Cancer treatment is the leading cause of lymphedema (limb swelling) in the United States.
Alpine Physical Therapy's Lymphedema Management Program is helping survivors better manage their risk by providing the gold standard treatment of Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT).
 
There are two phases of Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT):
Phase 1: Intensive CDT
Phase 1 CDT focus is moving lymph fluid out of the arm, hand, or other part of the limb to reduce swelling and other symptoms of lymphedema.

1. Manual lymph drainage (MLD): a gentle, directed massage technique used to move the fluid back to the heart.
2. Compression bandaging: the patient is bandaged with non-elastic wraps to further reduce the size of the limb and to prevent the fluid from returning. This wrapping is tailored to meet each patient’s needs.  ​
3. Exercise: exercises are carried out while wearing wraps to encourage the activity of the nearby muscles to move fluid back to the heart.   

Phase 2: Maintenance CDT
Phase 2 CDT focus is maintaining the results of Phase 1 on your own.

1. Compression sleeves and garments: the patient is fitted for compression garments and taught how to care for them properly.
2. Self-care: the patient is taught how to protect the affected limb, how to perform self- MLD, and how to properly use compression garments to reduce their risk of future lymphedema flare-ups.  
3. Exercise: Alpine designs an exercise plan for the patient for at home practice for continued health and well-being.  

If you have any feelings of heaviness in your limbs or swelling in any body part that is not controlled by water pills, follow up with our specialist today.
 
To learn more about CDT we invite you to stop by for a free 15-minute consultation. Antara Quiñones can be reached at Alpine’s North Clinic (406-541-2606) or click here for a full description of Alpine Physical Therapy's Lymphedema Management Program.

​It’s apparent within minutes of meeting Hannah Clark that she has a burning desire to succeed by working and playing hard. She enjoys her work with the USFS, sometimes 10 to 14-hour shifts, climbing, hiking, scrambling around mountains marking timber and gathering data. When at home, she is planting, painting, demoing, or building around her property. When at play, she enjoys hunting, biking, rafting, yoga, running, and skiing.

When Hannah incurred a severe back injury in 2014, that led to a lumbar discectomy due to muscle loss in her leg, she was eager to get back to her active lifestyle.  Unfortunately, at the beginning of her healing process, she faced insurance claim denials and slow healing. These challenges led to protective maladaptive patterns; movement impairments—pain avoidance behavior.

A year after the surgery, Hannah was still struggling with returning to her pre-injury state.  She decided to look for a new Physical Therapist (PT) and chose Alpine Physical Therapy (Alpine PT) because she heard, "they do PT different”. At Alpine PT Hannah began to understand her body and her pain, she began to overcome deep seated maladaptive movement patterns which reduced her pain.  She was told to relax, even slouch, and noted her muscle spasms and pain decreased when she followed this instruction. With the help of her PT, Sam Schmidt, MPT, at Alpine, Hannah learned how to trust her body again, how to control her body, and ultimately got her life back through movement.

Hannah is now stationed in some of the burliest mountains in Alaska, navigating remote terrain in harsh weather, and doing it without pain or fear (unless the brown bears are interested in her....).  Hannah is a fine example of how movement and understanding pain can help heal and regain life.  Thanks, Alpine PT and Sam!

Alpine Physical Therapy continues to run a state of the art Vestibular Rehabilitation clinic that helps Missoulians who suffer from vertigo, dizziness, imbalance, and spatial disorientation.

Demonstrated above is an example Vestibular Rehab exercise practicing dynamic balance movements while performing laser pointer coordination drills. This is an effective exercise we use to improve visual and proprioceptive (coordinating where your head is in space) using a laser pointer on a headlamp to improve balance and eye-neck-body coordination. 

You're not alone! 69 million Americans suffer from dizziness or imbalance. ​Click here for more about the symptoms of a vestibular disorder or information on help that is available to you.

We are ramping up for our fall session of Fit to Fight! The fall session starts on September 5th, and there are still spots available!

Fit to Fight is a local exercise based cancer support program. We meet twice per week during the sessions at Peak Health and Wellness Center at 5000 Blue Mountain Road. 

The small organized group exercise sessions include individual tailoring. Each session consists of stretching, breathing & relaxation, resistive strengthening, and endurance training. 

Sessions are designed and supervised by a physical therapist from Alpine Physical Therapy. Call 406-251-2323 or visit our website fittofightmt.org for more information.

Peter wanted to return to serious backcountry skiing, mountaineering, and backpacking – all upright activities with bipedal movement.  At the point that the CoreAlign was released Peter was primed to increase his training in a standing position.  Peter had such a strong foundation of movement, control, balance, and flexibility that CoreAlign was the next level that offered exactly what he needed for his long-term rehabilitation goals.  It was truly after using CoreAlign that we saw Peter returning to long days of ski touring, deep Alaskan backpack trips, and even surfing!

