SSM Health Physical Therapy - Wildwood Athletic Center

08/06/2025

Claudia Rutherford has been living life to the fullest ever since retirement. She lives on 10 acres, owns four horses, two dogs, seven cats and typically walks about 30,000 steps per day between caring for her animals, working on the farm and riding horses.

Claudia sought care from her doctor after nagging hip pain started to affect her busy lifestyle. She began physical therapy to address the pain for a few weeks, but felt there may be some underlying issues. She had imaging done which revealed the need for a hip replacement. She underwent surgery in early May before starting her rehabilitation journey at our Warrenton center with Physical Therapist and Center Manager Megan Moore in later that month.

Eager to get back to riding horses, Claudia worked on her range of motion and multiple exercises to regain her strength and balance. “Since Megan is also an equestrian, she was a perfect match for my needs and understood the strength and flexibility required to safely ride,” said Claudia. “I knew I was in great hands.”

Throughout her sessions, Claudia was excited to get back to her normal life. “Megan was wonderful in helping me set realistic goals and creating a mindset to have a successful therapy journey,” she said. After six weeks, Claudia had made tremendous progress. She reached her goals of riding horses again and even plans to resume competing this fall.

“I feel like myself and can do whatever I wish,” said Claudia. “I’m very grateful to have had the procedure and the hard-working physical therapist I was blessed with.”

08/02/2025

Golf season is here! Don't let an injury take you out of the game. Check out these warm-up tips to stay out on the green.

Be sure to do each exercise with both sides of your body, not just the side you use to swing. This can help prevent muscular imbalance.

08/01/2025

Sean Griffith is a father of two who likes to fish, bowl and watch sports. Back in November, his lower back, hip and groin on his left side spasmed, which greatly impacted a previous injury.

The spasm affected the disc near his SI joint and put pressure on the nerve. With a history of back issues, Sean finally decided to turn to physical therapy in hopes of getting his strength back. In February, he turned to Physical Therapist and Center Manager Shikha Sharma.

"When I first showed up in P.T., I couldn't hardly walk," said Sean. "I couldn't sit in chairs, I had to either move constantly while leaning against something or I had to lean over a counter to take some pressure off the nerve and leg that was causing most of the pain."

After working with Shikha for nearly five months, Sean is feeling better. "The most important thing I have been able to do is return to normal family life," he said. "I am still limited and haven't reached the end goals yet, but I have returned to much of my work duties, I can help my wife with the house and I can bowl, which was unthinkable a couple of months ago."

Sean stays motivated throughout each session and credited his physical therapy team. "Shikha has been really great and so has the rest of the team," he said. "She told me to stretch my boundaries a little bit at a time, but only to the point where it starts to hurt."

"I am excited for my future for my family, we are working on selling our home so we can buy a farm, this takes a lot of hard work, and I feel like we are building and equipping ourselves with the tools to be able to live that kind of life that I dream of for me and my family."

08/01/2025

Patient service specialists are the heartbeat of our centers.
From scheduling to coordinating care, they're helpful beyond measure.
It's more than just answering the phone.
Their warm smile sets the tone.
They're masters at communication.
Not to mention all that coordination.
Their critical support keeps everything in motion,
With empathy, skill and endless devotion.
This month, we celebrate all that you do.
Our centers shine brighter because of you.

Join us in celebrating Patient Service Specialist Month!

07/30/2025

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common type of arthritis in kids 16 and under. It can cause pain, stiffness and fatigue and affect everyday tasks — from school to play.

A trusted rehabilitation team is essential for managing symptoms and helping kids stay active, confident and independent.

Swipe through to read about the symptoms to look out for. Then click the link to read our latest blog about why it can be challenging to diagnose, what factors can lead to flare-ups and the special approach that can make a significant difference for pediatric patients.

07/28/2025

Several hand therapists from SSM Health Physical Therapy participated in the Hands-on Orthotics course hosted by the American Society of Hand Therapists.

The course was a great experience for our hand team members to improve advanced orthosis fabrication skills through hands-on practice in a collaborative lab setting.

07/27/2025

Diastasis recti happens when the abdominal muscles stretch and separate, often during pregnancy or from repeated strain on the core.

While nearly all pregnant women experience some degree of abdominal muscle separation, the condition persists in a significant portion of women after childbirth.
-At six weeks postpartum: Around 60% of women are still experiencing.
-At six months postpartum: The prevalence typically decreases to about 45%.
-At 12 months postpartum: Approximately 33% of women continue to experience.

This can lead to:
✅ A belly “pooch” that won’t go away
✅ Core weakness
✅ Back or pelvic pain

The good news?
Pelvic health physical therapy helps retrain and strengthen your core safely, so you can heal from the inside out.

Schedule an assessment today and let’s get you started on your recovery journey!

07/24/2025

It's not every day a production team calls requesting a physical therapist to help a member of a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band.

But when they do call, we show up.

Physical Therapist Lauren Caldwell and Physical Therapist Assistant Lyndsay Wingle made their way to Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort to be of assistance.

Rick "Sav" Savage, bass guitarist and one of the founding members of Def Leppard, was dealing with a painful muscle strain. Still, he had a goal to play – and perform – through the band's 90-minute show, saying, "You can't just stand there and play the guitar."

With Lauren and Lyndsay's help, Sav was able to "rock" through the performance; they stayed to make sure.

The duo, of course, left with a keepsake "photograph" with Sav.

Thank you, Sav, Def Leppard and Soaring Eagle for trusting in The Power of Physical Therapy!

07/22/2025

Looking for low back pain relief? Our latest blog explores the 10 things you should stop doing immediately, along with four activities that can help.

You feel it in the simplest daily tasks: bending to pick something off the floor, standing while cooking dinner, exercising. It’s the dreaded “low back pain,” that uncomfortable, sometimes debilitating, feeling in the lumbar part of the spine, the area from the lower ribcage to the buttocks.

07/17/2025

Imagine arriving to your first physical therapy appointment in a wheelchair and then walking your daughter down the aisle just 10 months later.

That was Larry Heemskerk’s goal when he came to physical therapy back in September. Larry had a history of dizzy spells as well as some impairments in his gait and balance. Working with Physical Therapists Tori Searcy and Alissa Milos, Larry slowly gained his strength back with exercises like standing, marching with weights and resisted cable column walking.

Throughout their time together, Tori and Larry agreed on just about everything except two things: how many laps of walking they were going to do each day and which team was going to win the Big Game. Despite their disagreements, Larry was ultimately the winner, as he completed his rehabilitation and successfully walked his daughter down the aisle. He even took part in the father-daughter dance with his daughter, Danielle.

Larry returned after the wedding to express his gratitude to Tori and Alissa. “You both did such a good job,” said Larry. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”

07/14/2025

Who could use a vacation?

Our extensive network of physical therapy centers ensures you receive quality care no matter where your summer travels take you. In many cases, you don't need a prescription. Rest assured, you'll receive the same exceptional care from any of our brands. Just check out our "find a location" page to locate a center near you - or wherever you are headed!

07/12/2025

For when you want to actually enjoy your vacation, and not spend it in pain, read our latest blog. Learn about proper packing to avoid injuries, movements for long flights and road trip posture to get the most out of your time off.

As the summer adventures begin, we have some great tips to prepare you for your time away while keeping your body in prime shape for movement on the journey.