Bear Lodge Rehabilitation - Moorcroft

 
 

Bear Lodge Rehabilitation in Moorcroft is a satellite clinic of the Sundance Office. We provide outpatient services to all age groups ranging from infants to geriatrics. We provide services to treat orthopedics, sports rehabilitation, vestibular and vertigo among others. 

Location Details


Address: Town Center 101 S Belle Fourche, Moorcroft, WY 82721
Hours: Tuesday, Thursday and Fridays from 7:30-11:30; 12:15-3:15
Fax: 307-756-9636


Brooke Mangus, PTA, SFMA, AIB-VR

Clinic Supervisor


 "Physical therapy has been a huge influence on my life and well-being; in high school I had two sports injuries. I joined this field of practice with the outlook to help others resume a quality of living desirable to each individual patient the same way my physical therapists did for me when I was a patient."

Education:

  • 2016 Associates of Applied Science Physical Therapist Assistant; Laramie County Community College

Certification/Specialized Training:

  • Clinical Examination and Manual Therapy of the Acute Lumbar Spine and Sacroiliac Joint
  • Practical Blood Flow Restriction
  • A Systematic Approach to Examination, Diagnosis and Manual Therapy of the Wrist Part 1
  • IAOM Manual Therapy of the Acute Lumbar Spine and Sacroiliac Joint
  • Kinseio Taping
  • Manual Therapy Joint Mobilizations for the PTA
  • When The Feet Hit The Ground... Everything Changes
  • Selective Functional Movement Assessment Certified
  • IAOM Diagnosis and Management of the Thoracic Outlet Syndrome and Cervicothoracic Junction
  • IAOM Manual Therapy of the Cervicothoracic Junction
  • Vestibular Certified

Professional Memberships: Wyoming Boards of Physical Therapy

Hometown: Casper, WY

Family: Ben (husband), Bexley Jean (fur baby)

Hobbies: Hunting, camping, cycling, skiing, and playing with my dog Bexley

 

 
Ben Mangus, DPT, OCS, WCC, CSCS, SFMA, CAFS, CKTP, AIB-VR

Clinic Supervisor


I knew from a young age that I wanted to help individuals rehab naturally and physical therapy was that perfect fit. I enjoy getting to know each patient I come in contact with and make it a priority to help them reach their goals.

Education:

  • Doctor of Physical Therapy, New York Institute of Technology
  • Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Health Promotion, University of Wyoming

Professional Society Memberships:

  • American Physical Therapy Association
  • National Strength and Conditioning Association
  • Kinesio Taping Association International

Certifications/Specialized Training:

  • Orthopedic Clinical Specialist
  • IAOM Wrist Course
  • Vestibular Certification
  • Diagnosis and Management of the Elbow
  • A Systematic Approach to Examination, Diagnosis, and Manual Therapy of the Wrist Part 1
  • Practical Blood Flow Restriction
  • Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
  • Certified Kinesio Taping Practitioner 
  • Maitland: Essential Peripheral Seminar
  • Maitland: Essential Spinal Seminar
  • IAOM: Clinical Examination and Manual Therapy of the Acute Lumbar Spine and Sacroiliac Joint
  • IAOM: Diagnosis and Management of the Acute Lumbar and SI Joint
  • When the Feet Hit the Ground - Everything Changes
  • Long Island Orthotics and Prosthetics: Lower Extremity Prosthetic Gait Deviation
  • Selective Functional Movement Assessment Certified
  • Functional Dry Needling Level-1
  • Functional Dry Needling Level-2
  • Certified Cupping Therapist
  • Certified in Applied Function Science
  • BikeFit The Foot/Pedal Interface
  • RockTape IASTM Practitioner
  • Maitland: Evidenced-Based Orthopedic Diagnostic Evaluation Seminar
  • Ergo Science FCE Certified
  • ErgoScience FCE Trained
  • Wound Care Certification from the National Alliance of Wound Care and Ostomy

Hometown: Douglas, WY

Family: Parents: Chuck & Lisa Mangus, Sister: Jessica Mangus, Wife: Brooke, Puppy Dog: Bexley

Hobbies: Cycling, archery, fly fishing, and hunting.

