Hip Hip Hooray!

One of the movement experts at Peak Performance Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine, PLLC, was named the Employee of the Month for April.

Melissa Ystaas, PT/DPT, has eight years of experience helping her patients get moving. She was nominated by Amanda Hegland, whose daughter, Piper, has been a patient at Peak Performance since she was an infant.

"She is amazing. She communicates with her doctors and truly cares about the bigger picture," Hegland said. "She is so good with Piper, figuring out ways to really motivate and work with her even when Piper acts like a 4-year-old and gets grumpy and stubborn!

"I have the utmost trust in her working with my child and knowing she truly has her best interest at heart," Hegland concluded.

Ystaas received her doctorate in physical therapy from the University of Mary in 2014. She then worked at Altru Clinic in Devils Lake for six years before taking her current position at Peak Performance in the summer of 2020.

Ystaas said working in a small, rural clinic like this one gives her the opportunity to work with people of all ages. She has infants in her care, and her oldest patient was 101 years old.

Even though 75 percent of their patients are referred by their physician, Peak Performance also accepts patients whose insurance allows them direct access to care without a referral.

The primary goal of physical therapy is to reduce pain and improve mobility. Peak Performance offers post-operative rehabilitation for patients recovering from surgery, as well as post-injury rehabilitation for athletes. Physical therapy can help improve balance, strengthen muscles, restore range of motion and manage chronic pain.

"Helping people feel better ... so they can get back to doing the things that they like doing," is what she enjoys most about her work.

Ystaas and her husband Matthew live in rural Sheyenne with their two children, 6-year-old Aubree and 3-year-old Ethan.

Peak Performance opened in 2005, and is located at 207 1st Ave S, Ste C. Their office hours are Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call (701) 947-2030 to make an appointment.

Readers, do you know someone whose work makes your day better or your life easier? Nominate them for this award, sponsored by the New Rockford Area Chamber of Commerce. One person is recognized each month. Nomination forms are available on the bulletin board at Miller's Fresh Foods, at the Transcript office, or online at http://www.cityofnewrockford.com/chamber. Nominations can also be emailed to [email protected].