Justin Helbing, PTA, MA
Clinical Instructor
Director of Clinical Education
(515) 643-6773
Justin.Helbing@MCHS.edu

Office Location
Building 1, Room 303

Office Hours

Fridays: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. or
By appointment

Mailing Address

Mercy College of Health Sciences
928 6th Avenue
Des Moines, Iowa 50309-1239

Year Started at Mercy College: 2025

    • Department: Physical Therapist Assistant

Education

  • Master of Arts in Teaching, University of Iowa (2010)
  • Bachelor of Arts in World Languages, University of Iowa (2007)
  • Associate of Science in Physical Therapist Assistant, North Iowa Area Community College (2014)

Certifications

  • Certified Kinesiology Therapeutic Taping Practitioner: Level 1 – I.M.P.A.C.T. Group (2014)
  • Certified Running Technique Specialist: POSE Method – Romanov Academy Of Sports Science (2016)
  • Certified in Concussion Management – Select Medical Corporation (2019)

Courses Taught

  • PTA 101: Fundamentals of Physical Therapy (with Lab)
  • PTA 130: Kinesiology (with Lab) PTA 135: Essential Skills in Physical Therapy I (with Lab)
  • PTA 137: Essential Skills in Physical Therapy II (with Lab)
  • PTA 160: Physical Therapy Modalities (with Lab)
  • PTA 162: Therapeutic Exercise (with Lab)
  • PTA 202: Physical Therapy Interventions for Neuromuscular and Cardiopulmonary Conditions (with Lab)
  • PTA 204: Professional Issues in PT
  • PTA 230: Issues in Clinical Practice
  • PTA 235: PTA Seminar

Clinical Field Experience

  • Acute Care Hospital (Waverly, IA)
  • Intensive Care: Oncology (Iowa City, IA)
  • Outpatient Orthopaedics (Des Moines metro and North Central Iowa)
  • Skilled Nursing Facility (Knoxville and Chariton, IA)
  • Aquatic Therapy (Ankeny, IA)

Research Interests and Professional Projects

  • Comparative Literature (Defended Thesis December 2007)
  • Learning Strategy Comparative Study Project (June 2009)
  • Endurance Athletics Program Coordinator (Interim) – Outpatient PT (2017 Season)

RECENT Publications and Presentations

  • Running Footwear Industry Model Inventory and Fitting Principles – Athletico Physical Therapy (2014)
  • Clinical Presenter – Select Medical Corporation Sports Medicine Symposium (2019)

Professional Memberships

  • PDGA #14655

Favorite Quote

The best advice I’ve ever received was from my high school Cross Country coach, Bob Brown. Before every race, he had us look him in the eye and tell him, “Nothing But My Best” was what we were going to do. That mantra ran through our minds on the course that day, but also in everyday life. The rest will take care of itself.

“Success isn’t how far you got, but the distance you traveled from where you started.” (Steve Prefontaine)