About Pittsburgh Performance Physical Therapy
PPPT Philosophy
Being in recovery mode is not for the faint of heart. It requires mental and physical work and commitment to get better and to return to your pre-injury status/life. We’re here to help you reach your goals! We are a unique outpatient physical therapy clinic which believes in providing one on one treatment with each patient allowing for extraordinary care and quicker recovery for patients in less visits. We want to give patients knowledge about their bodies and insight into how their daily activity affects their body, insight about the recovery process. When it comes to addressing pain and injury, 3 steps are not easy but are necessary for your recovery: Decide: you need to decide to do something about your problem, Commit: you need to commit to carrying out the recovery plan, and Perform: you need to follow through in order to accomplish these steps and goals. We’re here to enable you to get into action mode and ultimately perform every day at your best—and even better than before.
Meet the Doctor: Elisabeth Wheeler PT, DPT Owner and Physical Therapist
I am endlessly grateful to have the opportunity to share what knowledge and skills I have gained over the years in diagnosing and treating injuries to anyone in need. I can’t say thank you enough to my family, my support system, and my patient community–I certainly would not be where I am without you! I truly believe in being the voice for my patients when they don’t know what to do or who to seek treatment from. The years of practicing in the Pittsburgh area have allowed the opportunity to form relationships with many other healthcare professionals serving to produce a network which I can offer to patients. My hope is to inspire people to live life to the fullest, return to activities they love while learning about the body and how to keep it working for them for life. If you take your vehicle to an expert mechanic to get diagnosed and fixed, why wouldn’t you go to the body experts when something isn’t working properly? Injuries and pain can be devastating, but there IS hope. Our bodies demonstrate amazing resiliency with great healing capacity! Physical therapy is a place to heal and better yourself physically and mentally enabling you to take special care of that body you were given!
BS degree in Exercise Science
Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy from Slippery Rock University
Performing Artist: Comprehensive Management
Exercise Prescription for Hip & Pelvis Mvmt Pt 1
CSM Combined sections
Comprehensive Lumbar course
Ortho Management Upper extremity nerve injuries/orthotic fabrication
The Pelvis & Pelvic Floor with spinal treatment
Evidence Based Management for Lower Extremity Disorders
Hip Symposium
A Classification Approach to Managing Shoulder Pain and Dsfx
Comprehensive Cervical course
Sports Hernia Management course
Orthopedic Case studies Differential Diagnosis course
NSCA Certified Personal Trainer
American Physical Therapy Association Certified Clinical Instructor (CI)
First Aid and Safety
Instrument Assisted soft tissue massage (IASTM) Certification.
CPR for Adults and Infants/Children and AED
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Young Professionals Club
APTA Orthopedic Section
American Physical therapy Association, PPTA
National Strength and Conditioning Association
Member and Board Member: Pittsburgh Symphony New Leadership Council
APTA Performing arts Special interest group (PASIG)
Member and Board Member: Pittsburgh Civic Orchestra
Meet the Doctor: Dr. Ricky Hudson, DPT
Ricky Hudson has been a physical therapist specializing in treating orthopedic and sports injuries since 2011. His treatment philosophy emphasizes not only hands-on care, but taking the time to educate the individual about their injury or condition, their body, and how to best take care of it. He has both Bachelor’s and Doctor of Physical Therapy degrees from Columbia University (Roar, Lion, Roar!) in New York City, where he was born and raised. After becoming a new father in 2022, Ricky moved to his wife’s hometown of Pittsburgh to be closer to family and has been enjoying setting down roots here. In his free time, he enjoys playing pick-up basketball and rec league flag football, hiking and biking out on the trails, and playing pub trivia with his wife and friends (Fun Fact: Ricky was a one-game Jeopardy! Champion in 2015). He still roots for his hometown Giants, Yankees and Nets, though is quickly learning to embrace Pittsburgh sports teams as well.
Meet the Doctor: Dr. Jason Woollard, PRN PT
Dr. Woollard is a graduate of MCP Hahnemann University with a Master of Physical Therapy and University of Pittsburgh with a PhD in Health and Rehabilitation Science. He is Associate Professor at Chatham University and responsible for the orthopedic and research content. He practices in a variety of settings including orthopedics, skilled nursing and home health. Areas of research interests include shoulder pathology, knee osteoarthritis, and functional mobility in older adults.
