By Melanie Patterson

The North Jefferson News



For the first time, Fultondale has a team of physical therapists working in the city.

TherapySouth hosted a grand opening on Thursday for its eighth office, located in the Colonial Promenade shopping center in Fultondale.

TherapySouth owner Stephen Foster said the location is ideal for the business because of its placement in the new, busy shopping center and because of visibility from Interstate 65.

Physical therapist Alan Spooner is the clinical director for the Fultondale business.

Spooner is also a certified athletic trainer and has studied strength and conditioning.

He said that TherapySouth is excited to extend its services into northern Jefferson County.

A second physical therapist will be coming on board in February or March. The business also has an occupational therapist.

Fultondale Mayor Jim Lowery said that TherapySouth will benefit not just Fultondale, but all of the surrounding area.

“We haven’t had this type of facility available to us before,” said Lowery. “It’s going to be a regional facility.”

He expects people from north Jefferson County and beyond to choose the business for physical therapy.

Not just anyone can use the TherapySouth facility. Patients must be referred by a doctor.

Foster said that Alabama is one of only two states that still require a physician’s referral for physical therapy. The other state is Indiana.

Even though patients in Alabama must be referred by a doctor, they often do not know they have choices, according to TherapySouth office manager Holley Mickle.

“Patient have an option to go anywhere as long as they have a referral from a physician,” said Mickle.

She said that people often believe they must go to the physical therapy facility to which the doctor referred them.

Spooner said that after patients complete their physical therapy with TherapySouth, they could then continue to use the facility for a monthly fee.

TherapySouth has locations in Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair and Talladega counties.