Michelle Rodriguez, MPT, OCS, CMPT

email: michelle@manhattanphysiogroup.com

Work Experience:

2008-Present            Manhattan Physio Group LLC; Founder and President

2007-Present            Morphoses / The Wheeldon Company; On-site PT

2001-Present            Independent Freelance PT

1999-2008                 Westside Dance Physical Therapy; NY, NY Senior PT

2001-2008                 New York City Ballet; NY, NY On-site & Tour PT                       

2005-2007                 Cedar Lake Dance Ensemble; NY, NY On-site PT

2001-2003                 Hospital for Joint Diseases with on-site placement at The Ailey School & Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre

1999-2001                 Kessler Institute; NY, NY Out-patient Orthopaedics

Education & Certifications:

Orthopedic Certified Specialist

American Physical Therapy Association Board Certification

Gyrotonic® Instructor

Certified instructor, Gyrotonic®

North American Institute of Orthopaedic Manual Therapy

Post-Graduate Orthopaedic Manual Therapy Specialization

Rutgers University & University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey

Master of Physical Therapy

Amherst College

B.A. in Psychology, Cum Laude

Professional Children’s School & The School of American Ballet

Professional ballet dancer

Awards:

APTA Minority Scholarship for Academic Excellence Award – PT Student

Roy and Roxie Campanella PT Professional Education Scholarship

National Hispanic Scholarship

John Woodruff Simpson Fellowship; Amherst College for graduate studies

Garden State Scholar

National Foundation for the Arts, Level III Award

School of American Ballet, Full Scholarship

Research Activity & Publications:

·      Marika Molnar, PT, LAc; Rocky Bornstein, PT; Marika Hartog, MPT; Liz Henry, PT, OCS; Michelle Rodriguez, MPT, CMPT; Jo Smith, PT, MManTh; and Andrea Zujko, PT, DPT. “Foot and Ankle Injuries in the Dancer: Examination and Treatment Strategies.”  (2008 APTA Independent Study Course 18:3  Dance Medicine:  Strategies for the Prevention and Care of Injuries to Dancers)

·      Rodriguez, M., MPT, CMPT & Zujko, Andrea, DPT.  “Posterior Tibial Tendon Tears in Ballerinas with Different Foot Types.”  (2006 IAMDS Annual Conference Presentation)

·      Rodriguez, M., MPT.  “The Use of Quantitative Ultrasound in Assessing Bone Architecture in the Young Dancer.”  (2002 IADMS Annual Conference)

·      Dilgen, F., MSPT, Liederbach, M., MSATC, MSPT, Rodriguez, M., SPT. “Post-Operative Jump Training for ACL Reconstructed Dancers.”  (1999)

·      Craig, K., Lee, S., McMaster, N., Rodriguez, M., Smith, S., Wimberly, R.  “The effects of a T’ai Chi Exercise Program on Balance in the Community Dwelling Older Adult.”  (1999)