Physical Therapy & Rehab

In our Physical Medicine Department we have Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Massage Therapists, and Speech Therapists.  We see patients across the lifespan-from infants to geriatrics.

We can help with these and other conditions:

Physical Therapy   Who are Physical Therapists?

• Total Joint Replacements
• Shoulder Pain (Non-surgical)
• Shoulder Surgeries (Rotator Cuff, Labral, and all others)
• Sports Injuries
• Work-Related Injuries
• Back and Neck Pain
• Whiplash
• Cervical pain and headaches
• Post-Surgical Rehabilitation
• Women’s Health Issues
• Arthritis Tendonitis
• Neurological Conditions
• Falling, Balance and Vestibular Issues
• Orthotics Assessment

Occupational Therapy   Who are Occupational Therapists?

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Tendonitis of the elbow or wrist
• Tendon Repairs of the hand/fingers
• Customized hand/arm splints
• Neurological Conditions
• General Post-Surgical After Care

Speech Therapy   Who are Speech Language Pathologists?

• Stroke/CVA Neurological conditions: MS, ALS, Parkinsons, etc
• TBI/Head Injury
• Swallowing disorder/Dysphagia
• Cognitive disorders
• Receptive and expressive language impairments
• Speech impairments
• Oral motor impairments
• Voice disorders

Massage Therapy

• TMJ Dysfunction
• Headaches
• Neck and Back Pain
• Chronic Injuries
• Muscle Tears
• Work-Related Injuries

Pediatric Rehabilitation

• Autism / Asperger’s
• Cerebral Palsy
• Developmental delays
• Down’s syndrome
• Torticollis
• Gait abnormalities (toe walking)
• Fine motor delays

We provide the following treatments in our Physical Medicine Department:

Manual Techniques: Joint mobilization/manipulation, soft tissue mobilization, therapeutic massage, myofascial release, tool assisted soft tissue mobilization.

Electrical Stimulation:  Uses electrodes placed around the painful area to help decrease pain, increase local blood flow, decrease swelling.  Neuromuscular electric stimulation can be used to help contract a muscle that is not working well in order to help re-educate that muscle.

Ultrasound:  Uses sound waves to create thermal (heat) or non-thermal effects in tissues. It can assist in healing and increasing the pliability/flexibility of structures.  The therapist uses a sound head with gel placed directly on your skin.

Infrared Laser:  It is used for soft tissue repair and can aid in regeneration of tissue. Uses cold light which penetrates through the skin layers to soft tissue cells to stimulate blood flow and cell metabolism to aid in healing.  It emits a red light that directs the energy to the injured cells to promote natural healing and pain relief.

Vasopneumatic Compression (Game Ready):  Game Ready® Dual-Action Wraps are designed using NASA spacesuit technology.  A sleeve or body wrap for the particular body area is used around the area to be treated.  The Dual Action wrap allows it to simultaneously supply intermittent compression and adjustable cold therapy.  It is very good for decreasing swelling.

Iontophoresis:  Using an electrode with a negative and positive side to drive medicine directly under the skin to involved tissue.  Usually uses a steroid, Dexamethasone.  It is most helpful for small, more localized areas of inflammation.

Cervical and Lumbar Traction:  Used for the neck or the back usually.  Traction can be done manually by the therapist or mechanically by a traction table.  It creates a pulling on the spine to create more room for the disc and nerves to get pressure off these areas.

Customized Therapeutic Exercise Programs:  Your therapist will help design a customized exercise program for your specific needs based on your injury, surgery, strength, flexibility, balance and many other factors.

Pelvic Floor Muscle Retraining and Bladder Habit Training:  A therapist who specializes in these issues will do a comprehensive evaluation of bladder and pelvic floor symptoms to create a specialized treatment plan specific for each patient.  This therapy emphasizes on pt education, home program, diet education, and manual treatments.

Yoga and Pilates Based Programs:  We provide one on one session for Yoga or Pilates based programs when your therapist feels that this type of program would be beneficial to you.

Vestibular Training:  Used commonly for patients who have dizziness, vertigo, balance problems, falling, inner ear problems that have lead to some of these symptoms.  The therapist works with the patient to help them to tolerate those positions and activities that cause the dizziness, etc and to be able to balance better during sitting, standing and walking

Balance Training:  Your therapist will work with you to improve your balance and stability with stable and unstable surfaces to decrease your risk of falling and improve joint receptors after surgery.

Primal Reflex Release Technique (PRRT):  Used commonly for treating pain conditions from sports injuries to the trauma of auto accidents.  PRRT works with the reflexes in the body to calm you and bring your central nervous system into a more relaxed state, and thereby eliminate your pain.  PRRT was developed by John Iams, a physical therapist from Poway, California.

