Action Point Physical Therapy focuses on patient-focused, personalized therapy
By Jillian Chandler
From a young age, Christian (Chris) Vanderford was familiar with the profession of physical therapy, as his uncle, Steve Sodorff, owned a physical therapy clinic (Bonner Physical Therapy) for many years. “I was drawn to the profession, as it provided an opportunity to help people, and being an athlete through college, I had my share of injuries. Through the rehab process, I saw how important it was to have a team to help guide me through that process,” Chris reflects. “I am also interested in the science of human performance.”
Today, as a doctor of physical therapy (DPT), Chris is in a unique position to not only help his clients move better but push them to perform better so they can enjoy their lives to the fullest.
Chris graduated from Idaho State University in May of 2008 and worked at a variety of prestigious places over the years, from Boise to Maui. He returned to Boise in 2017 and started his own Physical Therapy PRN Service, then opened his first private practice PT clinic in North Boise. “I decided to move back to my hometown of Sandpoint in the fall of 2019, practicing in local clinics, then starting Action Point Physical Therapy inside 7B Fitness in September of 2020,” he says.
The team at Action Point Physical Therapy has been providing patient-focused, personalized therapy for their clients. Chris’ team includes Garrett Fischer, DPT; Jenny Jones, PT; Rebecca Thomas, PTA; Ashmel (Ash) Vargas, ATC; Melissa Midstokke, front office specialist; and Brooke Reiger, billing and credentialing specialist.
“Melissa has been an important part of the practice growth, remains an important part of the team, and has been with me since the beginning,” Chris smiles.
Garrett is Action Point’s principal physical therapist and has been a large part of the recent growth of the clinic. Originally from Rockford, Illinois, he received his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Carroll University in Wisconsin. He has been a part of the Sandpoint community since 2017 and joined the Action Point team in 2023. Garrett specializes in orthopedics, post-surgical rehabilitation, concussion/vertigo treatment, manual/myofascial therapy, and sports medicine. He holds certifications in dry needling and concussion health/vestibular rehabilitation.
Ash is the newest addition to the team and will be providing athletic training services at Sandpoint High School—which has not had an athletic training service in place for the last few years. “Ash will be holding regular office hours three days per week and providing the student-athletes with injury treatment and prevention, as well as strengthening and conditioning programs so they can continue to perform at their highest levels,” Chris shares. “He will also be providing ImPACT Concussion Baseline Testing to better detect concussions for proper referral and management.”
Chris goes on to share that Jenny’s expertise focuses on balance training and women’s health.
Services provided at Action Point Physical Therapy include: outpatient orthopedic rehabilitation (including pre- and post-surgical rehabilitation), customized strengthening and stretching programs, neuromuscular training (to improve movement patterns), dry needling, joint mobilization, soft tissue mobilization, posture evaluation and correction, functional movement screening and correction, treating women’s health issues (female providers perform this service), taping, walking gait/running gait analysis and training, vestibular evaluation and treatment (vertigo/dizziness) and blood flow restriction training.
Their “Run Well Program” features video gait analysis, improves running form and efficiency, and decreases the risk of injury or re-injury.
Chris shares that what he enjoys most about what he does is his ability to show people that, in most cases, no matter what their injury or condition, there are still things they can do to help move better to improve their situation—"so they can do more physically with less pain,” he explains. “We take people through this process from day one to discharge and show them what they need to do to make this happen while giving them the tools to maintain their gains after their plan of care is over. That is where physical therapists fit into the health care paradigm. We are the movement specialists.”
For those looking for patient-focused, personalized therapy, Chris encourages you to make an appointment today for a consultation with one of their experienced physical therapists, who will help you get back to doing the activities you love.
Action Point Physical Therapy
606 North Fifth Avenue, Sandpoint, Idaho
208.284.3597
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