New Location - New Structure

As of Nov 30, 2025, Compass Physical Therapy will no longer be open at 915 NE 7th St. in Bend. It has been an absolute blessing to provide quality physical therapy to our wonderful community for the past 15 years. After much prayer and consideration, we feel it is time to close this location and see where the good Lord leads us next.

For now, Tom is continuing to see patients two mornings a week at Focus Physical Therapy’s clinic--1001 SW Emkay Drive, Suite 100 Bend, OR 97702 .*

• Please continue to use our main phone number 541-728-0974. All appointments, billing, records and correspondence will continue through Compass Physical Therapy.  Please do not contact FocusPT as they are only serving as our place of practice.

• We will continue to be in-network and bill Pacific Source Health Plans, MVA/personal injury and self-pay patients as of Jan 6, 2026. Check with your insurance for out-of-network “Physical Therapy or Out-Patient Rehabilitation” benefits if you want to use other insurance coverage. We can assist with a super-bill.

• New Rates: $150/45min or $180/60min are due at the time of service beginning Jan 6th.

• Statements for outstanding balances will continue to be sent via mail and email. For now, we can take credit card payment over the phone or checks via mail. 

• For records requests, please email the name, address and fax number of the recipient you would like records sent to and the reason (eg. to coordinate care, to settle my auto claim, etc) to rhonda@compassptbend.com

• For urgent or long-term physical therapy needs, try one of the great clinics listed below for a similar environment and/or treatment style.

• We will still be available as a resource, particularly if you have a complex condition or experienced unsuccessful treatment thus far.

We would like to thank you and all our clients and referral sources for your trust and support in our services. We’re also grateful for all our staff that have blessed us with their skills and compassion in delivering the best care in Central Oregon. We will miss working with all of you.

In warmest regards,

Tom and Rhonda Pietrowski
Co-owners

Eastside of Bend:

Therapy Works–Bend (541) 383-8179 and Redmond  (541) 678-5177

Alpine Physical Therapy & Spine Care – (541) 382-5500 East & West Side Bend locations

St Charles Outpatient Rehabilitation – Near hospital (541)706-7725 (Neff Road) and south of town (541)706-5940 (Coombs Place) – Scott Ruby (former CPT therapist)

Westside of Bend:

Focus – (541) 385-3344

Aspire - (541) 316-0805 - concussion, MFR, CST – Kelsea Hulstrom (former CPT therapist)

Move PT- (541) 209-6729 - Mychal Manning (former CPT therapist)

Resolve Physical Therapy- (541) 306-1099 – Ethan Bruno (former CPT therapist)

Sunrise Physio – (458) 666-1420 - pelvic health & manual therapy & exercise

Hands-On – Bend (541)312-2252 – manual therapy & exercise

Ascend – Bend (458) 206-0826 – vestibular

Vestibular Therapy Specialists – Bend (541) 639-4598

COVID-19 Update from Compass Physical Therapy 2023

Oregon will lift mask requirement for health care settings April 3rd 2023. As a result, you will no longer be required to wear a mask at Compass Physical Therapy on or after that date. You are always welcome to wear a mask if you prefer, but we can no longer guarantee other patrons and staff will be masked. If this is a concern, we invite you to wait in your vehicle and we will get you when your therapist is ready for you.

Our staff remains committed to your health concerns and are open to your request for your therapist to wear a mask during your treatment. However, we cannot guarantee that other patrons or staff will be masked in common areas. Please speak with your therapist or our office manager, Rhonda, if you have serious concerns.

Please also review our current COVID 19 precautions as outlined below prior to your in-office visit. Should you be exposed to the coronavirus or experience any symptoms of illness, please contact us ASAP to discuss your best treatment options. (541)728-0974.

To ensure the safety of all patients and staff, please review prior to all in-office visits:

• Do you currently have any of the following acute symptoms? Fever of 100.4 or greater, chills, fatigue, difficulty breathing, cough, muscle aches/pain, headache, sore throat, nasal congestion or runny nose, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea or new loss of taste or smell

• Have you been in recent close contact with someone suspected to have, or was diagnosed with, COVID-19?

• Are you not feeling well for any other reason?

If you answer “Yes” to any of these questions, please call our office to to discuss your best treatment options. (541)728-0974.

