North Platte Physical Therapy - Wheatland

 
 

North Platte Physical Therapy has been serving Wheatland and Platte County for 30 years. It began as a contract with Platte County Memorial Hospital providing out-patient and in-patient services. We now continue to provide out-patient services at our clinic treating a variety of patients and provide contract services for home health of Platte County and the Platte County School District #1. We are a rural clinic and treat a wide range of patients. Being a clinic in a smaller area, we have the pleasure of getting to know our patients personally as well as professionally.

Our Wheatland Clinic provides a comprehensive out-patient facility, including a fitness center available to the general public. In addition to staffing the out-patient clinic, our therapists provide services in home care, and public schools. We also work with our local physicians providing athletic physicals and early intervention for our injured athletes.

Location Details


307-322-1878  Send Email Address: 1456 Paragon Way, Wheatland, WY 82201
Hours: Mon - Fri: 7:30AM - 5:00PM
Fax: 307-322-1879
Michael Utt, PT, DPT, OCS
Clinic Supervisor

When I was a junior in high school I decided on physical therapy as my future career. I initially chose PT because I thought it would be fun to work with athletes. As I went through school I realized that I enjoyed working with all types of individuals with a variety of orthopedic-related ailments. I lived the majority of my life in eastern North Dakota and am now here in Wyoming to explore what else is out here in the country and grow as an individual.

Education:

  • Doctor of Physical Therapy, University of North Dakota
  • Bachelor of Science in General Studies with a Health Sub-Plan, University of North Dakota 

Certification/Specialized Training:

  • Advanced Topics in the Examination, Evaluation, and Treatment of the Shoulder and Knee
  • IAOM: Differential Diagnosis and Musculoskeletal Management of the Cervical Spine
  • Orthopedic Certified Specialist
  • Vestibular Certification
  • Practical Blood Flow Restriction
  • A/B VR
  • Kinetacore Dry Needling-Level 1
  • Rock Taping Certification
  • Gray Institue, CAFS 
  • Kevin Wilkes: Online and Live Certificate
  • Kinetacore Functional Dry Needling Level 2
  • Diagnosis and Management of the Thoracic Spine
  • Modern Management of the Older Adult

Professional Membership: 

  • American Physical Therapy Association - Orthopedic Section

Hometown: Casselton, ND

Hobbies: Basketball, golf, weightlifting, hiking, and the occasional jog.

 
Tommi VanRissegham, PTA

As a certified nursing assistant, I frequently witnessed the physical decline in the patients I provided care to and that inspired me to become a PTA, so I could help improve their quality of life. I love meeting new people and hearing their stories. I especially love stories about how my patients can now do things they weren't able to do before therapy.

Education:

  • Associate of Applied Science, Physical Therapist Assistant, Laramie County Community College

Certifications/Specialized Training:

  • Musculoskeletal Management of the Pelvic Girdle
  • IAOM: Differential Diagnosis and Musculoskeletal Management of the Cervical Spine
  • Modern Management of the Older Adult
Hometown: Lingle, WY

Hobbies: Reading, traveling, and spending time with my husband and five grown children

 
Andrew Polk, PTA

I enjoy the physical therapy field because it allows me to apply my understanding of and fascination with the human body to improve the health and quality of life of people in the community around me. I find this to be one of the most rewarding responsibilities I could imagine.

Education:

  • Associate of Applied Science, Physical Therapy Assistant, Iowa Western Community College

Certifications/Specialized Training:

  • FMS Y-Balance Test
  • Cupping Therapy
  • Blood Flow Restriction
  • IAOM Elbow
  • IAOM Hand/Wrist
  • Diagnosis and Management of the Thoracic Spine

Professional Society Membership

  • American Physical Therapy Association

Hobbies: Hunting, fishing, weight training, gardening, and cooking

Family: Wife, Raymi, and soon-expected daughter

 

Services Offered



Latest News & Info


Physical Therapy Services: Three Important First Visit Considerations


Physical Therapy Services: Three Important First Visit Considerations
People across the country make visits to see their physical therapist each and every day. For many, these services provide relief and capabilities of a return to normal functionality on the targeted body part or painful area. Whether the deficit occurred through injury, age, or accident, physical therapy services offer beneficial options for helping patients recover or remove the pain entirely. A significant perk for all clientele is the program being implemented is designed specifically for each separate person, to focus on their precise needs and help speed up the recovery process. These factors make a significant difference, but there are also important items to consider before making a very first visit.

