North Platte Physical Therapy - Powell
Physical and Occupational Therapy are offered through Powell Valley Healthcare. These therapeutic services provided by our friendly staff include treatment to all age groups from infants to geriatric patients. We help restore the range-of-motion, strength, coordination and functional mobility that allows our patients to improve the quality of their lives through our experience and state of the art equipment. Our goal is to provide instruction and appropriate exercise programs that will allow people to return to the activities they enjoy. We offer same day scheduling to all patients and work to fit their busy life schedules.
Location Details
Hours: Mon - Fri: 8AM - 5PM
Fax: 307-754-3792
John Asher, PT, OCS
Orthopedic Clinical Specialist, Partner, Clinic Supervisor
John is a partner at North Platte Physical Therapy and has been with the company since 1995. John is from Honolulu, Hawaii and has always enjoyed various sports which are what led him into Physical Therapy.
Education:
- Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from the University of New Mexico
Certifications/Specialized Training:
- Advanced Topics in the Examination, Evaluation and Treatment of the Shoulder and Knee
- IAOM Elbow Course
- Orthopedic Clinical Specialist
- Certified Vestibular Disorder Specialist
- Specialized training in: cervical, lumbar, knee, and ankle disorders
- Diagnosis and Management of the Elbow
- SFMA Level 1 - Selective Functional Movement Assessment
- Certified in Trigger Point Dry Needling
- Certified in Graston Technique
- Certified Cupping Therapist
- International Academy of Orthopedic Medicine courses to include:
- Cervical Spine
- Lumbar and Sacroiliac
- Thoracic
- Shoulder
- Differential Diagnosis and Musculoskeletal Management of the Cervical Spine
- Kevin Wilkes: Online and Live Certificate
Professional Society Memberships:
- APTA
- WPTA
Community Involvement:
- Instructor for Powell Valley Healthcare’s CNA Program
- Volunteer Therapist for Powell High School and Middle School Athletic sports medicine team
Hometown: Honolulu, Hawaii
Family: Son Carson, daughter Lauren
Hobbies: Hunting, fishing, hiking, cycling, horseback riding, and weight training
Troy Fulton, MS, PT
I love Physical Therapy because it gives me the opportunity to interact with a variety of people. I think it is so rewarding to make a difference in someone’s life by reducing their pain or helping them gain the strength or function to get back to enjoying life.
Education:
- Master’s in Physical Therapy from the University of South Dakota
Certifications/Specialized Training:
- Blood Restriction
- Certified Kinesio taping
- IASTM Rock Blading Certification
- IAOM: Differential Diagnosis and Musculoskeletal Management of the Cervical Spine
- Mulligan Concept ( Upper and Lower Quarters)
- Practical Blood Flow Restriction
- Trigger Point Dry Needling, Functional Capacity Evaluations, Employment Screens
- Certified Cupping Therapist
- Ergo Science Functional Capacity Evaluations
- ErgoScience FCE Trained
Professional Society Memberships:
- APTA
- WPTA
Community Involvement:
Supporter of local high school and college sports
Hometown: Powell, Wyoming
Family: Wife Diana and 3 boys; Nate, Noah, and Nic
Hobbies: Hunting, fishing, camping, and woodcarving
Gail Mills, PT, SFMA
Physical Therapy is the perfect blend of my interest in science, medicine, and providing service to others. I enjoy working with a variety of ages of patients in both outpatient and inpatinet settings. I love the personal element of PT as I have the opportunity to help patients restore function and facilitate a return to their desired lifestyle.
Education:
- Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from the University of North Dakota in 1982
Certifications/Specialized Training:
- Blood Restriction
- IASTM Rock Blading Certification
- Certified Kinesiotaping
- Practical Blood Flow Restriction
- SFMA Level 1 - Selective Functional Movement Assessment
- Functional Application in Pelvic Rehabilitation
- Bladder Control: Stress incontinence, urinary urgency
Professional Society Memberships:
- Wyoming Board of Physical Therapy
Community Involvement:
- Volunteer Patient Advocate at Serenity Pregnancy Resource Center
- Various volunteer church activities
Hometown: Hulett, Wyoming
Family: Husband Gary, daughter Nikki, and sons Gavin and Galen as well as 3 grandchildren
Hobbies: Camping, horseback riding, reading, crocheting, and visiting my children and grandchildren.
Mary Dietz, PTA
I enjoy working in the Physical Therapy department because of the variety of people and injuries I encounter on a daily basis. This is a very fulfilling job when I can help someone get back to the activities they enjoy.
