Meet Peter Schrey, Step & Spine’s Newest Physical Therapist

Our newest physical therapist here at Step & Spine Physical Therapy, Peter Schrey, DPT, OCS, CSCS, had a good deal of clinical experience before even graduating high school in the San Francisco Bay Area. Back then, he tended to frequent clinics as a patient.

“I spent a good number of days in the PT clinic with a good number of injuries,” Peter said.

An ankle ligament tear (surgery required), a dislocated hip from playing basketball, and a dislocated shoulder from … well, Peter describes it as “a homemade bike jump gone awry,” all led him on paths toward recovery that included physical therapy. The experience of recovery – of getting to know his own body, how it functions and ways of preventing future injuries – planted a seed in the back of his mind that didn’t germinate until college, after considering a major in forestry.

“For that major I took a soil science class, and I was bored out of my mind,” Peter said. “Then I took an anatomy class, and I thought it was the greatest thing in the world. So I followed that path.”

The path led him toward earning his Bachelor of Science degree in kinesiology, with an emphasis in human movement studies, from San Francisco State University in 2002. Three years later, he earned his doctorate in physical therapy from Regis University in Denver, CO.

Today, Peter has eight years of experience practicing physical therapy, the last six at Eugene Physical Therapy in Eugene, OR. Since receiving his doctorate in PT, he became Board Certified in Orthopedics (OCS, 2011), became a Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS, 2005), and has completed more than 500 hours of post-graduate continuing education.

Monday, Jan. 6, Peter joined the team at Step & Spine Physical Therapy, with offices in Sisters and Redmond, as its fourth clinical therapist. He will work primarily in the Sisters office, according to Barrett Ford, owner and lead physical therapist at Step & Spine.

“We have been looking for a physical therapist to accommodate our growth, who had plenty of clinical experience, and who has continued to expand their knowledge with post-graduate education,” Barrett said. “We were also, just as importantly, looking for a caring, compassionate individual – someone who’s passionate about helping people.”

According to Barrett, Peter fits this description to a T. His warm, approachable demeanor, he says, is indicative of Peter’s experience as a physical therapist, years he’s spent continuing to hone his craft while offering education and services as both a volunteer and a mentor.

Currently, Peter is pursuing a certification in McKenzie Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (also known as the McKenzie Method) as well as a fellowship in the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy.

“When you are done learning, you are done in your field,” Peter says. “And I’m always looking to learn more and help my patients.”

While working in Eugene, Peter also regularly volunteered his professional skills at national and world track and field events. He once served as an invited speaker at a City of Eugene health expo, where he spent the day teaching public employees about back pain prevention, and he served as a clinical instructor for physical therapy students four out of the last six years.

“I like to take every opportunity I can to make people aware of what physical therapy can do for treating chronic pain, injury and on the preventative side of things – how a PT can be there for a patient, helping them get back to the life they love, doing all the things they enjoy doing,” Peter said.

Peter utilized an eclectic approach to physical therapy – a personal, wide-based approach, he says, that blends mechanical, manual and functional therapy “guided by evidence-based medicine so the client can achieve maximum wellness.” This personalized approach, he says, is what attracted him to Step & Spine Physical Therapy.

“I like being a part of a private practice that does things from the ground up and doesn’t lose sight of the patient-PT experience,” he said. “Each one of the other three physical therapists at Step & Spine have skills in areas that I don’t, so I’m looking forward to the opportunity to consult with them and learn from them.”

Barrett agrees that Peter is an ideal fit for the practice.

“His education has followed a similar pathway as mine, which meshes well with our philosophy,” Barrett said. “But he has also added some amazing things to complement what we do.”
Peter’s lifestyle also complements Central Oregon well. Along with running, mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing, he also enjoys the sport of volleyball. He recently moved to Central Oregon with his wife, Liz (a veterinarian) and his two young daughters.

Please help us in welcoming Peter to Step & Spine Physical Therapy. Call him at our Sisters clinic, 541-588-6848, or email him at peter@stepandspine.com to say “Hi!” and to discuss your physical therapy goals.