Under Friday night lights, Zach Collett suits up and takes the field in Perkins, OK. He’s not playing for wins or loses – in fact, he’s not even wearing a jersey – Collett is a contracted athletic trainer assessing injuries and caring for athletes on the field.
It’s a role that comes naturally to him, given he spent nearly a decade as an athletic trainer before becoming a physical therapist in 2014 and joining the rehab team at Total Health. Fast-forward another decade, and he’s still committed to growth in the profession he loves. Collett recently became one of 25 sports certified specialists in Oklahoma through the American Physical Therapy Association. To earn a board-certified specialty, therapists must have advanced training, complete at least 2,000 hours in the specialty area, pass a national board specialty exam, and maintain the credential with recertification every 10 years.
“This has always been a goal of mine,” Collett said. “With my background, I have a lot of knowledge in athletic training and physical therapy, but this certification allows me to ensure I’m giving best-practice advice to my patients and staying on top of the most recent advances in the field.”
Collett is one of 17 therapists at Total Health Rehab, each with distinct experience and qualifications on specific modalities of therapy. Collett shares his passion for sports with fellow therapist, Jeromy Jones.
“We have a strong, strong sports-based expertise here,” said Lisa Hughes, the clinical manager of physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy services at Total Health Rehab. “Zach and Jeromy are highly qualified to treat any kind of sports-related injuries in addition to the general population they serve.”
Jones came to Stillwater Medical Center 18 years ago with degrees in athletic training and physical therapy. He became a certified strength and conditioning specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association in 2007, and in 2011 became an orthopedic clinical specialist, focusing on injury prevention and rehabilitation through the treatment of muscles, bones, and joints. The orthopedic certification exam requires advanced knowledge for not only the athletic injury assessment and treatment, but also general population assessment and treatment of orthopedic issues from head to toe.
“As a physical therapist at Total Health, I have worked with the age span of athletes from little league through professional-level athletes from the National Finals Rodeo, Professional Golfers’ Association, National Powerlifting League, Major League Baseball, and even Senior Olympics,” Jones said. “Our large clinic has the perfect set up to work with this population with plenty of room for sports performance training. We also have an outdoor area for kicking and throwing, field cutting, and planting activities.”
Both Jones and Collett are former athletes who have experienced what it’s like to come back from injury. They find fulfillment in helping patients reach their goals and progress to the level of desired performance.
“The motivation to return to something is powerful,” Collett said. “I harness that with my patients and use their passion to reach a specific goal in the clinic. I love to see when they’ve bought into the process and have used the skills they’ve learned to get back to doing what they love.”
One of Collett’s patients who experienced this first-hand was Mackenzie Bro. She’s a former three-sport athlete and now mother-of-three whose active lifestyle was threatened by an injury that left her unable to walk. She was in pain and hoping to avoid surgery when she began working with Collett.
“Zach took the time to try to figure out what activities were causing pain. He listened to everything I had to say and was determined to get me back to where I wanted to be,” Bro said. “Zach consistently stays informed about the latest developments in the field to ensure optimal care for his patients.”
After several months of therapy, Collett and Bro found the best exercises to relieve her pain, and she was able to return to an active life with her children and get back to the physical activity that keeps her healthy.
“We are so fortunate to have a staff with depth of experience and willingness to learn and grow. These specialized certifications are evidence of that. At the heart of it all is our desire to best serve the patient and their needs whatever those needs may be,” Jones said.
