Dr Shari, DPT

Dr Shari, DPT I post good knee and ankle exercises. I simplify body science to understand your muscles and joints so you can change your habits and change your life.

I had a past client reach out recently to ask if I was still in business.That was a good reminder to just show up on fac...
03/29/2026

I had a past client reach out recently to ask if I was still in business.

That was a good reminder to just show up on facebook and instagram.

So: yes, I'm here. Still doing what I do. Still nerding out on movement science and helping active adults understand what their body is actually doing and why.

If you're new here: I'm Dr. Shari, Doctor of Physical Therapy and orthopedic specialist. My whole thing is explaining the why behind what's happening in your body because once you understand it, you can actually do something about it.

If you've worked with me before, welcome back. If you're just finding me...glad you're here.

(picture is from one of my youtube videos, yes, I am there too)

One of the most common reasons people start hurting when they return to exercise:They pick up right where they left off....
03/28/2026

One of the most common reasons people start hurting when they return to exercise:

They pick up right where they left off.

And I completely understand why.

You feel okay.

The pain is gone.

You've been waiting weeks to get back to it. So you do the workout you used to do.

And two days later, everything flares up again.

Here's what's actually happening: your tissues (tendons, muscles, cartilage) lose conditioning faster than your cardiovascular fitness does. So you feel capable, but the structures supporting your joints aren't ready for that load yet.

This is called progressive loading. It's not a rehabilitation concept. It's just how the body works.

You have to rebuild in order. Start below where you were. Let your body confirm it's okay. Then build from there.

It's not slowing down. It's the actual path back.

Let's get strong.

I've been thinking about what I'd say if someone ask me to share the one thing I wish every active adult understood.Here...
03/27/2026

I've been thinking about what I'd say if someone ask me to share the one thing I wish every active adult understood.

Here it is: rest is not the same as recovery.

Rest is passive. Recovery is active. And when you're dealing with a joint issue, a tendon that's been grumpy, or a muscle imbalance that keeps coming back...passive rest just keeps you at the same starting line.

Recovery means giving your body the right stimulus, at the right load, at the right time. It means your tissues are actually rebuilding not just waiting.

This is why people rest for weeks and feel the same. And why the right 10 minutes of targeted movement can change things faster than 6 weeks of doing nothing.

I'm Dr. Shari, Doctor of Physical Therapy. If this is new to you...welcome. Follow for more knee and ankle videos.

03/26/2026

Home remedy for leg cramps

03/25/2026

Back of leg exercise to help your knee (hamstring). This is great for hamstring strains or if you are starting back exercising again and getting your knee stronger.

Video is directly from a client's program, throwback recording to the office in 2020.

Here's something I explain to almost every client I work with and it changes how they think about exercise forever.Your ...
03/25/2026

Here's something I explain to almost every client I work with and it changes how they think about exercise forever.

Your body is incredibly smart.

It adapts to exactly what you ask of it.

If you sit for 8 hours a day, your body gets good at sitting. Your hip flexors shorten. Your glutes forget they have a job. Your spine rounds because that's what you've been asking it to do.

Then you go to the gym and your body tries to do a squat and it does the squat the only way it knows how. With the patterns you've been training all day long.

This isn't a weakness problem. It's a specificity problem. And once you understand that, you stop blaming your body and start giving it better inputs.

That's the whole foundation of what I do.

03/23/2026

Sitting a little too much lately?

Add this stretch to loosen up tight hips.

03/23/2026

Knee hurting lately? Add this to your routine. 3 sets to fatigue. Fight to keep your form--it really matters on this one!

When you walk across level ground, the force on your knees equals 1.5x your body weight. It is a lot.It makes sense why ...
03/22/2026

When you walk across level ground, the force on your knees equals 1.5x your body weight.

It is a lot.

It makes sense why so many people need help with knee pain. It isn't always due to weakness either. So often we have a tight ankle, an aching hip or something that causes us to modify and change how we move. Once we modify it, we usually don't get rid of that habit.

How we move matters.

You're doing everything "right"...you're working out, staying active, being the healthy role model your family needs. Bu...
03/20/2026

You're doing everything "right"...you're working out, staying active, being the healthy role model your family needs. But lately, every time you squat, your knee reminds you it's not happy.

So you stop squatting. You avoid leg workouts. You tell yourself it's just part of getting older at 40, 50, or 60.

Here's what I want you to know: Your knee pain when squatting isn't a sign you're broken. It's a message from your body.

That message? Your body is moving in a pattern it learned to survive but that pattern is stressing your knee instead of protecting it.

I call these "cheat patterns," and they're way more common than you'd think. In fact, I'd say 8 out of 10 people I work with who have knee pain when squatting have at least one of these patterns active.

The good news is this: Once you identify your specific cheat pattern, you can fix it. And when you fix it, something remarkable happens—you get your life back.

This guide won't help everyone. If you're training for a triathlon and need sport-specific squat mechanics, you need a different resource. If your knee pain is from a recent ACL tear or fresh surgery, hold off and work with your rehab team first.

But this is perfect for you if:

*You're over 40 and you want to stay active and strong
*You're a parent who works out because it's your stress relief and sanity saver
*You're tired of modifying exercises or sitting out at fitness classes
*You miss hiking with your family, playing with your kids, or just feeling capable in your own body
*You've been told it's "arthritis" or "just part of aging"—but something tells you there's more to it

If that's you, go read the full article, I will link it in the comments

03/11/2026

Balance can be a struggle

Especially if you rolled your ankle often, had injuries that you never felt 100% recovered from

Maybe you did some physical therapy, but life got busy and you either decided you were good enough or insurance said visits were up, or you just stopped

Either way over time you don't feel as steady as usual. Maybe even sometimes feel like you might roll your ankle easily

It is not an age thing,
It is a proprioception thing.

You just need to fill the gap between therapy and fitness.

Comment "gap" and I will dm you the zoom link for my next workshop on this

03/08/2026

Sarah said I could share this:

"I had sharp pain on the outside of my knee. My doctor said it was patellofemoral pain syndrome. I thought I was might not be able to hike with my family any more."

What we discovered: Her hip was weak AND her ankle was stiff. Two separate issues creating one pain problem.

We fixed them both systematically.

Now? Sarah said she is back to walking each day and feels good about hiking in her upcoming trip.

The difference between Sarah and most people?
Understanding the actual problem instead of guessing at the solution.

Your story could be the same.

I'm putting together the key things we looked at for Sarah's knee--so that way you can look at your own knee too and see which ones are creating a problem. It will be all together in a guide on cheat patterns.

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Columbus, OH

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+16145264104

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Athletity Movement Clinic provides physical therapy and wellness Strategy sessions to keep you feeling your best. Our belief is being an athlete is not a phase of life, it’s a lifestyle. Your body is meant to move. Movement is medicine.