Our Therapy Services Department provides evidence-based evaluations and individualized treatment for multiple conditions, across all age groups. Whether they need physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, or sports medicine services, we share a common goal with our patients—to help them get back to their active lifestyles and perform activities of daily living independently.
Care is provided for patients with a variety of functional limitations and impairments, such as injuries resulting from work-related incidents, sports-related activities, post-surgical rehab, falls, general weakness, and chronic conditions.
Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy services are provided on an inpatient, swing bed, outpatient, or homecare basis. Sports medicine services are provided at Minnewaska Area High School.
Last winter, I turned into a complete couch potato. Too cold to get out and walk the dog. I developed bursitis in both hips as well as major pain with both rotator cuffs. With the help of 3 different physical therapists and 8 sessions, the muscles surrounding those areas were restored to great working condition and no pain. Each therapist taught me to be aware of several easy exercises I could do at home to maintain that strength. Kudos to some knowledgeable, professional, and personable folks.
Full-Service Under One Roof
Barbara S., Glenwood, MN
I had a total replacement of my right knee. The therapy, an important part of joint replacement, was intense, professional, and for me, effective. Instead of exercising in a group of people with varying needs, it was one therapist with one person. I had confidence I was exercising correctly. The therapy department is modern and well-staffed.
Excellent Therapists Give Advice, Show Concern
Rose H., Alexandria, MN
I had excellent therapists who knew exactly where I was hurting so much. They were cautious and treated me gently. They were very friendly and answered all my questions. They also gave me much advice and were concerned about my situation. The use of my leg and walking is great. I express my sincere thanks.
Noa Learns to Walk
Alysa S., Hancock, MN
Noa is four years old and has cerebral palsy. She has been in therapy for three years and lives an active and positively encouraging life at home. The time we have spent in therapy at Glacial Ridge with Amanda and Kacia has been positive and effective, to say the least. They have quickly become a part of our team to give Noa the very best. The level of attention and care we get during our visits is unmatched. Every session they use the time wisely, and Noa looks forward to seeing them each week. They are doing an amazing job, and we are so grateful. Thank you!
Perfection!
Ted J., Sauk Centre, MN
Words do not do justice to Glacial Ridge’s PT and OT staff. They have the patience, determination, and caring attitude to exceed all expectations. The ‘can do’ approach is exceptional. Once again, we thank you so very, very much. God bless you all.
The Road to Recovery
Susan B., Glenwood, MN
I arrived in the ER about Easter time. After three weeks of hospital care, OT and PT exercises, I became capable of doing more each day. While I was recovering, help came from the hospital team and I can’t thank everyone enough, from my doctor, nurses and the excellent staff of OT and PT. For the rest of my life, I will always be grateful for all of the staff.
Our experienced staff are certified in specialties such as vertigo, LSVT BIG® program, manual therapy, pelvic floor therapy (for incontinence or pelvic pain), blood flow restriction therapy, modalities for pain (ultrasound, electrical stimulation, iontophoresis, traction, and low-level laser therapy), and Graston Technique. Additional staff certifications include Board-Certified Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist, Dry Needling (CMTPT – Certified Myofascial Trigger Point Therapist), and Therapeutic Pain Specialist (TPS).
Referral to Physical Therapy
If you are interested in receiving physical therapy or have questions, please contact your physician for a referral or call the therapy department at 320.334.5801.
Our specially trained occupational therapists evaluate and treat a variety of medical conditions, including:
Muscular Skeletal Conditions – shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand:
Staff are certified in specialties such as lymphedema, modalities for pain (ultrasound, electrical stimulation, iontophoresis, and low-level laser therapy), cognitive testing, Graston Technique, IASTM (HawkGrips), Dementia Capable, LSVT BIG® program, and Instrument-assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM).
Referral to Occupational Therapy
If you have questions or are interested in receiving occupational therapy services, please contact your physician for a referral or call the therapy department at 320.334.5801.
Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) work to prevent, assess, diagnose, and treat speech, language, social communication, cognitive communication, and swallowing disorders in children and adults. Experienced Speech Therapist Brianna Hennen enjoys helping patients and especially, seeing their progress and the impact it has on their daily lives.
Speech-language therapy can be beneficial to individuals who suffer from the following problems:
Articulation and/or language delay
Cleft Palate
Head injury
Hearing loss and deafness
Learning disability
Neurological disorders such as Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Parkinson’s Disease
Stroke
We have experienced staff with additional training and certifications in:
LSVT LOUD® program
VitalStim® swallowing treatment
Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
Beckman Oral Motor Protocol
Dementia Capable Program
Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets (PROMPT)
Conditions we treat:
Difficulty producing/using speech
Difficulty understanding and using language
Difficulty with chewing/swallowing
Stutter
Difficulty with memory, problem-solving, and other cognitive deficits
Referral to Speech Therapy
If you have questions or are interested in receiving speech therapy services, please contact your physician for a referral or call the therapy department at 320.334.5801.
