Meet Dr. Melanie Thomas | Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Melanie Thomas and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Melanie, is there something you can share with us that those outside of the industry might not be aware of?
There are a variety of specializations within the Physical Therapy profession. I have colleagues who specialize in Women’s Health, Pediatrics, Neurology, and Cardiopulmonary, just to name a few. I chose to specialize in Sports and Orthopedic related injuries. So, for example, if you tear your ACL in a basketball game, fracture your ankle in a football game, or tear a ligament in your elbow during the last pitch in an inning, you come to see me, and I help get you back in the game. In the Physical Therapy community, we often refer to ourselves as the experts of movement dysfunction. We are perfectionists, who are committed to helping improve your quality of life and getting you back to the things you love to do.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
COMPETITIVE EDVANTAGE SPORTS is a boutique sports physical therapy practice that specializes in sports injuries and athletic recovery. We are a Houston-based company that utilizes a concierge model to service our clients. This allows us to meet clients at their gym, training facility, or home. Our commitment is to get you back in the game without disrupting your busy schedules.

I started this company because of my passion for young athletes who want to compete at the next level. Athletes need to maintain a high level of physicality and performance for them to continue excelling in their sport(s). As we all know, athletes are prone to injury. Our goal is to educate clients on how to recover and prevent common sports injuries. We edit and correct poor movement patterns and create individualized training programs that ultimately improve efficiency in an athlete’s training and performance. When we fine-tune these adjustments, we can gradually and strategically help clients achieve a competitive edge. That’s The Edvantage!

My biggest challenge as a Sports Physical Therapist is parents who push their student-athletes to the max. While their intentions are good, I have seen it lead to several unnecessary sports injuries. So, when I talk to the parents of the client/patient, I stress the importance of rest and recovery because without proper recovery, it can be detrimental to an athlete who wants to play at a high-performing level. With that being said, every elite athlete needs a Physical Therapist as part of their care team. Just like you have a physician, dentist, or lawyer to call on for their services, you should have a Sports PT on speed dial!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My girls and I had our fair share of turning up in our 20s and early 30s. After having kids and building families our vibe tends to stay on chill mode. So if I had a chance to plan a week-long itinerary for my best girlfriends, spas, wineries, mimosas and brunch, and live music would be on the agenda. Some of my favorite spots that would be a must to hit up are Bar 5015 to sit on the patio and listen to a hip hop DJ, Travelers Table or Holman Draft Hall for brunch and mimosas, The Spa at the waterway for a relaxing day, and end one of the nights listening to soulful live music at Scott Gertner’s Rhythm Room. To end our week, my husband and I love to entertain and would throw a nice kick back with family and close friends at the house. There would be lots of food, great music, games, and kids running around having a blast.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First, I would like to thank my husband, who encouraged me to choose a career that brought me joy and happiness. His encouragement motivated me to go back to school to pursue my Doctorate in Physical Therapy. Next, I would like to acknowledge Dr. Toko Nguyen of Institute for Athletic Regeneration (IAR) and Sue Falsone of Structure and Function Education. They run two amazing sports and orthopedic manual therapy courses that have shaped my skills as a therapist. Finally, I want to shout out Dennis Faye and Joe Loria at Texas Sports Medicine Center. They introduced me to the world of baseball and I love the challenges and opportunities that come with the rehabilitation side of baseball-related injuries. I appreciate their leadership, guidance, and trust in my ability to treat their High School, Collegiate, and MLB clients.

Website: www.cedsports.com

Instagram: Mel_T083

Image Credits
Dr. Angela Jones- photos Dr, Jackie Thomas Jr.- graphic designs/logos