78 Photo Essay: Jerrod Walker, Physical Therapist, Rehab South

Words by Justin Hunter | Image by Blakeney Clouse 

Most of us can recall where we were and what we were doing on September 11, 2001. Jerrod Walker, a physical therapist at Rehab South, had just started his job at the local physical therapy clinic that year. 

“I was standing right over there watching the TV when it happened,” Walker says, motioning to the clinic’s rehabilitation area. “It’s a day you’ll never forget.” 

Walker grew up in Brilliant, Alabama, a small town in Marion County where almost every kid is a multi-sport athlete out of necessity. “When you grow up going to a small school, if you play one sport, you usually play them all,” he says. “My initial interest in physical therapy came from participating in sports and being around sports injuries. I played the ‘big three’ through high school: baseball, football, and basketball.”

 Walker obtained his Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from the University of South Alabama. He has spent most of his career at Rehab South after working at a clinic in Cullman.

For nearly two decades, Walker has helped patients get their lives and mobility back. One of those hundreds of individuals was his mother after she was involved in a severe car accident. She suffered a broken back and doctors had to amputate her leg. Walker worked with her through her rehabilitation and helped her regain her independence. He says he finds great joy in seeing patients overcome injuries, no matter how minor or severe. 

“If you’d asked me my favorite part of the job when I was young, I would have said working with athletes because that is what got me into physical therapy,” Walker says. “As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to appreciate working with middle-aged people, older people, and children. Maybe it’s because I can relate with the middle-aged man who hurt his back cutting the lawn or strained his shoulder playing basketball with his kids.”

Nineteen years have passed since 9/11 and Walker’s first days at Rehab South. All of these years later, he continues to find joy coming into the office because of the practice’s positive impact on the community. “At Rehab South, we want to help people, make sure they have a good rehabilitation experience and have made improvements,” Walker said.

“You get a lot of fulfillment seeing people get better.” 78