Law and Marchal's practice covers all aspects of active living.
Article updated: 7/29/2010 5:20:50 PM
They’re also aware of the demands that training puts on an active patient’s body. Understanding an active body is standard for specialists like physical therapists and chiropractors—but Marchal and Law are neither.
In truth, they are both general practitioners. Together, they run Altius—a family practice set up to take care of anyone with an active lifestyle.
As a primary care doctor, Marchal sees his patients for a wide range of injuries, but as someone who shares an active life he can relate to his patients. “There is no way to appreciate what people go through in pursuit of their passion unless you share that passion as well,” Marchal says.
Passion is one thing the doctors of Altius have. Both Dr. Marchal and Dr. Law have been competing in cycling and running events since they moved to Richmond.
Participating in sporting events has always been common for the pair, and they both take time to offer their medical services at these events. Marchal enjoys providing care at the Dominon Riverrock celebration and the duathlon because it gives him a sense of community. “When we show up at local races, we can check and see how one of our patient’s asthma is doing, and how another one’s son’s strep throat is coming along.”
While the doctors are not specialized in sports-related injures, participating in these events has given them the opportunity to know how major damage can result from a repeatedly incorrect action.
Marchal states that as a doctor, “unless you take time to listen and understand the training, the equipment, and the physical demands, it is hard to determine where the injury cascade started.”
However, Marchal says that he alone cannot cater to the needs of every patient. “Keeping people healthy is a team effort,” he says. “Fortunately the Richmond community also has many other excellent physical therapists, massage therapists, chiropractors, and orthopedists that help us get our patients back to their activity again.”
Article first appeared in SBQ Issue #14, May/June | 2010
