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Wheeling Hospital now has two of West Virginia’s three board certified specialists in geriatric physical therapy.
Tom McFadden recently joined Billie Jo Johnson on the hospital’s staff. Both have earned the board certification from the American Physical Therapy Association.
A graduate of West Virginia University with a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy, McFadden also earned certification in vestibular rehabilitation at Emory University in Atlanta. In August, he will complete his doctorate in physical therapy from Shenandoah University in Winchester, VA.
McFadden has 12 years of experience in vestibular rehabilitation, treating of patients with central and peripheral disorders. Common conditions include positional vertigo, vestibular weakness, dizziness due to concussion and a variety of balance disorders.
The vestibular system includes the parts of the inner ear and brain that help control balance and eye movements.
If the system is damaged by disease, aging or injury, vestibular disorders can result, and are often associated with one or more of these symptoms: vertigo and dizziness imbalance and spatial disorientation; vision disturbance; hearing changes; cognitive and/or psychological changes.
“I also have treated individuals following resection of acoustic neuroma, which is a benign tumor that develops on the nerve that connects the ear to the brain, and those with bilateral vestibular loss,” McFadden said.
John DeBlasis, Wheeling Hospital vice president and director of Rehabilitation, said, “The addition of Tom McFadden further enhances Wheeling Hospital’s commitment to the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of balance and dizziness disor ders.
“This will have a direct impact on reducing the number of falls at home and reduce the sequelae of post-operative dollars.”
For more information, call the Wheeling Hospital Physical Therapy Department at 304-243-3307.