Covenant Health Therapy Center – Downtown
IMPORTANT UPDATE REGARDING COVID-19:
Masks are no longer required at our facility except under certain circumstances. Please note, visitors, patients, and healthcare workers may choose to wear a mask at any time, and patients may request that care team members who provide direct patient care wear masks.
If you develop any symptoms, are awaiting COVID-19 test results, or have tested COVID-19 positive, please contact our clinic before coming to your appointment.
Covenant Health Therapy Center – Downtown is dedicated to providing exceptional physical therapy and individualized treatment to get you better, faster.
Our Clinic
Covenant Health Therapy Center – Downtown is a department of Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center.
Covenant Health Therapy Center
Newland Professional Building, Suite 504
2001 Laurel Avenue
Knoxville, TN 37916
Phone: (865) 331-1300
Fax: (865) 331-2251
Hours of Operation
Monday – Friday:
8:00 am – 6:30 pm
Core Services
Ankle and foot pain
Arthritis management
Back and neck pain
Balance therapy
Carpel tunnel syndrome
Chronic pain
Fibromyalgia
General deconditioning
Hand therapy
Knee and hip pain
Manual therapy
Orthopedic therapy
Osteoporosis
Physical therapy
Plantar fasciitis
Post-surgical rehabilitation
Repetitive/overuse injuries
Return to performance (athletic enhancement)
Shoulder therapy
Sports medicine
Worker’s injuries/conditioning
Specialty Services
- Astym® treatment: regenerates healthy soft tissue and eliminates or reduces scar tissue that may be causing pain or loss of motion. Frequently prescribed for athletes, “weekend warriors,” post-surgical patients and chronic sufferers.
- Cancer rehab: we work with people undergoing cancer treatment and cancer survivors to address post-operative limitations, energy conservation, home modification, and ways to make daily activities easier while undergoing cancer treatment.
- Certified hand therapy: provides the highest level of competency and skill in the treatment of hands and upper extremities to assure maximal recover.
- Dizziness/vertigo: an exercise- based approached aimed at eliminating or minimizing imbalance and dizziness associated with vestibular (inner ear) disorders.
- Dry Needling: a technique physical therapists use for the treatment of pain and movement impairments. It uses a small, solid needle, called a “dry” needle in conjunction with other PT treatments.
- Headaches: treatment of cervicogenic headaches, or headaches caused by tightness in the neck muscles.
- Lymphedema treatment program: therapy to reduce swelling caused by lymphedema, with a focus on maintaining healthy skin and preventative measures to reduce the risk of lymphedema.
- Manual therapy: skilled hand movements of joints and soft tissue intended to improve tissue extensibility, increase range of motion, induce relaxation, modulate pain, or reduce swelling.
- McKenzie Method: provides superior functional outcomes for the back, neck, and extremity problems. Emphasizes education and active patient involvement to quickly decrease pain, restore normal function, prevent a recurrence, and minimize other medical interventions.
What Our Patients Say…
The best recommendation we can receive is from our patients. For that reason, we’re honored to share their some of their praises:
“Your vestibular rehab program here is outstanding! I suffered from dizziness for years and [my therapist] fixed my vertigo in two visits!”
“I was ALWAYS treated with courtesy from the entire staff and received the highest level of care.”
“My BIG therapist was demanding, creative, innovative, and most importantly, effective and fun. My LOUD therapist was an excellent motivator to overcome obstacles and an even better encourager. . . Thank you for administering a very effective program with such motivated and compassionate staff.”
Patient Success Stories
Anna Cintron: “I got my life back!” – Therapy helps Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center nurse overcome history of nerve pain.
Mary Josvai: Physical therapy helps Holy Land traveler regain strength after knee replacement.
Lori Patterson, MD: Therapy helps canoe enthusiast recover from ski accident in time for paddling trip.
Brian Shupe: UT Engineering staffer fights pain in neck with classwork, homework.
New Covenant Health Therapy Centers Patient?
Download these forms prior to your visit:
Universal Medication Form
New Patient Form
Self-Referral for Physical Therapy
Depending on your insurance plan, you may be able to self-refer for physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy at Covenant Health Therapy Centers. Learn more about self-referring to our center.
Covenant Health Therapy Centers
IMPORTANT UPDATE REGARDING COVID-19:
Masks are no longer required at our facility except under certain circumstances. Please note, visitors, patients, and healthcare workers may choose to wear a mask at any time, and patients may request that care team members who provide direct patient care wear masks.
If you develop any symptoms, are awaiting COVID-19 test results, or have tested COVID-19 positive, please contact our clinic before coming to your appointment.
Covenant Health Therapy Centers Offer Physical Therapy and Much More
Covenant Health Therapy Centers are dedicated to providing exceptional physical therapy and individualized treatment to get you better, faster.
Locations
Select a location below to learn more about our clinics.
Core Services
Ankle and foot pain
Arthritis management
Back and neck pain
Balance therapy
Carpel tunnel syndrome
Chronic pain
Fibromyalgia
General deconditioning
Hand therapy
Knee and hip pain
Manual therapy
Neurological rehab
Orthopedic therapy
Osteoporosis
Physical therapy
Plantar fasciitis
Post-surgical rehabilitation
Repetitive/overuse injuries
Return to performance (athletic enhancement)
Shoulder therapy
Sports medicine
Worker’s injuries/conditioning
Specialty Services*
*Available at select locations
What Our Patients Say…
The best recommendation we can receive is from our patients. For that reason, we’re honored to share their some of their praises:
“I’ve been to other therapy clinics but never had the experience of seeing my PT every session until now. I don’t feel like I’m on an assembly line here.”
“Your vestibular rehab program here is outstanding! I suffered from dizziness for years and [my therapist] fixed my vertigo in two visits!”
