Meet Our Therapists
Physical Therapists
4000 Albemarle St. NW, Suite 501
Washington, DC 20016
Tenleytown / AU Metro-Red Line
Phone: 202-966-2033
Fax: 202-966-2034
pmtadc@aol.com
Meet Our Therapists
Physical Therapists
In 2007, Michelle became a Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopedics (OCS) through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. A year later she was accepted to a 2-year appointment to write items for the examination process. Michelle has also completed the course program of Myopain Seminars on the treatment of myofascial trigger points, and in 2009 became certified in Trigger Point Dry Needling.
Having taken a multitude of courses through many different styles of physical therapy, Michelle develops treatment plans that are individualized to meet each patient’s needs in order to return patients to their highest level of function. She enjoys working on putting “all the pieces of the puzzle together” since no two patients are the same. Although she has treated all areas of the body, Michelle has a particular interest in the treatment of the upper quarter, including the head, neck, face, tempromandibular joint (TMJ), cervical spine, and shoulder girdle. She also enjoys working with dancers. To continue to improve on treating these types of patients, she plans on pursing additional training and certification in craniomandibular pain, the International Academy of Orthopedic Medicine (IAOM-US), and the Harkness Center for Dance Injuries.
Michelle is a member of several professional organizations, including the International Myopain Society (IMS), IAOM-US, and the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA). She is a member of the Orthopedic, Sports, Home Health, and Performing Arts Special Interest Group of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). She serves on the membership committee of both the Orthopedic Section of the APTA and the AAOMPT and is a book reviewer for the Orthopedic Section of the APTA. Michelle is also an APTA advanced clinical instructor. Additionally, she is actively involved with the Federation State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT), where she has helped to develop and write items for the Orthopedic Practice Review Tool and is an advanced item writer for the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE).
Michelle maintains licensure in all states she has previously worked in, including Maryland, the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Georgia.
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Physical Therapist Assistant
Robert Mark Petty, LPTA, MsT, received his Associates Degree in Physical Therapy from Northern Virginia Community College in 1990. After graduation, he worked at the National Rehabilitation Hospital on the Spinal Cord Unit and then on the combined Orthopedic/Neuro unit. He also worked in the therapeutic pool.
Next, he spent eight years working in sub-acute rehab centers in and around Washington D.C. He worked briefly in home health, treating patients in their homes before starting work in orthopedics. This gave him the opportunity to also use his manual skills.
He was first trained in massage therapy in 1986 in Carrboro, North Carolina. Along the way, he has learned techniques for working with trigger points and has also trained in reiki, watsu and waterdance, in which he holds certifications.
Mark has also studied various kinds of movement such as tai chi, yoga and also has practiced meditation for several years. He enjoys working at Physical and Massage Therapist Associates because of the friendly atmosphere, the good humor and a focus on clients which is genuine and personal -- not cold and indifferent.
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Massage Therapists
Errica Poindexter is a licensed massage therapist in the Washington DC area. She attended the National Massage Therapy Institute in Falls Church, VA. Her practice specializes in Relaxation, Swedish, and Deep Tissue. Errica has gained her experienced through spas, gyms, and private practice, integrating her techniques to each individual client for a specialized massage experience. She is certified with the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB), and the International Massage Association (IMA).
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Kate Ahmann, a graduate of Potomac Massage Training Institute in Washington, D.C., is a licensed and nationally certified massage therapist working in the area since 2002. She is a practitioner of the Lotus Palm form of Thai Yoga Massage, developed by Kam Thye Chow at the Lotus Palm School in Montreal (lotuspalm.com), and also offers Swedish and Deep Tissue modalities.
Kate incorporates movement and stretching into each massage to help re-establish natural movement to injured and overused joints and muscles. Her work is both medically focused and restorative.
Kate is certified with the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) and the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), and is licensed to practice in the District of Columbia.
We Care About You and You Get Results!
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Saturday Hours Available
Phone: 202-966-2033
Fax: 202-966-2034
Mary Hood is a licensed Physical Therapist in the states of MD, DC, and VA. Her original degree in Physical Therapy is from the NYC program of Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY. She has furthered her training with the John Barnes Foundation of Paoli, PA and the Upledger Institute of Palm Spring Gardens, Florida, in Myofascial release, Craniosacral therapy, SomatoEmotional Release, Visceral Mobilization, and Lymphatic Drainage (pronounced “drey ‘naahge” in French!). She is currently furthering her knowledge of joint mobilization as taught by the Maitland Australian Institute.
Mary has a range of treatment experience in all varieties of musculoskeletal disorders, chronic pain, headaches, neurological problems, accident injuries, and especially low back, neck, and shoulder pain. She also treats developmental disorders in pediatrics, and pelvic dysfunctions in women. She has a particular interest in the use of the therapy ball for stretching, and developing Pilates-style “core muscle” control. Because she is a dancer, Mary likes when appropriate, to use dance movements for posture and strengthening.
Mary currently employs a combined treatment approach of traditional and alternative, manual and evaluation skills to address the whole body. Her belief is that provoking undue pain or anxiety is not necessary for effective therapy. Her emphasis in Craniosacral therapy and Myofascial release primarily accomplishes these results. This approach is often gentle and mobility enhancing, restorative to muscles, movements, postural alignment, and pain relieving.
Mary also includes a more biomechanical or orthopedic approach, and specific internal organ or lymphatic vessel treatment whenever indicated. She is open to your feedback so that by mutually learning, you achieve optimum improvements.
We aim to provide you with a professional, pleasant environment, and want your investment here to be rewarded by highly satisfactory results.
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Michelle Finnegan, PT, DPT, OCS, MTC, FAAOMPT, received her Master of Physical Therapy from Quinnipiac University in 2001. She initially began working in an acute care setting and adult neurological rehab setting, treating patients with traumatic brain injuries, strokes, lower extremity amputees, pulmonary conditions, and post-surgical conditions.
One year later she began to work in the outpatient orthopedic setting, where her primary patient focus was on treating patients with spine-related impairments. During this time she began to pursue advanced training in the spine and extremities by taking courses with Dr. Mariano Rocabado, Brian Mulligan, Dr. Shirley Sahrmann, and Dr. Stanly Paris. In 2005, Michelle received her Manual Therapy Certification (MTC) through the University of St. Augustine. Shortly after this she went on to complete advanced training in manual therapy by going through a fellowship program through the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists (AAOMPT). During the fellowship, she developed a clinical pearl with a physical therapy intern that was published in the Academy’s quarterly newsletter. She also had the opportunity to work with ballet dancers from a local company. Being a former ballet dancer, this inspired her to pursue additional education for treatment of this population through the Harkness Center in NYC. In 2007, she was received her fellowship credentials (FAAOMPT) and also completed her Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from the University of St. Augustine.
