What impact can a physical therapist have on the overall health of a worksite? Quite a large one, actually – from avoiding injury at work, to managing pain and discomfort, to excelling in personal fitness, we listen to why this MMC physical therapist (Shelby L.) loves to keep her people moving.
Most rewarding part of your job?
The most rewarding part of my job is getting to work directly alongside tradespeople in their actual job environment and being able to make a significant impact on the physical demands they face each day. Being onsite and in the field allows me to provide practical, real-time solutions that directly improve how they feel while they work.
How do you build relationships with patients?
I build trust with patients and trades workers onsite by showing up for them. I frequently attend their daily safety huddles, stretch and flex sessions, and check in with them while they work in the field. I also support their well-being beyond the job, whether that's by sharing techniques to ease personal aches and pains or designing programs to help them reach hobby or fitness related life goals.
Walk us through a typical day/What do you do on a typical day?
No two days are the same, which is one of my favorite parts of the job. Like any role, there is some behind the scenes work—meetings, calls, documentation, and ergonomic reports to keep things running smoothly. But the real highlight is being on site. I get to spend time each day working one on one with tradespeople, helping them manage injuries, move better, and reach their physical goals, whether that is getting people through the workday pain free or training for something outside of work. I also get to walk the job site doing real time ergonomic assessments, making quick adjustments the workers can feel immediately. We mix in wellness and fitness programming, along with events like safety fairs, tabling session with some fun education and prizes, and lunch and learns that focus on body mechanics and injury prevention. Theres a lot of variety! Definitely not your typical day in a physical therapy clinic.
How do you collaborate with other groups on-site, safety, outside referrals, etc?
Beyond just staying visible and checking in on trades while they work-- Trade and subcontractor specific safety professionals are a big connecting point for me. I work together with them to reach their crews so I can provide them with targeted warm-ups and counter-movement programs that match the unique demands of each crew. We also partner in small, on the job in-services to break down body mechanics, movement strategies, ergonomics, and injury prevention in a way that is practical and tailored to their specific work.
What is a new skill or thing you have learned since taking on this role with MMC?
All things construction! As a female physical therapist this specific setting was a big change from my typical work setting and almost everything in that regard was new to me. Over the last two years I have learned so much about building processes, trade specific demands, tools, equipment, and safety.
What does a successful day look like to you?
I feel most successful at work when I see my recommendations come to life in the field. From workers using new movement strategies we practiced or to entire crews implementing a tool or equipment change I suggested. It's rewarding to know those adjustments are making their jobs safer and easier in real time.
Describe one of your favorite work memories?
Some of my favorite work memories have happened during our morning site wide stretch and flex sessions. There is something uniquely rewarding about turning a construction site into a group fitness class, getting a large crew of hardworking tradespeople moving together with energy and intention to start their day. It's even better when the music kicks in and they start really getting into it—singing along or putting their own spin on movements. Sometimes hip circles turn into "bringing it around town" or ankle circles turn into an impromptu dance break. As both a physical therapist and a group fitness instructor, I love blending these two worlds together. It creates a positive start to the day and makes movement feel approachable.
Brag about yourself! What is your proudest professional accomplishment? (
My proudest professional accomplishment has been earning my degree as a Doctor of Physical Therapy. It represents years of hard work and dedication to becoming the best clinician I can be. While it is becoming more widely recognized, many people still don't know a clinical doctorate is required to earn your physical therapist license. It's been incredibly rewarding to see that hard work translate directly into a meaningful impact on the job site.
Where do you think you can have the biggest impact in your role?
The biggest impact an onsite physical therapist can have is in the prevention and immediate treatment of work-related musculoskeletal injuries. It's about keeping workers safe, keeping them moving, and helping them recover quickly so they can stay on the job and continue doing what they do best. But most importantly it's about making sure they leave work feeling strong and healthy for the things that really matter—spending time with their families, friends, and the hobbies that make life full outside of work.
