Sagebrush Physical Therapy

"If it hurts to move, physical therapy can help," says Ken Utzinger, physical therapist and owner of Sagebrush Physical Therapy. It's a phrase he repeats often, and one he says applies especially to arthritis pain.

 "Often the cause of the pain and the pain itself are like the chicken and the egg," he says. "Your knee hurts, then later your hip hurts. After you think it over, you may recall that it really began with that sprained ankle you had last Thanksgiving."

 The body needs to maintain a balance between strength, flexibility and mobility. "It's like a symphony orchestra with thousands of moving parts," Ken explains. "If the drummer comes in late, the whole orchestra's off."

 Finding the cause of the problem is, first of all, a matter of getting a good patient history. Ken and the experienced staff at Sagebrush Physical Therapy will listen to you and help pinpoint, not just the pain, but the problem that caused the pain. They'll learn what movements or activities make the pain worse and get to the bottom of what started the pain in the first place.

 "Physical therapy is literally a hands-on technique to help your muscles regain the efficiency they had in the past," Ken says. Holding up his hands, he adds, "A therapist's two hands are the most sophisticated tool that he has."

 The therapists at Sagebrush Physical Therapy pride themselves on spending one-on-one time with their clients. They use gentle stretching exercises to mobilize your joints and stretch your muscles, ligaments, and tendons.

 Knees and shoulders are particularly vulnerable to arthritis pain. "It's very common to see someone using a walker with their knees slightly bent, a sure sign of knee problems," Ken says.

 The staff at Sagebrush Physical Therapy knows exactly how to put their hands on that perfect spot to stretch the tight muscles without ever over-stretching the loose ones.

 "Don't wait until you need a walker," Ken advises. "Remember: if it hurts to move, physical therapy can help."

 Ken and his expert staff communicate with you and your healthcare provider to ensure that you get the correct treatment for your particular type of pain.

Sagebrush Physical Therapy is located off 8th Street at 818 N. Maple. Most private insurance, workers compensation, Medicare and major credit cards are accepted. For more information, call (432) 337-4649 or 580-7243 (SAGE).