Page 176 - South Mississippi Living - September, 2019

HEALTHY LIVING patient-centric
story by Kelsey Sunderman-Foster
Exceeding Expectations & Overcoming Limits
photos by Teddy Lewis and Katherine Sowers and courtesy of Exceed Physical Therapy
When someone’s health declines, especially when it affects
their ability to perform daily activities, this can be an emotional change. They may wonder, “Will I regain my mobility?” “Will my level of pain decrease?” “Will this injury be permanent?” These questions and more are what the staff at Exceed Physical Therapy aim to address at the onset of treatment.
“What makes Exceed different is that they take a patient- centric approach to physical therapy. They offer one-on- one treatment, not just a generalized list of exercises. During my time in their care, my personal limits were explored and my treatment was customized to get results.”
– Rikki Loree, former patient
Exceed Physical Therapy
12261 Highway 49 Suite 1, Gulfport 228.265.7185 | exceedtherapy.com
“Our treatment approach consists of addressing two challenges: education and consistency,” says Todd Smith, who owns Exceed in partnership with Danny Courtenay. “It’s important that our clients understand their condition when they come in so that they can fully comprehend their treatment plan and long-term expectations. Once we design their therapy plan, it’s all about consistency – adhering to that plan and getting better.”
Smith and Courtenay met in physical therapy school, and after starting careers in outpatient therapy and home care respectively, decided to open their own clinic
on the Gulf Coast. “After working in this field for several years, we both saw a need for a change,” said Courtenay. “There was a need for
a more hands-on approach that valued quality of care.”
And with that idea in mind,
the two opened Exceed Physical Therapy in 2018. They offer physical, occupational and speech therapy, and tailor their approach to fit each patient’s individual needs. “It’s important to us not to limit our patients by their finances or insurance limitations,” Smith said. “It’s all about getting the patient what they need.”
Clients of Exceed leave better than they arrived, having re- learned skills they had lost due to injury. “Health is something you take for granted until you don’t have it anymore,” says former patient Rikki Loree. “I’ve seen
the recovery process in my own treatment and in others, and it’s truly inspiring to see people regain abilities they thought may have been lost forever.”
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Danny Courtenay and Todd Smith