Physical therapy has evolved over the years with regard to patient care, and Rob Burger has seen first-hand how some of these changes have occurred.
Burger, owner of Lycoming Physical Therapy, Montoursville, recently helped celebrate the company's 20th anniversary.
"We have tried to stay competitive with the ever-changing state of health care," Burger said.
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MIKE REUTHER/Sun-Gazette
A class at Lycoming Physical Therapy exercises in a swimming pool. The business recently celebrated its 20th anniversary.
Increasingly, physical therapy has become accepted as a vital aspect of the healing process, he said.
Research, he noted, has shown that the sooner a person starts therapy, the quicker he or she can resume activities. It also can mean lower overall health care costs.
Most of Burger's therapists, he noted, have direct access certification.
"We can evaluate and treat patients without doctor referral," he said. "It doesn't lessen the role of the physician. It just means quicker access to the patients."
Physical therapists have more of a say then they once did in how rehabilitation will be done.
Lycoming Physical Therapy patients include rehabilitating knees, backs, rotator cuffs or other parts of the body.
"We get referrals from a variety of physicians," he said.
The staff consists of five physical therapists, an aquatics instructor, a massage therapist and office personnel.
The facilities include various rehabilitation equipment.
Burger noted that the Balance Center allows patients to work with highly trained therapists to treat vertigo, dizziness or balance problems.
The NeuroCom SMART EquiTest is used to test people for and help them overcome balance problems.
"We have a vestibular support group for people with balance problems," added business administrator Mark Tilburg.
The group meets the second Tuesday of every month.
The pool is used to help people rehabilitate from any number of medical problems and surgeries including hip and knee replacements and balance disorders.
In recent years an electronic system for scheduling and other needs has been added.
"We have specialized and expanded services," Burger said.
All the sophisticated equipment is fine, he said, but it's his team of competent therapists that make for successful rehabilitation of patients.
"It's personalized effective care," he said.
A good therapist, he said, brings not only skills and experience to the job, but a real sense of passion as well as compassion.
"We take what we do very seriously, but we also have a lot of fun," he said.
Over the years, Burger has tried to ensure that Lycoming Physical Therapy is part of the community.
"We have community seminars, community sponsored events," he said. "That's important."
Patients, he said, are drawn from around the region.