Special Note: Please keep us notified of any changes in your health throughout your course of care or if you or someone in your household is a member of a high risk population:

• People 65 years and older

• People who live in a nursing home or long-term care facility

• People of all ages with underlying medical conditions, particularly if not well controlled, including:

  • chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma

  • serious heart conditions

  • hypertension

  • immunocompromised—Many conditions can cause a person to be immunocompromised, including cancer treatment, smoking, bone marrow or organ transplantation, immune deficiencies, poorly controlled HIV or AIDS, and prolonged use of corticosteroids and other immune weakening medications

  • severe obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 40 or higher)

  • diabetes

  • chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis

  • liver disease

Please contact us with your questions. We remain committed to helping guide you to a healthy life.

We remain committed to helping guide you to a healthy life,
The Compass PT Team

Updated 3/19/2023

COVID-19 Update from Compass Physical Therapy

Compass Physical Therapy would like to thank everyone for patiently abiding by the mask mandate, allowing us to continue to safely serve all of those in need of physical rehabilitation. While the Oregon Health Authority guidelines have lifted the mask mandate for most locations, as a health care facility, we are required to continuing using masks at this time. For a full explanation of these and other COVID-related guidelines, click here.

You are welcome to continue waiting in your car until it is time for your appointment. Thank you for wearing a mask while inside. Please also review our current COVID 19 precautions as outlined below prior to your in-office visit. Should you be exposed to the coronavirus or experience any symptoms of illness, please contact us ASAP to discuss your best treatment options. (541)728-0974.

To ensure the safety of all patients and staff, please review prior to all in-office visits:

• Do you currently have any of the following acute symptoms? Fever of 100.4 or greater, chills, fatigue, difficulty breathing, cough, muscle aches/pain, headache, sore throat, nasal congestion or runny nose, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea or new loss of taste or smell

• Have you been in recent close contact with someone suspected to have, or was diagnosed with, COVID-19?

• Are you not feeling well for any other reason?

If you answer “Yes” to any of these questions, please call our office to to discuss your best treatment options. (541)728-0974.

Special Note: Please keep us notified of any changes in your health throughout your course of care or if you or someone in your household is a member of a high risk population:

• People 65 years and older

• People who live in a nursing home or long-term care facility

• People of all ages with underlying medical conditions, particularly if not well controlled, including:

  • chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma

  • serious heart conditions

  • hypertension

  • immunocompromised—Many conditions can cause a person to be immunocompromised, including cancer treatment, smoking, bone marrow or organ transplantation, immune deficiencies, poorly controlled HIV or AIDS, and prolonged use of corticosteroids and other immune weakening medications

  • severe obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 40 or higher)

  • diabetes

  • chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis

  • liver disease

Please contact us with your questions. We remain committed to helping guide you to a healthy life.

We remain committed to helping guide you to a healthy life,
The Compass PT Team

Updated 11/9/2022

Hope—As good for the the body as the mind

Maintaining your physical wellness isn’t just about exercising. Our mindset and the things we choose to focus on can affect our pain levels; our sense of strength, flexibility and coordination; and our overall desire to be physically active. With increased time at home, an active global pandemic, and new and abnormal daily routines, it is easy to let our minds focus on the negative and the struggles. Maintaining hope is a key factor to being healthy during this time of unrest. Here are 8 science-backed ways to increase your hope!

Pain 101: Guide to the Body's Key Tool

We’re all familiar with pain. It’s the sensation that lets us know when we’ve worked or played hard, done something for too long, maybe made an error in judgment. It’s the body’s instinctive mechanism to keep us safe and functioning well. In spite of today’s popular messages, pain is not something that can always be easily alleviated, avoided or bypassed and nor should it. We know this because we’re in the pain business at Compass Physical Therapy. Our physical therapist team wants to share our knowledge, training and experiences with pain so we can teach you how to identify, manage and use pain to your best advantage. To start off our Pain 101 series, here are:

9 Things You Should Know About Pain

1. Pain is output from the brain.

While we used to believe that pain originated within the tissues of our body, we now understand that pain does not exist until the brain determines it does. The brain uses a virtual "road map" to direct an output of pain to tissues that it suspects may be in danger. This process acts as a means of communication between the brain and affected area, to serve as a defense against possible injury or disease.

2. The degree of injury does not always equal the degree of pain.

Research has demonstrated that we all experience pain in individual ways. While some of us experience major injuries with little pain, others can experience minor injuries with a lot of pain (think of a paper cut).

3. Despite what diagnostic imaging (MRIs, x-rays, CT scans) shows us, the finding(s) may not be the cause of your pain.

A study performed on individuals 60 years or older who had no symptoms of low back pain found that 36% had a herniated disc, 21% had spinal stenosis, and more than 90% had a degenerated or bulging disc, upon diagnostic imaging. You are more than your imaging. 

