MELISSA STENDAHL

Doctor of Physical Therapy
Licensed in TX and NY

Melissa served for over 11 years as an officer in the United States Air Force before transitioning to civilian life with her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Texas State University. She enjoys applying her unique blend of experiences in lifelong athletics and professional leadership to her physical therapy practice.

Practice philosophy: Melissa's mission is to empower clients to live their desired lifestyle and to have autonomy in their healthcare. She promotes “prehab” (preventive care to avoid injury or re-injury) and active participation from clients, placing great emphasis on education so that each person understands their diagnosis and plan of care, and has confidence in symptom management. Melissa uses a highly collaborative client-therapist relationship to identify strategies for clients to continue their activities, rather than just saying "no".

Special interest areas include fitness programming (guiding people to remain capable or to recovery capability in their fitness); and labor & delivery prep, including advocacy for birth autonomy. She is equally enthusiastic about helping clients of all genders.

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Background: Melissa initially practiced in orthopedics and sports rehab in Colorado, where she quickly recognized a lack of resources for people suffering from pelvic issues. She became passionate about helping to change this, and trained in pelvic and obstetric PT with the Herman and Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute and the American Physical Therapy Association before moving to New York, where she worked extensively in pelvic rehab at Beyond Basics Physical Therapy in Manhattan. She went on to establish her private practice in Brooklyn, and then again in San Antonio after moving back to be near family and friends established during a prior military assignment.

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Melissa currently specializes in physical therapy for adult pelvic health. She is also the Director of Services Strategy for Liv Labs Inc., a healthtech start-up developing self-enabled solutions for incontinence. She has her Certificate of Achievement in Pregnancy and Postpartum Physical Therapy from the American Physical Therapy Association, with skilled comprehension in perinatal care, including high risk pregnancies and pregnant athletes. She was also in the first graduating class of international PECOS Program certified practitioners, providing evidence-based wellness interventions for pre-conception, pregnancy, and early childhood for the prevention of chronic disease and the optimization of human development.