Specialties: Certified Mulligan Practitioner, Manual Therapy, Muscle Energy, Physical Therapy, and Spine Treatment

As a Physical Therapist, I have a strong interest in spinal manual therapy and have taken multiple continuing education courses honing these skills and earning a certification in the Mulligan approach. I feel it's all of my past professional experiences that led me to the purchase of NPT in 2003. In recent years, I've spent less time treating patients and more time in billing so I can help our patients understand the ever-changing world of health insurance and Medicare.

When I'm not working at our clinic or on the computer managing medical records, you'll likely find me spending quality time with my family, scrapbooking, card making, reading mysteries, and spending time at the cottage.

Do you worry that your elderly parent is at risk for taking a fall? Or perhaps you have taken a tumble in the past. The risk of falling can be very serious, as falls can diminish your ability to lead an active and independent life. Whether you are the one at risk, or you have a loved one with the potential to fall, physical therapy can be a safe method of alleviating your chances of falling. About one third of people over the age of 65 and almost half of people over the age of 80 will fall at least once this year.

Physical therapists can help you reduce your risk of falling by:
- Assessing your risk of falling
- Helping you make your home as safe as possible
- Educating you about the medical risk factors linked to falls
- Designing individualized exercises and balance training
- Working with other health care professionals and community services to create programs for people who want to reduce their risk of falling
Common Reasons for Falls
- Being 80 years old or older
- Leg muscle weakness
- Difficulty with balance or walking
- Vision problems (cataracts, macular degeneration, wearing bifocals)
- Medical conditions that limit your ability to get around, such as Parkinson disease, stroke, or diabetes
- Conditions that cause confusion, such as dementia and Alzheimer disease
- Depression
- Taking more than 4 medications at the same time
- Taking psychoactive medications (such as sedatives or antidepressants)
- Using a cane or other walking device
- Home hazards (throw rugs, pets underfoot)
- Low blood pressure

How Can a Physical Therapist Help?
If you are worried about falling or if you recently had a fall, we can conduct a brief check ("screening") of your fall risk. If the screening shows that you are at risk, the therapist will perform a thorough evaluation, including:
- A review of your medical history
- A review of your medications
- A simple vision test
- A home safety assessment
- A simple screen of your thinking abilities
- A check of your heart rate
- Blood pressure measurements while you change positions (from sitting to standing)
- Feet and footwear assessment
- Assessment of any nervous system disorders, such as stroke or Parkinson disease

The therapist also will:
- Measure your leg strength, using simple tests such as timing how long it takes you to rise from a chair
- Determine how quickly and steadily you walk
- Assess your balance—for instance, by having you stand on one leg or rise from a chair and walk
- Use special tests to measure your balance

Based on the evaluation results, your physical therapist will design an exercise and training program to improve your balance and strength. A recent systematic review of many published studies found that exercise-based programs in the home or in group settings are effective in preventing falls. These programs are especially effective when balance exercises are performed in a standing position without using much arm support.

Balance Training
Balance training has been shown to be an important and effective part of falls prevention. Your physical therapist will design exercises that challenge your ability to keep your balance, including such exercises as single-leg standing.

Walking and Moving
When people walk very slowly or are unsteady, they are at risk of falling. Your physical therapist can improve your walking ability by having you do such activities as dance steps, walking in circles, "figure 8" exercises to strengthen the core abdominal muscles that help stabilize your body, and perform on an obstacle course.

Doing More Than One Thing at the Same Time—Safely
Older adults who have difficulty walking and talking at the same time are at a higher risk of falling. To help increase your safety during daily activities, your physical therapist can design a "dual-task" training program. This kind of training will challenge you to maintain walking speed while you do another task, such as counting backwards, engaging in a conversation, or carrying a bag of groceries.

Strength Training
Strengthening exercises are a key element of fall prevention when they are done in conjunction with balance training. Your physical therapist will design strengthening exercises that focus on your leg and the muscles used in maintaining posture.

Aerobic Training
Aerobic exercise is physical exercise of relatively low intensity and long duration; it can help improve almost every aspect of your health. Walking is one of the safest forms of aerobic exercise, no matter what kind of problem you have. Once you have begun your strengthening and balance program, your physical therapist will know when you're ready to start aerobic exercise. Depending on your ability, the therapist might have you do three 30-minute walking sessions each week.
Education
We will take the time to explain to you how to best manage your own risks for falling. Your therapist also may talk to you about the best activities for you to do to maintain your quality of life.

