PT School, Residency, and the Search for the Perfect Equation

I’ve always loved math for one very specific reason: there are boxes. Geometry, algebra, calculus—each with their own rules, patterns, and predictable outcomes. In math, everything makes sense. There’s only one right answer, and if you show your work, you eventually get there.

When I was a student—and honestly, for the first five years of being a physical therapist—I needed those boxes. I craved them. I took every continuing education course I could, completed a residency in orthopedics, and earned my board certification. I thought if I just learned enough, I’d eventually crack the code. I’d finally find the “one right answer” for pain.

But the deeper I got into this field, the more I realized something no one really tells you:
There is no single equation for pain.

Pain Isn’t One Variable—It’s a Whole System

Yes, finding the root cause matters. Yes, movement matters. Yes, patterns matter. But the human body isn’t a math problem with a clean, predictable solution.

Muscles, bones, and ligaments are only one part of the picture.

Why Root Cause Isn’t One Answer

People often come to me looking for the root cause—or specifically for dry needling—hoping I can pinpoint the one thing that’s wrong. But the truth is, the more I dig into a person’s pain, the more I see how multi-layered it really is. Some things we can see. Some things are incredibly subtle. And some things only reveal themselves when we search. 

How Do You Actually Figure Out What’s Going On?

The Power of Conversation

Sit down, talk, listen, and ask the right questions. This is where we uncover the pieces of your story that don’t always show up on an exam table.

Movement Testing

Move, assess, treat, and then reassess. Your body gives us constant feedback if we know where to look.

Challenge the Body

Movement analysis is powerful, but without adding load or tension, we may miss key breakdowns. Sometimes the real issues only appear when the system is challenged.

Build a Plan Together

Working hand-in-hand, we connect the dots and create a plan that supports long-term change—not just short-term relief.

That’s how we truly get answers.

Not from a single technique.
Not from one equation or one session.
But from a collaborative process—one that evolves as your body responds and reveals more information.

Why Healing Takes More Than One Visit

Healing takes more than one visit because the human body is complex—and real change requires time, repetition, and the right plan. One session can help us identify patterns, decrease symptoms, or start improving mobility, but lasting improvement comes from gradually retraining the nervous system, building strength, restoring balance, and understanding the deeper drivers of pain.

Every visit gives us a chance to reassess, adjust, and continue connecting the dots so your body can actually learn and adopt new, healthier patterns.

“This is why the healing process is a journey, not a quick fix—and why working together consistently creates the long-term results you’re looking for.”

This deeper understanding doesn’t happen in a single visit—it takes time, curiosity, and consistent effort. I commit to that process with every patient, because meaningful change comes from investing in the full picture of your pain.