Kayla Lavella, PT, DPT, PCES

Kayla is a Pennsylvania native where she earned her undergraduate degree in Allied Health Science from Bloomsburg University in 2017 and her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Slippery Rock University in 2020. Following graduation, Kayla worked primarily in fast-paced outpatient physical therapy clinics treating a multitude of patients with various diagnoses making her a well-rounded clinician. She enjoys working with all age groups, orthopedic, neurologic, and vestibular/post-concussion patients. Kayla emphasizes her treatment plans on a whole body approach and creates individualized programs given the patient presentation, age, activity level, and personal long-term goals.

Being an athlete herself, Kayla has a passion working with the young athletic population and gears her treatment plans to correct muscular imbalances and prevent future injuries. She values the importance of Injury Prevention Programs (i.e. ACL) and while in graduate school created one herself.

Throughout Kayla’s 5 years of clinical practice, she earned her Direct Access Certification and also Pregnancy and Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist (PCES) Certification which has provided her the knowledge on how to approach patient care during pregnancy and postpartum in lessening diastasis recti, regaining core strength, enhancing breathing mechanics, and also improving the neuromuscular control of musculature around the trunk. This certification emphasizes a focus on therapeutic exercise to treat the patient, and Kayla has utilized these techniques not only on women, but also the general population.

Outside of her career as a Physical Therapist, Kayla enjoys staying physically active by hiking, cycling, running, traveling, cooking and baking, attending Penn State sporting events, and spending time with her fiancé, Ryan, and family on weekends.