By EMMA DELK

WHEELING — A sports injury in high school turned into a nearly 24-year-long career in pediatric physical therapy for Nikki Kiger.

Always harboring an interest in the body, the injury and subsequent physical therapy taught Kiger that she wanted to spend her career “helping people get better.”

“I always enjoyed working out and lifting weights,” Kiger. said. “My injury and going through the process or rehabilitation process was the moment I realized I wanted to enter the physical therapy field.”

Kiger’s next passion came 15 years into her physical therapy career after taking a day-long course on mindfulness and yoga in Pittsburgh that “opened her eyes.”

“That day, I became aware of the vastness of yoga, energy and how the mind can impact the wellness of the body and spirit,” she described. “It was the missing link for me. I had used yoga poses as treatment exercises for my pediatric clients but had not explored the depths of the yoga practice. It is one step I took in my career that I will always be grateful for.”

Today, Kiger wears two hats in the health field as an independent contractor through West Virginia Birth to Three and owner of Three Little Birds Yoga LLC.

Just as rehabbing from an injury requires going at one’s own pace, Kiger has grown and learned in her career similarly. She noted making “many mistakes” over the years in both professions has given her the opportunity to analyze and learn from them.

“I do consider my thirst for learning as one of my greatest strengths,” Kiger noted. “I strive always to be a student.”

One mistake Kiger learned while in school for pediatric physical therapy was that analyzing what was “wrong” in patients and setting goals to “fix” hem was not a productive form of treatment. Kiger explained the mindset of treating pediatric patients as “having problems” caused her to neglect “the entire person” during treatments early on in her career.

“If a child were crying through the session, I would continue to push through as I felt as though the work was more important than the internal state of the child,” described Kiger. “I now understand that when a child or adult is stressed, they are not in a place to absorb and retain what is taught. Sure, I can stretch a muscle through a child’s distress, but the body holds tension when upset. If the mind does not feel safe and at ease, then there is a carryover to the entire system.”

Now, Kiger does her best to stay calm and connected to patients and students during sessions. She described making them feel safe during treatment has made “all the difference” in improving their healing and retention process.

To progress her skills in both areas of expertise while opening up the opportunity for others to learn from her is another goal Kiger has in her career. She welcomes anyone to shadow her or another therapist or yoga instructor to get a feel for the job.

“Those entering the field should have a thirst for learning and drive to work with your patients authentically,” noted Kiger. “I truly believe people do not care how much you know, until they know how much you care.”

Kiger has observed many women helping women grow in their careers, specifically in yoga and personal growth.

“One of my favorite proverbs is, ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together,'” she described. “I believe we will continue to support each other, but in a more genuine way, which will take our community far.”

The smiles and hugs Kiger receives from patients or students as soon as they walk through the door is the most rewarding part of both jobs for her. Because of this, Kiger loves every minute she spends practicing yoga with students in elementary schools in Ohio and Marshall counties.

“Children are so pure and seeing them laugh when we have a dance party or achieve a state of calm when we flow through our poses and then settle our energy in rest pose brings such a feeling of happiness,” described Kiger.

Kiger added that experiencing the excitement when a child takes their first steps on their own or with an assistive device was the highlight of her physical therapy work.

“Seeing the joy on the parent’s faces as their child hits a new milestone makes my job so rewarding,” described Kiger. “I get videos sent to me quite often from parents to show me their child has achieved a goal. I do my best to empower the families, as they are the real heroes.”

To achieve such milestones, Kiger believes her impact as a physical therapist has to stretch beyond her sessions. She emphasizes to parents that they must keep working with their children beyond once-a-week meetings with her.

“When the parents feel they can help their child succeed, the real advancements emerge,” she explained.