Dr. Colleen Whiteford
PT, DPT, OCS
Physical Therapy
Dr. Colleen Murphy Whiteford is a 1984 graduate of Saint Louis University’s program in physical therapy (PT) and a 2011 graduate of the transitional doctorate program in PT at Shenandoah University in Virginia. She and her PT husband, Bill, established their first practice, Appalachian Physical Therapy, in 1986 initially in Virginia and later expanded to North Carolina. In 2000 she was awarded certification as an orthopedic PT specialist, and in 2009 received her certification in dry needling. She became the first PT in the United States certified in the Fascial Manipulation-Stecco® method as a clinician in 2018, and was awarded privileges as a course instructor in 2019. She contributed a chapter on resolving urinary incontinence in a post-partum runner to the 2018 book “Fascial Manipulation: The Practitioner’s Perspective.” She has presented at numerous local, regional, national, and international professional conferences, courses, and webinars on the management of a variety of diagnoses including the external management of men’s and women’s pelvic health issues.
The holistic nature of Dr. Whiteford’s practice encompasses a wide variety of diagnoses usually relegated to specialties such as orthopedics, pelvic health, neurology, pediatrics, cardiopulmonary, gastroenterology, and more. A passion to promote these concepts fueled by results has motivated her to teach, publish, and present whenever possible advocating a total-body approach including Fascial Manipulation®, dry needling, cupping, education, and exercise.
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View Session Descriptions Contact Dr. WhitefordThe Practice
Colleen Whiteford Fascial Physical Therapy is the culmination of over 40 years of experience in treating a variety of ailments. Beginning in 1986 as Appalachian Physical Therapy (APT), Dr. Whiteford and her physical therapist husband, Dr. Bill Whiteford, expanded the practice to include several offices throughout Virginia and North Carolina. In 2024 prompted by declining reimbursement and increasing administrative burdens from insurances, they elected to close APT and Dr. Bill transitioned to retirement. Still desiring to work with clients but in a simpler model, Dr. Colleen opened her current practice in Harrisonburg, Virginia in September of 2024 and happily treats clients in her single room office.
Fascia
The Fascianating Tissue that Influences Movement & Function
Fascia is a buzzword gaining lots of popularity and appearing in articles, books, TV, radio, podcasts, and such. Many disciplines claim to work with fascia, and exercise gurus bring it into programs. A growing body of research is helping to promote the legitimacy and importance of this historically overlooked and misunderstood vital tissue.
