Restoration PT aims to get clients pain free

THREE MILE — Restoration Physical Therapy is here to help the community live a pain-free life and get residents back out doing what they love.

Restoration Physical Therapy is the only private practice physical therapists in Boundary County and has two experienced therapists, Josh Kaufmann and Didier Balcaen.

Kauffmann, PT, DPT, and owner, worked at the Boundary Community Hospital for five-and-half years and ran a private practice in British Columbia for six years. In June 2022, he opened Restoration Physical Therapy.

Balcean, PT, Cert. MDT, has more than 30 years of experience, 19 of which were at Boundary Community Hospital. Before settling in Boundary County with his family, he worked in England for two years and was a traveling therapist across the U.S. for 10 years.

Most of his work has included orthopedic therapy and he is specially trained to treat the back and neck. Balcean is the only physical therapist in Bonner and Boundary counties certified to treat the spine.

Kaufmann and Balcean worked together at the Boundary Community Hospital from 2011 and 2015.

“We have a similar philosophy when treating clients,” Kaufmann said. “We often use manual therapy (hands on) techniques to assist in reduction of pain and improvement of mobility, which enables our clients to have a quality of movement when performing exercise and other movement based activities.

“The main reason patients come in is pain, our goal is to get them pain-free and to enjoy their daily and recreational activities without limitations,” Balcean said.

The clinic has a wide variety of exercise equipment that patients will use to improve flexibility, balance, range of motion, strength, endurance, and more.

When visiting Restoration Physical Therapy, patients can expect individual care from one of the physical therapists, Kaufmann said. At other clinics, patients often receive care in groups or from assistants, but not at Restoration Physical Therapy, where Kauffmann and Balcean see all the patients themselves.

Restoration Physical Therapy treats a wide variety of clients' needs from general aches and pains, shoulder pain, flexibility/mobility issues, stroke, balance impairment, spine pain, vestibular dysfunction, sports injuries and post-surgical rehabilitation.

“There is no cookie cutter recipe for each person's success,” Kauffmann said, noting every patient is different and has different recovery goals.

“Our therapy stressed the treatment management plan and getting patients back out doing what they love, and not back in our office,” Kaufmann said.

Typically to see a physical therapist, a patient needs a referral from a doctor. As a private practice, Restoration Physical Therapy also takes on patients without a referral. They accept all forms of insurance and cash-based patients.

“Having a cash pay type of private practice is big to have in Boundary County and is sometimes cheaper than using insurance,” Kaufmann said.

Sarah Lawl, receptionist at Restoration Physical Therapy, helps clients navigate insurance policies, scheduling, payments and out-of-pocket payments.

“She is an amazing multi-tasker and her warm and friendly demeanor makes clients feel welcome in our facility,” Kaufmann said.

For new patients, the first visit includes an evaluation and therapists work with them to set goals and create a care plan.

“Patients typically come in two times per week, depending on what they are working through. If the therapy is post-surgery it could take three months or so,” Balcean said.

“Our goal is for patients to get back to their prior level of motion, by identifying daily and work activities,” Balcean said. “There is no reason to stay in pain, there are ways to improve.”

Restoration Physical Therapy is located just before the Three Mile Junction at 33 Enterprise Drive, Suite 101, Bonners Ferry. For more information, call 208-597-7250.