By Kesley Horath
Ruston native and physical therapist, Chase Patterson, uses his servant heart to serve the town that once watched him grow up.
Patterson graduated from Ruston High School in 2009 and later attended Louisiana Tech University in the fall majoring in engineering.
Knowing his desire to serve others, Patterson planned to do just that with his profession. However, never anticipated the change of direction coming his way.
“I knew I wanted to help people but didn’t know exactly how I wanted to do that,” Patterson said. “I started in engineering at Tech because that’s what my aptitude tests told me I should do but quickly realized that wasn’t for me.”
After contemplating and discussing other alternatives and majors, Patterson discovered a passion for a field in healthcare.
“I switched to kinesiology and I guess you could say the rest is history,” Patterson said. In 2013, Patterson graduated in kinesiology from Louisiana Tech University and later received his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport. He also holds certification in Dry Needling and
Titleist Performance Institute.
Patterson has been practicing at Legacy Rehabilitation (LOTS) in Ruston for the last five years and now serves as Lead Physical Therapist. During Patterson’s time in healthcare, he has valued his privilege to get to aid patients back to recovery and health.
“I remember helping out a gentleman who had both of his femoral nerves damaged in a crush injury which caused him not to have any control of his quadriceps muscles,” Patterson said.
This made the patient have difficulty standing and even more difficulty walking without assistance.
“After a few weeks of trying a neuromuscular reeducation technique with dry needling, he regained near full control of his quads and could walk with no assistance,” Patterson said.
Patients showing strength like this is where Patterson finds continuous motivation in his profession.
“The motivation of others that I see when they’re putting in all this hard work to return to their sport, hobbies and just everyday life after an injury or surgery motivates me,” Patterson said.
Patterson appreciates the bittersweet time he has had to come back to the place where he grew up and serve daily.
“I just want to thank my hometown for trusting me and the therapists at LOTS for providing their rehabilitation needs,” Patterson said. “I never thought I’d be back in Ruston by the age of 30, working with such wonderful people and helping my alma mater (Louisiana Tech) in their Sports Medicine
Department.”
Patterson also works alongside Cedar Creek football team to provide sideline coverage and an athletic trainer presence at home games. He is also currently working to increase his golfer clientele.
“Anyone that considers themselves to be a golfer, we’d love to tell you more about the TPI screen and what it can do to improve your golf game,” Patterson said.
These opportunities in and out of the office fuels Patterson’s servant heart and love for therapy.
“I feel very blessed,” Patterson said.
