Our Team
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Neil Sturman, PT, OCS
Neil Sturman, founder of Encinitas Physical Therapy, is a board-certified Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist who graduated from USC in 1976 and has led the practice since 1984. A San Diego native, Neil combines expertise from leading mentors in joint, visceral, cranial, osteopathic and myofascial techniques to provide highly personalized care. With over 25 years of teaching experience in advanced manual therapy, he is dedicated to treating each patient's unique dysfunction with custom, hands-on care in a private, therapist-owned setting. Neil lives in Leucadia with his wife, Michelle, and enjoys the outdoors, fitness, and travel.
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Michelle J. Sturman, MPT
Michelle Sturman graduated from the Physical Therapy program at the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific in 1996, after earning a degree in Psychobiology from UC Riverside and completing graduate work in biomechanics. She specializes in treating pain and tension in the spine, rib cage, abdomen, pelvic floor, and extremities using a range of hands-on techniques including Myofascial Release, Visceral Manipulation, and Cranio-Sacral Therapy. Known for her intuitive ability to identify and treat patterns of tension, Michelle brings both clinical skill and personal insight to her work. She lives in Leucadia with her husband Neil, and enjoys hiking, paddle boarding, and skiing.
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Lila Scarlato, MPT
Lila earned her Master’s degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Southern California in 1991 and a Bachelor’s in Kinesiology from UCLA. With a strong background in orthopedics, she focuses on identifying and treating the root cause of your issues. Lila has advanced training in Soft Tissue Mobilization, Functional Mobilization, Pilates, Integrative Manual Therapy, and post-operative care, and she emphasizes a holistic, mind-body approach in her practice. She has a special interest in soft issue therapies, core development, targeted strengthening and refining form to minimize injury risk. As a lifelong runner she is a firm believer in the power of daily movement.