Dr. Heidi Gastler
About
When Dr. Heidi Gastler founded Mountain to Sea in 2016, she set out to create a physical therapy experience unlike any other in Southern California. A lifelong adventurer, she believes in pushing herself and her patients beyond the limits. She grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota where she competed in downhill ski racing and snowboarding and danced in a ballet company. An avid ocean-sport enthusiast, she felt the call of the Pacific and relocated to Southern California in 2011. She enjoys spending her free time either on or under the water, prone paddling or scuba diving, and keeps fit by hefting stones and flipping tires at a local Strongman gym.
She has paddled 32 miles from Catalina Island to the Manhattan Beach Pier three times in the Catalina Classic paddleboard race and she has her Advanced Open Water Diver certification. When she’s not at the beach, you are likely to find her in the mountains either skiing, fly fishing or backpacking. She believes life should be lived and aims to arm her patients with what they need to achieve their physical goals.
Experience
Dr. Gastler completed her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of St. Thomas and her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from St. Catherine University, both in St. Paul, Minnesota. Her training heavily focused on orthopedic and neurological medicine, but also exposed her to home health care, wound care and physical rehabilitation for patients with eating disorders. After graduation, she treated patients with spinal disorders, orthopedic injuries and chronic pain at Advanced Spine Associates, an orthopedic outpatient clinic. During her time practicing in Minneapolis, she also worked as part of a brain injury recovery team at Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute, as well as in executive corporate wellness at CES Fitness.
In 2011 she joined the staff of Aim Sports Medicine in Hermosa Beach. At Aim she treated orthopedic and sports medicine injuries of patients ranging in ages from 8 to 87. While serving the South Bay communities she developed an integrated rehabilitation approach, working alongside physicians providing injectable treatments such as PRP and stem cells, acupuncturists, dieticians/nutritionists and chiropractors. She focused on treatment of ankle and foot injuries as well as care of pediatric and adolescent orthopedic conditions. In addition, she provided in-home treatment with specialized services for patients who were unable to come into a clinical environment or had rehabilitation needs requiring greater privacy. She treated both amateur and professional athletes ranging from the LA Kings, AVP volleyball and the LPGA to the MMA, UFC and more.
Dr. Gastler is a Herman and Wallace trained pelvic floor therapist, and a Level 3 Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) Golf Medical Professional and Fitness Instructor. She is SFMA certified and has completed extensive continuing education courses for spinal rehabilitation, myofascial release/decompression, postural restoration, RockTape® and Graston Technique® instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization. She believes that ongoing education helps her provide the best care to her patients and keeps her treatments innovative.
