LPST Adds Staff

Longview Physical & Sports Therapy (LPST) has announced the hiring of physical therapy assistant (PTA) Marci Collins. Collins began seeing patients in late September.

“Marci has helped out across the board since she’s been here,” said LPST co-owner Dave Knoeppel, “but her main focus has been on assisting patients with neck, spine, and back problems.”

Collins completed an associate’s degree at Walla Walla Community College before earning her PTA degree at Whatcom Community College in Bellingham in 2004. She was most recently employed as a traveling PTA in the Seattle area where her clinical experience involved youth athletics, sports and conditioning camps and aquatic therapy. Prior to this, Marci worked locally for several years. She is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).

Marci ‘s recent coursework has been related to manual therapies and chronic pain management. She is committed to generating local interest and involvement in aquatic therapy.

“It’s a very gentle way to help people increase their strength and flexibility, maximizing their function with minimal pain or discomfort,” she said.

Collins’ interests include continuing education, kayaking and mountain biking.

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Bruce Peterson Earns Recertification as Orthopedic Specialist

Bruce Peterson, co-owner of Longview Physical & Sports Therapy (LPST), was recently awarded recertification by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). Peterson is the only physical therapist in the local area recognized by the APTA as a board certified orthopedic specialist.

“The process of recertification reinforces the need to stay current with the latest orthopedic research and treatment approaches,” Peterson said. “I enjoy learning and providing the best possible care to our patients.”

APTA, which represents more than 66,000 members in the U. S., established its specialist certification program in 1978. According to the organization’s website, the purpose of recertification is “to verify current competence as an advanced practitioner in a specialty area and to encourage ongoing education and professional growth.”

To qualify for recertification, Peterson submitted a portfolio to an assessment council. “The portfolio included all sorts of things I’ve been involved in,” Peterson said. “I took continuing education courses, gave a presentation about physical therapy to a community group, assisted with a colleague’s research project, and taught classes for physical therapists who are obtaining Orthopedic Specialist Certification.”

Candidates are also required to document that they have performed a minimum of 200 hours per year of direct patient care in their specialty area. They must recertify every 10 years.

Peterson is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Therapy. He is among only 37 physical therapists in the State of Washington who have qualified for Fellowship in the American Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapists.

Longview Physical & Sports Therapy Staff Members Complete Marathons, Half-Ironman

The staff at Longview Physical & Sports Therapy certainly made a commitment to the “physical” this spring and summer. Certified athletic trainer Beth Soltero, occupational therapist Aaron Varney, and physical therapist assistant Dawn Deering all completed significant physical challenges.

Dawn Deering Finishes Half-Marathon in Eugene
Deering competed in the Eugene Marathon on May 4th and finished the half-marathon, which totaled 13.2 miles. Her time was 2 hours and 13 minutes.

The mother of two young children, Deering spent ten weeks preparing for the event. She said her biggest challenge was simply finding time to train. “I trained mostly during my lunch hours at work, either outside or on the treadmill.” she said. “On the weekends I’d get in a longer run of six to ten miles."

Deering is now looking toward the Portland Marathon in October. Her goal is to finish in less than 2 hours.

Aaron Varney Completes First Marathon
Varney celebrated Independence Day by crossing the finish line at the Sauvie Island Marathon in 4 hour and 4 minutes.

“I maintained my goal pace of 8:30 to 8:45 per mile until we hit mile 18 when I completely ran out of gas,” Varney said. “It took everything I had to keep going.”

Like Deering, the training schedule Varney established was limited by family commitments. He did most of his running during lunch hours and between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. He trained for 18 weeks and racked up 45 miles during week 15 before tapering off prior to the race.

Varney plans to complete at least one endurance race per year and is already scheduled to participate in the Yakima River Canyon Marathon in April 2009. He is also considering an off-road duathlon that combines mountain biking and trail running.

Beth Soltero Survives Half-Ironman
Swimming, biking, and running in 97° heat was no picnic, but Beth Soltero got the job done. She finished the Pacific Crest Half-Ironman in Sunriver on June 28th in 8 hours and 17 minutes.

Following a strong 1.2-mile swim and 56-mile bike ride, Soltero had to overcome sunburn, blisters, cramping and fatigue during the grueling 13.2-mile run to the finish line. “This was definitely the hardest race I have ever done,” she said.

Soltero used the event as a fundraiser, with the money going to help cure blood-related cancers. She was able to raise $4,000 and was part of a Portland group that raised $269,000.

Beth has already committed to completing a full Ironman. “It is the ultimate goal for every triathlete,” she said. “There is no stopping me now.”

Q & A - July 2008

My therapist said he’s an occupational therapist, but he works in a physical therapy clinic. What’s the difference between occupational and physical therapy?

Physical and occupational therapy both have primary goals of returning individuals to full, independent function following an illness or injury. Physical therapists are skilled professionals who use their advanced education of the human body, its anatomy, physiology and biomechanics to improve the physical aspects of an illness or injury, i.e. strength, endurance, flexibility, cardio-pulmonary, etc. As these aspects of performance improve, so will an individual’s ability to perform the necessary activities to function independently as well as those recreational activities that provide purpose.

Occupational therapists are skilled professionals who also focus on helping individuals return to independent function through their advanced education in human growth, development and the social, emotional, and physiological effects of illness and injury. An occupational therapist may show or educate individuals on alternate methods of performing daily tasks as well as introduce them to adaptive equipment to independently perform daily activities that would otherwise be difficult, impossible, or against protocol. They may also provide suggestions to employers on how to modify work environments to make them more ergonomic to prevent future repetitive use injuries.

One will find physical and occupational therapists in such settings as hospitals, outpatient facilities, inpatient facilities, home health care, skilled nursing facilities, and school systems. In the private, outpatient setting, such as Longview Physical and Sports Therapy, one will typically find that occupational therapists primarily focus on treating hand pathologies with many receiving advanced certification and training in hand and upper extremity rehabilitation.

This credential is called the Certification in Hand Therapy, or CHT. Physical therapists can also receive the CHT credential. In order to qualify to take the CHT examination a therapist must have five years of clinical experience in UE rehabilitation with at least 4,000 hours of hand and UE experience.

Aaron Varney of Longview Physical and Sports Therapy is currently working toward receiving his CHT. Physical therapists in the outpatient setting may also treat the upper extremity in addition to specializing in rehabilitating other pathologies that affect the lower extremity, trunk, and spine.