Christie Chiesa's path to becoming a physical therapist was significantly influenced by her own experiences with recurrent injuries and a long-standing involvement in sports, including playing at the college level. These personal encounters with sports injuries not only provided her with firsthand insight into the challenges and needs of recovering athletes but also sparked her interest in pursuing a career in physical therapy.
Christie's educational background is impressive, with a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Pittsburgh. She has also achieved Board Certification as a Sports Specialist, underscoring her expertise in sports-related injuries and rehabilitation. Furthermore, her certification in dry needling adds a specialized skill to her therapeutic repertoire, enhancing her ability to treat a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions.
Professionally, Christie has accumulated a wealth of experience in treating orthopedic and sports injuries. She has worked at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex and the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, well-known facilities for their focus on sports medicine. Additionally, her work at the renowned UPMC Concussion Clinic allowed her to manage patients with varying complexities of concussion, expanding her clinical skills in this challenging area.
Christie completed a 13-month Sports Residency with Massachusetts General Hospital/Northeastern University in Boston, MA. This residency provided her with extensive experience in working with Division I collegiate athletes across various sports and with the New England Revolution MLS team. This diverse exposure has significantly contributed to her expertise in sports physical therapy.
Her areas of specialization include being a Board-certified sports specialist with a focus on the treatment of concussion, particularly addressing vestibular and ocular components. Her background as a Division I collegiate soccer player further enriches her understanding of the demands and challenges faced by athletes.
Christie's academic contributions include published research titled "Functional Assessment and Treatment of Complex Pubic-related and Adductor-related Groin Pain in a Division I College Soccer Player – Case Report". She has also presented a platform at the New England APTA Annual Conference on spine injuries in rowing athletes, showcasing her commitment to advancing the field through research and knowledge sharing.
Christie Chiesa's journey from a collegiate athlete to a specialized physical therapist highlights her deep commitment to sports medicine and her dedication to helping athletes overcome injuries and achieve optimal performance. Her combination of personal experience, extensive education, and diverse clinical exposure makes her a highly skilled and empathetic practitioner in the field of sports physical therapy.
