Duo creates business focusing on products to eliminate pain

After several years of suffering from intense migraines, Amanda Wilson sought out a solution to the pain that was impacting her daily life as a photographer, creative director, and business owner.

She started physical therapy with Scott Ruta, owner of Whitefish Therapy & Sport Center, and in 2018 within four weeks, Wilson was off her migraine medication and saw drastic improvements.

With 28 years of experience and a holistic approach to treatment, Ruta was able to get to the core of Wilson’s pain: a heavy camera.

“Scott is an amazing physical therapist and he worked with me to figure out how we could strengthen my neck and how to change the way I was sitting in my workstation when I was editing for hours,” said Wilson. “The last puzzle piece was changing the way I carried my camera, but we really couldn't figure out how to change that.”

The duo decided to take matters into their own hands and design a camera strap that would give Wilson relief from the many hours of lugging around cumbersome equipment. The innovative camera strap led Wilson and Ruta to start Nyack Exchange to create more accessibility to pain relief products and physical therapy.

“I used that camera strap during the next wedding season and I didn't have any migraines from work. I remember telling Scott, ‘We're making this.’ I think he thought I was kidding, but a month later we were signing legal documents,” Wilson said.

Nyack refers to not only the Nyack Flats area of Glacier National Park but also to the idea of not giving up.

The Nyack Exchange stance camera strap can be used with a variety of cameras and is designed in a way that evenly distributes the camera’s weight on a user’s shoulders and back and allows for hands free movement. The business is registered as a Made in Montana business and sources only USA-made materials and resources.

“Our camera strap is made out of elastic so it's stretchy and moves well, but it also holds it snug to your body,” said Wilson. “What's so exciting for me is that I've heard from so many photographers who had the same problems that I did and they say, ‘Oh my gosh. This thing is amazing.’”

In addition to the stance camera strap, Nyack Exchange recently launched PT in a Box, a physical therapy home rehab kit. There are eight kits designed for different pain points in the body: neck, low back, mid back, hip, knee, ankle, shoulder, and headache.

“Scott gives a complete program that you can do at home where you're comfortable and at your own pace. The video access that comes with the program is amazing and Scott is so generous with the information he provides,” said Wilson. “For the price of one physical therapy session, you get an entire six- to eight-week program of physical therapy with all of the tools that you need.”

Ruta spends much of the program teaching people about biomechanics and anatomy to ensure safety and that people should always check with a medical provider before using the kits.

“Scott takes you through the whole process of helping you identify where your pain is coming from and why you're having it and then he takes you through the stretching and the exercises,” she said. “We're not trying to replace an actual physical therapist. We're just trying to enhance the treatment that you get when you go to physical therapy.”

Other products offered by the health-focused business include gel packs, air back pillows, lumbar rollers and support, and cane massagers.

“The Nyack Exchange is all about providing products for people that they can incorporate into their lives and make small adjustments that make such a huge difference in your health and I love being a part of it because I've experienced it first hand.”

Nyack Exchange can be contacted by email hello@nyackexchange.com or phone 406-871-3875. To learn more, visit nyackexchange.com.

Reporter Summer Zalesky may be reached at szalesky@dailyinterlake.com.