Direct access laws allow for individuals to seek physical therapy treatments without first visiting their primary care physician. While there are many people who are still referred to a therapist for treatment, if you feel the need for care or have certain questions about how treatment may help then the door is open. However, there are still a few actions to be taken in order to prepare for a successful initial appearance. 

Check Your Symptoms

Before arrival, individuals should prepare for their visit by checking symptoms, their persistence, pain levels, and impacts to ensure a doctor’s visit or medical emergency shouldn’t be triggered. Once determined a physical therapist may be able to assist, then a call should be placed. Patients need to also record their symptoms over time and provide specifics about how any pain or numbness is impacting their lifestyle.

Dress Accordingly

Patients should also consider their clothing when headed into the office for a visit. Often, sessions will require movement or access to the area being addressed. For example, jeans and long pants should be avoided for those patrons seeking physical therapy on a knee injury. 

Honest Communication

A third key element to a successful first visit is to be open and honest with how you are feeling and what causes the pain or discomfort. Holding back doesn’t help your therapist as they mold a personalized plan of action and will ultimately only delay your healing. By being up front with details and following through with any prescribed home activities, patients can establish the foundation for a quality and trusted relationship with their therapists.

If you have suffered an injury or know someone who has chronic pain, could use assistance with mobility issues, or is seeking services for another reason, then consider reaching out to the physical therapy experts at North Platte Physical Therapy, Monument Physical Therapy, Big Country Rehabilitation, and Bear Lodge Rehabilitation today. Offering 18 different locations across Wyoming and Nebraska, our professional staff are ready and willing to help administer and create a personalized plan of action specific to your needs. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us today. Available for all of your physical therapy and related offerings, we look forward to meeting you and providing the type of service you can rely on to help improve your overall wellness very soon!
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Physical Therapy Services: Bad Posture Impacts the Body


Physical Therapy Services: Bad Posture Impacts the Body
The human body is an incredible machine, performing multiple functions (many at once) to keep us alive and conducting multiple types of movement. Standing upright isn’t something people often think about, but it does warrant some focus as bad posture could have many negative side effects. As time passes, not standing up straight may lead to detrimental conditions beyond simply beginning to hunch over. In fact, posture changes correlate between standing and sitting positions with individuals needing to be cognizant of both in order to keep bad habits from forming and impacting their current state over time.

The dangers of sitting involve more detrimental factors than bad posture results but it’s definitely a possibility. With damage resulting from prolonged inadequate postures of sitting and standing, being able to ensure you’re upright to the best extent possible is extremely important. The results of having a negative posture on your body extend to multiple scenarios, involving many different negative aspects. 

Pain

Bad posture has the potential to cause pain in a variety of many different areas, including the neck, headaches, lower back, and many other problem spots. If individuals are unable to correct their alignment it could result in multiple issues, even a permanent spinal curvature. Being able to correct or deal with these problems often involves physical therapy. A specified program can assist in eliminating the back or neck pain and possible headaches resulting from being slouched over many hours each day.

Sleep

Even sleep can be affected from not having proper alignment throughout the day. If your body is busy trying to constantly keep everything in a stacked order, then when it comes time for bed the results may continue as detrimental. As the body works to properly align during the day, when night time arises, the capability to keep a quality posture becomes especially important.

Digestion

Constantly bending over could put unnecessary pressure on the digestive system which may cause issues with proper digestion. If your body is not upright, then the elongated bend may put compression on the digestive system which could produce a needed correction before too much damage is produced. Knowing alignment and posture impacts digestion could lead individuals to put a renewed focus on this area.

Other Risks

Some other risks of bad posture include the potential for a pinched nerve. Constantly slouching may cause the spinal cord to pinch a nerve in the back causing another range of issues. These may begin as a tingling sensation in the extremities but could transition into something more harmful. In addition, a permanent curvature of the spine is also a possibility due to working with a negative posture over time.

