Physical and Occupational Therapy in Duluth, MN
Rehabilitation is part of the treatment, not a separate service you find elsewhere after your appointment. At Orthopaedic Associates of Duluth, our physical and occupational therapists work in the same building as our surgeons and physicians. Your therapy plan is built around your specific diagnosis and surgical findings, and your therapist communicates directly with your care team throughout your recovery.
Therapy at Orthopaedic Associates of Duluth is available as a standalone service for non-surgical conditions, as a post-operative rehabilitation program following surgery, and as a preventative intervention for patients working to avoid injury or reinjury. Treatment is customized for each patient, with one-on-one sessions and hands-on care as the standard approach.
Therapy Clinic Locations in Duluth and Hermantown
We operate two therapy clinic locations in the Duluth area.
- Duluth, Main Office.
Our main Duluth clinic at Northland Medical Center houses our expanded physical therapy department alongside our physician offices and on-site imaging. Patients receiving care from our surgeons or physicians can move between appointments in the same building without traveling to a separate facility.
- Hermantown Therapy Clinic.
Our Hermantown therapy clinic provides physical and occupational therapy services, and includes a spacious fitness gym used for sport-specific programs and rehabilitation. Patients who prefer a location closer to the western Duluth area have access to the same team and programs at this location.
Physical Therapy in Duluth, MN
Our physical therapists specialize in orthopaedics, sports rehabilitation, and manual therapy. Treatment plans are built around improving strength, function, and mobility for each patient’s specific condition, whether that means recovering from surgery, rehabbing a sports injury, or managing a chronic musculoskeletal condition without surgery.
Treatment is hands-on and individualized. Physical therapy sessions are one-on-one, and our therapists educate patients on their condition and home exercise plans throughout care so progress continues between clinic visits.
Several of our physical therapists hold Doctorate-level training in physical therapy, with specialty certifications in manual therapy, running rehabilitation, and dry needling for both upper and lower body.
Physical Therapy Programs and Specialties
Sportsmetrics ACL Injury Prevention. A structured, evidence-based program designed to reduce the risk of ACL injury in athletes. Multiple therapists on our team hold Sportsmetrics ACL prevention certification.
Return to Sport Programs and Testing. Functional testing and progressive rehabilitation programs for athletes returning to activity following injury or surgery. Includes objective return-to-sport assessments to guide safe clearance for return to play.
Running Assessments and Custom Running Programs. Our certified running specialists analyze running mechanics and develop personalized programs to address performance, pain, or injury recovery. Available at both our Duluth and Hermantown locations.
Total Joint Post-Operative Care. Structured rehabilitation following total knee, hip, and shoulder replacement procedures. Our therapists work directly with the operating surgeon to coordinate care from the first post-operative visit through full recovery.
Certified Integrated Manual Therapy. Hands-on treatment techniques used to address joint mobility, soft tissue restrictions, and movement dysfunction. Multiple therapists on our team hold Certified Integrated Manual Therapist credentials.
Dry Needling. Fine needles are inserted into myofascial trigger points, tendons, ligaments, or nerves to stimulate a healing response in painful musculoskeletal conditions. Available for upper body, lower body, or both depending on the therapist. Our team includes a Certified Functional Dry Needling Specialist.
Occupational Therapy in Duluth, MN
Our occupational therapists evaluate and treat conditions that affect a patient’s ability to perform daily activities, work tasks, and functional movements. Treatment is individualized and may include splinting, range of motion exercises, strengthening, manual techniques, and therapeutic modalities depending on the diagnosis.
Our occupational therapy team includes two Certified Hand Therapists who specialize in upper extremity care for the hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder. Hand therapy at Orthopaedic Associates covers post-surgical rehabilitation, fracture care, tendon injuries, nerve conditions, arthritis management, and splinting. Our certified hand therapists work directly with our hand and upper extremity surgeons, so rehabilitation begins with a clear picture of what was found and repaired.
Our occupational therapy team also includes a Certified Lymphedema Therapist for patients managing lymphedema as part of their recovery.
Occupational Therapy Services
Hand and upper extremity rehabilitation
Post-surgical care for hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder procedures
Splinting and orthotic fabrication
Range of motion and strengthening programs
Ergonomic evaluations
Functional Capacity Assessments
Dry needling for upper body conditions
Pilates Reformer for stability, strength, and flexibility
Certified Hand Therapy in Duluth, MN
Two members of our occupational therapy team hold the Certified Hand Therapist credential. CHT is a specialty certification awarded by the Hand Therapy Certification Commission and requires a minimum of five years of clinical practice, 4,000 hours of direct hand therapy experience, and passage of a separate board examination beyond standard therapy licensure. It is one of the more demanding specialty credentials in rehabilitation.
For patients recovering from hand surgery, wrist fractures, tendon repairs, nerve injuries, carpal tunnel release, or upper extremity conditions affecting daily function, working with a certified hand therapist means your rehabilitation is managed by someone with focused, verified expertise in exactly that area.
Our certified hand therapists provide:
- Post-surgical hand and wrist rehabilitation
- Tendon and nerve injury rehabilitation
- Custom splinting and orthotic fabrication
- Range of motion and strengthening programs for the hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder
- Dry needling for upper extremity conditions
- Functional Capacity Assessments
Certified Hand Therapists at Orthopaedic Associates: Nikki Duncan OTR/L CHT and Amber Berg OTR/L CHT.
Specialized Therapy Programs and Assessments
Functional Capacity Assessments. A Functional Capacity Assessment is a two-day standardized evaluation that measures a patient’s ability to perform specific work-related physical tasks. Results are used to guide return-to-work decisions, document functional limitations, and inform treatment planning. Assessments are conducted by our occupational and physical therapy team.
Running Assessments. Our certified running specialists conduct detailed assessments of running mechanics, including gait analysis and movement screening. Based on the assessment, a personalized running program is developed to address pain, inefficiency, or injury risk. Running assessments are available for both competitive athletes and recreational runners returning from injury.
Dry Needling. Dry needling is a therapy technique in which fine needles are inserted into myofascial trigger points, tendons, ligaments, or nerves to stimulate a healing response in painful musculoskeletal conditions. It is used as part of a broader treatment plan, not as a standalone intervention. Our team includes therapists certified in dry needling for upper body, lower body, or both, as well as a Certified Functional Dry Needling Specialist.
Pilates Reformer. The Pilates Reformer is used within our physical and occupational therapy programs to build stability, strength, flexibility, and postural control. It is incorporated into treatment plans when appropriate, supervised by our Pilates-certified occupational therapist. Available at our Hermantown clinic location.
Durable Medical Equipment. For patients working with our therapy team, we carry a selection of retail rehabilitation products and tools available for purchase at the clinic. This allows patients to continue their prescribed exercises and recovery activities at home between appointments.
Meet Our Physical and Occupational Therapy Team
Our therapy team holds Doctorate and Master’s-level training in physical and occupational therapy, with specialty certifications including:
- Certified Hand Therapist (CHT)
- Certified Integrated Manual Therapist
- Certified Functional Dry Needling Specialist
- Certified Running Specialist
- Sportsmetrics ACL Prevention Certified
- Certified Lymphedema Therapist
- Pilates Certified (mat and reformer)
Therapists practice across our Duluth and Hermantown clinic locations.
Request a Physical or Occupational Therapy Appointment in Duluth, MN
Our therapy team sees patients at our Duluth and Hermantown clinic locations. Referrals from our physicians are coordinated directly. If you are an existing patient of Orthopaedic Associates, your physician can refer you to our therapy team as part of your treatment plan.
To schedule a therapy appointment or learn more about our programs, call or use our contact form.