Therapist helps patients become active again

Nothing is more satisfying professionally for Amity Sparks than seeing one of her patients get back on the trails or ski slopes.

As an athlete herself, the physical therapist at Whitefish Therapy and Sport Center knows how important it is for active people to get back to doing what they love.

“People in Whitefish are so motivated to get back to skiing, hiking and running — it makes my job easy,” Sparks said. “It’s fun to see people get back to what they want to do.”

Originally form Missouri, Sparks first came to Whitefish Therapy four years ago as a doctorate student at Washington University in St. Louis.

“I fell in love with this town,” she said. “Everyone seemed really happy and it seemed like a good place to start my practice.”

Since joining the staff at Whitefish Therapy, Sparks has immersed herself in the community. She is an assistant coach with the Whitefish High School tennis teams and teaches a balance class at the Whitefish Community Center. She also teaches at the Whitefish Therapy handwriting camp for children.

Her background in sports — tennis, basketball and ballet — sparked her interest in physical therapy as an undergraduate.

“I always knew I wanted to do something in the medical field,” she said. “With a background in sports, I was drawn in this direction.”

While Sparks practices a broad spectrum of physical therapy, she is interested in pediatrics, spine care, treating headaches and recently became a certified lymphedema specialist.

“It’s a great field with a lot of variety,” she said. “You can always learn some other type of therapy.”

She says physical therapy takes effort on the part of the patient. There is no magic pill — but the payoff is tremendous.

“It takes a little work at the beginning, but once you have the strength, you start feeling better,” she said.

Away from work, you’ll find Sparks hiking, running, camping, skiing — anything outside.

“There is so much to do here,” she said “I’m just trying different things.”