Physical

Physical therapists understand the road to recovery is personal and always tailor a treatment plan to an individual’s needs, working with medical providers to develop the best plan of care, getting patients moving again and delivering long-term results. Our Physical Therapy Department offers a wide range of therapies for muscle and soft tissue injuries, bone and joint injuries, post-surgical therapies and more.

To learn more about our array of beneficial physical therapy services, contact 608-637-4385.

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Pre-habilitation Therapy Services
Occupational and Physical Therapy pre-surgical, in-person visits prepare the area of the body where surgery will occur. These visits ready the patient for the procedure through strengthening muscles, decreasing pain and/or swelling, improving range of motion, promoting proper blood flow and enhancing mobility. Instruction is also provided on post-surgical therapy processes and protocols.

LSVT Big & Loud
Tremors, slow movements, impaired balance and stiffness can create problems with walking and completing daily tasks. Declining vocal strength, muffled speech and difficulty swallowing can affect communication and eating. LSVT BIG & LOUD helps with both, empowering individuals to move BIGGER and speak LOUDER.

Aquatic Therapy
Skilled rehabilitation in water, within a gravity-reduced environment, is ideal for patients with specific injuries or disabilities.

Back Pain and Care
Care for acute and chronic low back pain can get people back to functional tasks and recreational activities more quickly.

Balance Testing and Retraining
This helps to prevent falls and re-injury by training the body for balance and coordination.

Orthopaedic Rehab
VMH treats muscle, join, and bone injuries, including sprains and strains, ligament and tendon repairs (shoulder, elbow, knee, ankle), post-operative rehab and total joint replacement (hip, knee, shoulder). 

Biodex Testing and Exercise
Computerized exercise and extremity testing gauges patients’ strength and power to return to work and athletics.

Neurological Rehab
Skilled care for patients with a diagnosis of stroke, multiple sclerosis, peripheral neuropathy, spinal cord injury, head injury and vertigo.

Orthotic Casting
Individualized foot/arch supports are custom-created to prevent wear and tear on the lower extremities and spine.

Pediatric Therapy
Physical therapy geared for children with developmental delays associated with gross motor skills and/or orthopaedic injury or surgeries.

Prosthetic Training
Strength, range of motion, mobility and balance training helps amputees with their new prosthetic, along with local prosthetics laboratory consultations.

Sports Mechanics
Analysis assesses throwing, running and jump/landing techniques to prevent injuries and promote safe training of athletes.

Vestibular Testing and Rehabilitation
Testing and treatment for dysfunctions that can cause vertigo/spinning and unsteadiness in walking and balance.

Pelvic Health
Muscle and joint treatments reduce pelvic or low-back pain caused from surgery, pregnancy, childbirth, post-prostatectomy or aging — with exercise programs for women and men of all ages. Incontinence in young patients and adults as well as pelvic pain and other conditions can be helped with pelvic floor treatment.

Dry Needling 
Treatment using fine-gauge needles inserted into/near to myofascial trigger points is performed on chronic conditions, along with other therapeutic interventions.

Shana Hardy
PT, DPT

Carl Hatfield
PTA

Madeleine Hepperlen
PT, DPT

Sally Light
PTA, Certified LSVT BIG

Sarah Olson
PTA, Aquatic Therapy Specialist

Aric Pedersen
MPT, Certified MDT, Certified DN

Erin Scherer-DeRosa
PT,DPT, Certified LSVT BIG 

Katie Schwarz
PT, MPT, CLT, CEEAA

Ashley Strasser
PT, DPT

Benjamin Thornton
PT, DPT

Scott Vatland
PT

Ashley Veglahn
PT, DPT

Derek Waddell
PT, DPT

Allison Williamson
PTA

Joe Willis
PT, OCS, MSPT, Certified LSVT BIG

Michelle Willis
PT, MSPT, Certified LSVT BIG, CEEAA

Total Hip Arthroplasty Protocol: Dr. Lawrence

Patients will perform a HEP from the time of hospital discharge to their 2-week follow-up appointment in orthopedics. The patient will then be referred with an evaluation and treat order to start Outpatient Physical Therapy. A typical frequency of Physical Therapy at 2 weeks is 1 time per week until their 6-week follow-up visit with orthopedics. However, frequency can be increased or decreased depending on patient progress.

Learn more by reviewing this document or contacting the VMH Physical Therapy team.

Total Knee Arthroplasty