Yes, you heard it right, a clinic for Circus Artists!! We have been open in Seattle, WA (U.S.A.) for over 10 years and boy we have grown!
– There are THREE of us who see patients there
– All three of us are doctors of physical therapy
– AND are currently performing (or in my case retired) circus artists
The clinic is called Pure Motion Physical Therapy and we LOVE working with circus artists. In fact, 93% of our patients are recreational to professional performing artists.
Meet Dr. Liz Corwin –
Dr. Elizabeth Corwin Liz holds a Doctoral degree in Physical Therapy from Elon University and is board certified in Sports Therapy. She is an Assistant Professor at University of Puget Sound where she teaches in the Doctorate of Physical Therapy Program. In addition to teaching academically at the University of Puget Sound, she teaches lyra in the local circus community.
As a physical therapist, Liz is dedicated to helping her patients return to the activities that they love, and
empowering them with the knowledge and skills to become lifelong, healthy movers. She passionately believes in listening and collaborating with her patients to design rehabilitation programs that meet their specific needs. She has had the pleasure of working with many dancers across the country as a Physical Therapist including for numerous dance companies around Seattle and the dancers of Ailey II.
As a mover, Liz is focused on maintaining health and longevity while still reaching for her physical limits. She has studied many movement styles in addition to aerial, including ballet, modern, Argentine tango, acroyoga, African, salsa, and other social dances. Her dancing has taken her to Europe and South America in addition to around North America. When flying you’re mostly likely to find Liz on a lyra or straps. She loves moving and helping others move too!
Meet Dr. Kindra Mc.Dougall –
Dr. McDougall earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy from George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon. She’s certified in emergency medical response for athletes and is often on the medical staff for tumbling and trampoline in Washington and Oregon. She’s a judge for this sport and enjoys coaching tumbling and trampoline, gymnastics, cheer, and acrobatic dance privates and clinics. She is also a Certified Dance PT, ICE certified specialist for Fitness Athletes and a soon-to-be ICE Certified Dry Needling specialist!
As a PT she thrives on inspiring others to be their best not only in their sport or art, but in life. She uses her knowledge in biomechanical analysis and functional movement to create a whole body treatment approach catered to each client’s needs and learning styles. She loves the puzzle of identifying the root cause of a symptom and teaching patients to fix it with a combination of sport or movement specific functional exercises and self massage, myofascial release, and joint mobilizations techniques. She is well educated in treating hypermobility, including Ehlers Danlos, and vertigo. Her goal is to educate her patients on the tools to maintain a healthy and pain free life so they never have to give up on their dreams.
As a mover, Kindra enjoys pushing her body to its max potential. She’s a performing artist who specializes in acrobatics and aerial. When on the ground, you’ll probably find her basing and flying for partner acro or stacked on chairs doing hand balancing and contortion. While in the air, you are most likely to see her on the silks or sphere, but she is also proficient in sling, lyra, cube, rope, and harness. She is co-creator of the performance team Duo Mystík and is a member of Vuelta La Luna Circus.
Meet Dr. Emily Scherb a.k.a The Circus Doc –
Emily received her graduate training at Washington University in St. Louis where she focused on learning human movement as a system. She continues to be involved with education as a fellowship mentor and as a provider of continuing medical education. Her focus as an educator is on circus and aerial artists. As a clinician, Dr. Scherb uses a thorough evaluation process to focus on the underlying cause of symptoms and to recognize patterns of movement that can cause or perpetuate injury. Her unique background inmovement as a dancer and aerialist and
teacher uniquely prepare her to address all of your aches, pains, and movement questions.
She is comfortable with a challenge and has worked with many patients who have not seen results with traditional physical therapy due to her unique approach centered on patient education and movement training for a long-term solution.
Dr. Scherb is the author of the book Applied Anatomy of Aerial Artists and works with professional and pre-professional circus artists through her positions as Resident Physical Therapist at the School of Acrobatics and New Circus Arts and as the Company Physical Therapist for Acrobatic Conundrum, a contemporary circus company
Emily is the founder of Pure Motion Physical Therapy and The Circus Doc as well as a board member with Seattle Dance and Performing Arts Medicine and the American Youth Circus Organization/American Circus Educators.