Meet Our Staff

Scott Gibson

PT, OCS, LAT

Laura Cox

PTA

Kate Weatherman

MA/CCC-SLP

Top 10 Benefits of Physical Activity

Most Americans do not move enough. The good news is that regular physical activity is one of the easiest ways to reduce your risk for chronic disease and to improve your quality of life.

Make physical activity a priority to:

  1. Improve your memory and brain function (all age groups).
  2. Protect against many chronic diseases.
  3. Aid in weight management.
  4. Lower blood pressure and improve heart health.
  5. Improve your quality of sleep.
  6. Reduce feelings of anxiety and depression.
  7. Combat cancer-related fatigue.
  8. Improve joint pain and stiffness.
  9. Maintain muscle strength and balance.
  10. Increase life span.

Physical therapists are movement experts who improve quality of life through hands-on care, patient education, and prescribed movement. Physical therapists treat people of all ages and abilities and empower you to take an active part in your care. After an evaluation, your physical therapist will create a treatment plan for your specific needs and goals.

Choose more movement. Choose better health. Choose physical therapy.

Information provided by choosept.com

Physical Therapy / Speech and Language Pathology

Alleghany Health Physical Therapy is the only physical therapy practice in Alleghany County that offers comprehensive services to help patients with all types of injuries and conditions to regain maximum physical function.

The choice is yours to stay here in Alleghany County for Physical Therapy and Speech and Language Pathology.

We provide physical therapy to people of all ages both on an inpatient and outpatient basis. Our speech-language pathologist works to evaluate, diagnose, and treat speech, language, social communication, cognitive-communication and swallowing disorders in children and adults.

Patients may be referred to our clinic through their medical provider.  Once scheduled for your appointment, our staff will complete a comprehensive evaluation to develop a treatment plan specific to your needs.  If you are seen through direct access, you may be financially responsible for services provided if not paid by your insurance company.

We offer treatment for a wide range of conditions including:

Muscle and bone injuries occur in daily life and sporting activities.  The specialists at Alleghany Health Physical Therapy have the expertise and training to address all of your orthopedic and sport’s needs.  Based on your initial evaluation and diagnosis, a specific plan of care will be developed to address those initial needs of injury.  As improvement occurs, specific tasks for your sport or daily function will be identified to continue rehabilitative interventions to address those needs for full functional return.  Collaboration will occur with the local high school athletic trainer, as appropriate, to better ensure sport specificity to get you back in the game.  For more information from the American Physical Therapy Association, view the videos below:

Video #1

Video #2

Dry Needling is a physical therapy technique that uses a “dry needle” without medication or injection which is inserted through the skin and into the trigger point.  It is designed to relieve pain and improve range of motion in injured patients.    When the trigger point is released you will feel a cramping or local twitch response.  Dry needling uses acupuncture needles to perform the intervention, however, dry needling is not acupuncture.  Dry needling is a very safe technique, however, there are some precautions that your medical professional will explain prior to the intervention.  For more information from the American Physical Therapy Association, click here:

Click here for more information.

Whether you are post total joint replacement, rotator cuff repair, or lumbar fusion, you have individual needs that will be addressed through your healing and rehabilitative process.  Based on your specific surgery, there are certain healing timeframes and guidelines that are accounted for to maximize your functional outcome.  Communications with your surgeon occur as needed to ensure a collaborative rehabilitation process.  We will use modalities to control pain and swelling as needed to help you better tolerate exercise.  We will also push you to regain your function as soon as possible.

When an injury occurs at work and you are not able to fully complete your job tasks, frustration and fear of re-injury can play a role in deciding when you are able to return to performing your duties.  We will work with your case manager and physician to control pain, normalize your range of motion and strength to be able to return to work.  We will look at the specific essential responsibilities on your position description to identify those tasks that are needed to return you to your career.  Through comprehensive physical therapy, we will build your confidence so that you will be ready to return and minimize any fear of re-injury.  For more information from the American Physical Therapy Association, view the videos below:

Video #1

Video #2

Whether a concussion occurs from an athletic event or during normal daily activities, the variety of symptoms can become debilitating if not managed appropriately.  An evaluation should be done by a qualified medical provider trained in concussion management.  Initial physical and mental rest should occur followed by a graded and directed increase in activity level.  Physical therapy can be instrumental in return to sport or normal daily activity.  Standardized testing and therapeutic interventions will address the specific symptomology from a team approach to get you back to normal life activities.

