APTA Virginia - formerly VPTA

APTA Virginia - formerly VPTA This page is for PTs, PTAs, & Students of Physical Therapy who currently live and/or work in Virginia

In demonstration of its ongoing commitment to our community, Sheltering Arms Community Programs has completed a renovati...
02/04/2026

In demonstration of its ongoing commitment to our community, Sheltering Arms Community Programs has completed a renovation of its Bon Air Outpatient Rehabilitation Center.

The project began in December 2024 and was completed in just under a year. Improvements made include transforming previously vacant space into usable areas for therapy and fitness services; removing several interior walls to create an open-concept and enhance accessibility for larger wheelchairs and walkers; expanding waiting areas for comfort. The renovation introduced new pool decking and locker rooms; additional rehabilitation technology; new HVAC; and refreshed branding throughout.

“Our Bon Air Center is our largest outpatient facility, providing nearly 30,000 patient visits each year. It also serves as home to several of Sheltering Arms’ adaptive and medical fitness programs,” said Alan Lombardo, CEO of Sheltering Arms Institute. “With the completion of these renovations, we are now able to serve an additional 500 individuals recovering from illness or injury each year, significantly expanding access to our rehabilitation services to the Central Virginia community and beyond.”

Funded by the philanthropic support of generous donors to Sheltering Arms Foundation as well as operating funds on hand, the construction project was completed under Hummel & Associates, pool contractor Paddock Pools, and general contractor J.A. Heisler.

The Bon Air Center was first constructed in 1993; Sheltering Arms has been the sole property owner. Today, it is a destination physical rehab facility that offers PT, OT, & speech therapy services in addition to specialized rehabilitation and adaptive fitness programs for conditions such as concussion, balance and vestibular impairments, developmental disabilities, multiple sclerosis, CVA, SCI, TBI, and limb loss as well as other various neurological and orthopedic disorders. Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU also leases 7,341 square feet at the campus, which will continue into the foreseeable future.

There are MANY amazing Virginians presenting at CSM. So much so, that we won't be able to highlight them all individuall...
02/04/2026

There are MANY amazing Virginians presenting at CSM. So much so, that we won't be able to highlight them all individually by next week! Here are the next 3 installments of presentations.

8️⃣th CSM post!"The NICU is often a non-optimal environment for parent mental health, infant development, and parent chi...
02/03/2026

8️⃣th CSM post!
"The NICU is often a non-optimal environment for parent mental health, infant development, and parent child relationship development. Due to these extenuating circumstances, we aimed to determine if OT/PT/Speech interventions for families transitioning from the NICU to home alter parenting or parent-infant relationships."

Check out this Poster Presentation by some students while you're at CSM!"The APTA Code of Ethics states that physical th...
02/01/2026

Check out this Poster Presentation by some students while you're at CSM!

"The APTA Code of Ethics states that physical therapists provide culturally competent care, respecting the dignity of all patients, including those with Limited English Proficiency.
This study evaluates the financial impact of a student-run pro bono clinic partnering with local interpreter programs to provide free, in-person language services, aligning with APTA’s mission to elevate care and improve community health outcomes".
Read more at: https://apta.confex.com/apta/csm2026/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/49964

I'm not ashamed to tell you that...I found this book via Instagram 😂! Scrolling around one night, I came across this wel...
01/31/2026

I'm not ashamed to tell you that...I found this book via Instagram 😂! Scrolling around one night, I came across this well spoken lawyer who was sharing quick, to-the-point videos about how to address communication challenges. I was drawn to the videos not because I had a particular problem, but more because as an observer of life I notice that I struggle with bullying, narcissistic, over the top people. And I connected to his strategic suggestions. As physical therapists we often communicate with a variety of people...sometimes we see eye to eye, and sometimes we don't. As is life. But as I watched his videos and thought about the language and strategy he suggested, I realized these very much apply to my work as a physical therapist.

Jefferson helps us to understand that communication is a two-way street, and it doesn't really matter who is at fault, what matters is how you can build a bridge.
Jefferson teaches us to:
1. Say it with control
2. Say it with confidence
3. Say it to connect

As physical therapists, what we say matters as much as what we do. And so our communication needs to be on point. This book is wonderful for people from all stages of their career and area of practice. Highly recommend this read. Thank you, Instagram algorithm! 😉

After not having arm or hand function for years, new technology paired with occupational therapy is giving stroke surviv...
01/30/2026

After not having arm or hand function for years, new technology paired with occupational therapy is giving stroke survivors like 76-year-old Debby Robertson a second chance at upper-extremity mobility. In April 2023, Robertson was taking care of her husband when she experienced a stroke, leaving her unable to walk or use the right side of her body. “My right hand was stuck in a fetal position like it was curled in on itself,” Robertson said.

However, Vivistim, a FDA-approved vagal nerve stimulation device, can enhance recovery among individuals who have experienced a stroke when combined with rehabilitative therapy. Implanted by a neurosurgeon during an outpatient procedure, Vivistim is placed underneath the skin in the chest—similar to a pacemaker—with coils that extend to the neck and wrap around the vagus nerve.