4. Psychological factors, such as depression and anxiety, can make your pain worse.

Pain can be influenced by many different factors, such as psychological conditions. A recent study in the Journal of Pain showed that psychological variables that existed before a total knee replacement were related to a patient's experience of long-term pain following the operation.

5. Your social environment may influence your perception of pain.

Many patients state their pain increases when they are at work or in a stressful situation. Pain messages can be generated when an individual is in an environment or situation that the brain interprets as unsafe. It is a fundamental form of self-protection.

6. Understanding pain through education may reduce your need for care.

A large study conducted with military personnel demonstrated that those who were given a 45-minute educational session about pain sought care for low back pain less than their counterparts.

7. Our brains can be tricked into developing pain in prosthetic limbs.

Studies have shown that our brains can be tricked into developing a "referred" sensation in a limb that has been amputated, causing a feeling of pain that seems to come from the prosthetic limb – or the "phantom" limb. The sensation is generated by the association of the brain's perception of what the body is from birth (whole and complete) and what it currently is (postamputation).

8. The ability to determine left from right may be altered when you experience pain.

Networks within the brain that assist you in determining left from right can be affected when you experience severe pain. If you have been experiencing pain,\ and have noticed your sense of direction is a bit off, it may be because a "roadmap" within the brain that details a path to each part of the body may be a bit confused or "smudged”. This is a term used to describe a part of the brain's virtual roadmap that isn’t clear. Imagine spilling ink onto part of a roadmap and then trying to use that map to get to your destination.

9. There is no way of knowing whether you have a high tolerance for pain or not. Science has yet to determine whether we all experience pain in the same way.

While some people claim to have a "high tolerance" for pain, there is no accurate way to measure or compare pain tolerance among individuals. While some tools exist to measure how much force you can resist before experiencing pain, it can’t be determined what your pain "feels like."

If you have pain that limits your movement or keeps you from taking part in work, daily living and other activities, a physical therapist can help. Contact CompassPT for an appointment today. Watch for more articles like these articles coming soon in our Pain 101 series: 4 ways PT helps manage pain, 5 tips to manage chronic pain, pain management and opioid use.

Article courtesy of APTA, ChoosePT series, Author: Joseph Brence, PT, DPT

Bibliography

Allegri M, Montella S, Salici F, et al. Mechanisms of low back pain: a guide for diagnosis and therapy [revised]. F1000Res. 2016;5:F1000 Faculty Rev-1530. doi: 10.12688/f1000research.8105.2.

George SZ, Childs JD, Teyhen DS, et al. Brief psychosocial education, not core stabilization, reduced incidence of low back pain: results from the Prevention of Low Back Pain in the Military (POLM) cluster randomized trial. BMC Med. 2011;9:128.

Carroll I, Wang J, Wang M, et al. Psychological impairment influences pain duration following surgical injury. J Pain. 2008;9 (Suppl 2):21.

Warming Up to Winter Fitness

Whether you love all the winter activities that Central Oregon has to offer or you simply know you have to keep moving to stay in shape for your summer fun, it’s important to address the changes that colder weather brings. Here are a few to consider:

Warm up right

A good warm up is always important, but because of the tendency for joints to be stiffer and blood flow to muscles to be reduced in the cold, it's even more important that you do it right this time of year. To start, do something to get your heart rate up a bit, maybe a brisk walk or light jog. Follow that up with a dynamic warm up (such as a walking lunge) rather than static stretches. Cater your warm up to what you have planned in your workout. If you're not sure how it should look, ask your physical therapist.

Dress right

Dress in layers to adjust your insulation to your activity level. Bring an extra layer for after your outdoor activity to stay warm and get dry quicker. 

Remember to use sunglasses and sunscreen - just because it's cold doesn't mean the UV rays are gone, especially in Central Oregon's elevation. Lip Balm with SPF protects from the sun and wind. 

Stay hydrated

Drink water before, during and after your workout. The drier air in winter lets your sweat evaporate more quickly, so it's easy to underestimate how much fluid you've lost.

Cool down

When you're finished, don't rush inside and crawl under a blanket. Cool down properly with a walk or another form of active recovery to let your heart rate come down. Static stretching, foam rolling or self-massage are other great cool down options. Consult your physical therapist to find the best plan for you.

Celebrate where you are

Shorter days and lower temperatures don't mean you're stuck inside for all of your exercise. Take advantage of the Central Oregon beauty even if it’s just for a few minutes. If you follow these tips and our other winter wise strategies, you can safely keep moving outside.

If you'd like a customized, comprehensive exercise plan, consult the experts at CompassPT.