At Glacial Ridge Health System, our pediatric physical, occupational, and speech therapists help children develop the skills needed to perform everyday tasks. They work with children from newborns to 21 years old who are experiencing difficulties functioning in one or more areas of their lives. Therapy consists of fun, meaningful activities which motivate them and ensure their experience is successful and enjoyable. They think it’s play, we know it works.
We care for children from birth to 21 years of age with a variety of diagnoses including, but not limited to, the following:
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD)
Cognitive or Developmental Delays
Increased or Decreased Muscle Tone
Mental Health or Behavioral Problems
Traumatic Injuries (brain or spinal cord)
Sensory Processing Disorders (SPD)
Apraxia
Autism Spectrum Disorders
Birth Injuries or Birth Defects
Cerebral Palsy
Down Syndrome
Gait Deficits
Handwriting Difficulty
Learning Problems
Orthopedic Conditions
Post-surgical Conditions
Spina Bifida
Spinal Cord Injury
Stroke
Torticollis (stiff neck)
Physical Therapy (PT) Referral
We are committed to using the latest technology, tests, and techniques to support children who have injuries, disabilities, and complex conditions. Our goal is to help them achieve the highest levels of independence and function possible.
If your child or a child you know 0 – 21 years of age is demonstrating any of the following, a physical therapy evaluation may be appropriate:
Has difficulty with balance
Falls often or is clumsy
Appears unsafe on a playground
Has decreased strength
Is often tired during the day
Has difficulty opening doors or carrying books
Sits incorrectly in a chair
Has difficulty getting up from the floor
Has poor posture
Has difficulty with coordination
Is older than 15 months and is not walking
Is walking on his or her toes
Bumps into things or trips often
These treatments and services are provided through pediatric physical therapy:
Gross Motor Skills
Gait Training
Strength and Endurance
Balance and Coordination
Adaptive Equipment
Occupational Therapy (OT) Referral
For children, therapy focuses on the “occupations” or “jobs” of childhood such as play, socialization, self-care, and school performance. The occupation of play becomes a child’s work as it is essential for their development. We help children develop the skills needed for functional independence in important developmental areas.
If your child or a child you know 0 – 21 years of age is demonstrating any of the following, an occupational therapy evaluation may be appropriate:
Difficulty tolerating clothing or clothing changes; socks, jeans
Overly sensitive to sensory stimulation such as smells or noises; covers ears
Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, difficulty getting up in the morning
Struggles with transitions from task to task; frequent crying/tantrums with changes in routine
Poor attention while completing tasks, easily distracted
Poor balance; doesn’t ride a bike, doesn’t climb, falls frequently
Isolates self from others
Frequently runs into others, no awareness of self or others’ space
Avoids fine motor tasks such as using crayons, Legos, fasteners on clothing
Experiences difficulty learning new motor tasks such as jumping and climbing
Appears floppy, weak, slumps when sitting/standing, prefers activities requiring little movement
Cannot calm self by sucking on a pacifier, looking at toys, listening to your voice
Limited diet; refuses to try new foods, gags when trying new tastes, textures
Appears extremely anxious, states frequent fears of benign things
Overwhelmed on the playground, during recess, music class, gym class
These treatments and services are provided through pediatric occupational therapy:
Executive Functioning
Fine Motor Skills
Handwriting
Reflex Integration
Sensory Diet
Sensory Integration
Self-Care Skill
Upper Extremity Function
Vision Therapy
Speech Therapy (ST) Referral
Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) work with children to prevent, assess, diagnose, and treat speech, language, social communication, cognitive communication, and swallowing disorders.
If your child or a child you know 0 – 21 years of age is demonstrating any of the following, a speech therapy evaluation may be appropriate:
Does not follow simple two-step directions involving familiar objects; get the ball and put it on the table
Is not understood by adults and peers at least 50% of the time
Does not show interest in communicating with others
Poor vocabulary and/or difficulty recalling meanings of new words learned
Difficulty with memory, problem-solving, and other cognitive deficits
Difficulty remembering names and overuses words like “it”, “thing”
Does not respond to name and simple instructions (ex. come here, stop) by 12-16 months
Prefers gestures such as pointing to communicate instead of talking by 18 months
Speech is interrupted; stuttering, prolonged sounds, hesitations
Difficulty swallowing; frequent coughing/choking or chewing for a long time when eating and drinking
Referral to Pediatric Therapy Services
If you have questions or are interested in receiving pediatric therapy services, please contact your child’s physician for a referral or call the therapy department at 320.334.5801.
Specialty PT Certifications
Our experienced staff are certified in specialties such as vertigo, LSVT BIG® program, manual therapy, pelvic floor therapy (for urinary incontinence/leakage), blood flow restriction therapy, modalities for pain (ultrasound, electrical stimulation, iontophoresis, traction, and low-level laser therapy), and Graston Technique. Additional staff certifications include Orthopaedics Clinical Specialist (OCS), Dry Needling (CMTPT – Certified Myofascial Trigger Point Therapist), and Therapeutic Pain Specialist (TPS).