 
Veronica "Roni" Kramer, DPT, SFMA

Partner


Education:

  • Doctor of Physical Therapy, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska
  • Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska

Certifications/Specialized Training:

  • A Systematic Approach to Examination, Diagnosis, and Manual Therapy of the Wrist Part 1
  • Certified Trigger Point Dry Needling

Professional Society Memberships:

  • Member of the American Physical Therapy Association since 1994

Hometown: Mullen, NE

Family: Husband, Todd Daughters: Teila and Rigan

Hobbies: Volleyball, basketball, running, rodeo, and hunting big game 

Services Offered



Latest News & Info


Ways to increase success with Physical Therapy


May 14, 2020

Ways to increase success with Physical Therapy
Unfortunately millions live everyday with chronic pain. Chances are your work with a physical therapist is reducing its effects but there may be certain things that you are doing that may actually be enhancing your pain. By avoiding these things you may be able to augment the effects of your therapy and lessening the effects of your chronic pain. As with anything, check with your doctor or physical therapist before making any dietary changes but making small changes in concert with the work of your Wyoming physical therapist may speed your journey to a pain free life.

How Physical Therapy Helps
The general goal of physical therapy is to target muscle areas where pain exists. When muscles are stronger they do a better job of supporting joints and improving mobility. Using resistance bands, weights, and low impact aerobic exercises will target weak areas and increase flexibility while lessening pain.

What to Avoid
Certain things can increase the pain itself or the effect of pain on your body and mind. Smoking is all around bad for you and it is known to increase chronic pain. When people are in pain, it causes stress and anxiety for which they sometimes turn to cigarettes as a coping mechanism. This only makes the problem worse, especially for those with back injuries as smoking contributes to spinal disc deterioration as well as osteoporosis. Tobacco use also makes users feel pain more acutely and increases sensations of discomfort. 

Stress can also enhance the body’s pain response as well as disrupting other systems such as sleep and cognitive functioning. Both of these are imperative to your healing process. Find productive ways to manage stress. Take up meditation or other mindful practices. Join a support group for others with chronic pain. Talking to someone who really understands what you are going through can be very helpful. If there’s a new hobby or skill you’ve been wanting to learn, now is the time. Finding a way to distract yourself is the best cure for pain as well as stress reduction.

Healthy Habits to Incorporate
The exercise that you do with your physical therapist is target specific and no doubt helping you with pain management. Speak to your therapist about other exercises that might be beneficial for you to do on your own that won’t risk re-injury or cause setbacks. Exercise naturally releases endorphins improving your mood overall while also blocking pain signals. Maintaining a healthy weight reduces joint stress aiding in flexibility and pain management.

Eating a healthy diet has a great many benefits and may also assist you in pain elimination. Foods that help with inflammation can be especially beneficial. Grill up some fatty fish such as tuna, salmon, sardines, or mackerel. The Omega-3 that they contain acts as a powerful anti-inflammatory. Green leafy vegetables boost antioxidants to speed healing and reduce inflammation as well. Berries such as strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries are a great source of ellagic acid which decreases inflammation and illuminates joint pain.

You will reap the benefits of adopting a healthy lifestyle long after your physical therapy has been completed. If you have questions about physical therapy as a treatment for chronic pain contact North Platte Physical Therapy Today!
 
Read More...

How to prevent injuries while landscaping for summer


May 6, 2020

How to prevent injuries while landscaping for summer
While you are spending more and more time at home, you might have started to tackle some home improvement projects, including landscaping. In fact, there has never been a better time to start on your landscaping projects - including gardening! Many people turn to gardening to make their backyard a little more beautiful, while others enjoy it because of its proven ability to reduce stress and improve focus. But, gardening can also lead to a lot of aches and pains if you’re not careful about your posture and positioning. According to a physical therapist in Casper WY, you can avoid gardening pain by following these tips:

Stretching
Even though gardening is not a strenuous exercise, it does involve putting your body in uncomfortable positions, so it’s recommended that you stretch before and after the activity. Do gentle backbends and leg stretches to loosen the muscles in your lower body and prepare yourself for gardening.