Adapted from the APTA Private Practice Section, November 30, 2020

New Tools for the New Year @ CompassPT

At Compass Physical Therapy we’re committed to learning the most recent evidence-based trends to best serve our clients. We are excited to have our entire staff recently become certified in Selective Functional Movement Assessment Levels 1 and 2. The SFMA evaluation system further equips our already talented therapists to identify dysfunctional movement patterns and help their clients improve function, shorten recovery time, and prevent future injury. 

The system works well for both those who are experiencing pain or injury and those looking to increase activity while preventing injuries.

SFMA is particularly helpful if you are:

• Starting a new exercise routine or ramping up to a new fitness goal

• Training for a sport or beginning a new sport

• Participating in sports that require rotation such as golf, baseball, pickle ball

• Experiencing a flare up of old or previously treated injuries

If you are curious how SFMA can help with your pain and function, contact our office today to schedule an appointment.

Special thanks to Kelsea Weber, DPT, for demonstrating just a few of the new SFMA assessment tools in the CompassPT Crew toolbox and to Tom Pietrowski, PT, and Jill Stephenson, DPT, for contributing the content.

Half kneeling or “lunging” is a functional position that can reveal underlying core and hip weakness.

An “overhead carry” uses the whole core and helps assess coordination of the whole body.

A squat involves almost every joint in our body and helps zero in on problem areas—it’s easier than it looks!

The green external band gives feedback to improve single leg deadlift form that will carryover into standard deadlifts.

Keep Resolutions with Physical Therapy

It’s that time of year when we all are assessing how we can do things better this year. Of course as physical therapists, we love new year resolutions such as losing weight, getting to the gym more often or getting into "better shape." After all more activity is great for your health, energy levels, sleep and mood, right? However, ramping up your activity level too quickly after a holiday season of eating, drinking and being merry can lead to pain, injury and disappointment if your body isn't ready for it.

Your physical therapist is an expert in human movement and can help you safely reach your fitness goals. People think of PTs as the person to see after an injury, but a visit before you change your activity level could prevent injury in the first place. An evaluation by your PT will include assessment of your strength, range of motion, and functional movement patterns - think jumping, running, squatting, carrying. At Compass Physical Therapy, we also like to use the Selective Functional Movement Assessment Screen to discover underlying dysfunctional movement patterns.

Most common injuries from new fitness routines are caused by underlying weakness, range of motion deficits, or compensatory movement patterns. Once we have a big picture of your strengths and weaknesses, we can then prescribe exercises or movements to address the issues found and get you safely moving into the new year!

Another common way people get injured working towards their resolution is with over-training, or doing too much too soon. Physical therapists are also experts in exercise prescription and program design. Our PTs will help you create a routine specific to your needs and goals that will progress you appropriately and keep you out of trouble.

So rather than wait for an injury to see your PT, consult with us first and start off on your best foot in the new year. It's true that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Seeing your physical therapist before you start on your resolution can keep you on track, injury free, and help you reach your goals for the new year!

Need more encouragement to move forward with anything this year? Check out all the benefits of being physically active, celebrating your successes and practicing gratitude. And remember—It’s never too late to make a change and change is easier when you have someone to help. Contact us today

Adapted from the APTA’s Private Practice Section

Little Celebrations--Big Rewards

While it might be tempting to quickly hang up the new calendar and shut the door on 2020, there can be tremendous benefits to taking stock of your successes this year. In fact, acknowledging the year’s wins is even more important as it reinforces resiliency, gives a more optimistic perspective and lessens the load of the blow. While it may be hard to believe, you’ve had successes this year. We all have. However, we often don’t slow down long enough to give these victories more than a passing nod as we move on to the next important task.

When we do that, we are missing out on reaping tremendous rewards for ourselves, our families and our communities. By celebrating successes, we recognize the hard work that goes on every day and reinforce the “why” behind what we do. When we pause to help others bask in that glow of hard-earned victory, it shows that we also really appreciate their efforts.

In turn, our self-esteem is boosted and we gain new motivation to take the next big step forward. So how do we carve out time to add yet another “must-do” to our packed schedules? Many of the effective ways to celebrate our successes don’t actually take any additional preparation time. The following are a few of our favorites:

REGULAR RECOGNITION--Daily point out something positive to yourself, your family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, grocery clerk, delivery person. 

• Recognize the individuals involved. Be specific--explain what they did, how they did it, and why it is a big deal. 

• There’s nothing wrong with keeping it simple though. A quick, “Nice job handling that grumpy person just now” or “Thank you for delivering my package on a Saturday” can turn frustration into gratitude. 

• Including a non-language celebration (such as a “woop-woop,” a little dance shuffle, or a traditional hand clap or thumbs up) can be quick gestures that make it clear this is a big deal worth taking a moment to acknowledge.

