As new year resolutions tend to include losing weight and exercising, one local business continues to promote wellness, educating individuals about their diet and proper exercise.
“We have a wide variety of exercise equipment here that would help individuals achieve their goals,” explained Lee Noonan, physical therapist and owner of Turning Point Therapies in Fairbury.
Front officer manager Carol Meints greets visitors as they come to be more physically fit and healthier.
“We start off (the year) really well with new members,” said Meints.
All of the staff members are properly trained and anyone joining the wellness center is educated on each machine so they don’t get injured. Screening is provided to members along with those working on the farm.
“We have a wide variety of exercise equipment here that would help individuals achieve their goals,” added Noonan.
Machines used at Turning Point include one that provides mechanical traction to help alleviate pain in the back or neck and a cable crossover which can be used for triceps curls. The mechanical machine, also referred to as decompression, is covered by most insurance.
“We use that pretty frequently,” said Noonan. “It gives people a lot of good relief.”
Noonan is glad to sit down with farmers to discuss proper body mechanics and how to prevent injuries when loading a planter or working on a combine. Turning Point staff educates farmers and their employees on the proper body techniques when performing different tasks.
“They get in a lot of different positions and with the upcoming spring loading the planters and getting the wagons out, you just have to make sure you’re using proper mechanics in order to prevent injury,” Noonan said.
A farm boy himself, Noonan realizes what farmers go through and can screen them if they feel the need.
“It would be a great thing to prevent them from coming in to see me for physical therapy,” Noonan admits.
Since Turning Point does not use a contract system, they don’t charge farmers when they are in the field for a certain period of time.
“We understand that and being in a rural community, we give them a break.”
Joining the Turning Point wellness program can lead to increased core strength, overall body strength, flexibility, endurance and good cardiovascular health in order to get farmers through another season.
“There is always staff here and a physical therapist is on site,” added Noonan.
“Because we do have physical therapists right here, they are always willing to do a plan for the wellness members,” stated Meints.
Noonan has owned the business with his wife since 2009. Turning Point has now expanded into the Bloomington-Normal market as they have a clinic above Cortese Foot and Ankle at College Avenue and Veterans Parkway. Turning Point also provides physical therapy services to students at Prairie Central, Pontiac and Tri-Point.
More information can be found at: www.turningpointtherapies.com or by searching for them on Facebook.
