VCHS Rehab to Relocate in Burwell

January 4, 2010

Burwell - The Rehabilitation Services department of the Burwell Medical Clinic will soon be moving to a new location in Burwell.  Physical, occupational and speech therapy services provided by Valley County Health System will be located in a new building at 150 North 9th Avenue in Burwell.  The new location allows for more space, new and updated equipment and better service for the residents of Burwell and surrounding areas. 

Physical therapy services will be offered five days a week with occupational and speech therapy available by appointment.  Betty Wheeler, PT, serves the Burwell clinic location.  Betty graduated from Central Michigan University in 2004 with a Master of Science degree in Physical Therapy.  She has been practicing in Burwell since October of 2008 to promote wellness throughout Burwell and the surrounding communities.  Betty utilizes not only traditional therapy measures, but also includes specialized training from the Postural Restoration Institute.  This approach is designed to restore diaphragm and appropriate breathing function combined with repositioning and balancing the pelvis, hip, back, and shoulder muscles to create a restored posture that moves and functions more normally.  These techniques may effectively treat many difficult diagnoses including hip bursitis, sacroiliac, and low back pain, leg and foot pain, headaches, and neck pain as well as pain in the upper back and ribcage regions.  Exercises focused on proper breathing patterns as well as manual techniques are utilized in order to relieve pain and promote proper movement and function.  Custom orthotics will be a new addition to the clinic to assist in holistic patient rehabilitation for foot, knee and low back pain.

Physical therapists diagnose and treat pain and movement dysfunction following injury, illness and surgery.  Treatment involves utilization of various forms of exercise, manual skills and healing technology to assist in decreasing pain and restoring function.

Occupational therapists are educated to facilitate patients' return to performing functional and meaningful activities of daily living more independently. Whether the debility is due to injury, disease, or deconditioning, occupational therapy can maximize independence and function in a wide variety of patient ages and functional levels.

Speech therapists are trained to diagnose and treat a variety of speech, voice, and language disorders.

The new location for Burwell Rehabilitation is planned to be open for business mid-January.  An open house for the new location will be held in early February.  More information will be released soon about these two dates.

To schedule an appointment at Burwell Rehabilitation call 346-5442.