Even the smallest tasks when acknowledged can make a big difference in how you and the recipient feel about your day.

DAILY POSITIVITY--Take time every day to celebrate the good things that happened that day.

• Enjoy your celebration with a loved one or by yourself. 

• Couple it with something you enjoy: a meal, a drink or an activity. 

• Talk about the success, how it happened, why it is a good thing, all that it means to you.

These actions provide positive reinforcement to enjoy your life and to look forward to the next success.

GATHER GOOD NEWS--Create a system to capture positive feedback. 

• Write compliments in a journal

• Post notes/cards on a bulletin board

• Keep a box full of kudos by your bedside.

It doesn’t need to be a big affair. It needn’t be difficult. Just be consistent and see what a difference it makes. To get you started, join us in a few of the successes we’re celebrating at CompassPT. If you are in pain, have challenges moving the way you would like to or simply want to start a new activity or fitness plan, contact us for an assessment today. 

Wishing you a peaceful and joyful
New Year’s Eve Celebration.
May 2021 be your best year ever.

Happy New Year from the CompassPT Crew!

Adapted from APTA’s Private Practice Section November 2020 Celebrating Success by Matt Slimming, PT, DPT

Happy Holidays from the CompassPT Crew!

Cozy and Bright! Pacific Northwest PT Elves (left to right): Jill, Kelsea and Mychal

Spreading Holiday Cheer! Pacific Northwest PT Elves: Kelsea, Mychal and Nancy

A big thank you to the Compass Crew for caring for our community this Christmas Eve! Please note we are closing at 1:00 pm Dec. 24th as we’re on call for emergency North Pole treatments—you wouldn’t believe the number of shoulder and low back injuries they have;)! We’ll resume our normal schedule Monday Dec. 28th. Please feel free to leave a message on our voicemail any time day or night. Merry Christmas to all!

Wishing you a season of
joy, love and light.

The Compass Crew

Patient Care Coordinating Elves Sirpa & Sam are busy keeping everyone’s schedule & claims on the nice list!

Clauses in training—Tom and Rhonda

New Year! New Insurance?

In the hustle and bustle of the season, it’s important to take a moment and confirm your insurance coverage for the New Year. This not only keeps you prepared for any current treatment plans, but can also prepare you for any future needs.

Even policies that are being renewed from 2020 can have changes in copays, deductibles, number of visits and prior authorization requirements. If this all sounds overwhelming to you, contact the insurance experts at Compass Physical Therapy and we’ll walk you through your benefits. While we won’t be able to confirm your benefits exactly until Jan. 1st, we can help you anticipate and plan for ongoing care or future rehab.

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

The snow, ice and social distancing may have driven you indoors, but your body still needs to keep moving. Compass Physical Therapy’s Nancy Hartung, PTA, likes to watch movies while walking on her treadmill during the winter months.

Walking 20-minutes a day can make a difference. Click the image for more physical activity guidelines.

“I’ll watch half a movie one night,” says Nancy, “then finish it the second night.” 

Don’t have a treadmill? You can still get your heart rate up and your joints moving by walking the halls, jogging up and down your stairs, running in place, jumping rope, doing jumping jacks--there’s an endless array of options. The movement experts at CompassPT can help you choose the best ones for your fitness level and goals. 

While walking indoors on a treadmill is a great option to stay in shape during winter months, Nancy has noticed that it doesn’t have the same full benefits of walking outside or on a trail.

“In my experience I felt that after two months on the treadmill, I didn’t have the same power out on the trail,” Nancy reports. “Because of the movement of the treadmill, you don’t have to propel off the ground as much.”

To minimize loss of power and reap all of the benefits of getting outside (fresh air, vitamin D, etc.), she encourages everyone to take advantage of good weather days and get out there!

If you are experiences any barriers to being active, contact our office for a personal assessment.

Walking Wisely on Ice

A born and raised Bendite, Kelsea Weber, PT, DPT, is all too familiar with the winter joys AND hazards of Central Oregon.

Choosing the right gear is key whether you’re walking a snowing trail, around town or simply out to your mailbox.

“While our frequent weather variations and micro-climates make for beautiful scenery and plenty of winter activities,” says Kelsea, “you never know when you might come across a slippery patch.”

So before you head out to spread joy and cheer this season, brush up on these wise walking tips:

1. Choose proper footwear with good tread to allow for sufficient grip. 

2. Slow and Steady Wins the Race—move slowly, plan your route and give yourself plenty of time to reach your destination safely. 

3. Take Shorter Steps, keeping your stride flat footed and your center of mass directly over your feet as much as possible will increase your chances of staying upright. 

