Kaweah Health opens new Therapy Specialists clinic in Tulare

TULARE, Calif. (KFSN) -- Kaweah Health has opened a new Therapy Specialists location in Tulare, marking the health system's seventh Therapy Specialists clinic and its first in southern Tulare County.

The new facility is designed to provide more convenient access to therapy services for patients who previously traveled to other Kaweah Health locations.

The clinic is already serving patients such as Lindsey Vejar, who has struggled with back, hip, and knee pain for several years.

"I've been like this for four years, and I'm finally getting better," Vejar said.

Vejar, who has worked as a hairstylist for nearly 40 years, said her pain became so severe that she relied on a back brace and a walker while working.

"You take walking for granted. And now I have to think about walking and hold on to walls. Now I'm not holding on to walls as much," she said.

After multiple doctor visits left her feeling hopeless, Vejar said therapy at the new center has helped improve her condition.

"I don't want to quit because I would say I'm 50-70% better, but I'm not 100% better. I want to be able to walk and not think," she said.

The clinic on Hillman Street offers services ranging from neurological rehabilitation to orthopedic preoperative and postoperative joint care.

"We have hand specialists that are going to be here. We have rehabilitation care for athletes wanting to return to sport. We're going to have Parkinson's work," Alvarado said.

The facility also features new equipment designed to help patients with a variety of conditions. Among its features are parallel bars used for rehabilitation and mobility training.

Alvarado said helping patients regain mobility and return to the activities they enjoy is one of the most rewarding parts of the job.

"It makes it all worth it. It makes it so much more fun because I know that we're getting them back to their goal that they want to be at," he said.

Kaweah Health said it plans to offer occupational therapy services at the Tulare location in the future.

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