Crista Taylor, MPT, DPT

Crista Taylor studied Exercise and Sports Science, as well as Psychology while attending the University of Santa Barbara as a Regent's Scholar graduating in 2004 with highest honors.  She then attended California State University, Northridge where she earned a Masters of Physical Therapy, graduating with distinction and honors for academic excellence, as well as being recognized for outstanding performance in various clinical settings.  To continue to advance her education, she attended Western University of Health Sciences and earned her Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT), also receiving the Alumni Award for overall exceptional performance in all aspects of the program and was recognized as an outstanding ambassador for the field of physical therapy. 

Crista has clinical experience in an array of settings.  She completed a clinical rotation in acute inpatient physical therapy at Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura.  She had an internship in acute neurorehabilitation at Saint John's Regional Medical Center with exposure to working with individuals with complex medical diagnoses and/or unique complications associated with advanced orthopedic conditions.  Crista also completed a 16-week internship which emphasized physical therapy treatment for persons dealing with chronic pain conditions. 

As a member of Health Volunteers Overseas (HVO), Crista traveled to Vietnam to volunteer her services at Da Nang Hospital.  In addition to assisting in various rehabilitation settings, Crista provided in-service material regarding therapeutic exercises, gait training techniques, and prevention of adverse sequelae following lower-extremity amputations. 

Crista's primary professional interest lies in the provision of orthopedic manual therapy techniques.  She strongly believes in the power of professional touch to decrease pain, enhance health, and promote wellness.  Manual therapy techniques are defined as skilled hand movements and skilled passive movements of the joints and soft tissues which are intended to improve tissue extensibility, and to decrease swelling and inflammation; all to assist in the progression of healing and restoration of function (definition adapted from the APTA Guide to Physical Therapy Practice). 

Crista continues to seek ongoing education to advance her manual therapy skills with courses through The Institute of Physical Art, The Barral Institute, Maitland Seminars, and Strain-Counterstrain (SCS) techniques in the near future.