We are experienced physical therapists providing treatments to develop, maintain, and restore your maximum movement and function.
Click on the names below to learn more:
Elizabeth Stroot | Angie Kowalski | Margaux Craig | Dana Guynes | Kelly Biagini | Anne Viser | Jolene Walsh | Kateleen Hall
Elizabeth Stroot
Elizabeth is the owner and founder of Core Wellness & Physical Therapy. She is experienced in treating a vast range of orthopedic conditions, specializing in neck and back pain, headaches, and pre/post-natal conditions. Involved in health and fitness since 1999, Elizabeth’s ultimate goal is to provide patients with the highest quality of individualized rehabilitation. Her approach to therapy offers patients an integrative treatment approach, providing each patient with the focused attention they need to discover their body’s true potential.
Utilizing a predominantly manual approach to rehabilitation, Elizabeth integrates a combination of hands on techniques, functional exercise, Pilates, nutrition, and lifestyle modification, to support long term success.
Formal Training:
Elizabeth holds a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from University of St. Augustine, and a Masters Degree in Physical Therapy from The University of Vermont. Her Bachelor’s degree is in Nutrition and Sociology.
Physical Therapy and Women’s Health:
Trained through the Upledger Institute, Elizabeth incorporates CranioSacral Therapy into her manual therapy practice, Orthopedic Manual Therapy techniques via Stanley Paris, and Institute of Physical Art. She has extensive training in visceral manipulation, myofascial release, Grayston-style assisted soft tissue mobilization, muscle energy technique, strain counter-strain, Kinesiotaping, cupping, fascial and trigger point release. Elizabeth is a pelvic floor therapist, utilizing specialized gynecological techniques in patients with endometriosis, a history of abdominal surgeries, pre-and postnatal concerns, and fertility issues.
Pilates:
Elizabeth integrated apparatus-based Pilates into the practice in 2009. Trained by Polestar Pilates, she implements a contemporary approach to Joseph Pilates’ foundational teachings, ensuring exercises are modified to meet the needs of every patient. In her experience, an individualized Pilates program provides the perfect balance of strength, stability, flexibility and range of motion, combined to leave patients feeling long and strong.
Nutrition:
Elizabeth’s extensive nutrition background supports her belief in optimizing bioavailable nutrients to maximize our body’s potential to heal. By obtaining an in-depth nutritional history, Elizabeth helps her patients set attainable goals and formulate an integrative approach to reaching them. Encouraging patients to consciously choose the best “dietary fuel” helps keep them focused on their greatest investment—their health.
Elizabeth is also a Whole30 Nutrition Partner and a Primal Blueprint Certified expert.
Personal:
Elizabeth’s own lifestyle promotes wellness. She maintains a regular exercise schedule, testifying to her personal fitness belief: cross-training is key. Her personal favorites are weight training, and HIIT cardiovascular training. She regularly supports her local farmer’s market in Arlington, promoting organic and local farming while maximizing nutritional content of the food and with minimal environmental impact. She is committed to getting eight hours of sleep each night, and drinking a gallon of water daily. She believes every effort makes a difference.
Elizabeth, her husband, and two daughters enjoy exploring all that the DC Metro Area has to offer. Favorites include the National Gallery of Art, walking the grounds at Mount Vernon, eating oysters at Old Ebbit Grill, and spontaneous drives towards the Shenandoah valley.
Contact Elizabeth directly at [email protected].
Angie Kowalski
Angie earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. She also holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Audiology and Hearing Science from Indiana University.
Since graduating from physical therapy school in 2008, Angie has completed several hundred hours of continuing education in furthering her manual skills through The Barral Institute, The Upledger Institute, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, The Institute of Physical Art, Maitland Australian Manual Therapy, and Titleist Performance Institute. Techniques learned in these classes helped to expand upon her foundation of Shirley Sahrmann’s Movement Impairment Syndromes, where she assesses and diagnoses one’s mechanical and neuromuscular deficits contributing to their pain and affected activity tolerance. Her treatment focuses on addressing these findings and returning the person to a state of efficient mobility and stabilization. Angie has treated a variety of acute, chronic, and post-surgical orthopedic impairments as well as neurological disorders in outpatient settings. She also has experience in treating active and retired military with complex medical histories at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
Angie is originally from Indiana but has been in the northern Virginia area since 2008. She currently lives in Del Ray with her husband, son and calico cat. She enjoys cycling and exploring all places inside and out that this MidAtlantic has to offer.
Contact Angie directly at [email protected].
Margaux Craig
Margaux received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Shenandoah University, Masters of Physical Therapy degree from Marymount University and her Bachelor of Arts in Exercise Sports Science from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has been a physical therapist for over 19 years and has been a participant and instructor in Pilates for over 15 years. She received her Pilates certification through Balanced Body University.
Along with Pilates, Margaux has interests in restoring movement dysfunction for a variety of orthopedic and sports related injuries. Her treatments include using muscle energy techniques (MET), therapeutic taping, trigger point dry needling, visceral mobilization and cranialsacral therapy along with many other manual practices. She is able to use and combine multiple treatment methods to effectively apply individualized therapy for each patient.
