Helping us move better, one physical therapy session at a time
Physical therapy can be a need for anyone who has sustained an injury, suffers from a chronic illness or disability, is recovering from a surgery, and so much more. “We see a little bit of everything when it comes to the musculoskeletal system or just the body in general,” said Ethan Gambrel, PT, DPT. Ethan is the clinic director for the Somerset location of PT Pros Physical Therapy and Sports Centers, located on South Highway 27. The entity has 15 locations throughout Kentucky.
Ethan Gambrel demonstrates equipment used in a physical therapy session with the help of PT Pros tech Maranda Pitman (Lisa Rowell photo).
Ethan’s doctorate in physical therapy, which he earned from South College, affords him a broad scope of practice when it comes to treating movement disorders and helping people maintain or regain independence or achieve fitness goals. Ethan is also dry needling certified which is a therapeutic technique utilizing thin needles to relieve pain or to stimulate a healing response. He said dry needling is a similar application to acupuncture.
At the PT Pros Somerset location, Ethan is the full-time physical therapist. The facility also has a full-time physical therapy assistant, and a part-time physical therapist who travels to the organization’s other clinics.
Ethan said physical therapy can be beneficial for injuries such as strains, sprains, or broken bones, after initial medical treatment. Whether post-surgical for procedures such as rotator cuff injuries, joint replacements, or for any other soft tissue injuries such as a torn muscle, Ethan said physical therapy can be utilized for anything that impacts your daily physical function.
Covering a broader range of conditions, he said, “We see a lot of back pain, low back pain, neck pain — those are the big buckets we all fall into at different times.”
Ethan said physical therapy can be helpful in treating other conditions such as vertigo or inner ear issues as well headache-related conditions. He said they also treat athletes during sports seasons.
“The majority of patients are referral based,” Ethan said of those he treats. “Kentucky is an open access state,” he explained, “so you can come without a referral, depending on insurance requirements.” Although not common, Ethan said some patients will opt for private pay when they do not have insurance.
As for the amount of time to expect being in physical therapy, Ethan said many conditions have an average general timeline for treatment that can be up to six or seven weeks but it depends upon the condition. Ethan said physical therapy treatment for some post-surgical conditions can take longer depending on recovery and protocols from surgeons.
“Other issues, like vertigo or inner ear issues, for example, treatment can be a week or two.” He said it all depends on the body’s ability to recover.
Goal oriented
“I want to at least get people back to ideally no pain, and a baseline of normal function, if not better,” Ethan said.
“I like to emphasize the continuation of the care, too,” he said. “What can we do to get you better in the meantime, and in the end, how can you continue this on your own or do you want to do a maintenance plan? I am big on trying to continue those healthy trends and habits.”
In terms of maintain physical health, Ethan said according to general health guidelines, an hour and a half of exercise a week is standard and a goal we should aim toward.
“I am a big proponent of walking. It’s one of the best reducers of all-cause mortality. Find ways to move that are attainable and maintainable.”
“See what kinds of resources or activities are around your area,” Ethan said about finding ways to stay physically active. “Get involved with a group. That’s a big way to help you stay active.”
The Journey
“I think that’s the biggest thing — trying to make it more about the journey than the destination. Fitness is a continuum. Nobody reaches peak fitness and just stays there. You’ve got to keep it up.”
Ethan also recommends meeting yourself where you’re at in terms of your physical abilities and working up to a goal “It’s a gradual process of starting HERE, and trying to get a little better every week.”
“I’ve been very happy being a physical therapist,” Ethan said. “What I’m doing is very enjoyable.”
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