Photography provided by Emily Duncan

Brooke Winder, PT, DPT, OCS

I am a Southern California-based physical therapist specializing in orthopedic and pelvic floor health for performing artists, athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and weekend warriors. I absolutely love movement, and I know how frustrating it feels to be sidelined from it by pain and injury. I also understand what a struggle it can be to find someone who really understands you and your movement demands. I keep a small number of patients and clients at a time, so I can make sure we are the right fit, and can focus closely on listening to, understanding, and tailoring programs specifically to each individual’s goals and preferences. I am uniquely skilled at helping clients explore their movement patterns, learn new movement strategies, and come out the other side stronger and more confident overall.

My background has always been as a mover, having grown up as a competitive gymnast and dancer. I earned a BFA in Dance from Chapman University and performed professionally with Orange County’s Backhausdance. Now, I serve as Associate Professor in the Department of Dance at California State University, Long Beach, coordinating the Dance Science degree program and teaching courses in Functional Anatomy, Injury Risk Reduction, Wellness, Strength and Conditioning, and Pilates. I have a special place in my heart for dancers and other artistic athletes.

I earned a Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree from the University of Southern California in 2010 and completed a rigorous post-professional residency in Orthopedic Physical Therapy in 2011. I am a Board-Certified Specialist in Orthopedic Physical Therapy and a Certified Pilates instructor through Body Arts and Science International, with extensive training in pelvic floor health through Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute, Pelvic Guru, and POPUp Pro. Currently, I perform research on pelvic floor dysfunction in performing artists, including dancers and circus artists. I have been published in the Journal of Dance Medicine and Science, Journal of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy, Clinical Biomechanics, Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, Orthopedic Physical Therapy Practice, and One, the official magazine of OneDance UK. I have also been featured on DanceWell, Did You Move Today, and Pain and Pancakes podcasts.

Experience as a high level performer and as an educator blends optimally with my 13+ years of physical therapy clinical experience in my mission to help people reach their injury-recovery and performance enhancement goals. I believe strongly that clients should be empowered with information to help them better understand their bodies and to become the driver of their own healing. My clients learn that much of what they need to heal or to enhance their performance is well within their power once they have an understanding and knowledgeable professional to help them kick start their journey.

Outside of clinical practice and teaching, I enjoy spending time with my husband and son, reading, cooking, laughing, an (of course!) moving—through resistance training, hiking, Pilates, dance, and keeping up with my kiddo.

If you want to see more of the technical stuff (my CV), click here.