TOWER- An overriding theme is evident in the words of physical therapist Patrick Oltmanns as he described the services and classes to be offered at Living Well Therapy in Tower.
“Life shouldn’t hurt,” Oltmanns said. “Sitting, driving, or playing with your kids shouldn’t be painful.”
“I can help people figure pain out,” he said. “It is better to fix pain early, rather than down the road.”
Physical therapists help injured or ill people improve their body’s movement and manage pain. They work with patients of all ages who have sports injuries, chronic illness, and other injuries, providing both rehabilitation and preventative care.
“Pain is your body telling you something,” he said.
And while people often think their pain isn’t severe enough to require a doctor’s visit, sometimes a trip to the physical therapist is a good first step.
“It’s not always the case you need to visit your doctor first for a referral,” Oltmanns said.
His father was a physical therapist, and his mother was a nurse, so he was very familiar with what physical therapy involved. He didn’t enter college with the idea of studying PT, but soon made that decision.
“I was always interested in sports,” he said, playing hockey in high school and volleyball in college.
Oltmanns graduated from the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth with a degree in physical therapy, and then received a master’s degree specializing in neck and back care. He started his career in the Essentia Health System in Duluth, working both with athletes in the sports clinic and older patients in long-term care. Eight years ago, he opened his own practice in Duluth, called Living Well Therapy. They expanded to Floodwood six years ago, and now have opened their third office in Tower.
Oltmanns bought the former Wrights’ Dock buildings and renovated the separate building facing Spruce Street into their new office. Patrick and his wife Stacy plan to keep the apartment on the second floor of the Main Street building for themselves, with Patrick staying in Tower two or three nights a week. The Main Street-facing commercial storefront is available for rent, he said.
The newly-renovated building, with most of the work done by Patrick with help from his father, consists of a front office area, physical therapy/fitness space, and two treatment rooms. There is fitness equipment for all levels, including seniors.
“I like to take people into a lifetime of fitness after they’ve recovered from an injury,” he said, “and help them develop functional exercise routines.”
In addition to physical therapy, there will be fitness classes. His physical therapy assistant, Maty Erie, will be offering Pilates classes for all levels, along with balance and fall prevention classes for senior citizens. These classes will begin later this fall. Wendy Anderson, from Tower, will be teaching strength and cardio classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, beginning this week.
Oltmanns also is certified in dry needling therapy.
“This helps with pain management for chronic pain, muscular issues, and joint pain,” he said. The therapy uses very fine monofilament needles which are inserted into tension areas, he said. “This reduces tension in muscles and the nervous system. I’ve seen really good results for pain management,” he said. “And when the pain level is lowered, patients can build their strength back up and start doing the things they enjoy.”
His treatments also can include a lot of hands-on therapy like myofascial release, soft tissue manipulation, and tool-assisted manipulation.
Oltmanns said he really enjoys working with athletes. He said that something that appears to be a simple knee injury can actually stem from problems in the hips or ankles.
“I can help athletes get stronger,” he said, “and recover more quickly from injuries or strenuous workouts.”
The practice also offers strength and fitness assessments for people at all levels of fitness.
Working with senior citizens is also a focus of his practice.
“A little bit of exercise can have remarkable benefits for seniors,” he said. “We help them build balance and strength.”
Oltmanns is still very involved in sports. He coaches the Duluth East Club Volleyball Team, where his high-school-age daughter is a player. His son, a sophomore at McKendree University in St. Louis, Mo., is playing D-1 volleyball. He enjoys all sorts of outdoor activity, including hiking with his wife Stacy, mountain biking, and cross-country skiing. The two are both really enjoying spending time in Tower and exploring the trails and recreational opportunities available.
“We both really feel drawn to this community,” he said. “And we love the trails we’ve explored so far.”
Oltmanns can often be found biking or hiking on area trails, usually with his puppy, an energetic St. Bernard-Poodle mix, tagging along.
The office is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. They can accept almost all local insurance plans, and often do not require a doctor’s visit first (his office will take care of any required pre-authorization). The practice also has cash-only pricing (available on their website). Strength/cardio fitness classes are $12 per session, with 10 classes at $75.
You can learn more about the business at www.living-well-therapy.com.