Mary’s interest in physical therapy began at age 15 after being involved in a motor vehicle accident resulting in a month-long hospital stay of traction, a surgery to correct a misaligned femur, and over a year of physical therapy. Ever since she has been passionate about helping people of all ages recover from their conditions and guiding them in meeting and exceeding their personal goals.
Mary is the CEO of Physical Therapy Your Way & Advanced Specialty Care PLLC. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in education and minor in athletic training and cardiovascular health from Northeastern University in Boston, MA. Three years later, she earned her Master of Physical Therapy degree at Hahnemann University in Philadelphia, PA.
Mary has practiced and specialized in pelvic health physical therapy since 1991 and brought this new niche to Northern VA. In 1994, she created Fairfax Hospital’s first women’s health physical therapy program. She spent time there educating other physical therapists and doctors on treatment strategies and the benefits of this conservative approach to common problems childbearing women encounter.
The practices Mary was initially employed by required high patient volume productivity standards. This low quality of patient care model frustrated her; hence in 2002, she opened her private practice in the basement of her home. In doing so, she exclusively provided full-hour one on one personalized physical therapy. This full-hour one on one patient care model allowed her the time to connect with her patients and provide holistic, comprehensive rehabilitation. She now employs over 18 PTs in 2 locations in northern VA, who all provide one-on-one patient care.
Mary is the co-author of the American Physical Therapy Associations Women’s Health Manual. In 1992 a group of pioneering women’s health physical therapists collaborated and wrote the manual to guide other therapists on the standards of proper evaluation and treatment techniques for pelvic floor disorders. She currently treats pelvic floor disorders of women and men. Her most frequently treated pelvic floor disorders include urinary and fecal incontinence, pelvic and spine pain, dyspareunia (painful intercourse), pelvic organ prolapse, constipation, prenatal and postpartum rehabilitation, diastasis recti, urinary frequency, and prostatitis.
She utilizes a holistic approach to her treatments focusing on full-body movement analysis, corrective exercise prescriptions, nutrition, mindfulness training, stress management strategies, and helping everyone find a pain-free way to live an active and healthy lifestyle. Mary utilizes an array of manual therapy techniques such as fascia counter strain, muscle energy techniques, myofascial release, proprioceptive neuromuscular reeducation, visceral mobilization, functional mobilization, and dry needling, to name a few. She believes movement is medicine and hence focuses on patient-specific corrective exercises and practical functional strategies to help her patients return to the activities they enjoy.
Family is everything to Mary. She is thankful for her outstanding and involved husband of over 30 years and four phenomenal sons. She enjoys nature, playing golf and pickleball, sculling, cycling, walking, and playing with her two black labs in her free time. She credits the success of her practices to her team of talented, passionate, and kind physical therapists and office administrative staff that are like family to her. They all share the same passion for helping and serving others.
