can be helpful.”

Dawn Deering, also a physical therapist assistant, took a class on total joint replacements. “We see quite a few shoulder and knee replacement patients, so it was very beneficial to watch an actual surgery and learning more about evidence-based rehabilitation,” Deering said. She and physical therapist Nichole Winiger are also enrolled in a course on running that addresses biomechanics, common injuries, and retraining for injured runners.

Physical therapist George Palmer completed a 22-hour course titled “When the Feet Hit the Ground, Everything Changes.” The focus was on faulty biomechanics of the foot and the related influence on the lower extremities. “Treatment approaches can include stretching, strengthening, taping, and orthotics fabrication,” Palmer said. He said these strategies have application for the entire population, not just runners.

Physical therapist John Kowalski attended a 42-hour seminar titled “Localizing and Evaluating the Site and Source of Pain” presented by the North American Institute of Orthopedic Manual Training. The course is one of several that Kowalski will be taking to earn credentials as a Certified Manual Physical Therapist.

LPST co-owner Dave Knoeppel said that in order to provide quality care, staff members must have the best evidence-based knowledge available. “Providing continuing education opportunities for our staff is a priority and is consistent with our philosophy and goals as a practice,” Knoeppel said.