Zachary Rethorn, PT, DPT, of Chattanooga, was awarded the professional designation of board-certified clinical specialist in orthopaedic physical therapy by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties of the American Physical Therapy Association.
Mr. Rethorn specializes in the identification and treatment of orthopaedic conditions across the lifespan from children to older adults. He works extensively with persistent pain conditions and focuses on lifestyle change to achieve the best results.
“Becoming a board-certified clinical specialist in orthopaedic physical therapy demonstrates my commitment to pursuing the highest level of skill with which to best serve my patients,” Mr.
Rethorn said.
Mr. Rethorn graduated in 2015 from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a doctor of physical therapy degree. He is a physical therapist at BenchMark Physical Therapy in Chattanooga, an outpatient physical therapy provider. He is also a doctor of science student in health promotion at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions in Provo, Ut. He was voted as a best physical therapist finalist in the 2016 Times Free Press Best of the Best
To obtain board certification, candidates must submit evidence of required clinical practice in one of nine specialty areas: cardiovascular and pulmonary, clinical electrophysiology, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, orthopaedics, pediatrics, sports, and women’s health physical therapy.
In addition, candidates must successfully complete a rigorous examination, demonstrating specialized knowledge and advanced clinical proficiency in a specialty area of physical therapist practice. Roughly 6.5 percent of the physical therapists in the United States are board certified in a specialty, and only 3.9 percent of therapists in the United States are orthopaedic clinical specialists, officials said.