About Kate
Kate Nickerson has been a physical therapist providing care in the Bay Area for more than 25 years.
She received her physical therapy degree from Fresno State University with additional education in exercise physiology. She has received specialized training in Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy and Myofascial techniques through Herman and Wallace and other leaders in the field. She has received extensive training in the care of pregnant and postpartum clients and is certified as a Pregnancy and Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist. She completed her pilates training through Polestar Pilates in 2014 and is certified through the NPCP (National Pilates Certification Program). Kate is an ASTYM certified provider as well as a Spinning Babies® Aware Practitioner.
Kate is especially passionate about helping clients with pelvic floor issues, during pregnancy and postpartum, and assisting with recovery from many types of injuries and conditions. Through her many years of training and experience, she has developed an integrative, holistic, whole body wellness approach to treatment. Her focus is on incorporating specialized manual therapy techniques, extensive patient education and specific exercises to correct muscle imbalances and help change faulty movement patterns. She strives to address the root cause of each issue to promote healing of the body and a return to vibrant health and vitality.
Her goal is to promote full recovery by using an interdisciplinary approach, applying the most effective treatment techniques for each patient.
Kate provides individualized treatment for each patient based on a comprehensive evaluation. She utilizes the most up to date evidence based techniques and treatments. She works with each individual with compassion and awareness of the different goals and life experience of each person. Her extensive training and experience with chronic pain patients allows her to apply updated theories of pain science. She also utilizes techniques to address nervous system imbalance to help manage symptoms and promote optimal wellness.
Kate is passionate about the transformative power of exercise and works with many types of integrative body movement including pilates, yoga, weight lifting, core strengthening, stretching, body rolling, release work, band work, and plyometrics. As a trained Pilates for Rehabilitation Instructor, Kate is able to incorporate pilates fundamentals early in recovery and as patients improve can facilitate gradual and safe transition to pilates private and group sessions at partner studios in the community.
Kate’s focus is on assisting patients to work towards their individual goals for returning to the exercise, sports, and daily activities they love to do.
During treatment Kate is able to incorporate full body correction from the ground up through a comprehensive postural, alignment, functional, and gait assessment. She looks at the entire kinetic chain from the feet to the top of the head. She can assist with addressing alignment and structural issues utilizing proper footwear, prefabricated insoles or custom orthotics, as well as with manual treatment techniques, postural retraining and exercise.
Kate thrives in working as part of an multidisciplinary team and can help with referral to other complementary and alternative health professionals in the area including MDs, Naturopaths, Podiatrists, Chiropractors, Massage Therapists, Acupuncturists, Nutritionists, Mental Health Professionals, and Personal Trainers. Her goal is to facilitate each patient’s innate healing capabilities for return to a full life and joyful function.
