Performance Physical Therapy opens its doors

Facility is the newest division of hospital

Performance Physical Therapy Sports and Orthopedics Center will help you exceed your expectations. Performance PT, a division of Bonner General Hospital, is located in the new Pinegrove Medical Building next to the Healing Garden.

Every year people move to Bonner County for the mountains, the lake and the fun in between. Our residents are active — whether on the slopes of Schweitzer in the wintertime, or enjoying activities on the lake or the world class mountain biking in the summer. Our school sports teams are some of the best in the state and it looks like Bonner County kids are going to grow up just as active as their parents. But all this can come with a price. Sometimes injuries occur and need professional medical treatment.

When BGH's Rehabilitation Team first learned of the possibility for a new, additional location, excitement rippled through the department. The staff was excited at the prospect of providing more specialized care in the orthopedic physical therapy arena. BGH's Yvonne Savarise and Steve Kangior, two highly trained physical therapists, will make Performance PT their new home.

After earning a degree in business and immersing herself in the corporate world, Yvonne Savarise found that it didn't suit her desire to help people. That's when Yvonne discovered her true passion — Physical Therapy. She got into the Physical Therapy program at the University of Utah — an achievement in itself as the program was very competitive.

Now, Yvonne has over twelve years of experience in physical therapy and is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Physical Therapy — a DPT. When she's not working, Yvonne enjoys skiing in the winter and mountain biking in the summer and can often be seen out walking her two dogs. Her work has led her to a special interest in cervical and lumbar dysfunction — back pain — in addition to general orthopedics. As part of her doctorate work, she is doing a case study on back pain that will help integrate evidence-based medicine for treatment.

Steve Kangior moved to Sandpoint relatively recently, but he brings with him 13 years of experience as a licensed physical therapist. Steve is the classic example of the Sandpoint immigrant. He came to Sandpoint last summer for a friend's wedding and as they were out boating on the lake, he glanced up at Schweitzer Basin and eyed the runs. "This is it," he thought, and made the move from Denver, where the city crowds didn't mesh with his desire for a small-town atmosphere.

Steve earned his master's degree in physical therapy at Wichita State University and has been working in his field ever since. His specialty is orthopedic sports medicine which ties in with his love of sports and the outdoors. Steve skis, bikes — mountain and road, backpacks, fly-fishes, and hikes. His experience and activities make him an ideal candidate to help people recover from a sports-related injury or surgery.

Yvonne and Steve will bring their unique interests, experience and perspectives to Performance Physical Therapy.

"Our goal is not to just address the client's symptoms," Savarise says, "but to provide them with a comprehensive assessment identifying the anatomical compromise which lead to their condition." A personalized treatment program will then be developed to include the modalities, skilled manual techniques and exercises necessary to eliminate symptoms.

"We have developed a program that will strengthen while retraining your body to return to your activities and lifestyle," says Kangior. Whether your symptoms are a result of biomechanical compromise, repetitive stress, body mechanics or a traumatic event, the therapist will provide you with the education necessary to assist in your rehabilitation process and prevent reoccurrence. "We will collaborate with your physician to assure optimal coordination of your care and the success of your rehabilitation process," assures Kangior.

Performance Physical Therapy is located in the new Pinegrove Medical Building. To schedule an appointment with Yvonne or Steve, call 265-3751.