Life without pain. Your Good Life
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Live Without Pain

We strive to improve the quality of life for all of our patients. We pride ourselves on delivering excellent, progressive care that meets the individual needs of our patients.

Hands On
We emphasize manual therapy with a focus on best practices and individualized patient care.
We Listen
The most important aspect of our mission is building trusting relationships with our patients and our local community.
Better Tools
Certified in progressive specialties, we strive to provide the highest quality service and evidence-based care to our patients through professional development and continuing education.
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Common Conditions

  • Back Pain

    Back pain affects up to 80% of the population at some point in their lifetime. Chronic and disabling low back pain can be a significant burden and hindrance leading to fear avoidance behaviors, depression, loss of productivity or decreased enjoyment and participation in recreational activities. There can be many structural sources of back pain such as surrounding muscles, tendons, ligaments and vertebral joints. Also there can be many contributing and overlapping factors such as repetitive stress, poor body mechanics, decreased core stability, weakness and limited hip and lower extremity flexibility.

  • Jaw Pain

    Jaw pain or Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD) is any dysfunction related to the joint or surrounding tissues of the jaw. Contributing factors can be related to poor habitual posture, structural imbalances in the muscles used for chewing, inflammation or  injury from whiplash or dental problems. Symptoms can also be related to the wearing down of the articular surfaces of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

  • Foot Pain

    Pain of the toes, arch, heel, instep or insole of the foot can be debilitating. If your feet hurt your whole body hurts. Our feet supply our brain and body with critical information about our environment so that we can react accordingly. When this is compromised forces are poorly controlled and are transferred up the kinetic chain to the ankle, knee, hip and spine. Many instances of foot pain or injury are a result of weakness and disuse due to habitual over support or poorly fitted shoes. This can lead to bunions, hammer toes, neuroma’s (inflamed nerves) or stress fractures.

  • Dizziness/Loss of Balance

    The brain and body have multiple systems to regulate balance in order to maintain our upright position in space. Any one of these systems, when compromised can lead to increased incidences of dizziness or loss of balance. Differentiation between these systems is essential in sussing out the root cause of recurrent balance problems. Issues with vision, vestibular problems(inner ear), Central vs. peripheral nervous system issues and musculoskeletal system imbalances or weakness can all be at play.

  • Post-Surgical

    Modern science and technology has led to significant advances in the effectiveness and utilization of surgical interventions. However the long term success of those surgeries has everything to do with the health and healing capacity of the individual patient. Pre-operative therapy has been shown to have meaningful impacts on post surgical hospital stays and recovery times. Targeted strengthening and cardiovascular conditioning is essential in reducing complications in healing after surgery.

    Following the surgical procedure our skilled Physical Therapists will work closely with your surgeon to progress you within the boundaries of your specific surgical protocol. Patient education and skilled rehabilitation throughout the phases of healing will speed the return to an active and healthy life and reduce the likelihood of future re-injury.

  • Hip Pain

    Pain, stiffness and loss of motion of the hip can be a significant limiting factor in the participation in recreational and daily activities. Squatting, bending and twisting from the hip should be pain free, fluid and stable. Modern living and prolonged sitting whether in the car, at the office or at home, can slowly and subtly discourage healthy movement patterns which leads to increased risk of serious injury and loss of quality of life. Our skilled Therapists will screen your mobility, strength and differentiate your symptoms to rule out any possible contribution by the low back or lower extremity.

  • Knee Pain

    The knee joint is one of the most commonly injured areas in the body. Symptoms related to sprains, strains and overuse injuries can nag long after the original injury or aggravating event. Knee injuries are a result of the combined compressive and rotational forces acting on the knee. The force of gravity, body composition, dynamic movement patterns and our ability to coordinate that movement will impact which muscle, tendon or ligament may be involved and to what degree. Targeted strengthening, gait retraining and mobility work can be very important in returning to an active and healthy life.

  • Neck Pain

    The cervical spine has 37 joints and permits more motion than any other region of the spine. This combined mobility and role in stabilizing the head during sustained postures as well as quick movements, can make the neck very vulnerable to injury. Neck pain can be accompanied by headaches, jaw or shoulder pain which symptoms you have depend on the muscles, joints or nerves that are involved in the injury. Whether from an acute whiplash like injury or chronic posture related strain, skilled evaluation is essential in relieving symptoms and regaining control over your life.

  • Shoulder Pain

    The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body, with only one boney attachment to the axial skeleton. As a result the soft tissue structures which form a “complex” rely on a delicate coordination to maintain the stability of the glenohumeral joint. Shoulder pain or injury can come on spontaneously or as a result of chronic overuse and (poor) postural contributions. Pain can come from any one tissue or a combination of many structures in the shoulder complex, which can often make accurate assessment challenging. Skilled evaluation is essential to determine an effective course of treatment to return you to your life without risk of re-injury.

  • Arthritis

    Joint pain, stiffness and joint deformities as a result of an inflammatory process can have a significant impact on our quality of life. There are many types and causes of arthritis which can be well managed with a combination of appropriate medication, exercise and movement education. Although there is no cure for arthritis, management of this condition can have a meaningful and positive impact on your quality of life and enjoyment of movement, exercise and participation in a healthy lifestyle.

Our Services

We specialize in manual therapy and sports performance with an emphasis on Functional Dry Needling, ASYTM, Active Release Technique, Sports Metrics, and feature AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmills at both locations.

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Success Stories

Real Results

“It was such a breathe of fresh air to be able to work with Will. Before coming to Good Life, I was… Read More

TB, age 35 of Grand Rapids

“I have seen Dave at Good Life Physical Therapy Eastown for a complex running injury since December. He has gotten me mobile… Read More

AC, age 64 of Grand Rapids

“I had the pleasure of working with both Will and Dave on myofascial pain in my shoulder. I had a difficult case… Read More

RS, age 32 of Grand Rapids

“Julianne is an amazing Physical Therapist and an expert in ACL rehab/recovery. I worked with her for post-op rehab as well as… Read More

Anonymous

“Ryan is outstanding. Dry needling was terrifying considering my fear of needles, but it was amazing for my shoulder and I felt… Read More

SM, age 42 of Grand Rapids

“I want to thank Josh and the staff for getting me moving pretty well after the hip arthroscopic surgery. I place a… Read More

NW, Age 62 of Ada/AZ

“Best. PT. Ever.  Finally experiencing relief after 10 years of chronic pain 10/10 would PT again.”

DP, age 35 of Flint

“I really recommend anyone who’s looking for a physical therapist to come to Good life. I’m currently receiving treatment at the Eastown… Read More

JG, age 25 of Grand Rapids

“I was referred to Dr. Julianne Smith due to balance and gait issues. During my evaluation appointment with Julianne, she was able… Read More

CL, age 71 of Hudsonville

“SAVED MY LIFE. 10+ yrs of debilitating chronic pain, horrible chronic muscle spasms, multiple broken vertebra, multiple ruptured discs, sciatica, scoliosis. Tons… Read More

SW, age 41 of Grand Rapids

“I have been to numerous physical therapy locations over the years, but Good Life Physical Therapy stands out as the best. Josh… Read More

KR, age 67 of Grand Rapids
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Patient Resources

Have questions? Looking for additional information on common injuries or one of our specialities? Need to print New Patient Forms? Look no further!

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