A graduate of UMass Lowell with a doctorate in Physical Therapy, Joel knows that musculoskeletal injuries can have a significant impact on a person’s daily life and function. “The reason I became a physical therapist is because I wanted to try to help people in a concrete, hands-on way to recover from injury and improve their functional ability as well as quality of life,” he explains.

When working with patients, Joel believes in understanding their goals and lifestyle, listening to their concerns, and working to help them improve their function as much as he can. “I aim to guide a person’s progress and improvement by performing interventions and teaching them a therapeutic exercise program that assists the body’s natural ability to recover and heal,” he explains. “Physical therapy is not a passive treatment. It only works if the person is an active participant and performs recommended exercises at home. Working together in this way is how we achieve the best opportunity for progress and improvement.”

Joel has a special interest in orthopedic physical therapy, treating hips, knees and ankles as well as neck and shoulder problems. He also enjoys working with patients post-operatively, helping them recover after surgery. Joel is also experienced in helping patients with balance issues and preventing falls. “I love working regularly with people over a period of time to build rapport and help facilitate ways for them to improve their health and function.”

When he is not busy with his patients Joel enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter and watching his favorite sports teams. He is also a big film buff and enjoys keeping up with the latest movies.