About Emily

Emily DeCarlo MSPT

A versatile physical therapist, Emily has been working in the career she loves for more than 17 years.  Emily is from Virginia and graduated from the University of Virginia, where she was a varsity swimmer.  Emily continued to pursue her interest in health and movement and graduated from the University of Delaware with a Masters in Physical Therapy.

As soon as she could, she moved to Portland with her husband, unable to resist the glory of the Pacific NW.  Emily has worked for OHSU and the Legacy system for years.  Working largely with trauma patients, Emily learned early that everything in the body is connected and what happens to one part affects the others holistically.  Postural alignment, core stability, and free breath support lead to less pain and improved function.  After a few more years working mostly with a chronic pain population, she started using John Barnes myofascial release techniques, in combination with her other skills, with great success.  Emily happily endorses this hands-on, gentle technique with lasting results for the treatment of pain from trauma, inflammatory responses, and/or for surgical restrictions.

Emily also specializes in balance and vestibular dysfunctions.  After years spent with neurologically involved clients, she has an excellent “eye” for movement and coordination problems, as well as good facilitation skills to promote much improved motor control. These motor control skills translate to both the client with rotator cuff problems as well as those with back pain or sprained ankles.

Yoga has also been instrumental in her treatment method, promoting an unhurried, relaxed style and patient techniques with a focus on feeling and breathing to help treat all diagnoses.

With two kids, her husband, and a herding dog, Emily spends her free time outdoors as much as she can and appreciating the lifestyle Portland has to offer.