4. Use Assistance When Available—If there are handrails, use them. 

5. Be Prepared—Have your cell phone, a friend, or an alarm system nearby to call for help if needed. 

These tips can’t help you completely avoid falls, but they can help you be more prepared to tackle this year's winter weather. Need further help with your balance or addressing aches and pains after a fall, call Kelsea and the Compass Crew and we will help get you back on your feet!

Essential Snow Shoveling Tips

With a chance for snow in the forecast, it’s time to pull out the shovel and review our 5 quick tips to prevent injury: 

1. Warm up before shoveling. It is always important to warm up before any strenuous activity as cold muscles are more prone to injury. Take 5 to 10 minutes to warm up before bundling up—marching in place, gentle arm circles, or a brisk walk are a few ways to get your blood moving.

Shoes with good tread help prevent you from slipping, while gloves not only keep you warm but also provide protection should you fall.

2. Bend at your knees, not at your hips or back. It is important to keep your back as straight as possible to avoid the effects of gravity. Your legs are some of the biggest and strongest muscles in your body and will result in greater power output and easier shoveling effort. 

3. Tighten your abdominal muscles as you lift the snow. By activating the muscles around your navel, you are contracting your core and creating your body's natural back brace. This will help to protect the structures in your back from injury. 

4. Avoid twisting and instead step in the direction you are throwing the snow. Walk to the new location to deposit your snow rather than reaching or throwing. Keep the load as close to your body as possible.   

5. Pace yourself. If possible remove snow over small periods of time to lessen strain on your body. Give your body breaks and time to recover if you are tackling a large area or a large snowfall—your body will thank you later. 

If you do end up with soreness (especially in your lower back or shoulders) and/or limitation in movement that lasts for more than 2 weeks, check in with a physical therapist at CompassPT for your best course of action.

Snow or not, there’s always the potential for ice in Central Oregon. Check out our safe winter walking tips here.

Finish Strong/Start Stronger

After a year like 2020, many of us are looking to start 2021 feeling refreshed and re-energized. A visit to your physical therapist in December might be the best way to wrap up the year and start the New Year even stronger. Here are just a few of the reasons PT in December makes a lot of sense:

• Addressing pain or immobility early tends to result in faster and more complete outcomes and can prevent bigger problems down the road.

• Holiday stress and cold temperatures can lead to increased tension and exacerbate pain and joint dysfunction. A treatment session with a compassionate therapist can be just what the doctor ordered (or not--thanks to direct access in Oregon, you can see your PT first in most cases).

• The benefits of Physical Therapy aren’t limited to your body. Psychological and emotional benefits often occur as you are educated about your condition and treatment options. This empowerment boosts your morale, increases your hope and motivates you. Check out these 8 Science-Backed Ways to Increase Your Hope.

• Why wait until Jan. 1 to start exercising? Whether you are addressing an injury or simply ready to start a new fitness program or activity, a sound conditioning program tailored specifically for your needs can boost your mental and emotional state, as well as create greater physical strength and flexibility.

• If your surgery has been postponed, PT can often help stabilize you, help alleviate pain and help you avoid reliance on pain medication. In some cases like low back pain, PT can even help you avoid surgery. The therapists at CompassPT will help you determine your best course of action.

• Many of us have already put off activities for several months and are noticing declines. With winter just starting, we recommend you take the opportunity to do what you can now. It’s never too soon (or too late for that matter) to take action towards your health and well-being.

To help ensure your health and safety, we have several OHA and CDC guidelines in place and also offer telehealth visits.

The Patient Care Coordinators at CompassPT are experts at understanding and explaining your insurance benefits. While discerning deductibles, copays, coinsurance, prior authorizations and health savings accounts might feel more complicated than fixing a strand of Christmas lights, a quick phone call with Sam or Rhonda can shed light on what benefits you have remaining this year and what next year could look like. 

While no one can predict the future as evidenced by this year, the CompassPT Crew can help you build a solid foundation to spring from or weather the next storm. Call us with your questions and goals today.

 Adapted from the APTA’s Private Practice Section, November 2020

Celebrations & Silver Linings

"The light shines

in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it."

December can often be a mixed bag of disappointment and joy, stress and celebration. With all that has happened, we feel especially compelled this year to encourage you to focus on what is good, what went right and where you are headed. We like to call our successes Compass Kudos and we’re often surprised to find how many there are when we slow down and count our blessings. We’ve put together a small thread of silver linings to help get you started:

• We didn’t let COVID stop our plans to expand our team and create some space for more sane schedules. Instead we learned how to Zoom and ended up with two great hires: Jill Stephenson, PT, DPT, and Sirpa Carver, Patient Care Coordinator, to round out our dynamic team.

