Member Spotlight: Select Physical Therapy

​From the skilled athlete to the occasional neighborhood walker, Norwalk area residents are benefiting from one of the community’s newest professional services, Select Physical Therapy, a member of the Norwalk Area Chamber of Commerce.
 
Since its opening in October 2019, the practice, staffed by Brad Earp, DPT, has been helping clients improve their health with services ranging from creating a home exercise program to sports injury therapy, post and pre-surgery therapy, occupational therapy for on-the-job injuries and balance and fall prevention.  
 
Brad, who holds a doctorate in physical therapy from Des Moines University, has practiced in the field of physical therapy for 24 years.  He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with the National Strength and Conditioning Association and a Certified Athletic Trainer with the National Athletic Training Association.    His interest in the field began with his own physical therapy experience as a high school student recovering from an athletic injury.
 
Today his focus is on occupational medicine, sports medicine, outpatient and home health therapy, all targeted to a positive, healthy outcome for the patient.  “My goal for the athlete is a healthy and safe return to the sport as quickly as possible,” he says.  “For the non-athlete, and that’s most of us, my goal remains a healthy and safe return to the physical activities they enjoy.” 
 
Patients may be referred to Select Physical Therapy through their personal physician, or by direct access.  The state of Iowa allows direct access with some insurance plans enabling clients to directly contact a physical therapist.   The first step for Brad is a thorough analysis of the patient’s needs and a discussion of the patient’s goals for recovery or improvement. The result is an individualized treatment prescription which can include gait training to improve walking and balance, hand therapy to support recovery from injury, post-operative rehabilitation, occupational therapy to return to work, and even speech therapy.  
 
Sports medicine services include the Athletic Movement Index which utilizes the dorsaVi system, a computerized system using sensors to evaluate body movement during sport specific movements.  It also may be used to analyze running mechanics for joggers and sprinters. 
 
The center also offers tele-rehabilitation with the patient working through one-on-one consultation with the therapist, yet without leaving home, an advantage for many in today’s self-quarantine environment.
 
Most rewarding for Brad is using both his personal analysis and attention along with technologies and evaluations to make a difference for the patient.  “It feels great to see recovery or improvement as patients reach milestones and ultimately goals,” he says.
 
The Norwalk location at 1327 Sunset Drive, Suite 400, is one of 27 Select Physical Therapy offices in Iowa and one of 1,700 Select centers in 37 states.  Welcoming and helping assess clients is Bridgett Kirk who also assures the center adheres to CDC procedures during the Covid-19 pandemic.