Mercer Health Expands Therapy and Rehabilitation Services in Minster and St. Henry

Mercer Health is expanding access to therapy and rehabilitation services through its locations in Minster and St. Henry.

Kylene Tobin, Director of Mercer Health Therapy and Rehabilitation, recently joined Spectrum alongside Logan Alberts, a physical therapist at the Minster location, and Samantha Wourms, a physical therapist at the St. Henry location.

Tobin said the locations allow Mercer Health to expand its presence while continuing to provide therapy services closer to where patients live and work.

Both locations treat patients recovering from surgery, living with chronic pain or attempting to return to work, sports and other daily activities.

Wourms said the St. Henry location treats patients with back, neck, shoulder, hip, knee and other joint-related conditions. Services include postoperative rehabilitation, vestibular therapy, cupping and kinesiology taping.

Vestibular therapy can help patients experiencing dizziness, balance problems and certain inner-ear conditions.

Alberts said the Minster location provides many of the same core services while also offering specialized treatments including the McKenzie Method for back pain, blood flow restriction training, active release techniques, scraping and dry needling.

Dry needling uses very small needles to target muscles and trigger points that may be contributing to pain, tightness or limited movement. Alberts said most patients find the treatment less uncomfortable than they initially expect and may experience reduced pain or improved range of motion.

The therapists can also coordinate care between the two locations. A patient in Minster who needs vestibular therapy may be scheduled with Wourms, while a St. Henry patient interested in dry needling may be referred to Alberts.

Patients range from young athletes to older adults.

Alberts said the Minster location treats patients from approximately 6 to 96 years old. Common cases include sports injuries, postoperative rehabilitation, repetitive-motion injuries and pain associated with work, gardening or other everyday activities.

The therapists said injuries are not always caused by a single incident. Pain can develop gradually through repeated movements, physical demands, poor sleep, stress and other factors that place additional strain on the body over time.

Wourms said many local patients are hardworking and often attempt to live with pain for months or even years before seeking assistance.

Physical therapy can also help some patients delay or potentially avoid surgery by improving strength, mobility and movement patterns.

Therapists develop individualized treatment plans based on each patient’s condition, lifestyle and goals.

An athlete may be working toward returning to competition, while another patient may simply want to return to work, carry a grandchild, walk outside, bowl, hunt or complete household tasks without pain.

Mercer Health also provides therapy for balance issues and fall prevention.

Wourms said dizziness and vestibular conditions can contribute to falls, while Alberts noted that leg and hip weakness can also affect balance. Strengthening those areas can improve stability and help patients safely walk across uneven surfaces.

Tobin said Mercer Health’s broader rehabilitation program includes physical, occupational and speech therapy services.

Occupational therapy frequently addresses conditions involving the hands, wrists, elbows and upper extremities. Speech therapy can assist patients with communication, memory, cognition and swallowing difficulties.

Those services are especially important for patients recovering from strokes, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries and other neurological conditions that may require multiple forms of therapy.

Mercer Health also has therapists trained in the LSVT BIG and LOUD programs for people with Parkinson’s disease. The programs focus on movement, speech and helping patients remain as independent as possible.

Tobin said physical therapy is currently the primary service offered at the Minster and St. Henry locations. Mercer Health may eventually expand occupational and speech therapy to those communities as staffing permits.

During the program, Alberts shared the story of a patient who had experienced severe back pain and was afraid to sit because he worried he would be unable to stand again. Through targeted movement, strengthening and rehabilitation, the patient eventually returned to sitting and completing normal activities without pain.

Wourms discussed a 64-year-old patient who had undergone 12 ankle surgeries over six years. When therapy began, the patient relied on a walker and sometimes used a wheelchair to complete household tasks.

After approximately three months of therapy, the patient was able to walk through the clinic using a cane for the first time in years.

The therapists said home exercises are an important part of the recovery process. Patients are often asked to continue specific movements between appointments and after formal therapy ends to maintain their progress and prevent the same condition from returning.

They also addressed the misconception that physical therapy is supposed to be painful.

Wourms said the goal is generally for patients to leave an appointment with less pain, not to make them feel worse.

Patients may be able to schedule physical therapy through direct access without first receiving a physician’s referral. Medicare patients are an exception and generally need a referral.

Patients referred by a Mercer Health physician can have the referral entered directly into the health system, allowing therapy staff members to contact them and schedule an appointment at their preferred location.

Information about Mercer Health Therapy and Rehabilitation locations and phone numbers is available through Mercer Health.