Education:
- Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from University of Montana
- Associate of Applied science from San Juan College Farmington, New Mexico
Certifications/Specialized Training:
- Blood Restriction
- Rocktape Fascial Movement Taping
- Practical Blood Flow Restriction
- Certified Spinning Instructor
- Certified Cupping Therapist
Professional Society Memberships:
- APTA
Hometown: Powell, Wyoming
Family: Husband Clay
Hobbies: Horseback riding, Crossfit, and quilting.
Sarah Trotter, PTA
I enjoy my job as a PTA helping people return to their previous function following injury or surgery. I enjoy working in Rural Wyoming as we get to see a wide variety of patients in various settings including inpatient and outpatient. I love the opportunity to educate patients through exercise and strengthening and see them progress and reach their goals.
Education:
- Associate of Applied Sciences, Physical Therapist Assistant, San Juan College Farmington, New Mexico
- Bachelor of Science, Elementary Education, Montana State University Bozeman, Montana
Certification/Specialized Training:
- Blood Restriction
- Practical Blood Flow Restriction
- Rocktape Fascial Movement Taping
- Functional Strength
- Certified CPR instructor
Community Involvement:
- Conditioning coach for high school girls soccer team, volunteer sports medicine team for middle school athletic activities
Hometown: Thompson Falls, Montana
Family: Husband Shane, stepson Jesse and stepdaughter Gracie.
Hobbies: Roping, quilting, gardening, exercising, volleyball, and horseback riding.
Brett Soloai, OTR/L, CHT
Brett is originally from New Zealand and became a US Citizen in 2010. Brett strives to help his patients reach their maximum functional potential and restore the highest quality of life attainable.
Education:
- Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from The Central Institution of Technology
Certifications/Specialized Training:
- Advanced Topics in the Examination, Evaluation and Treatment of the Shoulder
- IAOM Elbow Course
- Certified Hand Therapist
- Diagnosis and Management of the Elbow
- Mulligan Concept (Upper Quarter)
- Donatelli Shoulder Evaluation and Treatment
- Certified Cupping Therapist
- Kevin Wilkes: Online and Live Certificate
Professional Society Memberships:
- American Society of Hand Therapist (ASHT)
Community Involvement:
- LDS Church
Hometown: Hamilton, New Zealand
Family: Wife Cathryn and 6 children. Jordan is married with children and living in Gillette and working as a Physical Therapist. Lauren is married with children and living here in Powell. Regan is married and also living in Powell, Ashton is married with a child and living in Laramie, Kierstyn is married and living in Utah, and Gavin is still in school and living at home in Powell.
Hobbies: Racquetball, basketball, auto mechanics, outdoor activities, travel, and family
Services Offered
- Arthritis Pain
- Back Pain
- Back School Presentations
- Balance Rehab
- Biofeedback
- Biomechanical Gait Analysis
- Body Mechanics Training
- Chronic Pain
- Cupping Therapy
- Custom Foot Orthotics
- Custom Splinting
- Ergonomic & Worksite Evaluation
- Fine Motor Dexterity
- Functional Capacity Evaluations
- Graston Techniques
- Hand Therapy
- Headache
- Kinesio taping
- Modalities
- Myofacial Techniques
- Neck Pain
- Neurological Services
- Orthopedic Clinical Specialist, OCS
- Orthotic Fabrication
- Orthopedic Service
- Pediatric Therapy
- Post Cancer Treatment
- Pre/Post Surgical Rehab
- Pre-Employment Screening
- Return to Work Screening
- Return to Sport Exercise Programs
- Running Injuries
- Self-Care Skills
- SFMA - Selective Functional Movement Assessment
- Spine Care
- Sports Medicine
- Stroke Rehabilitation
- Tendonitis
- TMJ
- Torticollis
- Trigger Point Dry Needling
- Vestibular Rehabilitation
- Women's Health
- Work Hardening/Conditioning
- Work Injuries
- Worksaver Certified Work Physicals
- Wound Care
Latest News & Info
The Benefits of Yoga After Receiving Physical Therapy Services
August 26, 2020
Improved Ability to Recover
There’s no guarantee that you’ll never get injured again after undergoing physical therapy sessions with your trusted team. However, there are things you can do to reduce the likelihood that your injury will require extensive physical therapy to fully recover. Yoga is one of them. When you incorporate yoga exercises into your routine, you’ll train your muscles to function properly, stay loose, and reduce your risk of injury in the first place. If you do get injured again, the injury will likely be less severe. Your muscles will be able to recover faster and more effectively.
