Even though the calendar says it’s August and summer is winding down, we still have a long time before cold weather settles into Western Wisconsin. Until it’s time to pull out the winter boots, many people continue to wear flip-flops and sandals.

We all love the feeling of freedom that flip-flops and sandals offer during the warm months. But did you know the wrong choice of shoes can lead to foot pain and discomfort? Fear not, though, as physical therapy from Clear Lake Physical Therapy and Rehab Specialists (CLPTRS) might hold the key to finding relief and making the most of these last few warm weeks.

How do flip-flops affect our bodies? As we walk, our feet naturally help distribute impact and maintain our balance. However, flip-flops offer minimal support, throwing off our body’s natural alignment. Over time, this can lead to stress and strain on various parts of our feet, legs, and back. Flip-flops tend to have flat, thin soles and lack arch support. Which can lead to plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, knee pain, and back pain. But don’t despair as physical therapy has proven to be an effective remedy.

Let’s look at how physical therapy at CLPTRS can come to the rescue and help ease the pain caused by these flimsy summer fashion staples.

Our physical therapists are well-versed in designing exercises that target specific muscles affected by flip-flop use. These exercises help strengthen the foot, ankle, and leg muscles, providing the support needed to combat the strain from wearing sandals.

We can also teach patients stretching exercises that promote flexibility in calf muscles and the plantar fascia. This reduces the risk of injuries caused by insufficient footwear.

One of the greatest benefits of physical therapy is the personalized approach. Our skilled therapists can conduct a biomechanical analysis of your walking and standing patterns, identifying any issues. By understanding your unique mechanics, we can tailor a treatment plan that targets your specific needs.

While we adore the ease and style of these summer icons, flip-flops can bring unwanted pain and discomfort. Thankfully, physical therapy offers a holistic approach to counter the negative effects of wearing them too much.

Remember, it’s essential to listen to your body. So, if you’re experiencing pain, whether it’s from your choice of footwear or something else, please call CLPTRS to schedule a consultation. You do not need a doctor’s recommendation or referral to see us. The phone number of our Clear Lake location is 715-263-4103. If you call and live closer to one of our other locations, we would be happy to help you schedule an appointment at one of our clinics in Amery, Turtle Lake, or Prairie Farm.

At Clear Lake Physical Therapy and Rehab Specialists (CLPTRS) we are certainly known for providing physical therapy to our patients before or after surgery or because of an accident, or athletic training services after a sport-related injury. But did you know that we also work with a variety of local businesses?

CLPTRS is a destination clinic for management and treatment of the injured worker. We have made this part of our practice an added part of education and training for all of our provider staff for best practices and industry support. One of CLPTRS’s goals in treating our community members is to help local businesses reduce the costs incurred through injury prevention programs and return any injured workers back to employment in a safe and timely manner. We call this Industrial Rehab.

A big part of Industrial Rehab is caring for those injured on the job. Workers’ compensation patients are one of the many demographics of patients we serve at CLPTRS.

Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system designed to provide benefits to employees who are injured or become ill because of their employment activities. Businesses purchase workers’ compensation insurance and provide wage replacement and medical benefits to employees.

February 3^rd,  the CLPTRS staff had an all-day training session on how our physical therapist and athletic trainer can best serve those injured on the job. The training was conducted by OccuPro, a software company that CLPTRS uses.

OccuPro is a company that has developed software specifically for physical therapists and athletic trainers that treat those with workplace injuries. Their technology provides CLPTRS with aspects of patient care we need, such as return-to-work reports, programs to bill insurance companies, a network of locations that perform pre-employment testing, and injury prevention software.

Presented by Jim Mecham from OccuPro, our staff went through the course with physical therapists from Optimum Therapies, a PT provider with four offices in our surrounding communities.

During the training, our staff learned about the best ways to manage workers’ compensation cases. At CLPTRS, we take pride in being a leader in the area on ways to best manage this demographic. We place a top priority on working closely with both the patient, their physician, and the employer. This “teamwork” style of care is necessary to return injured employees to work as quickly and safely as possible. This benefits both the employee and the employer.

Through our Industrial Rehab services, we give employers the tools to keep their workforce healthy and safe. And we give employees tools to know how to remain safe and healthy on the job.

Please call us at 715-263-4103 if you are an employer who needs information or education on the following areas: on-site safety and injury prevention, on-location ergonomic assessments, post-offer/pre-employment testing and drug testing, early intervention rehabilitation.

When Emily Monson was growing up in Clayton, she never imagined she would serve her beloved hometown and surrounding communities with a physical therapy practice. She began her practice in Turtle Lake. A second location was then added in Clear Lake in 2009. The most recent and third location, in Amery, opened in July of 2021. And now, we are expanding to Prairie Farm!

As we continue to grow, a fourth office will be coming to Prairie Farm this upcoming spring.

CLPTRS is pleased to expand to this quaint town, nestled in the hills of Western Wisconsin. Several of our staff, including Kyle Larson, Tina Siebert, and Chloe Singerhouse have close ties to Prairie Farm. And they are excited for the opportunity to serve a community that means so much to them.

Kyle will be the lead physical therapist at this new clinic location. Kyle grew up and went to school in Clayton, WI. He was an avid athlete playing football, basketball, and baseball. Kyle became interested in physical therapy after being a patient at Turtle Lake Physical Therapy & Rehab specialists due to a basketball injury. After high school, he continued with sports in college and played football at UW-Stevens Point. He then continued to grad school at the College of St. Scholastica where he received his doctorate in physical therapy.

As our reach goes farther into more communities, we need more staff to serve these new areas. Our current locations in Turtle Lake, Clear Lake, and Amery also continue to grow in staff numbers. Part of CLPTRS’s company vision is to serve not only our communities through patient care, but to also provide employment opportunities.

Our practice is more than just the physical therapists providing care. It takes an entire team of “behind the scenes” office staff to keep appointments, billing, and customer service up to the high standard we set for ourselves.

As we expand the area of Western Wisconsin that we serve, we will be looking for the right people to add to our customer-focused and quality staff. We will need both physical therapist candidates and office support staff.

For physical therapists, experienced clinicians as well as new or upcoming graduates are encouraged to apply. For office staff, we look for those who can thrive as a part of our solid team of employees who are valued and appreciated for their strong work ethic.

Serving smaller communities through premium therapy care, giving back to the community, and a personal touch are what CLPTRS is all about. So, we are delighted to be moving into the Prairie Farm area soon to serve the community there.

If you would like more information about our new location or would like to apply to become part of the CLPTRS team, please call our Clear Lake office at 715-263-4103.