Spotlight: Lindsey Sarkilahti, DPT

Meet Lindsey Sarkilahti, a physical therapist at Alomere Health for more than nine years. If you ask Lindsey what she does as a PT, she’ll answer very simply, “We help people get back to what they want to be doing.”

A favorite memory of hers that underlines her definition is a patient who owned a small business, but his work-related pain was adversely affecting his ability to make a living. The fear of losing his business, (and possibly his home), made the effect even worse. But after just two sessions with Lindsey, he was seeing significant improvement and his whole mood shifted. “You could tell he had hope again.”

Having spent most of her childhood in Fargo, North Dakota, Lindsey’s family did live for a short time in Grand Rapids—her first exposure to the lakes of Minnesota. After completing her Doctorate in Physical Therapy at University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota, she and her husband, Jon, didn’t immediately make tracks straight to Alomere. “My first job at a different rehab clinic lasted only nine months. It wasn’t the right fit. They were more about productivity and other practices that made me feel uncomfortable. With Alomere, the focus is on patient care. There’s a lot of integrity here.”

A typical day for Lindsey includes meeting between 9 or 11 patients with a wide range of needs—from back and neck pain, to workplace and sports injuries, and everything in between. With her LSVT BIG certification, Lindsey is even able to help people with Parkinson’s Disease live a more independent life. Her most important skill as a physical therapist is empathy.

Beyond a good technical education in physical therapy, Lindsey also notes PTs need to have good organizational skills, flexibility, and the willingness to adjust and problem solve. “The rehab team is always willing to jump in and help if someone needs an extra hand or fill their shift. I’m most proud of how our team came together during COVID. They have become a second family and another reason why I love my job.”