Our speech-language pathologist works to evaluate, diagnose, and treat speech, language, social communication, cognitive-communication and swallowing disorders in children and adults.  The disorders that are treated include:

  • Speech and language difficulties – includes having trouble understanding what they are saying and expressing basic needs.
  • Swallowing difficulties- choking/coughing when eating/drinking of any consistency. Difficulty taking pills.
  • Voice – no voice or very quiet voice or hoarse, breathy, or nasal vocal quality.
  • Cognition and memory deficits – difficulties with answering questions, counting, listing days of the week/months, asking questions, understanding what was said, figuring things out, time and money management, and planning.  Examples of issues with memory and attention would be following directions, remembering how to do daily living tasks, and are easily distracted.
  • Stuttering – difficulty with flow of speech.
  • Hearing loss
  • Social Issues – examples would be inappropriate turn taking in conversations, minimal eye contact, no use of social greetings/closing, or perception of personal space.

Our trusted team will help you recover from
an injury or surgery, prevent future injuries, and
live more easily with a chronic condition.

To schedule these services at Alleghany Health Physical Therapy, call (336) 372-5511.

Patient Testimonials

“I cannot express how pleased I am with the care and treatment I have received from the Physical Therapy Department at Alleghany Health. I went in with a chronic pain problem that has affected my daily life for at least 16 years during which I saw numerous other physical therapists and doctors with no results.

Scott Gibson (the physical therapist I’m working with) has a dynamic approach to physical therapy that involves me the patient and how I am doing from day to day. He listens to my thoughts, concerns, and how I feel about whether a technique is working for me or not and he takes that into consideration when planning our session. Additionally, he uses advanced ideas, from dry needling to manual manipulation and exercises custom tailored to my individual problem.

I feel like I am always treated as a person not just as a patient, and while I am not 100% yet, I am much much better than I have been in years and I CAN see the light at the end of the tunnel.”

-Lori McDonald

“My ability to enjoy a reasonable quality of life depends mostly on Physical Therapy. Osteoarthritis, shot knees, and spinal surgery all contribute to stiffness, muscle weakness, and pain. Kidney disease means I cannot take NSAID pain relievers. My only hope for mobility and freedom is to keep the muscles strong, flexible, and aligned. I have been helped by several physical therapists who not only help in their clinics but teach me how to do exercise every day at home to keep the parts moving together.

For the last several months I have been in the care of Scott Gibson and Laura Cox at the Alleghany Health Rehabilitation Center. They have helped me increase strength in my lower body and knees, reduced my pain, and given me tools to use on my own. They are kind, competent, and caring people. Based on experience with several therapists, they also know what they are doing.

As a research scientist I appreciate working with a team willing to try something new to improve treatment. Recently we have been using Blood Restriction Therapy to build strength in my legs. Blood flow to the leg is restricted and then exercised gently. It sounds a little strange, but the outcome is more strength, flexibility and am just as mean. This innovative therapy is now available in our hometown rehab facility. If you are suffering muscle pain, I would strongly recommend you go check them out.”

-Frederic K. Pfaender, PhD

“I was having neck pain and headaches. My doctor diagnosed an arthritic condition in my neck vertebrae and prescribed physical therapy. I was skeptical. How could PT help with a type of arthritis? But after weeks of ongoing pain I decided to call Alleghany Health’s PT clinic. From the moment I met with my Physical Therapist and Sandra Busic, PT Assistant, I learned a tremendous amount about vertebrae and muscles I never knew. After the first two visits I was feeling better. By the time I completed the sessions I was virtually pain free. The exercises and strategies were simple and didn’t take much time. Mrs. Busic always explained the reasons for the strategies and was very supportive. I now feel back to normal and I’m truly grateful. I can unconditionally recommend these professionals when PT is needed!”

-Charles Rudy

“Today I give much thanks to Alleghany Health, and especially the staff in Physical Therapy. With major issues in my lower back, they have taught me to manage my pain with the proper exercise and body mindfulness. NO surgery and NO narcotics!”

-Gary Medley