Helps You Relieve Stress
When you get stressed, your muscles get tight. The tighter they are, the more restricted your range of motion will be. That restricted range of motion makes it easier for you to injure yourself and increases the likelihood of needing physical therapy in the future. Yoga helps keep your muscles loose and makes it easier for you to maintain the range of motion you regained after physical therapy. Over time, you might even see an improvement in the extent of your flexibility.
You’ll Build Functional Strength
When you work out at a gym, it’s normal to want to push yourself and try exercises that you might not be ready for. Not only does that increase your risk of injury, but it also doesn’t help you stay healthier. Functional strength or building strength that helps your body function at 100 percent is always better than building bulk. However, getting those results on traditional gym equipment can be tough. Yoga builds functional strength with nothing more than your bodyweight. You’ll get strong without adding bulk to your frame.
May Improve Your Sleep
Little aches and pains can get in the way of a good night’s sleep more than anything else. The more often they do, the harder it will be for you to function at work, in social engagements, and other events throughout your life. Yoga helps stretch your muscles and restores your posture to reduce those aches and pains. When you’re in less pain, you’ll be able to sleep better which can then impact your overall health and wellbeing.
Speak With Your Physical Therapist
If you’re about to wrap up physical therapy, the best thing you can do is continue to stay active. Ask your therapist for advice on the types of activities that will help you recover fully and avoid future injury. If you’re interested in yoga or any other activity, let them know about your interest so they can advise you further.
Common Signs of a Herniated Disc From Your Trusted Wyoming Physical Therapy Team
August 19, 2020
There’s Intense Pain When You Sit Down
Ordinary muscle strain is often alleviated by sitting down or resting. It gives your muscles a chance to relax and removes the tension from the strained area. When you have a herniated disc, sitting will often make the pain worse. Pay attention to the way you feel when you’re taking a break or working at a desk. If the pain gets noticeably worse when you’re sitting down, call your doctor as soon as possible.
The Pain Spreads Down Your Legs
One of the most common signs of a herniated disc is a condition called sciatica. This condition causes the pain you normally feel in your low back to run down the sciatic nerve which travels from your buttocks to your feet. When a disc ruptures or slips, it puts pressure on that nerve, resulting in pain throughout your lower back, buttocks, and legs. The pain is often slow to spread and doesn’t stick around for days on end. If you notice the pain shifting from your low back to your lower extremities when you perform certain activities, you may have a ruptured disc.
Feelings of Numbness
Believe it or not, ruptured or herniated discs don’t always cause sensations of pain. Sometimes, they cause parts of your body to feel numb or tingly. Think about the way your body feels when you’re moving around. If the pain is fairly consistent, you likely have a strained muscle. However, if the pain fades and leaves a feeling of numbness down one part of your body, you may have a herniated disc. If you notice this sensation, call your doctor immediately to discuss your treatment options.
Get Help Quickly
Coping with low back pain throughout the day is never pleasant. Luckily, there are things you can do to correct the issue and get your body back on track. The best place to start is by working with an experienced physical therapy team and letting them slowly make corrections to your muscles and spine. Those corrections will help you stave off back pain in the future so you can focus on maintaining your health. If you’re experiencing low back pain, don’t wait. Contact your nearest office and schedule a consultation with our team.
Why Active Recovery Days Are the Best Way to Avoid Needing Physical Therapy Services
August 13, 2020
What Active Recovery Means
Active recovery means you’re giving your body a break from the strenuous workouts you do on your normal gym days, but instead of sitting all day, you’re getting up and moving. Think of an active recovery day as an ultra-light workout day. If you normally run, go for a long and leisurely walk. If you lifted weights the day before, run through some yoga or stretch and walk the tension out.
The Benefits of Active Recovery Days
Now that you understand what active recovery is, you’re likely wondering why it’s so important. After all, you deserve to be able to rest and take a day off after working out incredibly hard. While you’re certainly entitled to periods of rest, active recovery days have a few compelling benefits.
Keeps Your Muscles Loose
If you’ve ever worked out incredibly hard only to find that you’re stiff the next morning, you know that keeping your muscles loose is a challenge. Not only do stiff muscles increase the pain you feel throughout the day, but they also put you at risk for injury when you get back into your workout routine. Active recovery days emphasize movement, helping to keep your muscles loose and get rid of those feelings of stiffness that keep you from being able to work out as hard as you’d like later in the week.
Gives You Time to Focus on Form
Active recovery doesn’t have to mean taking a break from your exercise routine. It just means going at it with a lot less intensity. You can use this to your advantage and focus on form instead of how hard you’re pushing yourself. By paying attention to your form and building muscle memory when you’re not pushing yourself, you’ll be able to maintain that form later without as much effort.
