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By Mandy Haggerson
For the Clemmons Courier

Bethany Fields grew up in Pennsylvania as the oldest of two girls. As an active youth, Fields embraced running and swimming. “When I was really young, my dad and I would participate in running races together. Initially, I was too little to keep up, and then eventually the roles reversed,” recalls Fields. “I loved joining my dad at races.”

Fields’ talents in running were noticed by D-I colleges. “I accepted an academic and athletic scholarship to Marquette University. I felt very blessed to have had that opportunity while I was in college. The friendships that I formed with my teammates have been lifelong,” reflects Fields. She ran cross country at Marquette during the fall, indoor track in the winter, and outdoor track in the spring while a student for all four years. In 2002, Fields graduated with a bachelor of science degree in biomedical science. “I knew that I wanted to go to physical therapy school at Marquette and graduated two years later with my master of physical therapy,” notes Fields.

Once Fields graduated from the master’s program at Marquette, she chose to head back to the east coast. “My sister lived in Atlanta, Georgia, and I also wanted to be within driving distance to my other family. I knew living in North Carolina I could also be close to the beach,” notes Fields. “My first job was through Wake Forest, and I worked at the hospital doing acute care physical therapy for four years.” Fields would spend the next portion of her career gaining valuable experience at both Novant and Wake Forest facilities. “What I have loved about my career is that it’s never boring. There is always something new to learn or challenge to overcome. I enjoy taking updated evidence from research to help solve and pinpoint the source of someone’s pain. I find that to be very rewarding,” explains Fields.

As Fields continued to gain experience in her profession, she challenged herself in running by participating in three marathons. “I’ve done one in Boston, Chicago and Cincinnati,” notes Fields. “I had to hang up my running shoes for marathons because of an injury,” says Fields. “I still get to run with my dad, just not the longer distances. He’s been very inspiring, and still even runs at 74 years old three times a week.”

Fields knew from her own personal experiences as an athlete and as a physical therapist the benefits of dry needling. “I decided in 2017 to open my own physical therapy practice, Complete Motion Therapy. My specialty, dry needling, uses an acupuncture-size needle in a trigger point to release the pain. It’s very effective and quick. Dry needling is a technique specific to orthopedic conditions,” explains Fields. “Having opened my practice was possible from the culmination of my experience working with so many great therapists over the last 17 years. I am so grateful for the employment opportunities I had along the way but opening Complete Motion Therapy allowed me to do what I love with a work life balance,” says Fields who was also licensed to do massage and bodywork therapy.

The work life balance was important to Fields because the same year she opened her business, she also married her future husband, Matt. “We had met through mutual colleagues in 2015 and were married two years later,” notes Fields. She relished becoming a bonus mom to stepson, Garrett (12) when they married, and welcoming daughter, Norah, 13 months ago. “My professional role has evolved after having Norah, and if we are lucky enough to have another child, I’m sure it will do so again,” reflects Fields. “Being an older mom, and a small business owner, it involves a level of risk taking. However, I truly believe the greatest rewards you can ever have come from taking those risks.”