Group recognizes local physical therapist
By Carol Haynes
Jonesboro physical therapist Sam Denton has received the Arkansas Physical Therapy Association's Distinguished Service Award.
The award is given yearly to a physical therapist who demonstrates outstanding contributions to the profession. He was selected from more than 2,000 physical therapists in the state.
A physical therapist since 1986, Denton said he has always been interested in research and athletics, and physical therapy is a way he is able to combine both interests.
Denton and his brother, Gregg, are owners of Therapy Providers of Arkansas, a firm which has two clinics in Jonesboro as well as clinics in Paragould, Pocahontas, Manila, Walnut Ridge and Trumann.
Sam Denton serves as chief executive officer of the company, his least favorite aspect of the business. "I'd rather treat patients," he said.
The 46-year-old Lepanto High School graduate said he treats more people his own age with injuries "that are related to overuse."
He said people have a misconception that sports injuries occur most in younger people. However, the majority of those injuries occur in "weekend warriors," he said, people who get out and simply work out too hard.
"I enjoy treating the amateur athlete, especially the mature athlete, because they want to get better," he said.
And he likes to see people in the age ranges of 30-65 who understand the importance of exercise.
Jonesboro, he said, is "blessed with a healthy population" of people in that age range. "A healthy level of sports is important and should be a part of everybody's daily activity."
He said weekend warriors tend to compete with themselves rather than with each other.
It's never too late, he said, to start some sort of an exercise program.
Denton is also neuro-developmental therapy trained. He said a physical therapist needs a good understanding of both orthopedics and the nervous system.
"You need to understand when you inhibit one group of muscles, then the other group of muscles is better able to function," he explained.
Denton works with several long-term stroke patients and a small population of spinal cord injuries.
He was cited in the award presentation because of his work in promoting research and development in physical therapy.
"It's important for the profession of physical therapy that we keep advancing and better our profession so that we can do a better job for our patients," he said.
Denton also works with legislators trying to get the best care possible for patients including direct access for Medicare patients. He also has been working to remove the arbitrary $1,500 annual payment cap for physical and speech therapy. Because the two treatments are grouped together, Medicare patients are covered for only $750 worth of physical therapy each year, he said.
While physical therapists do not prescribe medications or take X-rays, they do act as coaches, Denton said, encouraging patients to work hard.
He said his job is to do his best to either help the patient get rid of a disability or "to help him live with a disability."
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