It’s Fun and Relaxing
Believe it or not, active recovery days can be fun and relaxing. They’re the perfect opportunity to try new exercises and experience new things without having to worry about missing out on your workout. Just remember to keep things fun and don’t put pressure on yourself to perform to a certain level.
Keep Your Body Moving
Movement is the best medicine and is the easiest way to keep your muscles loose and healthy. If you ever end up dealing with an injury or are worried about a persistent ache that won’t go away, reach out and schedule an appointment with our team.
How to Prevent Mountain Biking Injuries According to Wyoming Physical Therapy Experts
August 6, 2020
Check Your Bike Before You Ride
Running through a safety check before you hit the trail is the best way to keep yourself and other riders safe. Inspect your bike thoroughly prior to every ride. Make sure the nuts, bolts, and axels are properly mounted and tightened. Check your brake cables for tension and make sure the calipers or rotors can stop your wheel when you squeeze the lever. Look at your pedals and remove any debris that could keep your feet from sticking well. It’s also a good idea to check your wheels and make sure they’re in true. If they’re not, the wheels won’t roll straight and could end up clipping rocks and roots as you go.
Wear the Right Gear
Seeing mountain bikers zipping down trails without helmets or protective gear is, unfortunately, a common sight. Those riders risk serious injury if they fall or lose control of their bike on the trail. Instead of becoming another statistic, make sure you’re wearing the appropriate gear before you leave the trailhead. Invest in a good helmet and get it fit properly at your local bike shop. Wear gloves to maintain grip on your handlebars and consider knee and elbow pads to help reduce impact stress if you do fall. If you’re going all-out and riding technical trails and making steep downhill descents, invest in biking armor. This can dramatically reduce your risk of injury if you wipe out.
Warm Up Before You Leave
When your muscles are tight, they’re more prone to serious injury. Save yourself the risk by warming up before you hit the trail. Go for a short run or brisk walk to get the blood circulating and to loosen your muscles after the drive to the trailhead. Then, run through full-body stretches and make sure you’re comfortably loose. If anything feels tight or you notice strain from your previous ride acting up, consider taking it easy on the trail. Let your body be your guide. If it feels like you’re not up to a strenuous ride, don’t force it. When you force things, you’re more likely to hurt yourself.
Keep These Tips in Mind
If you’re planning on hitting the trail, keep these tips in mind and you’ll be able to reduce your risk of getting injured doing what you love most. If you do end up taking a bad spill or notice that you’re not performing the way you want, schedule a consultation as soon as possible. The sooner you do, the easier it will be to speed your recovery.
Common Symptoms of Knee Trouble Wyoming Physical Therapy Providers Don’t Want You to Ignore
July 20, 2020
You’re Not Sleeping
As knee pain gets worse, you may find it difficult to get comfortable at night. This can impact the quality and amount of sleep you get every night. If you find yourself struggling to deal with your pain or keep waking up because your knee starts acting up, don’t wait. Get help from your Wyoming physical therapy team immediately.
You’re Changing Your Lifestyle
You should never have to modify your hobbies, activities, or lifestyle to accommodate knee pain. If you’re making concessions and missing out on doing the things you enjoy most, reach out for help. The best thing you can do is seek treatment. The sooner you can start working to find the underlying cause of your knee pain, the sooner you can get back to sleeping through the night.
The Joint Keeps Popping
Ordinarily, popping joints aren’t a huge issue. However, when it’s your knee that’s popping, it can be a sign of cartilage damage. The sooner you get your knee treated, the better off you’ll be. Leaving your knee to keep popping increases the risk of the cartilage damage getting worse. Once this happens, most people notice a dramatic increase in pain and mobility difficulties.
It’s Swelling Frequently
Swelling is the body’s response to injury. You don’t even have to feel severe pain for your body to respond this way. If your knee is swollen frequently, especially if you can’t explain what might be causing the swelling, it’s worth getting it checked out. There may be an underlying injury that needs treatment and leaving it to its own devices could end up doing permanent damage to your joint.
You’re Finding It Hard to Take Care of Chores
Bending, stooping, walking, and stretching are all part of daily life. If you’re finding it hard to take care of those normal tasks or are unable to complete those movements because of soreness or pain in your knee, don’t ignore it. Find out what’s going on so you can get your body back to moving normally.
Physical Therapy May Help
Your doctor will be able to tell you what’s going on with your knee, but once you have a diagnosis, follow up with their recommended treatment options. When your doctor recommends physical therapy, it’s because they know it can help you regain mobility and improve your quality of life. If you’re ready to schedule an appointment, don’t wait. Contact us today.