WHEATLAND — Your first greeting when you enter Wyoming Hand & Physical Therapy is going to be from beautiful and friendly Riley, the clinic’s therapy dog; an Australian Shepherd/Blue Heeler mix that is as sweet as can be. According to Lyndsie Drescher, MOTR/L Riley is their “Walmart greeter” and is present to make all patients feel secure, comfortable, and at ease.  

Riley is a specially trained therapy dog (not to be confused with a service dog that accommodates those with blindness, for example), and Riley was trained with Pet Partners, an organization that emphasizes the value of therapy animals bringing comfort and joy to the workplace, educational spaces, hospitals, clinics, and any other facility they visit.  

“We want our patients to feel comfortable and loved when they come here,” said Drescher. “The kids love Riley.  Sometimes they will even lie on the floor with Riley and watch a movie together. Riley also checks in with the therapists throughout the day and makes sure we are alright.” 

Wyoming Hand & Physical Therapy features two therapists at the Wheatland clinic. Lyndsie Drescher, MOTR/L (Master’ degree in occupational therapy) graduated from Western Michigan University and came to Wheatland from there after meeting her now-husband. Her specialty is occupational therapy with an emphasis on hand rehabilitation and therapy. Becca Valleroy, PT, DPT, ATL (DPT = Doctor of Physical Therapy) is fairly new to Wheatland and has been at the Hand & Physical Therapy Clinic since 2022. 

The clinic’s philosophy is 100 percent patient-focused; with customized treatment plans whether they are pre-surgical, injury-based, or post-operative. “Pre-hab is a term we use here when we are strengthening a patient prior to surgery,” explained Drescher. “If a patient has a rotator cuff issue, for example, and they have surgery upcoming, we want to build some strength and flexibility before they go into surgery,” she said. “We like to call this stronger-in, stronger-out.”  

Surgery isn’t always the sole reason for physical or occupational therapy, however. A patient may have experienced an injury or may be dealing with pain. Occupational and physical therapists work as a team to achieve optimal recovery results. In addition, the clinic is able to customize splints and braces as prescribed by a medical practitioner. “A patient-specific brace (or splint) is so much more comfortable for the patient than a standard brace,” said Drescher.  

A physician referral is required for most prescriptive rehabilitative care, however, patients can be seen at the clinic for injury or pain issues. The clinic accepts all types of insurance and has dedicated staff to address any insurance questions a patient may have. 

“Sometimes achievements are made one day at a time,” said Drescher. “We often have to be cheerleaders. Physical therapy is hard. But we have a lot of patients that are sad to go by the end of their prescribed treatment. Some patients will still come in and have a cup of coffee or just say, ‘Hi’.”  

The clinic also has a certified massage therapist, April Klier that sees patients for pre- and post-natal massage, specific trouble areas, and custom massage based on need.  

An inch at a time, as opposed to a mile at a time, is the approved mantra at Wyoming Hand & Physical Therapy. Wyoming Hand & Physical Therapy is a Wyoming-based group of clinics that are locally owned and operated by hands-on physical therapists in Gillette, Douglas, Wheatland, Buffalo, Sheridan, and Casper.