St. Luke's Rehabilitation Center

Restoring Your Quality of Life

St. Luke's Rehabilitation Center is a regional leader for licensed and certified, one-on-one rehab and therapy services.

101 Hospital Drive
Columbus, NC 28722
Office: (828) 894-8419

• We accept most insurances
• 5,500 sf state-of-the-art center
• Superior results and faster healing
• Pelvic floor therapy
• The region's ONLY lymphedema therapy
• The region's ONLY certified hand therapy
• The region's ONLY Parkinson's exercise class
• The region's ONLY PORi certified cancer rehab

Recognized for personalized care, renowned surgeons, and progressive technology, St. Luke's Hospital offers an orthopedic wing that integrates technology with the healing powers of nature. This special addition to the hospital delivers a post-op recovery and rehabilitation experience on par with the high-tech surgeries - especially the advanced orthopedic procedures - that have been attracting patients from across the region and across the nation to St. Luke's Hospital.

A state-of-the-art therapeutic gym with all new equipment allows inpatients and outpatients to receive one-on-one physical, occupational and speech therapy.

A SoloStep, ceiling-mounted track system, provides a suspended safety harness to allow patients to ambulate without the fear of falling.

A HydroTrack underwater treadmill provides the benefits of aquatic therapy in a private one-on-one setting with a therapist.

An ADL (Activities for Daily Living) lab with a kitchen, bath, shower, ramp/curb simulator, car transfer station and more, allowing patients to safely ease back into their daily routines.

• Pelvic Floor Patient Paperwork

Rehabilitation Center Therapists:

J. Scott McDermott, MPA, OTR/L
Director of Rehabilitation Services
Occupational Therapist


Sarah Compton, PT, CLT
Lead Physical Therapist
Lymphedema and PORi Certified


Shana Williams, DPT
Physical and Pelvic Floor Therapist


Dianel Domingo-Cayoca, PT, DPT
Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Geriatric Physical Therapy
LSVT Big Certified


Karol S. Young, OTD, OTR/L, CHT
Occupational Therapist
Certified Hand Therapist
LSVT BIG® Certified


Dixie Shay, M.Aud, CCC-SLP/A
Speech-Language Pathologist
Dysphagia Therapist
LSVT LOUD Certified

Kelly Noegel, PT, LAT, ATC
Physical Therapist


Sharon Hodge, LPTA
Physical Therapist Assistant


Laura Walker, LPTA
Physical Therapist Assistant

Physical Therapy:

We treat a wide variety of problems from non-surgical to surgical, including:

• Joint replacements (hips, knees)
• Neck and back injuries
• Knee and ankle injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Muscle sprains and strains
• Gait and balance safety training to maintain independence
• Neurological problems such as strokes, Parkinson's Disease, head injuries, etc.
• Sports injuries
• Balance and vestibular disorders
• Pelvic floor and incontinence disorders

Occupational Therapy:

Occupational therapists work with individuals who need specialized assistance to lead independent, productive and satisfying lives. Our focus is on restoring function in activities of daily living. We can treat people who have experienced the following:

• Strokes and head injuries
• Hand, wrist and elbow injuries
• Shoulder injuries
• Rotator cuff injuries and surgery
• Arthritis, Parkinson's Disease or other serious illnesses
• Amputations or spinal injuries
• Work-related injuries
• Custom upper extremity splinting
• Joint replacements (shoulders, elbows, hands)

We also assist with one-on-one self-care needs to keep our patients become as functional as possible. We look at musculoskeletal, cognitive and neurological needs in addition to adaptive methods and techniques after an injury.

Speech Therapy:

Our speech therapist provides a wide range of treatment targeting speech, language and swallowing problems including:

Swallowing evaluation and treatment-for individuals who get choked, strangled or cough when eating or drinking, those who feel food is sticking in the throat or who have trouble chewing foods
Modified Barium Swallow Test: an x-ray that shows the complete swallowing process when given a variety of food and liquid consistencies
Augmentative communication: alternative means of communicating without the use of voice.
Cognitive impairment after an injury or illness
Speech difficulty after an injury or illness

VitalStim Therapy for swallow dysfunction. St. Luke's Hospital employs a VitalStim Certified therapist.

Lymphedema Therapy:

St. Luke's Hospital provides a unique and successful treatment for patients who suffer with lymphedema, a buildup of fluid in extremities causing pain and discomfort.

Patients suffering from lymphedema can receive relief with Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) therapy through St. Luke's Hospital Outpatient Rehabilitation Services. St. Luke's Hospital employs a Physical Therapist who has specialty training in Lymphedema and Manual Lymphatic Drainage. She has been certified and practicing in this field for over 13 years, which means that patients do not have to travel out of town to receive this specialty treatment.

MLD is a very specific type of massage therapy used to drain excess fluid from the body and improve the overall functioning of the lymphatic system. MLD is combined with a program of compression bandaging, remedial exercise, and patient education for self-care after discharge.

