I have been a lifelong runner, and always wanted to run marathons.  I ran my first marathon in 2001 at the age of 24, and caught the bug.  Over the next 5 years, I ran 5 more marathons.  High mileage can take its toll on your body; for me, it was in the form of Achilles tendonitis and IT Band Syndrome, which I hoped to beat in a few months' time and resume running when I felt better.  Unfortunately, what was supposed to be a 6 month break turned into several years due to a series of non-running related injuries, most notably displacing my 5th metatarsal as well as breaking it in a second location.  This injury led to foot surgery and a 6-month recovery back to normal function.  However, residual and seemingly unexplained pain kept me from running any distance farther than 2 miles and affecting other aspects of my life, such as the shoes I wore and how long I could stay on my feet.

I saw many types of practitioners over the following few years, all of whom shared the idea that there was nothing I could do about the pain, and simply said that there was nothing wrong.

Fast forward to 2012, I was still experiencing foot pain and knew that even without that pain, other overuse injuries that hadn't been properly addressed would keep me from getting back to the type of running I enjoy most.

After meeting Heidi while in a volleyball class, I was encouraged to hear her talk about modalities and methods of physical therapy that might be able to help me.  After a few visits with her, my foot pain had nearly disappeared.  I still had a lot of work to do, but it was a refreshing new start. 

Heidi's approach is creative and intuitive, and most importantly, she spends the entire duration of your appointment with you, the patient.  Other offices will allow you about 10 minutes with your therapist, then move you to an assistant or a student for your actual care.  Heidi is there from start to finish to ensure correct and proper therapy.

Over the last few years, with the help of Heidi's special one-on-one and unique style of care, I have now run 2 more marathons.  My next race is the New York City Marathon, and throughout this training cycle, I have remained pain-free, injury-free, and I don't see why I can't maintain high mileage for years to come.  I would not be able to do this without Heidi's help.

When Heidi first came to see me at my home, I had already been incapacitated (crippled) for six weeks because of a back injury. A back injury in which a MRI revealed nothing. I was literally floor bound and could barely stand up or walk the length of the hall. I also couldn't eat much due to the pain and was getting very thin and weak.

Soon after our initial visit, Heidi got me up and walking a bit. She also had brought me a portable TENS unit to control the pain, which allowed me to stand up long enough to get enough to eat.

Our first tiny walks in the beginning were pretty monumental for me and pathetically short by anyone else's standards, but it was progress for me. Walking 100 feet in the beginning was a big deal. Many times I didn't think I could do some little walk, but with her encouragement and reassurance, I attempted and completed many walks that I never would have tried myself. Whenever I walked with her, it was always easier, less painful and less stressful than when I attempted it on my own.

Over the following months we slowly worked on increasing the distance and modifying other  exercises to strengthen the back. There were the inevitable setbacks of course, when I would get impatient and over do it and my back would rebel, but slowly, very slowly, it was gradually getting a bit stronger over time.

We tried a lot of other things too in the meantime, but walking for me was the most important. Eventually, many, many months later, with her guidance, I got to walking a consistent total of 3-1/4 miles every day.

After about a year of slowly chipping away at it, I seemed to have hit a "walking wall": My progress had stalled. I needed to find some other activity, but there was little else my back could tolerate.

Heidi did some research for me on maybe riding an elliptical bicycle, since I still couldn't ride a normal bike. She arranged a test ride for me, then the sale. A few weeks later she personally delivered the new assembled ElliptiGO bike to me. My life changed after that.

It had almost been a year to the day since Heidi first came to my home, finding me lying on the floor in a crumpled mess.

A year of struggle, pain and setbacks. Mini accomplishments and encouragements.

I don't know what sort of condition I would be in today if I had never met Heidi, but I do know that without her guidance, patience and kindness, (putting up with me) I wouldn't be walking over 22 miles a week or riding a bike along the beach path.

Wow!

I was no stranger to physical therapy when I met Heidi Gastler. Over the past decade, a number of injuries have sent me to PT. In those offices I became familiar with exercises, stretches, those big rubber bands and an office where I was being treated alongside several other people at the same time.

I expected the same type of experience with Heidi, but what I found was something much different. For my first appointment (and all of my other subsequent appointments) I was her only patient.

During my appointments I am her sole focus. She gives me the tools to get stronger and overcome my injuries. Beyond exercises and stretches, she listens and tailors sessions to my current needs.

She uses a variety of methods I rarely experienced in the past to help control pain and help with healing. The methods have included: ultrasound, manual therapy, cupping, taping and more.

Beyond all of this, Heidi really cares. Having her as my PT has been like having a personal coach, friend and doctor roller all into one. She's been available outside of the clinic for questions or my occasional freak out over an injury.

She's helped me achieve goals I never thought possible. After my second hip surgery I was convinced I'd never be able to run again. But with Heidi as part of my team, I've gained enough strength and stability that I'm now able to jog on the treadmill.

Over the years I've learned that there is no magical fix for my injuries, but  I know that when I put in the work, Heidi's methods are the closet thing to magical I've experienced at PT.

When I was first referred to Heidi through TPI, was fairly FIT from regular exercise and activity but not very FUNCTIONAL. I really didn't understand the difference as I was able to go long distances (200 kM trek up to 18,000 feet in the Himalayas) and lift significant weights and swim.  Despite all this my range of motion in my hips, back and most significant shoulders and upper back was poor due to overuse, injuries, long distance travel and stress.

Heidi was able to quickly diagnose these areas of weakness much to my surprise and through functional exercises and therapy I saw almost immediate improvements.  After this initial phase, I've been able to train more rigorously and specifically to improve strength, flexibility and range of motion.

