by Zach Downs, Head Coach Krave Gym West Des Moines Co-Host The Gym Closet (A Krave Gym Podcast)
Sam grew up in small town called Nora Springs near Mason City. As a result of growing
up in a small community he was lucky enough to be able to participate in basketball,
baseball, and track all throughout high school. After graduation, he went to Wartburg
College for undergraduate. After finishing at Wartburg, he continues his education at the
University of Iowa to earn his doctorate in Physical Therapy.
Sam has worked in the West Des Moines/Waukee area for Rock Valley PT for the past 9 years now. He lives in the Waukee area with his wife and 2 boys where his oldest son started kindergarten last week! Sam said, “My favorite sport to play is still basketball (reigning Urbandale City League champs, no big deal). I enjoy weightlifting 3-4x/week, but Krave is has
introduced me to some great alternatives to improve my endurance/stamina without
running (which I personally dislike greatly).”
I asked Sam what his goals were for our athletes coming to him from Krave and I couldn’t be happier with the response! “My goal as PT working with any athlete is to get them back to doing what they love to do as quickly and safely as possible. In most cases, I will help with modifications or alternative exercises to anything you may be doing currently rather than having you stop exercising. Our goal is to keep you in the gym, not take you out of it!”
Aside from PT, Sam also specializes in orthopedic care and trigger point dry needling. He said “I enjoy helping all ages of athletes to achieve their personal goals with less pain. At Rock Valley, we pride ourselves in 1-on-1 patient care and individualized treatment. We also have a strong network of physicians that we can refer athletes on to if necessary.”
One last thing that Sam wanted everyone to know is that most insurances allow patients to be seen via “direct access” at Rock Valley PT. This means that you can be seen by a licensed PT without requiring a referral from a physician. This removes a barrier to seeking the care you need, and can often times result in quicker and more cost-effective outcomes. If you are experiencing any pain or limitations in your ability to stay active reach out to us and we will get you all taken care of!! Excited to have you on the T.E.A.M. Sam!!