Primary Solutions Physical Therapy celebrated its grand opening on North Blair Street in Vinton with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 20. Dr. Nate Gay is the owner of the practice.

Dr. Nate is not new to Vinton. He has been in practice on his own with Primary Solutions since October 2016. One day about three years ago when he was leaving the Vinton Public Library, he noticed the HIVE Business Incubation Center across Pollard Street, which housed several small business start-ups.

The HIVE was established by The Advancement Foundation to assist new businesses or those wanting to expand. Dr. Nate says that their guidance– and God’s– led to establishing his practice in that location. With his business continuing to grow, he needed more space and moved to the office suite on Blair Street.

Leaders of TAF said, “The Advancement Foundation is extremely proud of Dr. Nate and the expansion of Primary Solutions Physical Therapy. Dr. Nate was a tenant at the HIVE here in Vinton for several years and a participant in the 2017 Gauntlet. He is an incredibly kind and skilled physical therapist. Dr. Nate always treats his patients as if they were family. We can’t wait to see what happens for him and his business next!”

Dr. Nate has been practicing physical therapy since 2000. He graduated from Roanoke College in 1997 and then earned his Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and his Doctor of Physical Therapy from Shenandoah University.

He is certified by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties as a specialist in Orthopedic Physical Therapy. His approach combines hands-on techniques with patient movement strategies with the ultimate goal of empowering patients to be able to treat and manage their own conditions.

Pastor Rob Gribbin from Shenandoah Baptist Church, where Dr. Nate and his family are members was part of their ribbon-cutting ceremony, calling for the blessings of God on the doctor and his practice as he helps the community.

“Primary Solutions Physical Therapy, PLLC, exists to glorify God by providing expert, individualized, comprehensive, and compassionate examination and intervention for the physical limitations of our clients in a simple, professional, encouraging environment, in order to empower them to better fulfill the purpose for which God created them,” is the stated mission of Primary Solutions.

Dr. Nate says there is no one pain or movement problem he sees more than others. He treats patients with a wide variety of issues ranging from joint and muscle problems to knees, shoulders, headaches, foot/ankle, and back complaints. He sees everyone from athletes to the elderly.

“Whether you’ve recently suffered an injury or have chronic symptoms that have not responded well to other interventions, Primary Solutions can work with you to find the pathway that will best enable you to manage your condition and maximize your function.”

A referral from a physician is not a requirement for receiving services at Primary Solutions, allowing patients to get started on a rehabilitation program right away after an injury or other disabling event. As of July 2015, physical therapists in Virginia were given the legal authority (known as “direct access”) to evaluate and treat a patient for up to 30 calendar days without a physician referral.

Information from the Primary Solutions website says, “Physical therapy is a branch of healthcare that specializes in treating the human movement system, with a primary focus on bones, joints, muscles, and nerves. Most physical therapists hold a master’s or doctoral degree in physical therapy, with specialized training in diagnosing and treating movement problems such as pain, stiffness, and weakness related to common conditions such as back pain, neck pain, and joint problems.

“A physical therapy evaluation investigates the root cause of movement problems, focusing on the ‘why’ of pain and dysfunction, not merely on what hurts. As a result, physical therapists bring a unique ability to empower patients to care for themselves, and to achieve results that can last a lifetime.”

Physical therapy treatments in a setting like Primary Solutions involve a combination of hands-on “manual therapy” techniques focusing on restoring motion to joints and muscles, and also include careful instruction in exercises designed to re-train the muscles of the body to move and act in an optimal sequence, allowing decreased pain and increased function with movements of daily life.

Primary Solution is a direct-pay therapy practice. Consultation sessions, not involving formal evaluation or treatment, are free of charge.

Primary Solutions is located just off Washington Avenue behind Erie Insurance.

Hours of operation for Primary Solutions are Monday through Friday from 8 to 10 a.m. and 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. as well as by appointment.

For more information or to schedule an appointment contact Primary Solutions at DrNate@PrimarySolutionsPT.com, call 540-529-9381, or visit the website at www.primarysolutionspt.com.