Winneshiek Medical Center offers comprehensive rehabilitation services for all ages and conditions. Our highly-trained staff includes licensed physical and occupational therapists, including a certified hand therapist; certified athletic trainers; registered nurses; a certified speech language pathologist; and a licensed massage therapist. The Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine team evaluate physical and "activities of daily living" issues and challenges. They treat patients by increasing mobility, building strength and relieving pain. Services include: Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Cardiac Rehabilitation, Sports Medicine, Massage Therapy and Speech Language Pathology.

For appointments, call: 563-387-3031 or 563-382-2911

Winneshiek Medical Center Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine offers three satellite offices to better serve patients:

Postville
400 Hardin Drive (Next to Good Samaritan Nursing Home)
Postville, IA 52162
563-864-7664

Spring Grove
107 West Main
Spring Grove, MN
507-498-3631

Calmar
115 Maryville
Calmar, IA 52132
563-562-3243

Athletic Physicals 

Winneshiek Medical Center - Decorah Clinic and Mabel Clinic is offering reduced rate athletic physicals to all area athletes.  This $30 exam includes a free optional musculoskeletal assessment provided by the Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine Department.  The musculoskeletal assessment covers joint flexibility and strength, posture, joint stability, injury history review, information on strength and conditioning, and nutritional information for the athlete.

The $30 must be paid at the time of the visit.  Students under age 18 need to bring parental consent, and all students should bring a completed Iowa/Minnesota high school physical form with them to the appointment (download below).  To make an appointment, call Winneshiek Medical Center at 563.382.2911.

Decorah Community Schools Athletic Physical Form

Waukon Schools Athletic Physical Form

Iowa Athletic Physical Form

Minnesota Athletic Physical Form

New Service: Female Urinary Incontinence Retraining

Urine leakage, called urinary incontinence, has long been thought to only affect older women.  However, young women - beginning as early as 18 years old - can struggle with this common problem.  Occupational Therapist Jennessa Luzum, OTR/L of Winneshiek Medical Center Rehabilitation shares that one in four women over age 18 experience some form of involuntary urine leakage. It is a problem that can particularly affect female athletes, mothers, some surgical patients, and women with weak pelvic floor muscles or hormonal imbalances.

Why does urine leak?
Luzum explains that urine leaks for many reasons.  She says, "Female athletes can struggle with incontinence due to the repetitive stress they put on the pelvic floor from running and jumping along with muscle length and strength imbalances.  Imagine doing a squat with weights...the pressure on the pelvic floor is tremendous.  Similarly, an elementary teacher spends a great deal of time squatted down at the level of her students and their desks.  Again, she is putting unnatural pressure on the pelvic floor for extended periods of time.  All of this pressure causes the muscles and tendons to stretch, and as a result, her body may not be able to contain urine as well as it should."

Luzum adds, "Urinary incontinence is not a normal part of aging or having a baby.  When urine leaks, it generally means the pelvic muscles are not doing their job and have to be re-trained to work properly again.  Although women usually do not want to discuss urinary incontinence and feel that it is just something they have to live with, it really should be treated no different than a hand or knee injury. In many cases, it is a muscular problem that can be treated with therapy." 

Therapy
Approximately 80% of urinary incontinence problems or pelvic floor dysfunctions can be improved or eliminated with appropriate therapy.  Luzum recently obtained certification from the acclaimed Herman and Wallace Pelvic Floor Institute in Seattle, Washington in female urinary incontinence retraining, and is the only therapist within a 60-mile radius performing this service. She says, "Therapy (retraining) involves discovering why a woman is leaking urine or experiences pain, and then creating a treatment plan personalized for her."  A treatment plan revolves around exercises, behavior modification, keeping a bladder diary, and patient education.  Luzum adds, "There is so much more to urinary incontinence retraining than doing Kegal exercises.  I recommend appropriate exercises for each situation, and teach my patients the correct way to perform the exercises.  Typically a patient is set up on an exercise program which is done in the privacy of her own home."

If you feel you could benefit from incontinence retraining, please contact your health care provider for a referral. Incontinence retraining is a service provided through the Rehabilitation Department at Winneshiek Medical Center and may be covered by your insurance provider. You should check with your insurance company for details on therapy benefits.

Luzum adds, "Urinary incontinence retraining is a non-invasive first step to improving your body's ability to contain urine or eliminate pelvic floor pain.  If desired results aren't achieved in six or more weeks, it is recommended you see a specialist.  However, most cases do improve, and you will be able to control your bladder without medication or surgery."

For more information on urinary incontinence retraining, call Winneshiek Medical Center Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine at 563.382.2911