Why physical therapy? For Matthew Ammons, the attraction came foremost because of a desire to help people. But practicing physical therapy is also about using that drive to serve, a love for problem solving and a deep respect for how the body works to keep people living their active lives, Matthew said.

“I enjoy that physical therapy is a non-invasive, non-pharmacological approach to helping those in need.” Matthew said. “The human body is a complex entity. Through the use of anatomy, physiology, and bio-mechanics, I can better understand how that body works.”

When you understand how it works, you can better determine the best means to relieving it from hurt.

Matthew was raised in a military family, but calls Virginia Beach home. He earned his Doctor of Physical Therapy from Old Dominion University in 2009, following graduation from Salem High School and James Madison University.

Today, Matthew practices physical therapy at Tidewater’s Redmill location in Virginia Beach, where he serves as the Clinical Director.

While a great benefit, joining Tidewater Physical Therapy wasn’t just about returning to his hometown.

“Tidewater Physical Therapy values their clinical staff and supports each clinician’s unique interest and abilities,” Matthew said. “Each clinic has its own personality that reflects the patients and clients that they serve. We offer a continuity of care, in which each patient is valued and whose personal goals and aspirations are taken into consideration when developing a treatment strategy. Tidewater…treats the individual, not just the aliment.”

Approaching each patient as a person makes each patient memorable.

There’s one in particular Matthew is sure he’ll never forget. She was an elderly woman who was referred to Matthew for treatment following what was believed to be a stroke. She’d had several therapy sessions when her ability to use her arm sharply declined.

It became “limp and flaccid.”

Matthew notified the patient’s physician of her change in status and a follow up medical visit revealed she had a highly invasive form of brain cancer.

“Even with her initial diagnosis of having a stroke, which turned into brain cancer, she was still excited about participating in therapy. She was in high spirits from day one, and though scared of having cancer, never relented and continued to work to regain function of her upper extremity. She continued with therapy throughout her illness, up until the day of surgery and then after with home health. Eventually the cancer won, but she didn’t stop fighting.”

Matthew is a member of Hampton Road Runners, a local running group that participates in training and group runs throughout Hampton Roads, is active in Old Dominion University’s Physical Therapy Program and belongs to the Neuro and Orthopedic sections of the American Physical Therapy Association.

*Matthew Ammons, DPT is a regular voice on the Tidewater Physical Therapy News Page and Tidewater Performance Center’s LIVING LIFE STRONGER Blog. Read some of his latest writing on barefoot running here.