"To my Whitefish Therapy & Sport Center team! You have all helped me to regain almost full potential by managing my pain through physical exercise, massage, stretching maneuvers, and constant encouragement.

I want to express my profound gratitude to the therapists and staff for their excellent care and patience during my rehabilitation from a broken left knee cap, (one week before my half marathon race) and then a torn right calf muscle 6 months later! You stood by my side from the first visit and to the end of my extensive therapy. You were all kind to me right from my first appointment and throughout each session. Anise was the first voice I heard when I called to schedule for my appointment. She made certain that I had a prompt appointment with such compassion in her voice that gave me such a sense of relief! I am 64 with my first injury! I walked in for that first session and was greeted with a kind and welcoming smile from Theresa! Theresa and Julie also made certain that I had my appointments all scheduled and I really appreciated the text reminders!

Scott was my main therapist and listened to my concerns and my goals. He designed my personal plan of care. Together we tweaked and adjusted my plan of care to keep moving forward to my previous level of activity. The gym area was very clean and the equipment safe and easy to use! Scott’s confidence that I would ski, run, and bike lifted my spirits with each session.
The teamwork impressed me when Scott communicated my plan with Tanner and Tyler who also provided fantastic care, compassion, insight, and laughter when there were scheduling conflicts with Scott. I was treated with such respect and appreciated their wisdom, knowledge, and truth about the work I needed to do to return to the activities I love.
​
My level of mobility has improved tremendously and I am thrilled to share that June 30th, 2019, I completed that Missoula half marathon with my daughter. The silver lining is that I have learned so much about physical therapy that I cannot say I regret the injury. What a fantastic team! Bless you!" ~ Lisa L.
"I have disabilities related to my combat service...
​it's  been a long road but Whitefish Therapy & Sport Center
helped me get back on track...

My wife, father-in-law, and mother-in-law have all gone there with great success...​Tyler and Kimberly have basically
​changed my life; my pain is manageable now."  ~ Mathew D.
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..."Gave me at-home exercises to do that really helped me to heal a lot quicker; and also prevent headaches in the future...

I feel so much better.  I no longer have headaches
on a daily basis  and that's really great. ​
​I highly recommend Ken Carpenter to get rid of your headaches."
~ Ashley T. 
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"I've had an injury for the past 6 months that was not correctly diagnosed until I came to Whitefish Therapy & Sport Center.  They had a completely different approach...an outstanding, ​world- class physical therapy practice.   " ~ Kristin A.
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​"Always professional and friendly.
Definitely my top rated PT experience."
​- George S.
​"I'm back to skiing.  I'm back to hiking.  
I feel like I got my life back!"   ~ Jeremey B. 
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"Very knowledgeable & energetic staff!"
maybe the best experience physical therapy could possibly be.
The admin staff is also really friendly and caring.
I worked with pretty much every PT on staff, and they all know their stuff.   They were very good at helping me get back in the game quickly and efficiently.  Thank you! "  - Lisa S.
The therapy I have received at Whitefish Therapy and Sport Center is second to none. I feel so fortunate to receive such effective treatment allowing me to live an active life and to enjoy those things that I value.  
​Thank you to Amity and all the staff!  - Ted V.
"Awesome people in a first-class facility with the expertise to get a body back to doing what it loves to do!"
​Scott, Gabe, Emily and Amity helped me recover from a debilitating shoulder injury, so I could get back to skiing, sailing and paddling.   Gabe has provided the training my body needed    to complete a 116 mile trek with some serious elevation and helps me maintain the strength I need to do what I like to do. These guys are the best!!"  - Marilyn N.
"I feel 100% headache free!
​ I really recommend them!"  ~ Russel T.
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"Not having migraines gives me the freedom
​to do the things I like to do and keeps me from taking medications that I didn't want to take."
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"Unfortunately and F0RTUNATELY here I am again another injury. I'm sooo grateful that Scott Ruta is yet again treating my injury !!! This man , in round one, gave me the tools
to quit taking all pain meds. that I had been taking for years.