Movement
Be mindful of how long you stay in one position so your body doesn’t begin to cramp or get sore. Set a timer on your phone or make it a point to adjust your position after every 10-15 minutes. Even if it’s a slight adjustment, it will help you prevent muscle stiffness, which will lead to aches and pains long after you have finished gardening.

Use Tools
Don’t try to carry heavy tools or bags of soil or mulch on your own—instead, use a wheelbarrow. But, you must operate the wheelbarrow properly in order to avoid aches and pains. Always keep your back straight when pushing a wheelbarrow, and if you have to strain to get the wheelbarrow to move, it’s too heavy for you. Take something out and try it again instead of putting yourself at risk of an injury.

Another easy tool to purchase? A gardening pad! Kneeling in the dirt can cause a great deal of discomfort. To avoid feeling this pain days later, buy a pair of knee pads designed for people who garden. This will put a cushion between your knees and the dirt, so you can sit comfortably and enjoy gardening.

At North Platte Physical Therapy, we’re dedicated to helping clients prevent injuries and live a pain-free life. But if you do injure yourself, contact North Platte Physical Therapy to learn more about how we can help you recover. Our staff is praised throughout the Wyoming and Nebraska areas for our commitment to our clients. We can fulfill comprehensive physical therapy services, and would be happy to customize a treatment plan for your personal needs
 
Read More...

Starting a new weight loss regime


May 1, 2020

Starting a new weight loss regime
We all do it. We all say we are going to start a new habit, and most of the time never follow through. This is never more prevalent then when it comes to eating healthy/dieting, and losing weight. It often is never as simple as eating right and exercising, especially when your body adjusts to a certain weight or you have health issues that make it difficult to lose. The journey to live a healthier lifestyle is not one to go alone and you can definitely work your local Wyoming physical therapist to help.
 
Getting your mind in the right place to begin a weight loss journey is the best way to get started. It may be one of the most important things you do. Many people are overwhelmed and think they must drastically cut calories and have intense workouts, when in fact, if you aren’t eating enough for your body, it could lead the weight to stay. When beginning your weight loss journey, start small. Determine small changes you can make and work on them, even if it is just one thing at a time. Maybe you are a heavy soda drinker and you make the transition to diet soda or water. Or perhaps you make the effort to walk each day for 30 minutes. When you try to overwhelm yourself and do too much at once out of your comfort zone, you increase your chances of giving up and gaining more weight back. 

One of the great things about working with a local physical therapist on your weight loss journey is personalized nutritional counseling. They will help you change your habits and create plans that will work for your lifestyle. These healthier food choices will take in consideration your medical history, exercise levels and all other lifestyle habits. This will help you to stay on track and have the accountability and support you need. 
Incorporating physical therapy into your weight loss routine will help you define what your physical abilities are and will help you get to where you want to be. After taking into consideration your BMI (body mass index) and your measurements, your physical therapist can help you find the exercise that you can handle. Joint pain, current exercise, medical history and any ailments will be taken into consideration. From there, you will have help in a variety of ways from being on a cardiovascular or strength training program, to learning proper conditioning and stretching techniques to strengthen the quality of your muscles. Pool therapy is another technique used in physical therapy that is much easier and less impactful on your joints and can be a successful way to help you lose weight. This method is great as it puts less stress on your body and also may help reduce swelling to encourage muscle strengthening. 

If you are ready to see how a physical therapist in Wyoming can help you, North Platte Physical Therapy can help! We are your go-to premier physical therapy solution with a variety of options to help you lose weight. Learn more about our obesity and weight management solutions and fill out a contact form to get your weight loss journey started!   
 
Read More...

Ways to stay active while working from home


April 24, 2020

Ways to stay active while working from home
Times are changing, and you might be noticing that you are working from home more than you are used to. While working from home can have its perks (no commute, easy to keep track of household chores, etc), it can also have significant drawbacks when it comes to staying active. Sitting for prolonged periods on a daily basis is linked to a number of different serious health issues, including heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Sitting can also cause weaker muscles and back pain, which puts you at a greater risk of injuring yourself. So how can you stay active while working from home? Here are some tips from the physical therapy experts in WY at North Platte Physical Therapy:

Stand Up
Taking conference calls from home? If you spend a lot of your day sitting on conference calls with clients and co-workers, use this time to stand up. This is a great way to break the cycle of sitting for eight hours straight per day without impacting the amount of work you’re able to get done. Plus, standing helps you improve your posture and tone muscles that gradually become weaker during periods of excessive sitting.