While I see Heidi much less frequently these days, she has been able to help me improve my level of activity and have much less pain.  My back and shoulders haven't been this good in years!

Dear Heidi:

I have been under your care for Physical Therapy for almost 5 months!  Since I started my Physical Therapy with you, I have seen tremendous improvement.  I thought I should take a minute to thank you for all the care and attention you have extended to me.

To recapture my health history as to why I came to you for PT.

Around April of 2016, I was feeling very severe pain on my right shoulder.  My Personal Care Physician ordered an MRI.  The MRI report was very bleak.  I was referred to see an orthopedic surgeon.  I was dissatisfied with his findings or the lack of it, I sought a second opinion.  The second surgeon carefully examined my MRI and came to the conclusion, that the Rotator cuff muscles are torn badly and only option was to go for shoulder replacement if and when I was ready.  He also expressed his concern that since I am an older patient, the recovery process may be very long.  He suggested that Physical Therapy would help in a limited way.  I did not want to use their facility for Physical Therapy.  I contacted Dr. Michael Venezia (who treated me very successfully for my lower back pain a year ago).  He referred you to me.  After examining the doctors’ report, you carved out a plan specifically to address my problem.

I can honestly say that I received the BEST care from you. When I plateaued out, you came up with an alternative treatment.  I am amazed at your knowledge of the body and were kind enough to explain it to me.  Your diligence in giving your best is exemplary.  You have given me dedicated, undivided attention focusing on making me heal fast.  I have had PT in the past from others but can honestly say you are the best I have seen.  You are a true professional.

I am slowly and surely getting better.  I am able to sleep on my right side.  I am able to attend to my personal needs well.  I am no longer taking pain killers (Celebrex) which is a great relief.  I am able to reach my back (which I could not do before), wash and comb my hair.  These may sound as simple tasks, but for me (I was not able to do even these mundane chores) it was almost magical!

I was touched by your dedicated service, I wanted to take a minute to express my gratitude.  You are the best.  I am telling my friends about the type of care you extend to the patients and if they are ever in need for  Physical Therapist, should come to you.

Since I have been improving so well, I have reduced my visits to once a week.  I also informed my personal care physician about the type of care I am getting and if any of his patients need PT, he should refer them to you.

I contemplated a lot about how could I thank you.  The only way I could thank you is to acknowledge your outstanding service and write to you.

The very fact I have you for my care, gives me enormous strength and peace of mind.

Thank you Heidi for what all you have done in taking care of me.

I came to Heidi, crippled in pain caused by two bulging disks. Doctors had passed me around for months, unable to help my condition. Heidi confidently knew how to treat my body. Our personalized 1 on 1 sessions allowed me to feel very comfortable and trust her with my health. Heidi's patience and wide array of treatment methods were extremely effective with my stubborn muscles. Heidi didn't only tackle the surface ailment, she worked to find the root cause of my back pain. She never gave up, and my body has made a drastic recovery.

Before I saw Heidi, I was in constant pain. I had back spasms, extreme sciatic pain, and was unable to sit comfortably for more than 5 minutes. After a few months of weekly sessions with Heidi, I hiked for 12 miles in Yosemite and just signed up for a soccer league. I am indebted to her for transforming my life and allowing me to live again. Thanks Heidi!

Thank you so much for helping me recover from my injury and get back to dancing! I got 9th out of 21 people at my competition today!

Thanks again!

I never expected that the outcome of breaking my ankle slack lining would be meeting an amazing physical therapist and life-long friend!

I came to Heidi on crutches and with one enormously swollen ankle that I couldn’t put weight on. I wasn’t able to drive, had limited mobility, and had lost nearly all of my independence. After being serial casted for the previous three months, I had major muscle atrophy and scar tissue that had immobilized my ankle to the point that I couldn’t get my heel onto the ground. It was like I was in a permanent high heeled shoe. I was majorly down in the dumps and was so afraid that I would never be able to do the activities that I LOVE again. Heidi instantly put a smile on my face, telling me she had no doubts that I would be back on my snowboard and back rock climbing one day. She took away my worries and instantly put me at ease.

It was a long process, but Heidi and her amazing skill set gave me the right tools for recovery and my life back. I can freely enjoy whatever adventures come my way – be it rock climbing, riding elephants, moto biking, yoga, surfing or snowboarding – with confidence and joy!

Strength training for younger athletes has become more common and improved rapidly in recent years. However, after working with Heidi for the past 8 years, she has convinced me that getting stronger is only half the battle – an athlete must also focus on mobility training. As a past collegiate golfer and current semi-professional racing driver, I have been fortunate enough to work with many great strength coaches. Heidi is by far the best physical therapist whom I have worked with and is especially beneficial if you are an athlete.

Heidi has an incredible understanding of biomechanics, which allows her to identify the movements that are necessary for an athlete to perform well, regardless of the sport. Working with her has had a tangible impact on my performance in both golf and racing. After doing mobility and strength exercises designed specifically for golf, I found myself better able to make the swing changes I was trying to make because I had strengthened and loosened the right muscles. In racing, working with Heidi has accelerated my recovery process post-race, which is a constant struggle for racing drivers. I am now able to drive more sessions on test days before the pain sets in, providing my engineers with more data to improve the car for the race day.

More important than my performance in these sports, Heidi has made me a healthier person by keeping me mobile AND strong. I firmly believe that working with Heidi would be beneficial for anyone who is serious about living a healthy lifestyle because she helps you understand how to stay strong and mobile on your own. Even though I am now in college and can’t see her on a regular basis, I use what she has taught me on a daily basis. Oh and aside from her physical therapy skills, Heidi is just an enjoyable person to be around and I value my friendship with her greatly!