If you or someone you know has bad posture and could use assistance with correcting their appearance, mobility issues, or is seeking services for another reason, then consider reaching out to the physical therapy experts at North Platte Physical Therapy, Monument Physical Therapy, Big Country Rehabilitation, and Bear Lodge Rehabilitation today. Offering 18 different locations across Wyoming and Nebraska, our professional staff are ready and willing to help administer and create a personalized plan of action specific to your needs. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us today. Available for all of your physical therapy and related offerings, we look forward to meeting you and providing the type of service you can rely on to help improve your overall wellness very soon!
 
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Physical Therapy Services: Foot and Ankle Issues


Feet and ankles are likely body parts which rarely receive much thought although they are extremely important components for mobility. These joints allow the flexibility to walk, run, change direction, and many other different features that typically seem second nature. However, when an injury occurs, individuals immediately see the repercussions as their ability to maneuver usually becomes considerably limited. Depending on the severity of the issue, a need for braces, crutches, wheel chairs, or some other mobility assistance device could be needed. This not only impacts everyday life, but it also may require physical therapy treatments in an effort to return a joint to its pre-injured state.

Ankle injury causes range from athletes to those who aren’t inclined to participate in sports or regular physical activity. Any unexpected twist or turn of the foot might lead to an injury and need for physical therapy assistance. In fact, there are multiple injuries which are viewed as relatively common that could occur to anyone needing help in regaining their mobility.

Sprains/Strains

While these two terms are often used interchangeably, there is an actual medical difference between them. Sprains involve an injury to the connective tissue between two bones and strains are muscle issues. Both can be detrimental while also involving a need for physical therapy for full recovery.

Plantar Fasciitis

Many middle-aged individuals can expect to deal with plantar fasciitis at some point in their lifetime. These debilitating injuries involve the heel and attached tissues and are caused by a number of different activities, including wearing the wrong shoes. Understanding the cause can assist in receiving treatment for the issue.

Achilles Injuries

The achilles tendon is essential for being able to flex and function for walking and basic mobility skills. These movements may continue in the event of an injury, but sufferers can expect to be significantly limited. While some may heal without the need for surgery, there are scenarios in which receiving a medical repair is the best plan of action. For both, physical therapy can assist in helping to restore the functionality of a damaged achilles.

Arthroscopic Treatments

Helping to administer relief for arthritis and other joint pain issues, arthroscopic treatments are also a well-known foot and ankle concern. This procedure typically refers to a “clean-up” of the joint, removing any splintered pieces of bone or tissue in the area. 

If you have suffered an ankle injury or know someone who has chronic pain in their joints, could use assistance with mobility issues, or is seeking services for another reason, then consider reaching out to the physical therapy experts at North Platte Physical Therapy, Monument Physical Therapy, Big Country Rehabilitation, and Bear Lodge Rehabilitation today. Offering 18 different locations across Wyoming and Nebraska, our professional staff are ready and willing to help administer and create a personalized plan of action specific to your needs. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us today. Available for all of your physical therapy and related offerings, we look forward to meeting you and providing the type of service you can rely on to help improve your overall wellness very soon!
 
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Physical Therapy Services: Available Applications For Children and Youth


Physical Therapy Services: Available Applications For Children and Youth
The benefits of physical therapy are broad enough to incorporate characteristics for individuals of all ages. Everyone has the potential to be injured, regardless of their age, and the ability for remedying these situations applies to keep all people living healthy and productive lifestyles. Fortunately, physical therapy plans are flexible enough to be customized for meeting the needs of each particular client. This process helps in applying action where it is needed most. These applications also allow those who may have otherwise been left without seeing a professional therapist, an opportunity to receive equal services for assistance whether they are a child or an adult.

The benefits of physical therapy for children are abundant but vary depending on the specific needs for each potential client. These services not only allow for a younger generation to begin helpful treatments, but they are also helping foster an individualized approach for each and every need. By doing so, physical therapists are making the most of an incredible opportunity while helping return injured individuals to a recovered state in less time than ever believed possible.