Fear Management
It will be important for you to talk with your physical therapist about any fear of falling that you have. Your therapist will work with you to determine whether there are activities you should avoid. Your therapist will also work with you to determine whether your fear may be unfounded and whether there are activities that you should be doing to keep strong and help your balance.

If you would like more information on how physical therapy can help you or a loved one with balance and falls, contact our clinic at 616.997.6172 and one of our therapists would be happy to discuss your condition with you. You may also attend our annual Women's Health Open House, being held May 16, 2013 at our Sparta clinic. Register and get more details at www.northernpts.com/rsvp.

Specialties: Women’s Health, Certified Mulligan Practitioner, Sports Rehabilitation, Certified KEY Functional Capacity Evaluation Specialist, and Physical Therapy

As co-owner of NPT since 2003, my greatest reward is witnessing our employees’ successes. Whether it’s overcoming a challenge with a patient or watching them grow personally and professionally, I understand that it’s our team that has made the company what it is today. As a small business owner, I try to educate people on the idea that they have a choice where they seek therapy and am always thrilled when patients and physicians refer others to our clinic.

My clinical interests include women’s health, sports rehab, and fitness programs. In addition to running the clinic and practicing therapy, I am a member of various professional and community groups. In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family, snowmobiling, boating,
running, and volunteering.

Arthritis is a term we're all familiar with, but what do you really know about the condition? Generally speaking, arthritis refers to joint inflammation, but the overall condition encompasses much more.

Arthritis is a term for more than 100 rheumatic diseases and conditions that affect joints, the tissues which surround joints, and other connective tissue. The pattern, severity, and location of condition can vary depending on the specific form of the disease. In general, rheumatic conditions are characterized by pain and stiffness in and around the joints and the symptoms can develop gradually or come on suddenly.

Because there is no cure for arthritis, the focus of treatment is often on pain management. Many patients find physical therapy an essential part of treatment because it helps them cope with pain and disability caused by arthritis. The goal of physical therapy is to get you back to performing normal, everyday activities without difficulty.

Occupational Therapy as Part of Arthritis Management
An occupational therapist's job is to help you regain ease of everyday tasks. In addition, occupational therapy emphasizes joint protection and proper body mechanics as far as daily activities are concerned. They teach you how to move in such a way that minimizes stress on your joints. Daily activities that can be affected include getting up out of furniture, lifting, bending over, reaching for objects, and gripping items.
Keeping a good range of motion is key to having the ability to perform daily tasks so the focus of therapy is to increase that range of motion of the joint. Building strength in the muscles surrounding the joint also is extremely important, since stronger muscles can better stabilize a weakened joint. Therapists teach you exercises that help preserve the strength of your joints and they show you the best way to move from one position to another.

If you are suffering from arthritis pain, we can help. One of our trained therapists can show you how you can benefit from therapy. Pain management is key...it's time to start moving again!

Specialties: Hand Therapy, Work Conditioning, Posture & Body Mechanics, Occupational Therapy on elbow and wrist

Treating work conditioning and hand therapy patients are where my interests lie and my background is in workers’ compensation case management. I received my master’s degree in occupational therapy from Western Michigan University and currently float between Northern Physical Therapy’s Wayland, Coopersville, and Cedar Springs locations where I specialize in elbow, wrist, and hand therapy; work conditioning; and posture and body mechanics.

When I’m not treating patients or working on home renovations, I love spending time with my wife and four children. Our family enjoys hunting, fishing, traveling, playing tennis, sledding, and building with Legos.

In an effort to get to know Josh a little better, NPT asked him, “What was your most memorable spring break trip?”

My best spring break was during my senior year of undergraduate school. I was taking a class about National Park management and became very interested in seeing more of the parks. Some friends and I decided that we would travel to Yellowstone for spring break with the goal of visiting as many National Parks as possible during the trip. In all, we saw 11 of the Nation’s 388 Parks. Yellowstone is impressive even for those of us who regularly spend time in the woods. The majesty of the landscape and the sheer diversity of the wildlife is breathtaking. I would encourage anyone who is willing, to take the trip to Yellowstone. It is a glimpse into our nation’s past that reveals how wild this country once was. It is certainly an experience I will never forget.