Now Scott R., has me put back in the game of life.
Still have some work to do, however I have the utmost confidence to be well very soon.
​THANK YOU SCOTT AND YOUR TEAM,
​YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST !!!!!    -  Scott N.
“This is a great place!  Everyone is really warm and inviting
​...they really care about your goals.”  ~Jesse Papenfoose
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Scott Ruta has been my “go to” Physical Therapist since 2004 when I had surgery for a torn meniscus and in 2006 for recovery from a torn rotor cuff surgery.  His empathy and communication style encouraged and directed me, while he gave me the right type motivation to get me to do my exercises.  While on vacation in 2012 I spent 3 days in a CA hospital as a multitude of doctors tried to figure out why I was having back spasms and could not stand or walk for any length of time.  I went to two Physical Therapists and a chiropractor in CA with no relief from my pain.  I immediately sought out Scott’s expertise when we returned home.  I sent Scott all the CA imaging and reports ahead of time and he was well prepared to discuss my situation for our first appointment.  Scott diagnosed my problem and within two sessions and one simple exercise, I was on the mend and able to rejoin the living.  If I am ever in pain again, I will catch the first plane home to be evaluated by Scott.  - Curt B.
​"I was seen at Whitefish Therapy a few years ago when rehabilitating a knee injury.  This year when I injured my knee I was referred to a different physical therapy office.  I knew after my first visit that there is nowhere else I'd rather be treated than at Whitefish Therapy and Sports Center.   It is extremely clean.  They have an awesome front end staff behind the desks!  The whole staff is always pleasant, patient and accommodating.  I always know what we are doing in therapy and why we are doing it.I like that they take the time to ensure I understand my therapies. I feel like they put my health and wellness first while I am there.  -  Nicole C."
“It was the most helpful [and hopeful] experience I have had to date.  They were thorough, offered great feedback and their assessment seems accurate based on the almost immediate relief it offered. I came in a bit skeptical - not knowing what was causing the pain and if it would be something PT could help. I left [and still do] feeling it will be the key to resolving my leg pain.  Very hopeful and grateful.”   - Hannah P.
The orthopedic surgeon referred me to Scott Ruta after I fell.  The injuries were to my neck/shoulder, back, hand and foot.  Scott viewed my injuries in respect to my "whole picture" which included my career actives, my emotions, my family, my pain and frustration of a maturing body not healing as fast as I did when I was 30.  Scott always communicated with me and my family which made the long healing process manageable.  As my healing started, Scott and the other therapists were always observing my progress and that astuteness helped identify several potential problems that were quickly rectified - like me overcompensating for my weak foot or overworking my shoulder or spending  too long a time standing or sitting.  No one from the team ever diminished my uncertainties or pain, nor lectured me when I “was too busy” to do my exercises.  Instead, Scott guided my recovery with his positive attitude, caring assistance and by letting me know he and his team were in this with me for the duration.  The skills taught to me for relieving pain, stress and the easy exercises to continue strengthening my body are part of my routine even today. My accident was in 2008 and the staff is still there for me if I have a question or concern. Everyone at the center acknowledges the multiple dimensions of living, healing and curing which is a special atmosphere all of its own.  I highly recommend Whitefish Therapy & Sport Center.   - Sheila B.

Caring, patient, competent staff.
​- JeanAnne S.
"I can't say enough good things about my experience at Whitefish Therapy.
Ryan is extremely knowledgeable.
​The front desk people are so pleasant and helpful.
​The facility is spotless and
​had every imaginable type of equipment you might need."   ​- Rebecca M.
"Scott, Emily and Amity at Whitefish Therapy have been more than physical therapists for me, they've become friends! As a person with a basket of chronic physical issues, they have helped me learn how to live a more productive life with less pain, and following their advice has made it possible for me to enjoy my young grandchildren without re-injuring myself. They are knowledgeable, engaged and so supportive . . .
​and somehow they manage to inspire confidence!
​Thank you, Whitefish Therapy and Sport Center!"   - Renee M.
  "Somewhere around October of 2012 while living a fully active & healthy lifestyle in Whitefish, Montana,  I began to notice some changes to my health. For example, I would lose my balance slightly from time to time. I would experience numbness and tingling down my neck, spine, & arms.  Ultimately my right foot would drag behind me as I walked. I was losing strength & coordination specifically in my lower extremities. All of these symptoms lead me to seek medical help.  {For months, I had a myriad of medical visits, tests, and treatments with specialists in the Flathead Valley and in Boston, Mass.}

My balance deteriorated.  My ability to walk was nearly gone. I was at risk of falling when I did gain the strength to stand.  I struggled to walk using a cane or walker, and eventually, I was in a self-propelled wheelchair full time & struggled to find the strength to sit upright.

My physical therapy visits with Scott Ruta at Whitefish Physical, Occupational, & Speech Therapy focused on wheelchair transfers, sitting upright at the edge of an exercise bench, and developing what little core strength I had retained.  Aquatic therapy was suggested & I pursued that for the next five months as well.  I was very disciplined and worked extremely hard 3-4 times weekly trying to make the best of a challenging situation.  Physical therapy enabled me to gain the strength to stand with assistance. I looked to obtain a standing table. I was told that using one would help my bones retain density & strength.  Physical therapists helped me to rediscover small muscle groups which seemingly wanted to reawaken! I remember a day when three people helped me to struggle to crawl 6-feet:  They propelled my legs while I worked to coordinate my upper body.  I worked for hours trying to re-develop the skill of kneeling upright for ten second intervals. It was exhausting.

Remarkably, my mobility is slowly returning.  Learning how to crawl progressed to standing on my own. Next, I was given a walker. I evolved to the point where I could get around using a pair of forearm crutches. Finally I was able to walk on my own. I continue to experience challenges with balance. I have fallen several times over the past year experiencing two broken noses and a severely sprained ankle. Stability, coordination, & strength are being rebuilt daily. It has been a long process.  A process which may not be fully realized without the assistance of physical therapists.  I continue to work diligently in PT twice each week.  The residual effects of neuro-fatigue are unmistakable. I work intensely with the team of physical therapists who are helping me to become more coordinated, stronger, & safe."  -Michael C.
You can find additional testimonials on the therapy-specific pages.