Get Fit

Myo-Fit Mobility and Therapy Director Talks Services and Benefits

Writer / Renee Larr

Photographer / Justin Sicking

As we age, mobility becomes increasingly important in our physical health. Myo-Fit Mobility and Therapy in Westfield provides musculoskeletal care ranging from evaluations to treatment by certified and licensed athletic trainers. Sara Richardson, director of mobility and therapy services, believes the healing practices used by athletic trainers shouldn’t be just for elite athletes. 

“There aren’t many athletic trainers currently providing their services and skill set to the general public,” she says. “We provide one-on-one care to the physically active or those who want to be physically active. A majority of our clients are physically active people, but maybe they’ve sat at a desk for 30 years and they’ve become stiff or tight.”

One-on-one care means the staff at Myo-Fit provides undivided attention to clients. Richardson says everyday activities like holding a newborn or staring down at a computer screen can often lead to pain and injuries. 

“We customize all our healing and treatment protocols to a client’s wants or needs,” Richardson says.

Richardson says her goal is to treat the root cause of the patient’s issue instead of treating the pain with medication. The hands-on manual therapy approach treats current injuries and helps to prevent new ones. Richardson says her staff plays a central role in wellness as athletic trainers are designed to be the first line of defense from a musculoskeletal standpoint.

“If we can get people in before they’re injured, we can assess some of these imbalances before they become a source of pain or an injury,” Richardson says. “It makes for a happier, healthier person. We encourage people to come to see us first even before seeing a primary-care doctor. We can assess and determine if they should get imaging done or if it’s something like a minor tweak.” 

Treatments can involve joint mobilization, stretching, soft-tissue mobilization, myofascial release, muscle energy, instrument-assisted soft-tissue mobilization, and dry needling.

“Dry needling is a western medicine technique where needles are used to target tight or overused muscles,” Richardson says. “It can help stimulate better blood flow to help release those muscles so they work better. We’re trying to work from the inside out.”

Myo-Fit offers two clinic locations (Westfield and downtown Indianapolis) and five other satellite locations around Indianapolis. The staff of five including Richardson spreads out between the two clinics and satellite locations. 

“Many of our satellite locations are located within fitness facilities,” Richardson says. “Just because you don’t work out there or aren’t a member doesn’t mean you can’t come to see us. Our services are open to anyone. We don’t want to exclude anyone from getting the proper care they need.” 

Initial evaluations last about 15 to 20 minutes. While the business doesn’t accept insurance, Richardson says their self-pay model does accept health savings and flexible spending accounts.

Myo-Fit Mobility and Therapy is located at 400 Alpha Drive in Westfield. For more information, call 317-203-9488 or visit myofittherapy.com.