Take a Break
Do you have a few moments of down time in between meetings or tasks? Now more than ever it’s important to take time to go on a nice walk or jog. Not only will taking a break most likely increase your productivity, it’s an easy way to stay active without needing to go anywhere. Enjoying time in the great outdoors will also help you to think and stay more productive.

Stay Active with Family
Just because you can’t see those outside of your household for a great workout session, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be taking advantage of group exercise! Spend time with your kids and significant other by encouraging group participation in online classes or even going on a neighborhood stroll. Not only will this help keep you active, it’ll encourage activity among your family members and is an easy way to spend time with the family.
 
Contact North Platte Physical Therapy to learn more about the effects of not being active on your body, and ways you can stay healthy. Our staff is praised throughout the Wyoming and Nebraska areas for our commitment to our clients. We can fulfill comprehensive physical therapy services, and would be happy to customize a treatment plan that can help you go to your job everyday without developing the dreaded sitting disease.
 
Read More...

Using physical therapy to treat your neck pain


April 17, 2020

Using physical therapy to treat your neck pain
Your neck consists of several important muscles and tendons that are needed to support and rotate your head. However, neck injuries or medical conditions can inflict you with severe pain and prevent you from being able to rotate your head and perform basic tasks. Physical therapy is one of the most effective methods for treating various forms of neck pain. If you are experiencing pain or loss of functioning in your neck, you should learn about the neck treatments that top Wyoming physical therapy services can provide.

The first step is to conduct examinations to identify your neck condition and to determine the ideal treatment plan. A diverse range of injuries and conditions can facilitate neck pain. For instance, the pain can be caused by damaged joints, muscle strains, whiplash, bone spurs, arthritis, meningitis, and various forms of cancer. Additionally, the pain can also be located in different areas of the neck. The pain might reflect an aching throb that is concentrated in the back of the neck, a sharp stinging sensation between the shoulder blades, or a tingling numbness that permeates down your shoulders and arms.

Examinations help the therapist identify which type of neck pain you are experiencing. The experts often conducts tests to determine your condition, evaluate the strength and reflexes of your neck, the pinpoint the primary locations in which the pain is occurring. This information can help towards customizing a treatment plan that is appropriate for your neck and that would successfully treat your condition.

You can receive various neck exercise treatments from premier Wyoming physical therapy services. Stretching regimens can treat your neck pain. During the sessions, you are guided through stretches which extend and rotate your neck in various directions to relieve the pain, increase your flexibility, and improve the range-of-motion of your neck. Many aerobic and resistance exercise routines can strengthen your neck muscles and improve your ability to lift your head or rotate your neck. There are also beneficial instructions regarding your body mechanics that would help relieve the pain and prevent future injuries. For example, proper standing postures, correct walking gaits, and effective neck movements that can help you fulfill daily tasks and engage in physical activities without incurring neck injuries.

There are many advanced modalities which may be used to treat your neck pain, such as heat and cold treatments, manual massages, and kinesiotape. These treatments can significantly reduce the neck pain and accelerate the recovery process. However, there are also common therapeutic devices that experts use to treat neck pain include electrical stimulations, ultrasounds, Graston techniques, and TENS units. These devices can relieve the symptoms associated with neck pain by generating powerful electrical currents and by circulating medical chemicals throughout your body. Many advantages accompany the modality treatments offered by premier Wyoming physical therapy services. The modalities can alleviate the pain you are experiencing, increase your strength and flexibility, and restore the proper functioning of your neck.

Contact North Platte Physical Therapy to treat your neck pain. Our expert staff has achieved a prestigious reputation for providing superior physical therapy services and for satisfying clients all throughout the Wyoming and Nebraska areas. We can provide customized physical therapy services, we use the best treatment methods on the market, and we would be glad to implement a treatment plan that can alleviate the symptoms of your condition and maximize the proper functioning of your body.
 
Read More...