In addition to orthopedic impairments, Margaux also treats Women and Men’s Health conditions including pelvic floor pain, incontinence, and constipation.
Contact Margaux directly at [email protected].
Dana Guynes
Dana obtained her Master of Science with a major in Physical Therapy through Virginia Commonwealth University in 2000. She later received her doctorate through Marymount University in 2007. She has always had a special interest in treating spine patients and became a credentialed McKenzie therapist (Cert. MDT) (www.mckenziemdt.org) in 2004. She continued to advance her manual skills through various techniques and became a Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist (COMT) through Maitland-Australian Physiotherapy Seminars (http://www.ozpt.com/index.php). Dana has also worked part-time as an ergonomist, helping improve work space ergonomics for various companies. She has a special interest in women and men’s health, and treats various conditions for pelvic pain, incontinence, and constipation. She has assisted in training others in pelvic floor health through Herman and Wallace continuing education courses, a nationally respected pelvic rehabilitation Institute. Dana also has a special interest in running and enjoys using video analysis as an element of evaluation for runners. She uses many techniques in her treatment, including trigger point dry needling (http://www.kinetacore.com/), muscle energy technique, visceral mobilization, strain counterstrain, joint mobilization, and the Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA), among others. She has always loved sports and tries to continue participating in these while balancing work and motherhood.
Contact Dana directly at [email protected]
Kelly Biagini
Kelly is a skilled physical therapist who holds a Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree from Marymount University in Arlington. She completed her bachelor’s degree in Exercise and Sports Science at Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. She minored in Behavioral Psychology and Coaching, which has broadened her understanding of the mind-body connection and enhanced her ability to tailor treatment plans to each patient’s unique needs.
As a certified orthopedic manual therapist, Kelly specializes in Maitland-Australian manual therapy, visceral manipulation, strain-counterstrain techniques, and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF). Kelly also trained with Polestar Pilates, learning to use the Pilates “reformer” to integrate stabilization training into her treatments. Additionally, Kelly has extensive experience treating Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), incorporating lessons learned directly from the Ehlers Danlos Society. She is a firm believer in evidence-based practice, and her passion for staying informed on the latest research allows her to continually refine her treatments and provide the best possible care for her patients.
In addition to her clinical work, Kelly has shared her knowledge and experience as an adjunct faculty member at Marymount University. In this role, she moderated student discussions on patient cases and current research, helping to shape the next generation of physical therapists. Kelly’s diverse expertise and dedication to her profession make her an invaluable asset to her patients and colleagues alike.
Contact Kelly directly at [email protected]
Anne Viser
An experienced physical therapist, Pilates instructor and Board Certified Orthopaedic Specialist, Anne has a wealth of expertise to share. She has worked with all age groups and a breadth of conditions ranging from acute sports injuries and overuse syndromes to chronic neuromusculoskeletal disorders, postoperative rehabilitation and pelvic health. Anne has a special interest in women’s health, particularly prenatal and postpartum care. She views physical therapy as a valuable resource for women to achieve strength and mobility goals throughout their lives.
Anne earned her bachelor’s degree in Exercise & Sports Science with an emphasis in athletic training from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from MGH Institute of Health Professions in Boston and is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Specialist (OCS) formally recognized by the American Physical Therapy Association.
Anne is a certified Pilates instructor through the Australian Physiotherapy & Pilates Institute. She has found Pilates to be a powerful tool in helping clients reach their rehabilitative or fitness goals.
Anne enjoys being outdoors, whether exploring new trails with her pup, cheering for her kids on the soccer field or riding her bike with her husband along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Please contact Anne directly at [email protected]
Jolene Walsh
Jolene Walsh received a Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Tennessee at
Chattanooga in 2002. Prior to that, she completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science, with a
concentration in cardiopulmonary rehabilitation. With over 20 years of experience, Jolene has
developed a wide range of skills for the treatment of many musculoskeletal and neurological
diagnoses. With training through the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Continuing Medical Education program, the Institute of Physical Art, the Postural Restoration
Institute, and the Upledger and Barral Institutes, Jolene specializes in manual therapy techniques of
the spine and extremities, visceral manipulation, and craniosacral therapy. Combining manual skills
with specific exercise techniques allows for a comprehensive approach that is individual to each
patient. Her philosophy is to treat the body as a whole, not as one injured part. Jolene also offers
custom orthotics casting and video running analysis.
Jolene serves as adjunct faculty at the George Washington University Program in Physical Therapy.
She lives in Alexandria with her husband, two children, and two rabbits.
Please contact Jolene directly at [email protected]
Kateleen Hall
Kateleen is a physical therapist with a special interest in orthopedics as well as the geriatric population. She enjoys helping people return to activities following an injury. She also believes that movement is medicine and will try to encourage lifestyle changes to improve overall well-being. It is her goal to make therapy fun and relevant for her patients. In her free time, Kateleen enjoys teaching yoga, playing with her goldendoodle Bogi, spending time with her family, and travelling the world.
Please contact Kateleen directly at [email protected]