“I was ALWAYS treated with courtesy from the entire staff and received the highest level of care.”
“My BIG therapist was demanding, creative, innovative, and most importantly, effective and fun. My LOUD therapist was an excellent motivator to overcome obstacles and an even better encourager. . . Thank you for administering a very effective program with such motivated and compassionate staff.”
Patient Success Stories
Charles Mitchell: Physical therapy helps patient with lymphedema.
Clifford Land: Therapy helps Pigeon Forge man rehab after stroke.
Marilyn Warblow: Physical therapy aides recovery after hip replacement.
Nancy Piske: Physical therapy helps patient recover from spinal cord tumor.
Randy Abernathy: Local man finds extraordinary care and new strength thanks to Covenant Health Therapy Centers.
Margaret Keele: Dry needling relieves long-term hip pain and allows patient to run again.
Julia Wood: Physical therapy helps Knoxville woman resume activity after major bike accident.
Anna Cintron: Physical therapy brings pain relief and new purpose for rehab nurse.
Jamie Roccasalva: Therapy helps patient find relief after 10 years of dizziness, nausea and chronic pain.
Gracie Hyde: Aqua-therapy helps teen patient find relief from chronic pain condition.
Pam Blanchard: Focused therapy relieves lymphedema for breast cancer survivor.
Brenda Day: Therapy team works together to relieve TMJ and vertigo symptoms.
Dennis Overton: Therapy team uses LSVT “BIG and LOUD” program to help helps Parkinson’s patient.
Nicole Mailloux: Parkinson’s patient sees major improvement after just two weeks of therapy.
Connie Blair: Following hip and knee replacement, patient sings the raises of Covenant Health Therapy Center team.
Travis Mayton: Therapy team helps local contractor recover from major shoulder surgery.
Marrisa Carnes: Targeted therapy helps relieve knee and hip pain for avid runner.
Jim Cogdill: Therapy helps stroke patient on the road to recovery.
Mary Josvai: Physical therapy helps Holy Land traveler regain strength after knee replacement.
Lori Patterson, MD: Therapy helps canoe enthusiast recover from ski accident in time for paddling trip.
Brian Shupe: UT Engineering staffer fights pain in neck with classwork, homework.
Justin Snow: Therapy Center helps local man achieve his dream.
New Covenant Health Therapy Centers Patient?
Download these forms prior to your visit:
Universal Medication Form
New Patient Form
Self-Referral for Physical Therapy
Depending on your insurance plan, you may be able to self-refer for physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy at Covenant Health Therapy Centers. Learn more about self-referring to our center.
Dry needling helps physical therapist recover after hip surgery
Sometimes we forget that healthcare professionals can get sick or hurt, too. Healthcare personnel who undergo surgery or are recovering from injury need physical therapy to heal, just like anyone else. Fortunately, quality care is available at Covenant Health Therapy Centers, with locations across East Tennessee.
Margaret Keele, DPT, GCS, CSRS, CEEAA, has worked for 10 years as a physical therapist at Covenant Therapy Center
– West Knoxville. An avid runner, Keele was experiencing pain in her right hip last summer, which was exacerbated with exercise. An MRI in November 2019 confirmed her pain was caused by a labrum tear.
The labrum is the cartilage that allows the ball and socket of the hip joint to operate smoothly during activity. When it becomes damaged, movement can be uncomfortable or cause pain.
Keele underwent surgery at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center in January 2020 to repair the tear in her labrum. She was on crutches for three and a half weeks and was released to run again in spring 2020, after undergoing physical therapy to strengthen her hip.
The (Physical) Therapist Becomes the Patient
Keele is a neurological physical therapist who is board-certified in geriatrics and works with patients with neurological symptoms, such as those recovering from stroke or managing symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. She is on her feet for most of the day, assisting people with motor skills and mobility.
Keele’s active job and lifestyle meant she needed to get back on her feet sooner rather than later. After her surgery, she started running again, but would get cramps around the second mile. She noticed consistent tightness and cramping despite stretching regularly.
Keele consulted with Paul Yau, MD, her orthopedic surgeon at Fort Sanders Regional, who agreed she should try a technique called dry needling. After her first session, Keele noticed the difference in how her hip area felt.
Dry Needling
Dry needling is a technique physical therapists use to treat pain and movement. It uses a small, solid needle, called a “dry” needle because no medications or fluid are introduced into the tissue. Despite the word “needle” in the title, Keele says it’s nothing to be scared of. “It doesn’t really hurt, and actually feels good when it’s over. It’s quick, and I felt better in three sessions.”
At Covenant Health Therapy Center – Downtown, a department of Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center, therapist Logan Pendergrass, PT, DPT, Cert. MDT, treats patients like Keele with dry needling. He explains that in Keele’s case, the pain was from the muscle overcompensating for the tear, where it had become weak. “As we release a muscle’s trigger points, and the patient continues strengthening otherwise with PT and stretching, the leg gets stronger and is able to move like it should. The muscles no longer needs to compensate, which is why she gained strength and the pain decreased after only three sessions.”
Pendergrass emphasizes the treatment is never stand-alone, but rather one of many tools used to help people restore strength in their joints and muscles.
Keele no longer has problems or pain in her hip and can do activities both at work and play. She is back to running five miles at a time with no issues.
A Good Experience
Overall, she said her experience with Fort Sanders Regional was excellent, both for her surgery and her dry needling therapy. Keele reflects, “Having worked as a physical therapist, I had acute awareness of what I needed to be doing. I think it also helped me as a therapist having been in that position. I know how it feels to be in my patient’s shoes.”
Fort Sanders Therapy Center is open Monday through Friday with early morning and late-day appointments available. For more information, call (865) 331-1300 or visit CovenantHealth.com/Covenant-Therapy-Center-Downtown.