Click here for video story about the rest of Peter’s recovery at Alpine.

For more information on Alpine’s use of CoreAlign, visit our webpage on this topic by clicking here. 

When I start to feel my age, do I accept it? Heck no! I get scheduled with Mary Mischke, DPT, at Alpine Physical Therapy.  You see I am over 70 now (yeah, that sounds weird to me too), but I refuse to stop going.  I  won't stop playing, working, relaxing, traveling, or learning.  

I had to call Mary recently after going through the summer full force; my body was needing a tune up.  The Downtown Alpine PT crew got me set up, and in no time I learned about how to best keep my body going (I think this time it was my knee).  

This past weekend I was able to spread two full truck beds of gravel by myself and had time to get in my first stand up paddle board lesson (the proof is in the pictures below)!  

Thanks to Mary and the folks at Alpine PT for keeping me young because I just won't stop, especially to just get old!

Ruby Kikkert
70-year-old Alpine PT patient 

Thanks to Alpine superstar Jeff Soulia for putting together the Alpine PT Commuter Challenge. Here's the gist of the challenge. Throughout the month of June, we were all encouraged to find alternative “green” forms of travel on our commute to and from work. The contest portion of the challenge was judged based on:

1.  total number of commutes per person
2. total number of commutes per clinic
3.  total mileage 
4.  most expressive photo submission

Overall Winner:  Way to go Codi Brisco who commuted 16 times, and the majority of those were split shifts riding to work, then school, then back to work. Great work, Codi!

Top Clinic:  South by a landslide with 64 commutes and over 700 miles.

Total Mileage:  Brace Hayden who tallied 299 miles, which is commuter--crazy!

Best Photo: Erin Williams won best pic. Here's just one of several she submitted.

Alpine Physical Therapy welcomes Kim Mize, DPT, CSCS to our North location.

Originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota, Kim spent seven years there directing a women’s health program, while focusing her interests on runners and pelvic health needs. After settling in Missoula, Kim began working as a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Montana. Along with instructing PT students in women’s health and orthopedic courses at the U of M, she coordinated and supervised clinical internships for PT students. She continues to teach Pelvic Health and Obstetrics at the U. 

Kim has over 18 years of experience treating patients with pregnancy-related musculoskeletal conditions, urinary incontinence, and pelvic pain. 
She recently received her Certificate of Academic Proficiency Achievement in Male Pelvic Floor Dysfunction and Treatment from the prestigious Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute. 

Kim’s clinical interests include evidence based practice, pain science, and pelvic floor dysfunction. She is passionate about helping people return to full movement using various manual therapy approaches and therapeutic exercises. 

In her free time, Kim attempts to keep up with her young son and enjoys cooking, traveling, and Montana’s outdoor activities with her husband, along with mountain biking, trail running, hiking, alpine and Nordic skiing , and lakeside fun. 

I invited my colleague and friend, Cheyenne Doss to share about her experience with the damaging effects of overuse from computer use. It's been my pleasure to be a part of creating a resource for others with the hope of helping them avoid the challenges Cheyenne faced over nine years of help and healing. Thanks for sharing this vital information, Cheyenne!
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If you are experiencing any type of pain or discomfort while working at the computer, please keep reading! I am Cheyenne R. Doss. I was a graphic designer for 18 years; however, due to over using the computer combined with other key factors, my body was overtaken with an extreme case of what is called repetitive strain injury or RSI.

Resultantly, I collaborated with two other healthcare professionals, Brent Dodge, PT of Alpine Physical Therapy, and Anthony Lambert, DC of Lambert Family Chiropractic, to bring the vital and important  information you needed to help others be proactive in maintaining their health while using a computer. 
 
I've spent over 9 years researching RSI and have gathered clear and applicable information that applies to anyone using the computer, keyboard, and mouse on a daily basis. As a certified ergonomics specialist, I'm able to share why ergonomics are only a small facet of how to help people stay healthy while using a computer.
 
It is my hope that by sharing this knowledge, you will be have the tools to be proactive in maintaining a healthy work and life balance. 
 
Please find an overview of the course, Smart Computing Solutions for a Health and Comfortable Life, in this brief and informative PDF file. My hope is that this course will help people save thousands in doctor bills, potential career loss, and have immediate support for vital health and strength. 

Join the course at your leisure and enjoy one hour of on-demand video and includes supplemental pro-active informational materials and resources.  

For the first 50 participants, use the code HEALTHY_COMPUTING  to get 15% off of the course price of $25. 

Click here for more information and to sign up:
https://www.udemy.com/smart-computing-solutions-for-a-healthy-and-comfortable-life/