By Jamie Terry, DPT, SCS, CSCS
I often get asked, “What makes Endurance Physio different from every other physical therapy clinic in Missoula?” I think a few wonderful things make us unique and set us apart in this amazing community full of great physical therapists. The first thing is size. The clinic is small. You will see Anya or myself for your care, and the entirety of your care. This is our quality control. We are strong believers in continuing education, evidence based practice and providing the best possible care to our patients. This is our passion. Being a small clinic, we are also able understand our patients’ insurance plans and educate them on their coverage to help keep their costs down. Anya and I know what it’s like to be injured and not able to do the things we love. We would never want cost to get in the way of getting you back to what you love. So we don’t let it.
Our approach to patient care is unique. We teach our patients how to activate the right muscles, apply that activation to movement and load that movement to improve strength. All too often I see patients who have missed a piece of the puzzle. Sometimes the right muscle wasn't firing at the right time. Sometimes the correct way to move through the correct joint was misunderstood. Occasionally the tissue wasn't loaded enough to cause strength changes. My goal is for my patients is to feel changed when they finish their care here and have all the pieces to the puzzle-- stronger, more knowledgeable about why they had their pain, and how to avoid getting into the same situation again. Recovery from injury takes commitment and hard work with proper guidance. We are fortunate to help guide this process.
Another unique aspect of our clinic is that we refer-out when appropriate. If I think my patient would benefit from a 3D running analysis at the University Movement Science Lab, I’ll send him/her over. If my patient is suffering from vertigo, lymphedema, or another area I don’t specialize in, I will send them to a physical therapist with advanced training in that area of treatment. We keep our patients' best interest at the forefront of our care. Missoula has so many amazing services to offer, and we believe that helping our patients find these services to facilitate their plan of care is a big part of our job.
Anya is unique. Her resume in the running world is impressive to say the least. She was a collegiate pole vaulter and has evolved into one of Missoula’s best female trail runners. She is as passionate about her patients as she is about running and that’s why she is the only one I want to work beside. I have had the opportunity to work and learn from many amazing therapists over the years, but Anya has inspired me the most. Anya has applied herself to physical therapy for runners and gait mechanics at a level that supersedes any other therapist in this community. If running is your jam and you are hurting, this is your girl. Hands down.
The main thing that sets us apart from other clinics in Missoula is we are sports specialists. Many clinics are afraid to declare a specialty at the risk of turning away potential patients. I know through specializing we can provide better care. You wouldn’t go to a orthopedic surgeon if you had a stomach ulcer. You wouldn’t go to a dermatologist if you had a neurology problem. The medical field supports specialization to provide patients with the best possible care. Physical therapy is no different. I am one of 3 board certified sports specialist in Missoula and the only one that is residency trained. This means I went to an additional year of school to focus on sports physical therapy and specialize my care. I also am a certified strength and conditioning specialist.
I grew up competitively ski racing, playing volleyball, and playing basketball. I continue to bike race, run, practice yoga, practice pilates and lift weights. I practice what I preach. I understand your sport from personal experience and advanced education. I am also a mom. I know how hard it is to get back in the game after having a baby. I think that makes me unique and all the hard work helps me relate to my patients. Anya and I are both athletes and specialize in helping people return to their active lifestyle. This is the main thing that sets us apart from other clinics in this amazing community. We are so lucky to live and work here and proud to be specialists in helping athletes get back to the things they love.
Photo Credit: John Sieber Photography
Photo Credit: Tom Robertson Photography
Photo Credit: Vo von Schlen
Photo Credit: Owen Gue