While vagal nerve stimulation has been used for decades to treat epilepsy, Vivistim is the first device being utilized to address upper-extremity deficits caused by stroke. Michaela Torraca, OTD, OTR/L, occupational therapist and clinical leader for Stroke and Brain Injury at Sheltering Arms Institute’s Hanover outpatient center, has been overseeing Robertson’s Vivistim treatment for several months. “I’m really excited that we’re able to offer this service and technology because we have so many stroke survivors who reach a point where they are functionally plateauing and are seeking out some other method to jumpstart those connections in their brain,” Torraca said. “It’s, in my opinion, one of the next steps in stroke recovery and rehabilitation to strengthen brain connections and ultimately improve arm and hand function.”

Read more about Debbie in the most recent edition of The Virginian Newsletter: https://polo.feathr.co/view_email?cpn_id=69403a2d4b0675b5cf3e2348&t_id=69403a51775c48c9d86c7616&per_id=633db774505d9cccafdc7ace

Working in home health has changed the way I look at aging, movement, and independence. When I walk into a patient’s hom...
01/29/2026

Working in home health has changed the way I look at aging, movement, and independence. When I walk into a patient’s home, I see the real challenges they face. Many want to stay independent and active, but they feel limited by fear of falling or not knowing how to move safely. I also see how much confidence and quality of life improve when someone finally understands what their body can do with the right support. Those moments have shaped my passion for caring for older adults.

Over time, I realized that I wanted to do more than treat one patient at a time. I wanted to reach people earlier and give them the tools they need before they experience a fall or a loss of function. That is how the Safe Steps Foundation began. It started with simple home exercise sheets that I created for my patients. Over the past year, it has grown into community education and international outreach. Recently, I led two virtual fall prevention seminars for older adults in long-term care homes in India. Many of them had never spoken with a physical therapist before, and their enthusiasm showed me how great the need is.

Here in Maryland, I led a fall prevention seminar at a local church. Approximately 50 older adults attended, and many stayed afterward to ask questions about their balance, sleep, and daily routines. Those conversations reminded me why this work matters.

Safe Steps continues to grow with one purpose in mind: to make mobility education practical, accessible, and supportive for every older adult who needs it.

I have been a Physical Therapist for almost 19 years, with just under 10 years exclusively specializing in Pelvic Health...
01/28/2026

I have been a Physical Therapist for almost 19 years, with just under 10 years exclusively specializing in Pelvic Health Physical Therapy. It is a great honor to share my first publication, contributing to the body of clinical literature. Hopefully, it won't be my last! This was a learning process for me, and through the highs and lows of the early COVID-19 pandemic we were able to keep working using the power of zoom (silver lining!). I greatly appreciate the support from my Department of Rehabilitation at VCU Health as well as my research co-authors Beth Shelly, MJ Strauhal, and Michelle Jernlsetten.

Physical Therapist Practice Patterns Utilizing Transcutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation for the Treatment of Overactive Bladder
Background:
Pelvic health physical therapists (PTs) use a variety of treatment approaches to treat overactive bladder (OAB). Transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (TTNS) uses peripheral neuromodulation to deliver electrical current to the tibial nerve for the treatment of OAB. The purpose of this survey was to identify current practice patterns and barriers to implementation of TTNS.

Read the rest of the article here: https://journals.lww.com/jwphpt/fulltext/2025/10000/physical_therapist_practice_patterns_utilizing.6.aspx

I have had DPT on my mind a good deal this year. APTA recently released APTA Consumer Perceptions: A Report from the Ame...
01/27/2026

I have had DPT on my mind a good deal this year. APTA recently released APTA Consumer Perceptions: A Report from the American Physical Therapy Association, and a graphic representation of a result from that report (I found it on APTA’s Instagram account) caught my attention: only 40% of the general population and 49% of patients were aware that PTs are doctorate-level health professionals. This resonated with me because of my experience at Lobby Day 2025. When we were connecting with Virginia senators, delegates, and staffers about the need for “D.P.T.” and “Doctor of Physical Therapy” to be protected terms, there was inconsistent understanding that PTs are now trained at the doctorate-level. We were successful in getting SB1253 passed and enacted, but there is still work to do in increasing the public’s understanding of and appreciation of physical therapy professionals.

You may have seen headlines recently regarding physical therapy, nursing, and other professions being excluded from the list of “professional degrees” which could have higher limits on student loan borrowing. The RISE Committee (Reimagining and Improving Student Education) used a list of “professions” developed in the 1960s, when physical therapy education was still largely completed through bachelor’s degrees. The first two-year graduate program launched at Case Western Reserve University in 1960, and the first physical therapist assistants graduated in 1969. Our profession and American healthcare have both undergone tremendous change in the past 60 years!

Read the rest in the most recent edition of The Virginian Newsletter: https://polo.feathr.co/view_email?cpn_id=69403a2d4b0675b5cf3e2348&t_id=69403a51775c48c9d86c7616&per_id=633db774505d9cccafdc7ace

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5810 Kingstowne Center Drive Ste 120/779
Alexandria, VA
22315

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+18663648782

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