Outpatient Physical Therapy

Physical therapy provides individualized, quality care to those who are have suffered an injury, are aging or have a disease that impacts mobility. Physical therapists strive to develop, maintain and restore maximum functional mobility.

The physical therapists at Alvarado's San Diego Rehabilitation Institute are highly skilled, knowledgeable and team-oriented. They work closely with clients, families and caregivers to identify problems with strength, mobility and movement, to establish agreed-upon goals and develop a treatment plan to achieve the best outcomes for your rehabilitation.

Physical therapy interventions include spinal and extremity mobilization, therapeutic exercise, electrotherapeutic and mechanical agents, balance re-education, functional training, recommendations for mobility aids and assistive devices, patient education, home exercise programs, and community referrals.

Physical therapy services include the following:

• Amputee rehabilitation
• Balance/vestibular disorders
• Ergonomic evaluations
• Orthopedic
• LSVT BIG™ therapy for Parkinson's
• Neurologic disorders
  • Stroke
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Multipile sclerosis
• Orthopedic conditions
  • Ankle and foot
  • Elbow
  • Hip
  • Knee
  • Shoulder
  • Spine
  • Total joint replacements, including shoulder, hip, and knee
• Pelvic floor
  • Bowel and bladder incontinence
  • Pelvic pain disorders
  • Pelvic muscle dysfunction
  • Genitourinary disorders
• Musculoskeletal conditions
• Spine disorders
• Vestibular rehabilitation

Kerri Caswell, PT

Kerri is the Physical Therapy Supervisor at Alvarado Hospital's San Diego Rehabilitation Institute. She received her physical therapy degree in 1993 from Stockton University in New Jersey. She joined the physical therapy team at Alvarado in 1998 where she started in the acute care setting. She eventually transitioned to outpatient services and became the Physical Therapy Supervisor. She is a skilled, well-rounded physical therapist, with experience in numerous settings and has the ability to work with many different patient diagnoses. Her passion is working with individuals in an outpatient therapy setting. She currently specializes in womens' health and pelvic floor dysfunction; she earned a certification from Emory University in vestibular/inner ear balance disorders, and is also certified in LSVT BIG (Lee Silverman Voice Treatment). She works closely with her patients to provide comprehensive assessments. She uses specific therapeutic techniques in developing thorough treatment programs for individualized care of each patient. And she truly believes exercise is medicine and strives to educate this to her patients. Kerri enjoys spending time with her husband, fur babies, biking with friends, and traveling.

Andrea Reeves, PT

Andrea Reeves received her Physical Therapy degree from California State University, Long Beach in 1998. She joined the Alvarado Hospital Medical Center/San Diego Rehabilitation Institute team in 1999 where she originally spent her time as a PT on the Transitional Care Unit providing Inpatient care to patients in the hospital to help them return home. Andrea eventually joined the Outpatient PT team in 2000 where she has become the primary Orthopedic Physical Therapist, treating diagnoses such as back pain, neck pain, shoulder, elbow and hand issues, hip, knee and ankle issues, fractures, post-surgery recovery and rehab, fibromyalgia and other chronic pain disorders. Andrea ran the SpineZone PT clinic at Alvarado Hospital for three years, which was an evidence based, outpatient spine-strengthening program. It specialized in treating chronic and subacute back and neck pain, including those trying to avoid surgery as well as those that had surgery. Andrea became certified in the McKenzie Method - Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy® (MDT) in 2011 which is an internationally acclaimed method of assessment and treatment for spinal and extremity pain. She is also certified in LSVT BIG which is an intense four week program treating people with Parkinson’s disease. Andrea is a native of San Diego and enjoys spending time with her husband, son, daughter and dog. She does Polynesian dancing to stay healthy and fit and enjoys staying active. Andrea’s top goal is to decrease our patients’ pain and help them become more functional and active, so they can return to enjoying an improved quality of life.

Don Romero, PTA

Don Romero graduated from Point Loma Nazarene College in 1989. He has a B.A. in physical education with emphasis in Athletic Training. In 1991 he became certified in athletic training and worked as an athletic trainer for a junior hockey team based out of southern California. In addition, he began working in sports medicine/physical therapy. Don became a licensed physical therapist assistant in 1993 and joined the dynamic physical therapy team at Alvarado Hospital outpatient in 1996. Don is proficient in myofascial release and various manual skills. He enjoys working with a variety of patient populations. Don has a wonderful wife and 3 sons. He loves to play guitar and bass, taking walks with his wife, cycling, going to the gym and playing golf.

Sami Sharaf, PT, DPT

Sami is a staff Physical Therapist at Alvarado Hospital's San Diego Rehabilitation Institute, providing PT services in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. Sami received his Doctorate of Physical Therapy from California State University, Fresno after completing his undergraduate work in biology at the University of California, San Diego. His clinical experience includes working in sub-acute settings, outpatient orthopedics and neurological settings. Sami grew up in Southern California and enjoys all that the area offers for an active lifestyle. In addition to providing care in the clinical setting, Sami spends his spare time hiking and backpacking, rock climbing, cycling, and building adventure vehicles.