BIO

Melissa served for over 11 years as an officer in the United States Air Force before transitioning to civilian life with the completion of 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 endeavors.

 

​Early in her initial practice in orthopedics and sports rehab, Melissa recognized a lack of resources for people suffering from pelvic issues. She became passionate about helping to change this, and trained extensively 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 specialized in pelvic rehab at a premier pelvic health practice in Manhattan. She eventually established her private practice, Stendahl Physical Therapy.

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Melissa currently specializes in physical therapy for adult pelvic health and serves as the Senior Director of Services Strategy for Liv Labs, Inc., developing innovative solutions for incontinence. She is one of less than 180 practitioners to have the Certificate of Achievement in Pregnancy and Postpartum Physical Therapy from the American Physical Therapy Association, with comprehension in perinatal care, including high risk pregnancies and pregnant athletes. She is also in the first graduating class of international PECOS Program certified practitioners, providing support and therapeutic services during pre-conception, pregnancy, and early childhood for the prevention of chronic disease and optimization of human development.

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Melissa's mission is to empower clients to have autonomy in their health by understanding total wellness concepts and self care; and to help make pelvic health education and care accessible to all. She encourages preventive care 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 model of care to identify strategies for clients to continue their activities, rather than just saying "no".