Encinitas Physical Therapy


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Staff

Encinitas Physical Therapy
Effective Hands-On Treatment

Neil Sturman, PT, OCS

Encinitas Physical Therapy founder, Neil Sturman, has over 30 years experience practicing physical therapy. A 1976 graduate of University of Southern California, he is a board-certified Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) and member of the American Physical Therapy Association. He is well respected for his sensitive, healing hands, his commitment to high quality care, and his teaching of manual therapy.

His advanced training in physical therapy includes Joint Mobilization, Soft Tissue Mobilization, Craniosacral Therapy, Visceral Manipulation, Strain-Counterstrain, Muscle Energy Technique, Mechanical Link, Functional Mobilization, PNF, Neuromobilization, McKenzie Spinal Therapy, Stabilization protocols, Yoga and Rolfing. He has taught extensively in post-graduate seminars and at the Western University PT program over the past 25 years in the topics of Soft Tissue Mobilization, Cranial Mobilization and Visceral Manipulation. He currently teaches Neuromobilization and is a clinical instructor at the University of St. Augustine PT program in San Marcos.

His philosophy of treatment is patient-centered, and assumes that each person has a unique condition that requires a unique, customized treatment to be most effective. He has a passion for learning, developing and teaching manual therapy in all its variations.

Neil is married, has two children and lives in Leucadia. He and his wife, Michelle, designed our office building in 2001 as a peaceful, healing space, with skylights, vaulted ceilings and private gardens off each treatment room.

Michelle J. Sturman, MPT

Michelle graduated from the Physical Therapy program at the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific in 1996. She earned her bachelor's degree in Psychobiology from UC Riverside and completed graduate work in biomechanics at San Diego University.

She utilizes a variety of manual therapy approaches including Visceral Manipulation, Mechanical Link, PNF, Joint Mobilization, Soft Tissue Mobilization and Craniosacral Therapy to enhance her clinical results. Michelle has a keen intuitive sense in working with people, both on a clinical and personal level. Michelle specializes in treating chronic pain associated with the pelvic floor, spine, and extremities. She uses Mechanical Link and other tissue release techniques to bring balance and normal functioning to the rib cage, the knee, and other sites of dysfunction in the body.

Michelle is married, has two children and lives in Leucadia. She and her husband, Neil, designed our office building in 2001 as a peaceful, healing space, with skylights, vaulted ceilings and private gardens off each treatment room.

Darren Mallinson, PT, CSCS

Darren graduated in 1998 from the Hoogeschool van Amsterdam in the Netherlands with honors. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and member of the American Physical Therapy Association. He has completed training in the MAT approach for reeducation of joint dysfunction. He brings his own love and experience with athletics and sport to his practice. He spent three years in New York City working in aggressive sports therapy and outpatient orthopedics. His expertise also includes treatment of fibromyalgia, neuralgia and chronic pain using a holistic approach. He is enjoys working with post-surgical and other orthopedic problems. Darren joined our team in 2003 and specializes in physical therapy for athletes, dancers and all individuals with pain.

His sports therapy experience includes: athletic trainer at North Carolina State University, physical therapist for a football (soccer) team in Holland, therapist for the Ajax football team of Amsterdam, and therapist for professional athletes and dancers in New York City. Darren loves snowboarding, surfing, mountain climbing, and traveling.

Erin Olsen, PT, OCS

Erin graduated from the University of Vermont in 1996. Erin spent 6 years at the Ventura County Medical Center working with a wide variety of diagnoses. She then worked at a hand clinic in Santa Barbara for a year before moving to Encinitas where she has lived and worked since 2004.

For the past 14 years Erin has been developing her skills as a manual therapist by completing extensive training in Strain-Counterstrain, Myofascial Release, Muscle Energy Techniques, Craniosacral Therapy and Manual Lymphatic Drainage.

After completing a year long intensive manual therapy training in Los Angeles in 2003, she became board certified as an Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist in 2004. As a McKenzie trained physical therapist, she specializes in the treatment of both acute and chronic neck and back pain. Erin and her husband live in Encinitas with their two children and dog.

Judy Verbanets, MS, PT

Judy has been practicing physical therapy in San Diego since 1984. She received her degree from the University of Pittsburgh and continued on to obtain a graduate degree and clinical specialization in neurologic physical therapy from USC. She has taught neurologic therapeutic exercise at the Chicago Medical School, Northwestern University, USC, and Mt. Saint Mary's College. Judy has developed an expertise in treating vestibular dysfunction and is certified in treating cervicogenic vertigo. She is also a certified Pilates Basic Mat instructor and incorporates core conditioning into her therapeutic programs. Over the past year Judy has been teaching fall prevention classes for seniors. Judy brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to her practice.