Movement is medicine.
As a physical therapist, I am dedicated to providing personalized, one-on-one care that puts your needs and goals first. My approach emphasizes hands-on treatment to restore function, reduce pain, and support healing, while always keeping movement at the heart of recovery. I strongly believe that movement is the best medicine, and I work with you to build strength, confidence, and lasting results through tailored exercise and treatment strategies.
About Me
Growing up in Oregon as an athlete and outdoor enthusiast, I am passionate about helping people achieve or return to an active lifestyle that the Pacific Northwest offers. I have over 12 years of experience treating a variety of musculoskeletal and orthopedic pain and injury. My years as a coach, mentor, and leader lend a treatment approach that empowers people to reach their goals with an emphasis on patient-centered education and care. My areas of focus and interest include acute and chronic pain or injuries, post-surgical rehabilitation, ACL-injury prevention and rehabilitation, running-related injuries, and “court sport” athletes of all ages. More recently, I have developed an interest in and am learning more about the unique considerations for women through perimenopause and menopause. I have a Certification in Orthopedic Manual Therapy (COMT) and am a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), which leads to a balanced treatment approach with both hands-on and exercise-based interventions.
My undergraduate education started in 2005 at Willamette University, where I received a degree in Exercise Science while playing volleyball at the NCAA DIII level. I moved to Colorado in 2010, attending Regis University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program. Missing the people and places at home, I moved back to Oregon and have worked in the Portland metro area since 2013.
In addition to treating patients in the clinic, I help teach in the classroom as an adjunct faculty member at Pacific University’s School of Physical Therapy & Athletic Training. Outside of the clinic and classroom, you will likely find me hiking or camping in the mountains, curled up on a couch or hammock with coffee and a good book, watching sports (WNBA coming to PDX!!), or spending time with friends and family.
What Do I Treat?
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Whether you are a weekend-warrior or a recreational or competitive athlete, I will work with you to get you back to your sport. A successful return-to-sport program includes sport-specific exercise that mimic the demands of your activity, as well as thorough criteria-based testing to reduce the risk of re-injury upon return.
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I treat both acute and chronic orthopedic conditions including back pain, sprains, strains, bone injuries, dislocations, and arthritis-related pain. Treatment for these types of injury typically promote tissue healing, improve range of motion, increase joint stability, and/or strengthen muscles.
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How we experience pain is a complex process that can seem overwhelming and never-ending. Overcoming chronic pain requires an individualized treatment plan and I will provide you with the tools and knowledge to feel more empowered and capable in your body.
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Whether you are preparing for an upcoming surgery or needing to start PT afterwards, we will work together to create a roadmap with short and long term goals to get you back to the things you love. My experience includes, but is not limited to, rehabilitation from total joint replacement, ACL-reconstruction, meniscectomy, spine surgery, joint fusion, achilles repair, and rotator-cuff repair and other shoulder procedures.
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Whether you are training for a marathon or getting into running for the first time, running-related injuries can be nagging and may take more than just extended rest. Combining my thorough understanding of running mechanics with observations from a running assessment and other clinical findings, we will work together to develop a running-specific treatment plan to help you run pain free! We can also discuss the components of a proper warm up and cool down, footwear, and training volume to meet your goals.
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Pain or injury from a car accident can create unexpected disruption in one’s life. I communicate with insurance adjusters to ensure proper coverage for treatment. I will also communicate with any other providers, such as chiropractors and massage therapists, that you may already be seeing to help you recover.
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Whether your work is sedentary or strenuous, I will make sure that I have a thorough understanding of the demands of your job in order to cater a treatment plan specific to your needs. I will communicate with your team of practitioners to help guide you through any work restrictions, as well as a safe return to full-duty (if applicable).
Note: I do not perform work conditioning, work hardening programs, or Functional Capacity Evaluations.
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Individuals suffering from headache often go misdiagnosed for weeks, months, or even years. A headache known as a cervicogenic headache, originates in the cervical spine (neck region) and can be effectively treated with physical therapy interventions. I give people the tools to help manage headache symptoms more effectively and I have helped numerous people significantly reduce, and even eliminate, headache frequency.
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Are you currently pain or injury free but interested in learning how you can reduce your risk of injury? This is an excellent reason to meet with a physical therapist! Oftentimes we can find improper movement patterns, muscle imbalances, or joint restrictions long before they would ever cause pain. Contact me to discuss payment options (insurance companies will often cover this at the same rate as treatment for an injury!).
Contact me.
I treat patients at MBody Health in NW Portland. For questions about insurances accepted and scheduling, click MBody Health below. If you’d like to reach out to me directly, complete this short form and I will be in touch soon. I can’t wait to hear from you!
1940 NW 24th Avenue Portland, OR 97210
503-303-8118