A physician referral is required for Lymphedema therapy, and patients must remain under close medical supervision. Anyone who exhibits swelling resulting from damage to the lymphatic system or chronic venous insufficiency resulting from surgery, chemotherapy or radiation treatment is encouraged to consult their physician about the effectiveness of this treatment for their condition. Lymphedema is a chronic condition, so maintenance treatment and lifestyle changes to keep the disease in check are vital

Oncology Rehabilitation:

Cancer treatment is a grueling course, leaving many people exhausted, weak and with a compromised immune system. This is where physical therapy plays a significant role in the recovery process. St. Luke's Hospital has a full-time Physical Therapist who is certified by the Physiological Oncology Rehab Institute (PORi) specializing in Breast Cancer Therapy. She is only one of seven such certified therapists in the state of North Carolina.

Chemotherapy Induced Weakness:

You may experience weakness or fatigue when chemotherapy or radiation therapy destroys healthy cells in addition to the targeted cancer cells. Physical therapy at St. Luke's can help with:

• Therapeutic exercise programs
• Balance programs
• Range of motion after surgery, before and during radiation of affected joints
• Preventing and/or treating adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder)
• Lower extremity mobility and strengthening
• Energy conservation/work simplification
• Activities of daily living retraining
• Assess need for assistive devices
• Wellness program once skilled physical therapy has concluded

Hand Therapy:

St. Luke's employs a full-time Certified Hand Therapist (CHT), the only outpatient CHT in Polk and Rutherford Counties.

What is Hand Therapy?

Hand therapy is the discipline that addresses injuries and conditions of the hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder.

Certified hand therapists are either occupational or physical therapists who have specialized training in treating upper extremity conditions. Through advanced study and continued professional development, a certified hand therapist must pass a rigorous exam to demonstrate competency.

Our hand therapist works closely with physicians and clients to provide individualized care. Treatment often begins within days of the injury or surgery and continues until the client has returned to work and/or a productive lifestyle.

Conditions Treated:

Hand therapists specialize in treating upper extremity conditions including:

• Traumatic injuries
• Fractures and dislocations
• Sports injuries
• Tennis elbow and other types of tendonitis
• Carpal tunnel, cubital tunnel, thoracic outlet syndrome, and other nerve entrapment disorders
• Repetitive motion syndromes
• Amputations
• Burns and frostbite
• Arthritis
• Tendon and nerve injuries
• Dupuytren's contracture
• Complex regional pain syndrome/RSD

Evaluation and Treatment:

Following a thorough evaluation, an individualized treatment plan will be developed for each client and may include:

• Wound care
• Range of motion and strengthening exercises
• Control of swelling
• Moist heat and cold therapy
• Neuromuscular re-education
• Ultrasound, iontophoresis, and electrical stimulation
• Scar and soft tissue massage
• Desensitization and sensory re-education
• Customized orthosis fabrication
• Instruction in joint protection
• Therapeutic activities
• Home exercise programs

LSVT LOUD® and LSVT BIG® Treatment for Parkinson Disease:

St. Luke's is staffed with therapists who provide specialized LSVT LOUD® and LSVT BIG® treatment for individuals with Parkinson disease. LSVT LOUD® is a speech therapy treatment developed by Dr. Lorraine Ramig. This treatment technique focuses on improving the "loudness" and voice quality of individuals with Parkinson Disease (PD) and other neurological conditions. With over 25 years of research to support the effectiveness of this treatment, individuals are taught how to "recalibrate" so they are able to correct how soft they sound to others.

LSVT BIG® uses the same principles to address smaller and slower movement patterns. Through instruction in "bigger" movements this treatment improves walking, balance, and the ability to perform self-care tasks.

For more information see the LSVT Global® website: https://www.lsvtglobal.com/Patients_Family

St. Luke's also offers a free exercise class for individuals with Parkinson disease. These exercise classes emphasize stretching and reaching motions and are performed in both sitting and standing. Parkinson's exercise classes are held on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month in the Rehabilitation Center Gym. Please call 828.894.8419 for more information.

Balance and Fall Risk Conditioning Program:

St. Luke's Outpatient Rehab offers a Balance and Fall Risk Screening and Conditioning Program using the BioDex Balance System.

The Biodex Balance System enables the rehabilitation team at St. Luke's Hospital to perform balance testing and identify fall risk candidates, determine ankle and knee status, and determine limits of stability. This system also provides balance training including stabilization exercises, range of motion exercises, and weight shifting exercises.

This system is combined with traditional physical therapy services such as stretches, exercises and neuromuscular re-education to help patients return to their age appropriate level of balance and to regain independence in their daily tasks.

Pelvic Floor Therapy

Pelvic floor physical therapy is a specialty involving the evaluation and treatment of disorders related to the pelvis. It is a non-invasive, conservative option for female patience with pelvic dysfunction.

• Coccyx pain (tailbone)
• Defecation disorders
• Fecal incontinence
• Painful intercourse
• Pelvic organ prolapse
• Pelvic, sacroiliac, and low back pain
• Peri/Post-partum musculoskeletal pain
• Urinary incontinence or difficulty voiding
• Voiding dysfunctions

• Pelvic Floor Patient Paperwork

Information

St. Luke's Hospital Rehabilitation Center is located on the campus of St. Luke's Hospital at 101 Hospital Drive, Columbus, NC 28722
For more information about St. Luke's Hospital Rehabilitation Center, please contact Scott McDermott at 828- 894-8419 or Email.