Are you someone who has medical problems or other health-related conditions, illnesses, or injuries that limit your abilities to move and perform functional activities as well as you would like in your daily life?

Well if you are, look no further than Newsome Physical Therapy Center in Channahon.

Dustin Joder, P.T., M.T.C., director of the Channahon clinic, has been practicing general orthopedics with an emphasis in sports and spinal rehabilitation with Newsome for 10 years. 

Joder has spent the last five years as director of the Channahon clinic. He also worked eight years for Easter Seals as a physical therapist, specializing in the treatment of children with neurological and orthopedic involvement and developmental delay. Still today, Joder is occasionally referred patients from Easter Seals.

Mission

Robert Newsome, physical therapist, founded Newsome Physical Therapy when he opened his first center in 1963. His philosophy for his clinic was to not have a corporate feeling, Joder said. It was to focus on individuals and dedicate one-on-one service.

“We run the Channahon facility that way as well,” Joder said. “We are not running people through like a health care facility. We have quality care. We don’t overbook ourselves.”

And with Newsome’s philosophy in mind, Joder makes sure he meets that criteria when working with patients of all ages. From newborns to geriatrics, he conducts cervical spine therapy, general orthopedics and sports medicine.

Younger children will be distracted with game-like activities to make their session with the therapist a fun experience, said Joder. Older patients may need therapy for balance or surgical related issues, he said.

Community Service

The local facility has a special relationship with area schools. The sports medicine doctor and athletic trainer for the Channahon Junior High School Athletics Program is found at Newsome, Joder said.

Kelly Bufford, a physical therapist from the Channahon office, provides athletic training for various events at the junior high. She will attend the bigger events such as cross-country invitations and all-day wrestling meets and basketball tournaments hosted by CJHS, Joder said.

“It’s best to have her there to help kids that may have an injury,” Joder said.

Joliet Catholic Academy, Providence Catholic High School and Victory Baseball, a traveling baseball league in the Joliet-area are also provided athletic training and sports medicine advice from Newsome in Channahon, Joder said.

Joder said there is a recreation area outside the back of the building where the therapists and athletes will engage in additional exercises like throwing a ball. He said this is ideal to see if the athlete is using his or her body properly and to reassure no further injury occurs so they can quickly return to their sport activity.

Free screening for injuries is offered at Newsome. According to Joder, a patient will come in and he and his staff will recommend what exercises or further treatment is needed to get the part of the body back to normal. 

“We point them in the right direction with exercises and hope to see them come back to us to continue their therapy program,” Joder said. “If they get good results, and they will, it will end up that they are spreading the words of our service to others.”

Medical Expertise

Joder graduated from Northern Illinois University in 2000 Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Therapy.

In April of 2001, Joder wrote an article on the diagnosis and treatment of cervical spine clinical instability, which was published in The Journal of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy. In 2004 he completed his post-graduate certification in manual therapy of the spine and extremities through the University of St. Augustine. His continuing education emphasizes sports and spine rehabilitation, biomechanics and manual therapy. 

If the opportunity comes along again to write a medical article, he said he probably would take on the task. However, he said he is happy he was published once and it’s something he can check off his “bucket list.”