24 OUR COMMUNITY — 2023
HEALTH CARE IN DANVILLE
( From Left ) Danville Athletico Clinic Rehab aide Brandon Camargo , Physical Therapy Assistant Destinee Moody and Physical Therapist and Clinic Manager Stacey Mitchell have been serving the community after Mitchell took over as manager early this year . Photo by Marvin Holman
CONNECTING THROUGH PHYSICAL THERAPY
BY MARVIN HOLMAN
Physical therapy is more than just stretches and exercises designed to get one well .
It is a connection between the therapist and the patient — a lesson Athletico ’ s Stacey Mitchell learned early on .
“ I was given a project in high school about a career and I volunteered in hospitals and physical therapy clinics to see what the profession was about ,” Mitchell said . “ It was neat to see how you can communicate with your patients and know them and also help them feel better at the same time . I fell in love with the patient-client relationship you can build in physical therapy .”
It is that love that has carried her through
Chatham College in Pittsburgh and a career that has seen her go to places in California and the Champaign-Urbana area before taking over as director of the Athletico clinic in Danville earlier this year .
“ It is great to be in a company like this because we have over 900 locations , so to come into this company is amazing ,” Mitchell said . “ I am also the clinic manager . I oversee the day to day at the clinic and make sure that everyone has a great time .”
Physical Therapy works on many things on the body , but Mitchell says there is always one goal .
“ The ultimate goal is to get them back to doing the things they love ,” Mitchell said . “ It can be a variety of things from sports-related injuries , work-related injuries , cardio-pulmonary , neurological issues . I think it is a wide range of people and everyone is a little different and we customize the treatment . We see anyone that wants to move better and feel better .”
Along with what happens in the present with injuries , therapists can also work with a patient to hold off future injuries .
“ We do preventative care and we do a lot
24 OUR COMMUNITY — 2023