Dry Needling:  Trigger Point Dry needling (TDN) is used to treat myofascial trigger points by placing a small needle into the muscle in order to cause it to contract and release. This will ease tension and improve flexibility for decreased symptoms. TDN is used to treat musculoskeletal pain and can be very affective. TDN can be performed by a Physical Therapist that has completed specific training per the CO Department of Regulatory Agencies. Although TDN uses acupuncture needles, the techniques and purpose differ in that it specifically targets muscular and myofascial dysfunctions. This may be effective on trigger points or tendonitis. TDN insurance benefits may differ from the Physical Therapy benefits. It may or may not be covered by your insurance provider.

Stroke, Parkinson’s, Traumatic Brain Injury Rehab (Neurological Rehab):  A Neurologic Physical Therapist specializes in the evaluation and treatment of individuals with movement problems due to disease or injury of the nervous system.    Neurological rehabilitation works to progress a patient’s independence in ADLs (activities of daily living), transfers and gait by individualizing their rehab to focus on their strengths and improve their weaknesses.  Rehab includes a variety of techniques such as gait training (assistive device training, use of lite gait), ADL training, balance integration training (with focus on falls reduction), transfer training, home and adaptive equipment assessment, patient and family education as well as customized home exercise programs.

Customized Splints for the Upper Extremity:  An Occupational Therapist will customize a splint for your hand/wrist/forearm based on your condition and your physician’s recommendations.

Aquatic Therapy:  A therapist will work with you in the pool at the Brighton Rec Center to customize an exercise program for you using the benefits of the water such as buoyancy and progress you to a land-based program.

Saebo Arm Training Program:  A volitional approach to stroke treatment using functional dynamic hand orthoses.

Sensory Integration:   Neurological processes that organize sensations from one’s body and from the environment, making it possible to use the body effectively in the environment (J. Ayres)

Lower Extremity Orthotic Assessment:  Your physical therapist works with a pediatric orthotist to assess for and design foot orthotics as needed for positioning.

Free Monthly Developmental Screens: Developmental screens to assess motor, speech and language skills.  Screens are performed by a motor therapist (PT and/or OT) and a speech therapist.  Children ages 0-5 are eligible.

How does a patient access service? Patients are usually referred for therapy by their physician; however, in the State of Colorado, patients may also access therapy without a physician referral. Please note that many insurance companies will not cover therapy unless referred by a physician. If you are injured and need rehabilitation, call the Physical Medicine Department at Platte Valley Medical Center today and discover how we make your health, our mission.

Health History Form in English

Health History Form in Spanish

Our Therapy Team

  Christine R. Buzzell PT, MSPT earned her Bachelors of Science in Biology from Villanova University in 1992. She then went on to earn her masters degree of science in Physical Therapy from Regis University in 1999.  She has been treating orthopedic patients for the past 11 years and has extensive training in manual therapy for the spine and extremities, with a special interest in ergonomics and occupational medicine. Christine is also the director for Platte Valley Medical Centers Physical Medicine Department.

Mary Beth Schoeninger PT, DPT earned her Bachelors of Science in Biology with a minor in Kinesiology from Regis University. In 2006 she earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Regis University Rueckert-Hartman School for professional Studies. Her interests include aquatic therapy, general orthopedics and neurological rehabilitation. She has been a PVMC employee since 2006.        

  Kristi Campanella, PT, DPT, OCS, MEd, CPI, Dr. Kristi Campanella graduated from The University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, TN in 1993 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Physical Therapy. She completed her Master’s of Education from Colorado State University in 2004, and her clinical Doctorate in Physical Therapy from The University of Tennessee in 2009.  Kristi has a wide variety of experience in different settings including inpatient rehab, burn rehab, aquatic therapy, home health, teaching and outpatient orthopedics. Most of her career has been spent in the area of orthopedics.  She is certified in the mat exercises for Pilates and is a Board Certified Orthopedic Specialist (OCS) through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties.  She enjoys exercising, training for half and full marathons, triathlons, traveling and rescuing dogs.

Marti Duquette PT, MSPT earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology from University of Wisconsin, Madison, and her masters degree in physical therapy from Regis University.  She enjoys working in outpatient physical therapy has an emphasis in orthopedic and sports medicine rehabilitation. She has extensive post graduate training in manual therapy of the spine and extremities with special interests in gait mechanics and orthotics. She is a certified Primal Reflex Release Techniques (PRRT) practitioner and is trained and certified with Industrial Safety Rehabilitation.

  Kimberly Edwards PT, DPT earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science at Harding University in Arkansas. She furthered her education receiving her Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Tennessee in Memphis, TN. Kim focuses her continuing education on womens health courses so she can assist her patients who have pelvic pain, incontinence, and other female-related issues. Being an athlete herself, Kim enjoys working with athletes as well as patients who have orthopedic issues. She joined the PVMC staff in 2010 after working at an outpatient private clinic.

