OUR EXPERTS

Charlotte's Best Physical Therapists

Our goal is to help our clients live a high performance, pain-free life. If you like to do CrossFit, we’ll help you stay healthy while you train. If you love tennis, we’ll get you back on the court and keep you there so you enjoy quality time with your friends/team. If you’re a runner and have aspirations of doing your first half marathon, we’ll help you accomplish that goal! 

This is who we are.

Dr. Andrew Kenas

PT, DPT, OCS, SCS, FAAOMPT, CSCS, USAW
Owner & Founder

Dr. Andrew had a vision. He knew the traditional model was broken and change was needed — thus, The Charlotte Athlete was born. He wanted a company where the best PTs in the country could come together, make a major impact on the community, and help athletes get past pain and injuries in a way they deserve. Here we solve the root cause of pain, help athletes crush their goals, and pave the way for them to take their bodies to the next level! Let’s do this!!!

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Dr. Andrew graduated with a B.S. in Kinesiology from Arizona State University in 2009 and Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Nova Southeastern University in 2014. Upon graduation, Dr. Kenas moved to Houston Texas where he completed an Orthopedic Residency from Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, and soon after, a Sports Manual Therapy Fellowship from the Institute for Athlete Regeneration. Through these expert programs, Dr. Andrew evolved into a highly sought after clinician with unparalleled skills in manual therapy, movement analysis, injury prevention,  recovery, and human performance.
He’s dual board certified in orthopedics (OCS) and sports (SCS) specialties and holds certifications as a strength and conditioning specialists (CSCS), United States Weight Coach (USAW), and Sports Nutritionist (CISSN). This rare combination makes Dr. Andrew one of the highest credentialed physical therapists in the country. Dr. Andrew also coaches and teaches  physical therapists, and has worked with dozens of professional (NFL, MLB, NBA, WNBA, NHL, MLS) and collegiate organizations from around the country!

His advanced treatment methodology allows him to not only efficiently diagnose his patients but uncover and treat the underlying cause. This allows him to achieve quick improvements, but also long-term results. His eclectic approach allows him to succeed where other practitioners have failed, and help athletes reach a level that was otherwise not attainable.

Dr. Andrew is an athlete himself, passionate about CrossFit and Olympic Weight Lifting.  He loves to travel, explore the great outdoors, and hang with his dog, Moose!

Dr. Aerial Burleson

PT DPT ATC FAAOMPT CSCS CF-L2 DNcert

Dr. Aerial is a passionate CrossFitter and mom of 2 baby girls. She knows what it’s like to train and compete at some of the highest levels, but also knows what it’s like to take a step back and reprioritize training to meet you in your current season of life – whether it’s going through a pregnancy/postpartum period, training for a competition or race, or recovering from an injury! 

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Dr. Aerial graduated with honors and received the Outstanding Graduate Award in Athletic Training from Mars Hill University. She played college soccer and became a Certified Athletic Trainer. She then went on to pursue a Doctorate in Physical Therapy at Wingate University. Shortly after, she enrolled in the Institute of Athlete Regeneration’s (IAR) Sports Manual Therapy Fellowship and became a Fellowship Trained Sports Manual Therapist. 
She is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach, Specialist in the management of Pregnant and PostPartum Athletes, Running Rehab Specialist, and certified in Dry Needling. 
Her true passion lies in the management of CrossFit athletes. She has her Level 2 Certification and competes throughout the year in various events. With over 7 years of participation in CrossFit, she knows what it’s like to personally encounter and overcome injuries, be pregnant/postpartum, or have to manage kids/daily life all while still training hard. She prioritizes health and fitness and as a competitor herself, she uses these experiences to help all athletes overcome their own trials. 
In her free time, she has started traveling to some of the major national parks out west with her husband and daughters and enjoys spending time outdoors!

Dr. Mike Chamberlain

PT, DPT, SCS, FAAOMPT, BFRcert, DNcert

Dr. Mike is your go-to PT for all things sports. No matter your injury, he is passionate about setting his patient’s up with an individualized plan so they may excel when getting back in the game. He is our go-to expert for ACL reconstructions and Shoulder Surgeries when returning to throw. When not in the clinic, you can catch him playing Men’s league baseball, out on the links, or camping in the mountains

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Dr. Mike is a transplanted Texan originally from Nacogdoches known as the oldest town in Texas. He is a former collegiate baseball player where he attended North Central Texas College prior to transferring to Houston Baptist University where he graduated in 2014.

Dr. Mike then graduated from The University of Texas Medical Branch with his Doctorate of Physical Therapy in 2018 and began working for Houston Methodist Clear Lake while also enrolling in the Institute of Athlete Regneration’s (IAR) Sports Manual Therapy Fellowship. In late 2019, he returned to his hometown to further his practice with Nacogdoches Medical Center where he also served as Physical Therapist for Stephen F. Austin State University. Through his fellowship and practice experiences, he has become adept at movement assessment to identify faulty movement patterns that result in pain and using his manual therapy skills to assist in putting out the fire. His true passion is Return to Sport rehab and lives by the mantra “Better Than Before” resulting in a blend of Physical Therapy and performance training to get you back crushing your goals. To further assist you through your injury, he is an emergency medical responder for the athlete, a certified Running Rehab Specialist, and certified in Dry Needling (DN) and Blood Flow Restriction Training (BFRT).

