Mark DeSchepper, PT, DPT

What is your practice philosophy? I have advanced training through Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. With this training, I have advanced my skills to treat the human body as a system rather than segmented parts. Often times the area of pain is only a symptom and what is causing the pain needs to be identified and addressed through a systemic approach vs only looking at the site of pain. I use a variety of hands on manual techniques throughout the human body to restore healthy motion and follow this up with self-correction techniques, stretching and strengthening to achieve and maintain optimal body function.  

If I wasn’t a provider, I would be a: Veterinarian because I love animals and their innocence. 

Why did you become a provider? When did you know this was the career for you? I became a physical therapist because when I was 20 years old I was in a motor vehicle accident and injured my upper back. I had MRIs, spinal injections, saw physical therapists and chiropractors and discussed potential surgery with spine surgeons. Hoping to avoid this, I finally saw a physical therapist that did hands-on osteopathic manipulative treatment and after years of hurting, I no longer had pain. I became a physical therapist because I wanted to help others the same way my physical therapist helped me which avoided surgery, medications, and a life of pain. 

Something I have learned from my patients is: Everyone has their own story. Each person’s story is not the same and each person’s dysfunctions are not the same. By taking the time to listen to each and every one of my patients and working with them as their teammate, I have helped numerous individuals make gains they thought was not possible. 

One of the challenges of this career that I enjoy is (and why):  When you enter the treatment room with your patient, you never know what you are going to see or what you are going to treat. Even when you have a plan, the plan changes from session to session based on your patients’ experiences. This keeps me on my toes and keeps me seeking to be the best physical therapist that I can be.