Pain Management

Those who suffer from chronic pain need all of the assistance available and physical therapy can significantly assist with management. In certain scenarios, even children need assistance with pain depending on their particular personal situations. With open communication between parents, guardians, and physical therapists, specially designed programs can be constructed in order to provide help while keeping kids comfortable to the highest extent possible. 

Movement Capabilities

There are also certain movement capabilities which may be targeted for children with a need in an area of service administration. Depending on possible health issues and other varying factors, physical therapy services have the potential to assist with both young and old patrons as needed. Movement also extends beyond the commonly associated skeletal system, bones, and joints, with plans capable of highlighting cardiovascular, nervous, and other bodily systems.

Return to Prior Performance

A major goal of any physical therapy program is for the subject to return with same level performance capabilities after suffering an injury. These actions allow for people of all ages to enjoy a full recovery and physical therapy aids in the effectiveness, speed, and length of time for this to take place. With every program and client presenting a unique scenario, finding the right focus on treatment can take time, but once results are being seen it’s important to examine what is working or not and adjust accordingly.

If you have suffered an injury or know someone who has chronic pain, could use assistance with mobility issues, or is seeking services for another reason, then consider reaching out to the physical therapy experts at North Platte Physical Therapy, Monument Physical Therapy, Big Country Rehabilitation, and Bear Lodge Rehabilitation today. Offering 18 different locations across Wyoming and Nebraska, our professional staff are ready and willing to help administer and create a personalized plan of action specific to your needs. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us today. Available for all of your physical therapy and related offerings, we look forward to meeting you and providing the type of service you can rely on to help improve your overall wellness very soon!
 
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Physical Therapy Services: Areas of Chronic Pain


Physical Therapy Services: Areas of Chronic Pain
There are many different benefits and applications of physical therapy services but one ailment which often receives assistance involves those suffering from chronic pain. This blanket diagnosis impacts millions of Americans and finding relief can be life changing. Understanding the causes varies between individuals and this is one of the major factors why physical therapy helps address the problem areas. With plans specifically designed for each particular patient, improvements are often seen and felt after only a short time. However, recognizing the associated areas of chronic pain is also key prior to seeking help from any physical therapy services.

Chronic pain persists for an extended period of time following an accident, injury, or other related activity. In addition, certain illnesses may also cause extended pain to appear and others suffer without evidence of any particular cause. Constantly dealing with these pain issues has many repercussions including a potential affect to employment, wages, being absent from social activities, and other side effects beyond the physical ramifications. Knowing which areas of the body may be impacted by chronic pain is also helpful in identifying the problem.

Joint Pain (Arthritis)

Arthritis is another umbrella term for joint pain which may occur in different areas of the body. Especially as you age, the likelihood of increased pain from joints increases and constant battles with specific areas may qualify as chronic pain.

Neck Pain

Most everyone has experienced a stiff or painful neck from a rough night’s sleep, but for those experiencing chronic pain this suffering is constant. While there are numerous potential treatment methods, physical therapy may enhance movement and help subdue or eliminate the pain.

Back Pain

Numerous individuals suffer from back pain which is another large area of chronic pain association. Resulting from age, accidents, or other injuries, finding relief is paramount for those impacted in this way.

Headaches

For some individuals, headaches extend beyond typical timeframes or occur more frequently - including daily. These two instances are likely to be considered chronic pain allowing those suffering engagement in treatment tactics, potentially including physical therapy to address the issue.

Muscle Pain (Fibromyalgia)

Another chronic pain issue which also results from various different origins are constant muscle and body aches, known as Fibromyalgia. This ailment often results in difficulty sleeping and can lead to other associated factors from a lack of quality rest. 

If you or someone you know suffers from chronic pain, needs assistance with mobility issues, or is seeking services for another reason, then consider reaching out to the physical therapy experts at North Platte Physical Therapy, Monument Physical Therapy, Big Country Rehabilitation, and Bear Lodge Rehabilitation today. Offering 18 different locations across Wyoming and Nebraska, our professional staff are ready and willing to help administer and create a personalized plan of action specific to your needs. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us today. Available for all of your physical therapy and related offerings, we look forward to meeting you and providing the type of service you can rely on to help improve your overall wellness very soon!
 
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