By Jolene Farley
Tuff Memorial Home, Hills, began offering outpatient therapy treatment in May, and the program has been successful, according to physical therapist Brynn Ladd.
"It (business) has gradually increased," said Ladd, who works part-time at the Tuff Home and part-time at Luverne Community Hospital. "I think it has gone well."
The Tuff Home provides a variety of services, to patients both in-house and outpatient. One other physical therapist, an occupational therapist and a physical therapist assistant work in Hills.
"We do all kinds of orthopedic, shoulders, knees and backs," Ladd said. "Mostly strengthening exercises."
Physical therapy utilizes mechanical devices, heat, cold, light, water, electricity, ultrasound, therapeutic exercises and rehabilitative procedures to help patients reach their optimum health.
Physical therapy services include manual therapy techniques, home exercise programs, gait analysis and training, sports injury management, orthotic and prosthetic training, stroke rehabilitation, wound and burn care treatment, education and training of patients and families and aquatic therapy.
Occupational therapy improves the ability of people whose lives have been disrupted by physical illness or injury, developmental problems or the aging process to perform the activities of daily living.
Ladd worked in many different settings as a physical therapist. "Every place has good things," she said. "You just have to look for them."
Ladd has lived and worked in Pennsylvania, Colorado, Congo, Africa, California and now lives near Rock Rapids, Iowa, and works in Luverne and Hills.
Ladd practiced in an acute care hospital in Pennsylvania, in a city and county hospital in Denver and did home care in California.
"ThatÕs what I like about physical therapy," she said. "You can work in a variety of settings."
Ladd graduated in 1981 from the University of Pennsylvania with a post baccalaureate degree in physical therapy. You have to have a master's degree to be licensed as a physical therapist now, according to Ladd.
"The reason I went into physical therapy is I really enjoyed working with people," said Ladd. "In general, most of the people you see, they're improving."
Ladd and her husband, Bob, have three children, Allie, 12, Jenny, 9, and Christopher, 7.