Danny Foerster - A PT Life “The dude abides”

In a previous post, I discussed the value pelvic floor physical therapy has had on my general health before and after having my colon completely removed.

I’ve also sought physical therapy services to address several injuries and muscle imbalances I’ve encountered through the years. I was referred to Danny Foerster, PT, DPT, USAT L1 at physical therapy elite in Bozeman, MT. Danny has become a cornerstone of my care team, and someone I confided in as soon as my colectomy date was determined. We had a short timeline to prepare, and without his careful treatment strategy, I would not have returned to general life, as well as running and mountain biking as quickly as I did.

I’ve also seen Ashley Pecora, PT, DPT, another provider in the office for treatments as well. Her knowledge, patience, and kind spirit will put you at ease. She’s a lot of fun to work with and tolerates my endless quotes of, “The Big Lebowski,” which emerge anytime I’m working with Danny.

I can’t say enough about the PT elite team. You don’t need to be an elite athlete to see them, but the care and support they provide will make you feel like one. If you are preparing for or recovering from a colectomy or major surgery, it’s worth checking out PT services in your area.

Please visit pt-elite.com for more information on Elite PT services. Five questions with Danny:

What is your treatment philosophy and why? 

My treatment philosophy is very similar to my coaching philosophy. It is a collaborative partnership to reach an end goal. I try to provide insight into rehab or training through education. I want to foster an environment where each patient has a greater sense of autonomy and self-efficacy over their recovery or training program.

I like to think of myself as a tool in a patient’s tool box, rather than a crutch to lean on. Physical therapy is unique in the healthcare space, in that it requires each patient to take an active role in their own recovery. It’s not just taking a pill and waiting for the effects to kick in.

While I certainly perform manual therapy techniques to help manage pain or improve function, my job is more to  guide each patient in how to help rehab themselves through stretching/mobility, exercises, or lifestyle modifications. When you shift the dynamic of the partnership this way, the patient feels empowered that THEY have knowledge and ownership in caring for their bodies in the future. 

Do only “serious” athletes benefit from PT? 

I believe that every BODY benefits from investment in physical health, but can be attained in many forms: gym membership, nutrition counseling, personal trainer, body workers, physical therapists, etc. By investing in your physical health, you are going to feel better in your day to day activities, your recreational endeavors, and improve overall longevity and quality of life. 

Think of that investment as a sliding scale depending on where YOU are currently and what you’re looking for. If you are currently battling an acute or chronic injury, impaired motion/mobility, pain, or even just not being able to move and perform daily tasks at your desired level, then physical therapy might be your first step. As pain, mobility, and strength are addressed through physical therapy, then shifting that investment to something like a personal trainer or gym membership might be more appropriate to continue progressing your health and wellness. I find that when a patient or athlete is in this stage, it is beneficial to have occasional check-ins with a PT or body worker to keep things feeling good, as well as identify potential issues bubbling under the surface that may turn into an injury/impairment if left unaddressed.

You can take only one download on a long trip. Big Lebowski or Swingers?

Obviously you’re not a golfer…I’d have to say the Big Lebowski. I mean, the rug really tied the room together. 

Favorite location and food for a slack packing trip? 

Oh there are so many choices! Keeping locations close to home, I think you can’t go wrong with a trip deep into the Gallatins or Beartooths. One of my guilty pleasures for slack packing food is Annie’s Mac & Cheese, and a favorite trail snack is sour patch kids…I save those for when I need a little pick me up on the trail.

Any suggestions for the weekend warriors? 

The best suggestion I have for weekend warriors is to avoid being a weekend warrior! I get it…you are a time crunched adult with a time consuming job, family responsibilities, and other obligations…time for weekday training or exercise is limited. Then the weekend comes and it’s time to go all out on the yard work projects, go mountain biking, or bag a peak. From a physical perspective, it’s really difficult to expect your body to do nothing all week, then hit it hard on the weekend, and bounce back like it did in your 20s. If you don’t have a lot of time during the week for exercise, then consistency is going to be your best friend. Carve out ~30 mins for exercise 2-3x/wk and commit! Hold that time sacred and be consistent! The gains you will see over the weeks and months of consistent work will allow your body to handle the harder weekend adventures with less risk of adverse reaction or injury.