• We attended our first All Team Training through a Functional Movement System online course, allowing all of our PTs to become certified in Selective Functional Movement Assessments. We are excited to share this comprehensive tool with you in the upcoming months.

• We had time to finally create our E-Newsletter and begin sharing more education via social media—Follow our blog and like us on Facebook and Instagram.

• We are close to fully using our Reach program, an online tool to share helpful information for your rehab—Watch for it in your email soon.

Most importantly for us, though, we are excited that our Compass Crew has been able to grow, adapt and continue to provide the highest quality of care in personal one-on-one, 45-60 minutes sessions. We are thrilled to continue to receive comments like these from some of our toughest cases:

Compass Physical Therapy really cares about their clients and helps you feel welcome.  They won't give up on helping you get better.

Jill is amazing! I was impressed by her vast knowledge of physical therapy. I have been to many PT's in the past and no one was as thorough as Jill. She really takes the time to understand what is going on and narrows the issues down and properly provides the right exercises and therapy treatments. Amazing!

Kelsea has been fantastic. I had been going elsewhere for my hip and she is professional, thoughtful and excellent at helping me get better.

I've really enjoyed working with Kelsea and Nancy... Both are friendly, professional and have been so helpful with my chronic neck pain.

Mychal uses a whole body approach to determine the best treatment for recovery from injury. Her insights are amazing and effective.

In 20 minutes Tom alleviated lifelong pain and imbalance; something that no other PT or doctor have ever been able to accomplish. He is intuitive and knowledgeable. He practices hands-on therapy similar to Rolfing and his bedside manner is delightful. I am referring all of my friends!

Being a smaller facility, I feel like I get a more customized treatment plan. It's clean, safe, friendly and professional.

The entire team at Compass gives a darn all the time, thank you.

May you continue to string together your pearls of wisdom and pass them along so that you, your family, friends and community can end this year in the best light possible.

For more encouragement, check out our November Reflections of Gratitude issue and watch for these topics and more throughout December:

• Finish Strong/Start Stronger

• Kelsea’s Winter Tips

• Resolutions Kept

May your holidays be filled with peace and joy!

The CompassPT Crew

Supporting Families and Community This #GivingTuesday

If 2020 has taught us nothing else, it has certainly shown us the importance of family and community. That’s why this GivingTuesday, Compass Physical Therapy would love to have you join us in supporting KIDS Center, our local non-profit dedicated to the prevention, evaluation and treatment of all forms of child abuse.

To keep things simple this GivingTuesday, KIDS Center is recommending Gift Cards or a direct donation at https://www.kidscenter.org/. Donating gift cards in $25, $50 and/or $100 increments to Walmart, Safeway, Target, Fred Meyer, Bi-Mart, and/or Grocery Outlet are encouraged as these stores can easily provide staples to those in need. Gift cards to other stores like the Dollar Tree, Dutch Bros, and Starbucks area gas stations are also welcomed. CompassPT will collect donations throughout December. 

“As the COVID pandemic continues, children and families are living with increased stressors, both financial and emotional. These stressors in combination with the holiday season increase the risk of the occurrence of child abuse.” says Robin Antonson, director of development at KIDS Center. “Our 2020 GivingTuesday campaign will help alleviate immediate needs of children and families who walk through the doors of KIDS Center, and we are very grateful for all contributions and support at this time of year when children and families are so vulnerable, especially during these uncertain times.” 

Wear Purple on Tues! Please also join us in increasing the awareness of child abuse by wearing purple, visiting KIDS Center’s website, and educating your families and friends about the many resources for preventing and overcoming the effects of child abuse in Central Oregon.

About KIDS Center

Founded in 1994 and built by the community, for the community, KIDS Center is the area’s only medical-model child abuse intervention center. In a child-friendly environment, KIDS Center provides comprehensive medical evaluations to children who may have been abused, seeking to find out what has happened and to provide a path to healing through family advocacy and therapeutic services. For more information, visit KidsCenter.org or call (541) 383-5958. Anyone with a concern about a child’s safety can call the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline at: 1-855-503-SAFE (7233).

Compass Crew Highlight:

Sirpa, Sam and Rhonda are ready to answer your questions and schedule you with the best PTs in town.

Meet the Admin Crew!

Though the Thanksgiving holiday may be over, our gratitude remains constant. So we’re rounding out the month with something we are most grateful for at CompassPT: our incredible Admin Crew! Before you start your therapy sessions, our dedicated Patient Care Coordinators are working steadfastly both up front and behind the scenes to help ensure you get the quality care you need as quickly as possible. From your first call to your last visit, they coordinate everything from medical records to insurance benefits to scheduling. 