Specialty OT Certifications
Staff are certified in specialties including lymphedema, modalities for pain (ultrasound, electrical stimulation, iontophoresis, and low-level laser therapy), cognitive testing, Graston Technique, IASTM (HawkGrips), Dementia Capable Program, LSVT BIG® program, and Instrument-assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM), in addition to specialty training in vision therapy.
Specialty ST Certifications
Our therapists have specialty certifications in the LSVT LOUD® program, VitalStim® swallowing treatment, Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), Beckman Oral Motor Protocol, Dementia Capable Program, and Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets (PROMPT).
The primary goal of our sports medicine program is to help prevent and assess athletic injuries in children, adolescents, and adults. Glacial Ridge Sports Medicine staff, including Athletic Trainer Kelly Shaner, provide athletic training services at Minnewaska Area Schools.
Three Objectives of Sports Medicine:
Help staff, coaches, parents, and players learn the steps to take through training, nutrition, and injury-prevention techniques that lessen the chance of a musculoskeletal injury
Provide on-site evaluation and treatment to stabilize a significant musculoskeletal injury and/or evaluate the athlete for a potential head injury
Help Minnewaska students return to physical activity at a level they are able to do safely while still healing. In the case of a concussion, the ImpACT software provides valuable insight into cognitive function and assists medical staff with a progressive return to the learning environment. Working cooperatively with local therapy departments and providers assisting with the student’s recovery, our athletic trainer monitors their symptoms and assesses function throughout their progressive return to athletics until there are no restrictions.
We have experienced staff with additional certifications such as:
ImPACT
If you have questions, please call the therapy department at 320.334.5801.
Women’s Health – Pelvic Floor
Our two physical therapists with specialty certification in pelvic floor therapy are MiKayla and LaNita.
Conditions we treat:
Difficulty tolerating a pelvic examination
Low back pain during pregnancy
Weakened core strength or discomfort following delivery
Discomfort during or following sexual intimacy
Loss of bowel/bladder control when coughing, laughing, or sneezing
Chronic constipation
Frequent urination
Referral to Pelvic Floor Therapy
If you have questions or are interested in receiving pelvic health therapy services, please contact your physician for a referral or call the therapy department at 320.334.5801.
Our highly skilled therapy team of physical, occupational, and speech therapists works collaboratively with doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and nurses to help patients manage pain, restore function, and prevent further injury.
Along with the support of our occupational therapy assistants and physical therapy assistants, the therapy team at Glacial Ridge provides you with the best care possible for optimal outcomes.
Collaborate with the healthcare team
Our staff works closely with all members of the healthcare team to provide the best possible care to each patient. Treatment programs are based on thorough evaluations and are always individualized to meet the needs of each patient.
Involve and educate the family
We emphasize the participation of the family or caregiver in each patient’s treatment program. Patients and caregivers are educated about the role of occupational therapy and/or physical therapy and are encouraged to be involved in treatment sessions whenever possible.
Provide a lifetime of care
We are dedicated to providing long-term improvement in life by decreasing pain and restoring function through physical therapy and occupational therapy whenever care is needed.
For general inquiries or to learn more about Therapy Services, click on the Contact Us button below.
Beginning January 1, 2019, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services are requiring hospitals and health systems to post their “current, standard charges.”
Hospital charges are the amount a hospital bills an insurer for a service. For most patients, hospitals are reimbursed at a level well below charges. Patients covered by commercial insurance products have negotiated rates with hospitals. Patients covered by Medicare or Medicaid programs have hospital reimbursement rates determined by federal and state governments.
Hospital charges may include bundled procedures, personnel, services and supplies. An example would be room rates that include the space, equipment, nursing personnel and supplies.
When a patient has the opportunity to shop for medical services, he or she should contact his or her own insurance carrier to understand which costs will be covered and which will be the patient’s responsibility.
Patients should contact the hospital directly for any further details.
Beginning January 1, 2019, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services are requiring hospitals and health systems to post their “current, standard charges.”
Hospital charges are the amount a hospital bills an insurer for a service. For most patients, hospitals are reimbursed at a level well below charges. Patients covered by commercial insurance products have negotiated rates with hospitals. Patients covered by Medicare or Medicaid programs have hospital reimbursement rates determined by federal and state governments.
Hospital charges may include bundled procedures, personnel, services and supplies. An example would be room rates that include the space, equipment, nursing personnel and supplies.
When a patient has the opportunity to shop for medical services, he or she should contact his or her own insurance carrier to understand which costs will be covered and which will be the patient’s responsibility.
Patients should contact the hospital directly for any further details.
Our specially trained Physical Therapists evaluate and treat a variety of medical conditions through physical therapy, including:
The primary goal of our sports medicine program is to help prevent and assess athletic injuries in children, adolescents, and adults. Glacial Ridge Sports Medicine staff, including Athletic Trainer 
