By ERIC AYRES

WHEELING — Compassion and a deep-seated drive to help people led to a new chapter in Melissa Fletcher’s life — one that reached a landmark in May of last year when she officially opened Walk of Life Physical Therapy LLC in Wheeling.

Specializing in pelvic health, Walk of Life Physical Therapy also specializes in lymphedema and head and neck cancer management.

“We believe the pelvis is the grand central station – if it’s out of balance, so is everything else surrounding it,” Fletcher said. “We also have an amazing, licensed massage therapist, Jeannette Turner. She has healing hands and gives dynamic massages. We’ll soon be welcoming an occupational therapist, Ashleigh Pegg, who has specialized training in neurological/brain disorders such as stroke and traumatic brain injury.”

As the primary physical therapist, Fletcher evaluates and treats clients for a variety of symptoms that pertain to the pelvis — low back, hip, groin, sacroiliac and tailbone pain, incontinence, constipation, painful intercourse, interstitial cystitis, diastasis recti, C-section scar mobilization, pudendal neuralgia — to name a few. Additionally, they treat swollen limbs from lymphedema and clients who are experiencing lymphedema in their face and neck as a result of post-surgery and radiation treatment from cancer.

“This is a second career for me,” Fletcher said. “I went back to school at the age of 43 for physical therapy and learned about the different specialties, including pelvic health. I had worked in the healthcare system as a nuclear medicine technologist for over 20 years and was not aware of this specialty. The first opportunity to shadow another pelvic floor specialist further sealed the desire to pursue this hidden gem of a profession.”

A native of Cameron, Fletcher came from humble beginnings. She said it is likely that she got her “entrepreneurship gene” from her grandmother, who at one time ran an ice cream truck and eventually a feed store.

Key to success in the physical therapy or PT profession is a true desire to help people overcome their challenges, Fletcher noted.

“You have to love people and have a genuine heart to see them get better.” she said. “You must be an excellent listener in order to provide effective therapy. You must be flexible, I always have a game plan for the next visit, but often it gets changed up because the client is reporting new or different symptoms that need to be addressed. Compassion is most necessary when interacting with clients who have experienced trauma.”

Networking has truly helped Fletcher get a firm foundation to her career in physical therapy. She said industry colleagues on a national level and the business community locally have provided incredible support — and it’s the kind of environment that can help women entrepreneurs thrive, she noted.

“I love the Ohio Valley,” Fletcher said. “I’ve lived here all my life, and I’ve met so many wonderful women. Now more than ever, women have been starting their own businesses here. And the best part is I’ve been able to learn so much from fellow female business owners in this area.”

Fletcher is an active member and volunteer at The Newbridge Church — formerly known as the Vineyard Church of Wheeling.

Walk of Life Physical Therapy is located at 1031 National Road in Wheeling. They are open from Monday to Thursday, and on Saturdays by appointment.

For more information, call 304-830-1388 or visit mywalkoflifept.com.