The Admin Crew is led by co-owner and office manager Rhonda Pietrowski, whose favorite thing about CompassPT is hearing the PTs laugh with their patients and the numerous ways our team turns noes into yeses. When not at work, Rhonda enjoys snuggling up with the good book, eating and playing games with her family and friends, and enjoying the variety of beautiful outdoor spaces this world has to offer.  

A member of the CompassPT Crew since 2011, Samantha “Sam” Jenson knows all things front office. Her remarkable memory and wealth of experience help her quickly find you answers. Her favorite thing about working at CompassPT is the knowledgeable staff. Outside of work, Sam is often running, rafting and hanging out with her family. 

Completing this dynamic trio is Sirpa Carver who bravely joined the staff during the 2020 pandemic. She has braved the elements to take temperatures and kept calm and collected as the policies and procedures continue to evolve around COVID guidelines. The patients and the people she works with are her favorite thing about working at CompassPT. In her spare time you can find Sirpa hiking with her dogs and checking out new adventures in Bend. 

We’re grateful to have such a compassionate and competent crew supporting our efforts to provide the best physical therapy experience possible--CompassPT could not function optimally without them.

Happy Thanksgiving from Your CompassPT Crew!

Blessings abound—Mychal, Sirpa, Nancy, Kelsea, Sam, Tom, Rhonda and Jill!

While we take special consideration to count our blessings today, we are truly grateful to serve our patients and community throughout the entire year. Here are just a few of our blessings at CompassPT:

“I am grateful that we have been able to function as a business
and keep our doors open during COVID.”—Tom 

“I am grateful for our resilient staff and for clientele that is calm and conscientious, thoughtful, and doing all the things necessary to keep us open during these challenging times.” —Rhonda

“I am grateful for the ability to exercise outside with my dogs!”—Samantha 

I am grateful for family and good health!”—Sirpa

“I am grateful for the people around me and my support system!” —Mychal

“I am grateful to live somewhere beautiful”—Jill

“I am grateful for our community and that people have chosen to be kind to one another”—Nancy

“I am grateful to drink hot cocoa in fuzzy blankets with my family!” —Kelsea

Giving Thanks

It feels especially important to have time to enjoy family and friends, count our blessings and rejuvenate for the holiday season. Thus, we will be closed Thursday through Sunday Nov. 26-Nov 29th. If you have an urgent physical therapy need, contact your nearest urgent care center or physician. For scheduling needs, please leave a message at 541-728-0974 anytime. We will reopen Monday Nov. 30th at 8:00 a.m.

May you all have great peace and joy this Thanksgiving! Thank you to all of our patients, health care providers and everyone who makes Compass Physical Therapy possible. You are truly blessings and we thank the Lord for bringing you into our lives.

In gratitude,

Tom, Rhonda and the CompassPT Crew

Gratitude Benefits Us All

Most of us know that expressing our gratitude is not only good manners but it also makes the other person feel good. But did you also know that it’s good for you too? 

“Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” —Melody Beattie

Research at the Harvard Business School shows that sharing a specific gratitude every day improves productivity and accuracy in our work. According to author Mike Oppland, professional basketball player, coach and teacher, research also shows that gratitude can:

• Help you make friends. One study found that thanking a new acquaintance makes them more likely to seek a more lasting relationship with you.

• Improve your physical health. People who exhibit gratitude report fewer aches and pains, a general feeling of health, more regular exercise, and more frequent checkups with their doctor than those who don’t.

• Improve your psychological health. Grateful people enjoy higher well-being and happiness and suffer from reduced symptoms of depression.

• Enhance empathy and reduce aggression. Those who show their gratitude are less likely to seek revenge against others and more likely to behave in a prosocial manner, with sensitivity and empathy.

• Improve your sleep. Practicing gratitude regularly can help you sleep longer and better.

• Enhance your self-esteem. People who are grateful have increased self-esteem, partly due to their ability to appreciate other peoples’ accomplishments.

• Increase in mental strength. Grateful people have an advantage in overcoming trauma and enhanced resilience, helping them to bounce back from highly stressful situations. (Morin, 2014).

If you’re in pain or recovering from an injury, it can be challenging to see the blessing in your current situation. Having a trusted physical therapist to help you monitor your progress and give you not only the most appropriate goal but also the best tools to achieve it can make a big difference in your full recovery. Let the compassionate and skilled team at CompassPT brighten your way to health.

And regardless of your physical condition, check out these 13 tips on how to cultivate your own gratitude practice.