One of my favorite comments from patients is “Don’t take this wrong, but this is not what I expected!” typically said enthusiastically with a tinge of hope in their voice.  I love this comment because it demonstrates that we do things differently at GSM.  Our team is always evolving and keeping things fresh to offer novel solutions to acute injuries and long-standing issues.

At GSM we are myth busters and offer data to help you understand our progressive style and recommendations. We push back when you are told an x-ray, that is describing age related findings, is explaining why your knee hurts and we offer an alternative explanation with a solution.  We are contagious hope dealers that know our bodies don’t have an expiration date and with appropriate physical therapy, we can feel and perform better at work and play.  This is what gets me fired up to continue working with patients into my 20^th year as a PT!

Over the past few years, data strongly support that most of our aches and pains are more connected to how strong we are and less connected to what the underlying tissue looks like.   That means that even if your x-ray showed “bone on bone arthritis”, maybe a knee replacement isn’t the best solution.  Or if you’ve been told you have degenerative disc changes in your back, it’s unlikely that these changes are contributing to your back pain.   This is not to imply you aren’t experiencing pain and dysfunction, but that there’s a solution that doesn’t involve aggressive surgeries.

I embrace this new information because it allows us to offer our patients alternatives and hope.  Instead of signing up for a knee replacement with a long and painful rehab, we can often resolve your issues by easing into some squatting and encouraging your tissues to be more resilient.  Even if your back x-ray showed degenerative changes, often the ticket to resolving chronic back pain is to improve your ability to hip hinge and pick up weight.  I personally appreciate this because I experienced decades of ongoing back flare ups.   I started strength training in my early 40’s, and now 6 years later, I feel strong and no longer experience chronic low back issues.   I can pick up a bag of dog food and swing it up to my shoulder easy peasy.  And perhaps best of all, I don’t feel like a stiff and sore old lady every morning when I’m getting out of bed!

Our team knows what it takes to be active Montanans and we practice what we preach. We have fun, active families that hike high, harvest their own meat, lift heavy, and embrace awe-inspiring views year-round.  The GSM team puts positive energy into everything we do, and we love to crush goals in and out of the clinic. 

So, after 10 years of business, I can say GSM has grown into more then what I expected and hoped for.  Thank you all for your continued loyalty and enthusiasm.  Let’s stay active together!

-Written by Darcy Cook, MSPT