Holiday Decorating: Protect Your Back and Joints

Change, positive, career-and-patient-care-enhancing change, is one of the many things that is unique and special about every Rock Valley Physical Therapy clinician. Forever working to better one’s practice is a cornerstone of “The Rock Valley Way.’’ In August of 2024, Leslie Brant (Foley), PT, DPT, FAFS, CIDN, who had fashioned a tremendous two-decade career – joined the Rock Valley Physical Therapy family, putting the legacy of Bondurant Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine – of which she founded – in the hands of like-minded therapists. “It (Rock Valley) is a therapist-owned organization with similar values,’’ Brant said as to why she sold her Bondurant, Iowa-based practice and joined forces with Rock Valley. “At the core, we both care about helping people feel better and move better, and that alignment made it the right fit.’’ The opportunity to concentrate solely on patient care has allowed Brant the opportunity to add to her niche practice, working to become certified in vestibular rehabilitation (VRT), an exercise-based therapy designed to treat disorders of the inner ear and the central nervous system. Its goal is to alleviate symptoms like dizziness, vertigo (the room spinning), imbalance, and motion sensitivity. It was the perfect step for Brant along her path of bettering the lives of others. “ Vestibular is a unique specialty,’’ said Brant, who calls Rock Valley’s Bondurant clinic (85 Paine Street Southeast # B, Bondurant, (515) 528 2326) home. “People can wake up one day and feel like their world is spinning. It’s an area where physical therapists can play a significant role in helping people regain their lives. In our community, I’ve seen a growing number of individuals dealing with dizziness and balance disorders. “While some conditions, like acoustic neuroma, are considered rare (roughly 1 in 100,000 per NIH data), we’ve seen a higher occurrence locally in recent years,’’ Brant added. “These individuals need the right support, and I want to be as equipped as possible to help them recover.’’ A gifted, compassionate, and knowledgeable therapist, Brant – who also sports an amazing sense of humor – said the goal with her practice is to always stay relevant but expand to help those in need. “The decision is not about adding initials behind my name,’’ Brant said. “I have plenty. It is about continuing to learn the most up-to-date information so I can better serve our community and provide the best care possible. The driving factor is what I’m seeing in our community. There seems to be an increase in people experiencing vertigo and vestibular issues, and I wanted to better understand the underlying pathophysiology, along with how to effectively diagnose and treat these conditions. Ultimately, it’s about helping people get back to living their lives.’’ A Davenport, Iowa native, who earned her undergraduate degree from St. Ambrose University and received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Des Moines University, Brant said an accident involving her father drew her a career as a therapist. She lauded Bondurant clinic manager Chris Cass, PT, DPT, for playing a positive and significant role in encouraging her to seek the certification. “My dad, when he was a child, was involved in a fire and sustained burns over a large portion of his body,’’ Brant said. “Hearing about his recovery process and the role rehabilitation played in helping him regain his life had a big impact on me growing up. That experience inspired me to pursue physical therapy and help others do the same." “And, over time, Chris encouraged me to pursue this certification, and seeing the value of it firsthand made a difference,’’ she added.” It’s clear that the coursework continues to evolve with the latest information, which reinforces its relevance. I appreciate opportunities like this that allow us to continue growing and better serve our patients and community.’’ By: Johnny M arx, Rock Valley Storyteller