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 owns Stendahl Physical Therapy, specializing in 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 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. She is experienced in a variety of athletics, including soccer, boxing, yoga, and weight training.

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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. Melissa uses a highly collaborative model of care to identify strategies for clients to continue their activities, rather than just saying "no".