About Us

was the first contributor to the Modern Manual Therapy Blog

“There are a few dates and events in everyone’s lives that hold a special significance–weddings, funerals, the birth of their children. For me, December 12, 2000 is the first of those. Besides my wedding and the birth of my daughter, this particular date has had the most profound effect on my life. That was when I underwent a discectomy and fusion to L4/5 for spondylolisthesis. At that time, I could barely pronounce the word much less understand the profound impact it would have on my life. As an athlete growing up, including playing college soccer (I sat on the right side of the bench) for my first two years at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, VA (Mary Washington College when I attended), I had fortunately only experienced minor injuries, none of which I was ever referred to physical therapy for. This would be my first exposure and it would truly change my life.

At the time, I had a BA in Geography (yes, that is a valid degree), that I didn’t know what to do with, and was working in the budding telecom field without any enthusiasm for it. As a former athlete with an interest in fitness and health, Physical Therapy provided a window into a new possibility. As we often tell our patients dealing with certain afflictions such as low back pain, management requires a “lifestyle change.” I adopted that concept wholeheartedly and have been practicing it ever since.

In 2006 I graduated with my Doctorate In Physical Therapy from the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Allied Health in Richmond, VA. Soon after, I became a Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist and later on completed an Orthopedic Manual Therapy Residency and Fellowship through the Ola Grimsby Institute, becoming a Fellow in the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy in 2013. I have pursued numerous other continuing education avenues including McKenzie’s MDT, spinal manipulation and dry needling through Dr. James Dunning’s Spinal Manipulation Institute.

I have been a Clinical Assistant Professor at my alma mater, Virginia Commonwealth University, provided guest lectures for the PT school at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. and been a clinical instructor and mentor for numerous PT students as well as a mentor for Fellows-in-training. I am also an instructor with IAMT, the Institute for Advanced Musculoskeletal Techniques, teaching courses in cervico-thoracic and lumbopelvic evaluation and treatment along with exercise prescription.

I believe that it is the responsibility of us in our profession to constantly strive to provide the best and most comprehensive evaluation and treatment to our patients. In this age of rising insurance costs with more of the financial burden being placed upon the patient, the VALUE we can represent in our care is vital. As I went through my education and training, I learned that the physical therapy care I received as a patient was not very good. It is my goal to always strive to be better to help our patients be better, and together, we can do just that.

I’ll close with another quote:

If a writer is so cautious that he never writes anything that can be criticized, he will never write anything that can be read. If you want to help other people, you have got to make up your mind to write things that some men will condemn.”

—Thomas Merton from “Seeds of Contemplation”

Thank you for reading.

Please follow me on twitter at @arothschildpt or feel free to contact me by email at asrothschildpt@gmail.com.

Dr. Erson Religioso III, DPT, MS, MTC, CertMDT, CFC, CertMST, CNPT, FAAOMPT, is a fellowship trained cash based PT practice owner, entrepreneur, blogger, and sought after lecturer in the topic of Modern Manual Therapy. He has a #CashPT Practice in the Buffalo, NY area, EDGE Rehab and Sport Science, where he specializes in TMD, headaches, spinal care, runners, gymnasts, and chronic pain. His focus is seeing the patient as little as possible, and empowering them with education, self assessment and treatment strategies.

Erson has been PT faculty of local Buffalo PT Schools, including D'Youville College, Daemen College, and SUNY Buffalo.

He also developed a line of manual therapy, mobility, fitness, strength, and rehab products along with pain science education materials at EDGE Mobility System.

Modern Manual Therapy - The Eclectic Approach is Dr. Religioso’s line of seminars for clinicians that are taught online and in live venues around the world. Seminars topics include Manual Therapy, Patient Education, Blood Flow Restriction Therapy/Training, Barbell Therapy, and Nutrition for Clinicians.

Dr. E is now offering his services as both an online clinical mentor to clinicians at Modern Rehab Mastery, traveling OMPT Fellowship mentor, online patient consultations, and online business and social media consultation. He also has a popular podcast, Untold Physio Stories.

Additionally, Dr. E is on the Expert Review Board for Sleep Junkie, a Clinical Mentor for Activcore, and an ambassador for Helix Pain Creams.

Erson is a family man, married to the best woman in the world, and currently has 6 beautiful children. He enjoys running with them, watching them in competitive gymnastics and watching Disney/Pixar movies. He is also a huge tech geek and loves all things Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek. If you see Dr. E out and about, or at a seminar, ask him to grab a beer or coffee and talk about shop or anything!