CONTRIBUTED CONTENT — Did you know that over 50 million people nationwide (about 20% of adults) suffer from chronic pain? America has a pain crisis, and it’s only getting worse.
Staff of FIT Physical Therapy in St. George, Utah, spring 2024 | Photo courtesy of FIT Physical Therapy, St. George News
Enter the skilled and caring experts at FIT Physical Therapy, the clinic voted Best of Southern Utah gold for physical therapy three years in a row. They’ve helped countless patients improve their health and quality of life through their pioneering chronic pain rehab program, which combines aspects of traditional physical therapy with neuroscience, holistic medicine, mental health and education for life-changing results.
“If you have a painful condition that you struggle to find relief from, we would love to help,” said physical therapist Trent Laird, DPT. “We have a passion to make a difference in your life and know there aren’t simple solutions to these complex problems.”
With state-of-the-art equipment and conveniently located offices across the greater St. George and Mesquite areas, FIT Physical Therapy is the community’s destination for personalized care on the cutting edge. Their chronic pain rehab program is truly revolutionary, Laird said, and unlike anything else in Southern Utah.
The program is recommended for patients experiencing chronic pain due to illness, disease, arthritis, inflammatory conditions or any other issue that persists beyond normal healing times, which are typically between 6-12 months.
FIT Physical Therapy can assist patients with fibromyalgia, chronic neck or back pain, spondylosis, lumbar or cervical radiculopathy, headaches and migraines, neck injury, PTSD related to physical injury, chronic pain related to anxiety or depression, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, complex regional pain syndrome and more.
Promotional image courtesy of FIT Physical Therapy, St. George News
The program is an integration of all things health care to help patients make lifestyle and physical health changes and gain education and advice specific to their chronic pain condition(s). During the initial evaluation, patients will spend an hour with a physical therapist to discuss their body, medical history and daily lifestyle.
“It puts the power back into patients’ hands and gives them an opportunity to have free agency over their body,” Laird said. “We do our best to create a custom design, while also teaming up with other local health professionals to help in ways that our education and skills may be limited in.”
FIT Physical Therapy focuses on each patient’s unique expectations, goals and interests while identifying what specific treatment options their body will benefit from.
Their therapists create customized plans that may include lifestyle integration functional therapy, pain education, therapeutic exercise, manual therapy, neuromuscular re-education, orthopedic spine rehab, therapeutic desensitization, somatic pain relief, anti-inflammatory therapy, breath and relaxation therapy, graded exercise and graded exposure therapy, and general strength, endurance and flexibility training, among other techniques.
“It really just depends on your personal needs,” Laird said. “We don’t try to fit you into our interventions or treatments, but figure out what will work best for you.”
“Tyler Burton seems to have the big picture of the mind/body connection and understands the power of the mind to work together for integrated healing and wellness. Very inspiring and pleasant,” said G.C., a FIT Physical Therapy patient.
Promotional image courtesy of FIT Physical Therapy, St. George News
“Physical therapy often helps chronic pain patients lower their dose or stop taking opioid pain medications entirely,” Laird said, “which is requested by many patients.”
Over the past nine years at FIT Physical Therapy, Laird has witnessed remarkable improvement in patients struggling with all types of chronic pain, including patients who have previously tried other interventional treatment methods.
Such was the case for patient Tami Stripsky, who has battled back pain for eight years. While a surgical procedure was successful in eliminating her sciatica, she continued to experience severe recurring pain and difficulty sleeping, which greatly impacted the active lifestyle she enjoyed prior to surgery. She tried two lumbar steroid injections, a dozen diagnostic test block injections, a failed radiofrequency ablation and was ultimately diagnosed with chronic vertebrogenic low back pain. Knowing she was out of options for procedures, she was referred to FIT Physical Therapy and Laird at the beginning of 2024.
“I knew he was different than any other doctor I have encountered,” she said. “One of his first questions he asked me was if I had any fears when it came to my back pain, and how I felt about it. He cared.
Exterior of the FIT Physical Therapy location in St. George, Utah, date not specified | Photo courtesy of FIT Physical Therapy, St. George News
“I have been doing moves like walking lunges and weighted squats, which I had been told previously that I would never do again. While my physical transformation has been beyond what I could have expected, the largest transformation has come mentally and emotionally. Through my knowledge gained about pain, emotions and healing, I have become a better, more confident and more loving version of myself.
“In having someone like Trent show me that the whole me mattered, I have learned to care more about myself and provide myself and those around me with more grace. I walked into FIT Physical Therapy a broken shell of myself and have emerged feeling like an even better ‘me’ again because of Trent’s time, knowledge, direction and care.”
Results like these are what keep Laird motivated to continue learning about chronic pain and sharing his knowledge with the people who need it most.
“Don’t give up hope,” he said. “Recognize that your body is amazing and it’s capable of amazing changes, and healing.”
When it comes to your health, the choice is clear. Get the quality care you deserve and get back to life with the help of FIT Physical Therapy. Visit fit-pt.com to schedule your appointment today.
Written by ALEXA MORGAN for St. George News.
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Resources
FIT Physical Therapy | Email: jude@fit-pt.com | Website.
Locations:
St. George: 617 E. Riverside Drive, Suite 204/303 | 435-673-4303.
Hurricane: 2192 W. 100 North | 435-767-0747.
Hildale: 1045 W. Utah Ave., Suite 5 | 435-429-0119.
Mesquite: 340 Falcon Ridge Parkway, Building 500 | 702-346-3105.
Overton: 475 N. Moapa Valley Blvd. | 702-397-6700.
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