Renee Gross, OTR earned her Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Colorado State University and is Saebo certified. Her career has included work in long term care, management of assisted living out-patient therapy programming, as well as working in acute hospital settings. Since joining Platte Valley Medical Center in 2003, she has been a part of in-patient therapy, out-patient hand therapy and pediatric therapy programs. She is a member of the developmental therapy team that works with premature infants and their parents in our Special Care Nursery. Her interests include sensory processing disorders.

  Jolyne Harrington, PT  began her undergraduate work at the University of Nebraska Lincoln in pre-physical therapy with a minor in psychology. She then graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Colorado Boulder. Jolyne’s experience includes: pediatrics in school and home, private practice, neuro rehabilitation and inpatient care. She enjoys working on a team for medically complex patient treatment care in rehabilitation hospital. In all levels of direct patient care, Jolyne works to promote interdisciplinary treatment approach as a priority for total patient care.

  Dawn Kent PT, MSPT  earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science from the University of Iowa and her Masters of Physical Therapy from St. Ambrose University in 2001. Dawn has practiced in a variety of settings including in-patient rehabilitation, out-patient orthopedics, manual therapy, sports medicine and in-patient acute care. Dawn has practiced at Platte Valley Medical Center since March 2010 after moving to Colorado from Minnesota.

  Tanya Kostman, L.M.T. graduated in 1998 from The Center of Advanced Therapeutics, Denver, CO. She has been providing massage therapy to the Brighton community for the past 12 years, and has been at PVMC since 2005. She specializes in medical massage including Deep Tissue and Neuromuscular Therapy. Tanya has helped several clients decrease headaches, numbness in arms and legs, pain and tension: especially back, hip and neck. She specializes in deep tissue massage and also provides full body Swedish massage which is great for mental relaxation.

 Bernadette Ryan, PTA earned her Associate degree in Physical Therapy from Morgan Community College in 1999 and has worked at PVMC ever since. Bernadettes background includes cardiac wellness, pool therapy, inpatient and outpatient therapy.

  Chasity Starman, OTD, OTR earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Health Sciences from the University of Nebraska at Kearney and her Clinical Doctorate Degree in Occupational Therapy from Creighton University in 2002. Chasity has practiced as an occupational therapist in a variety of settings including: in-patient acute care, long term acute care, skilled nursing facilities, home health, outpatient therapy seeing orthopedic and neurological patients and school-based therapy. Chasity has practiced as an occupational therapist at Platte Valley Medical Center since January 2009. Chastity is also Saebo certified.

 Deborah A. Windholz, LMT graduated with honors from Heritage College, with an associates degree in Therapeutic Massage. She worked for Platte Valley medical center for two years, opened her own practice in 2004 and had a successful business for 4 years. She added Medical massage therapy classes from Medical Massage Therapy and Associates in 2006. Debbie then taught massage at the Academy of Natural Therapy in Greeley for one year and is now back at Platte Valley Medical Center doing inpatient and outpatient massage.

Nicole Woods, PT, DPT earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from the University of Colorado at Boulder and then went on to earn her Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Colorado Denver. Nicole joined the staff at PVMC in 2008. Her background is in outpatient orthopedics and sports medicine as well as treating people with neurological conditions and vestibular disorders. She enjoys working with her patients and their families to maximize individual functional independence and mobility.

  Rebecca Wagnaar, PT earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy from Loma Linda University in 1989.  Becki has a varied background as a Physical Therapist including Skilled Nursing Facilities, Orthopedics, Post Surgery, Acute Care, and Home Health Care.  She has special training as a Fall Prevention Specialist and in Vestibular Rehab.  She has been practicing at Platte Valley Medical Center since February 2011.

  Rebecca Medina, PT, DPT received her Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Medicine from Pepperdine University.  She then earned her Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Colorado in 2011.  Becca has an interest in general orthopedics and manual therapy as well as an interest in promoting early mobility in medically complex patients within the ICU.  Along with working in both the inpatient acute and outpatient orthopedic settings at Platte Valley Medical Center , Becca also works at University of Colorado Hospital as a physical therapist in both acute care and inpatient rehabilitation.

  Tanice Kitchener, PT, DPTearned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Colorado State University   Pueblo followed by a Doctorate in Physical Therapy at the University of Colorado Denver. Tanice s interests include working with individuals with orthopedic or neurological impairments. She is trained in Trigger Point Dry Needling for the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. She has been a member of the Platte Valley Medical Center Physical Medicine team since September 2011. Prior to this Dr. Kitchener worked as a general practitioner, with experience in pediatrics, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, orthopedics, chronic pain, and aquatic therapy. Tanice loves that she is in a profession that allows her to help others reach their maximum potential in functional mobility, sports, and overall quality of life.