The physical and occupational therapists at Northern Physical Therapy often treat clients who have been injured while working. At NPT, we believe that education about prevention of re-injury is an important part of the rehabilitation of any injured worker.

Although injury prevention training is unique for each individual and their condition, a few techniques are applicable to many situations. One technique that applies to all work settings is to keep work within close ranges. This technique is simple to apply, but does require intentional effort. Here are some examples of how to use this tip:

1. Keep your upper arms parallel to your trunk while driving, keyboarding, using tools, and handling objects. This will allow you to maintain upright postures as well as minimize risk of injury to shoulders and elbows.

2. Long handles are an effective way to allow you to do work without reaching or bending. There are many options for lengthening or adjusting handle heights. Consider adjusting handles on carts, and using long handles on cleaning tools, kitchen tools, hand tools, yard/garden tools, office tools, sprayers, and shears.

3. Keep loads in your power zone to prevent back injury. Objects in your power zone will be close to your body, between thigh and chest level.

NPT has Occupational Therapists that specialize in work injuries and they are available to come to your office or workspace to make sure you're working in the safest and most ergonomically correct environment possible. Contact any one of our five west Michigan locations to get more information.

Spring is a time of resurgence. The world around us awakens as buds pop from branches, birds return to grace us with their morning songs, and children roam the streets playing whatever game is the latest craze. It seems fitting then, at least to those of us who work in the field, that April was the month chosen to highlight Occupational Therapy.
Occupational Therapy’s main purpose is to allow people facing injury, illness, or disability to live life to the fullest. A second chance of sorts, to “start anew” by learning new ways to perform whatever occupations or activities are meaningful to them.

Whether a person is prescribed OT following an injury or is simply ready to take a more assertive approach to managing a disability, the focus is always client-centered and goal driven. Occupational therapy interventions focus on adapting to the environment, modifying the task, teaching the skill, and educating the client/family in order to increase participation in and performance of daily activities.

If you feel that you or someone you know might benefit from Occupational Therapy, please contact any of our five west Michigan clinics. We will be happy to offer you a consultation to determine what we can do to help you. In addition, we want to take this month to recognize each and every Occupational Therapist at Northern. Thank you for all you do to keep our patients moving!

Congratulations to our very own Diana Painter who has received her certification in Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy, which means she is now certified in the McKenzie method of treating for the spine and extremity.
To acquire the certification, Diana had to complete extensive course work involving the mechanical diagnosis and treatment of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine as well as the extremities. In addition, she was required to complete a five part written exam and practical performance simulation.

Diana says she loves working with patients of all ages and diagnoses, but her interests in spine pain led her to obtain this particular certification. She feels the McKenzie method is a great tool for assessing and treating patients with back pain.

Way to go, Diana!

It’s time to tell our story, and show our support. Most of us know someone who has had cancer – a friend, family member or neighbor. Please join the Northern Physical Therapy team for Relay for Life in Sparta to raise money for the American Cancer Society. It is our goal to have the team raise more money than last year, and to have a participant on the track for the whole 24 hours. The event is June 7-8, 2013, noon – noon.

We are participating in the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life because we want to make a meaningful difference in the fight against cancer.

Almost everyone has been touched by cancer, either through their own personal battle or through someone they love.

Every day, the American Cancer Society is helping us stay well by preventing cancer or finding it at its earliest, most treatable stages. They assist families in finding the best resources to help their friend or loved one deal with a diagnosis and their journey to get well. The American Cancer Society is also rallying communities (like ours!) through events like Relay For Life, to fight back and find cures for this disease.

Please join the Northern Physical Therapy team or make a donation to help the American Cancer Society create a world with less cancer and more birthdays. Together, we can help make sure that cancer never steals another year of anyone’s life!

Donate or Register to be part of our team by visiting our team page here.

NPT co-owners and physical therapists Gina Otterbein and Janis Kemper have once again been asked to contribute to West Michigan Woman Magazine, a local magazine and online publication. 
Burning Calories Can Be Easy
West Michigan Woman, March 2013

 Still battling with extra weight gained over the holidays? It seems as though the last few pounds are the hardest to shed. But losing the weight is easier than you think, when you turn simple office tasks or household chores into opportunities to burn calories....
You can read the article in its entirety here.

Read Janis and Gina's previous West Michigan Woman articles on postpartum exercise and strengthening your core (pages 20-21).