Team Rehab Wauwatosa – official physical therapy provider for the Milwaukee Barbarians.

As a physical, full-contact sport, injuries are bound to happen in rugby.

To help with injury prevention, assessment and treatment, professional physical therapists are on-site for all of our matches.

Over the last few years, Spencer Wall and Team Rehab Wauwatosa have been providing physical therapy services for all Barbarian home matches.

We’ve developed a wonderful relationship with Spencer these last few seasons. So we are thrilled to announce that Team Rehab Wauwatosa is sponsoring the club as our official physical therapy provider.

But you don’t have to be playing a match to benefit form the expertise offered by Team Rehab Wauwatosa. As an exclusive benefit, all dues-paying club members — from active players to Sustaining Members — can visit the Spencer at his clinic for a free physical therapy assessment.

We sat down with Spencer to learn more about his clinic, and his journey from a rugby fan to contractor to sponsor.

Interview with Spencer Wall

Milwaukee Barbarians: Can you tell us a bit about the history of your clinic and what inspired you to start it?

Spencer Wall: Team Rehabilitation – Wauwatosa began May 2023 when we determined a need in the area. I had worked with the company for 3 years prior and always had an interest in business and ownership due to the autonomy and variety it provides.

I went full-time in the space in October 2023 and it has been steadily growing since!

MB: What do you enjoy most about being a physical therapist?

SW: I am a nerd at heart and love anatomy and exercise physiology. I get to use that knowledge along with logic and problem solving to figure out what’s going on with the patient and how to get them back to where they want or need to be.

I also love getting to know my patients and the feeling when they get to return to their favorite activities.

MB: Do you have experience working with athletes in contact sports?

SW: I have worked with local soccer, baseball, rock climbing, powerlifting, volleyball, gymnastics, cycling, and basketball teams and clubs.

I have also worked with the Milwaukee Barbarians as a contractor for the past few years providing sideline coverage and working to rehabilitate several of the injured athletes.

MB: What types of physical therapy services do you offer?

SW: Physical Therapy is direct access, meaning a physician script is NOT required to be evaluated and treated by a physical therapist. We are capable of triaging patients to determine the best course of action and the need for imaging. When a physician referral is required, we have an extensive network of sports and orthopedic doctors and can often accelerate the process of being seen.

When utilizing our free injury screen, this can often save patients time and money by getting them to the right place faster and with less steps.

We offer evaluation and treatment of all outpatient sports and orthopedic injuries including, but not limited to: spine, extremities, concussion and head trauma, vestibular, temporomandibular joint (TMJ), gait and running video analysis, car accident and legal cases, and work injuries and work conditioning.

We offer all outpatient sports and orthopedic services including, but not limited to: manual therapy, thrust & non-thrust joint mobilization and manipulation, spinal traction, thermotherapy, scraping and instrument assisted soft-tissue mobilization, dry needling, pneumatic compression, neuromuscular electrical stimulation, taping, blood flow restriction, cupping, progressive exercise and return to sport programs.

MB: What motivated you to sponsor Milwaukee Barbarians rugby?

SW: A few years ago, I had the pleasure of treating one of the players when he expressed a need for sideline coverage at home matches. With my wife growing up in England and rugby being so popular in the UK, I have been exposed to rugby for years. Combined with my personal interests in sports and human performance, it was an obvious yes for me and I have a blast helping the team.

MB: How can physical therapy benefit rugby players specifically?

SW: Physical therapy offers a wide range of benefits including Injury prevention, rehabilitation, recovery optimization, education, and customized programs based on a person’s unique needs.

For example, props in rugby often feel knee pain following a match. Knees endure significant stress from scrums, tackling, and quick changes in direction during a match.

If you’re experiencing knee soreness intra- and post-game, Team Rehabilitation Physical Therapy in Wauwatosa can help by providing tailored treatment and prevention strategies to address and alleviate these issues. Here’s how:

• Comprehensive Assessment — A detailed evaluation of your knee mechanics, joint stability, and overall body alignment would help pinpoint specific causes of your soreness. Factors such as muscle imbalances or poor technique during scrums can contribute to knee pain.
• Manual Therapy — Hands-on techniques like joint mobilizations, soft tissue massage, and stretching can reduce inflammation, improve range of motion, and promote healing in overworked knee structures.
• Modalities — Pneumatic compression and thermotherapy can help manage swelling and pain that may occur after games while other techniques such as dry needling effectively reduce trigger points that may contribute to faulty movement patterns or pain.
• Strength and Stability Exercises — Focused strengthening of key muscle groups such as your quadriceps, hamstrings, and hip stabilizers will help offload stress from your knees during play. Sport-specific drills can be used to reinforce stability during scrums or tackles.
• Biomechanical Training — Guidance on proper movement patterns during high-load actions, such as scrums or cutting. This will reduce unnecessary strain on your knees and improve your efficiency on the field.
• Injury Prevention Program — Developing a long-term strategy to minimize future knee problems by incorporating warm-up routines, flexibility exercises, and load management specific to your rugby position.