​Dr. Mike continues to compete in Men’s League Softball and is an avid golfer. He takes an all encompassing approach to training utilizing a variety of powerlifting, plyometric, and endurance cycles to maintain rotational power while expanding physical ability for strength, speed, and endurance. Through these different training methods, he understands the pains and mobility restrictions that pop up while training and can help fellow athletes progress through their programming whether it’s an acute or chronic injury. In his free time, he enjoys attending sporting events and exploring the country through travelling, hiking, or biking.

Dr. Ells Parham

PT, DPT

As an athlete his entire life, Ells knows what it takes to push the limits, but also what it feels like to have a setback.  His vendetta against having those life altering injuries and pains is what landed him in the rehabilitation world.  He wants to make sure that you can get out of your pain, create a great understanding of your own body, and be able to further your athletic potential. 

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Dr. Ells is originally from New Orleans, LA but spent most of his time growing up in Asheville, NC. He grew up playing multiple sports including soccer, lacrosse, football, and track as well as spending a lot of time with Olympic weightlifting. Through spending time with these sports, he generated interest in what it takes to become a better athlete. Ells ended up getting his undergraduate degree in Exercise Science at Appalachian State University while throwing shot put, discus, and javelin for the track team. Ells continued his education graduating with his Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2021 at Winston Salem State University. After graduation, Ells moved to Charlotte and quickly enrolled in the Sports Manual Therapy Fellowship of the Institute of Athlete Regeneration to continue with his passion for sports and athletes.

Ells continues to be an athlete in the gym and has a strong passion for strength sports including weightlifting, powerlifting, bodybuilding, and CrossFit is slowly growing on him. His interest is in optimal performance and being the best athlete that you can be, in whatever discipline to choose. Outside of the wide world of sports, Ells has an interest in movies, music, art, and animals. He has three snakes as pets and one of them he has had since he was 10. His favorite era of movies is the 80s and is a big nerd of comics and video games.

Dr. Leah Roten

PT, DPT

Leah has a passion for fitness and active lifestyles. She believes that all athletes have the ability to heal while staying active. Physical therapy doesn’t have to be post-injury – let’s find new ways to enhance your performance in the activities you love, while limiting injuries and pain. It is not just about being an athlete now, it’s about staying an athlete for life!

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Dr. Leah Roten was born and raised in Galena, Ohio. She played softball for the nationally ranked Indiana Magic Gold and is a former collegiate shortstop for Walsh University. Growing up an avid athlete on the field and in the weight room, she acquired a fair amount of injuries. Her ultimate goal was always to return to sport at peak capacity in order to compete at her highest level. This is what drove Leah to obtain her undergraduate degree in Exercise Science from Walsh, and Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy at The Ohio State University. Here, she conducted research on shoulder loading for softball pitchers and implications for injury/injury prevention. During her education at Ohio State, Leah acquired certifications in Dry Needling (DN-L1), Adaptive and Inclusive Training (AIT), and is a CrossFit Level 1 Trainer (CF-L1).  Her hunger to further enhance her knowledge and skills to be an elite-level sports physical therapist, quickly led Leah to enroll in the Sports and Orthopedic Manual Therapy Fellowship through the Institute for Athlete Regeneration.

 

Leah knows what it is like to be sidelined from her favorite sports, activities, and the gym. She remains an athlete and has always strived to train hard within her sport and lifting regimen. With this being said, she is passionate about helping other athletes achieve their peak performance through the process of rehabilitation and prevention. She utilizes a holistic approach to identify and treat to the root cause of one’s injury (whether acute or chronic) and ensure that it does not return. She thrives on turning a setback into a comeback in whatever one’s fitness journey may look like.

Leah continues to participate in CrossFit, traditional bodybuilding, and endurance cycles for her current strength and performance training. You will catch her throwing out movie and Spongebob quotes at the clinic. Leah is big on family and enjoys spending time with her parents, brother, and family German Shepherd (Gonzo). In her free time, you can find Leah doing basically any activity that allows her to be outside. She thoroughly enjoys hiking and has developed an ongoing bucket list of hikes to complete across the nation (recommendations accepted). 

Campbell Williams

Office Manager

Campbell relocated from Texas to Charlotte in January 2022. Since starting CrossFit in 2017, she’s become a loyal advocate for the sport and keeps an eye out for partner competitions to compete in.

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Her interest in long-term health motivated Campbell to join The Charlotte Athlete team where she strives to maintain an exceptional level of customer service and supports all of the physical therapists’ daily tasks. You can find Campbell at one of the CrossFit Mecklenburg morning classes with her husband.

In her free time, Campbell scours Youtube to hone her homemade barista skills, finds squirrel-filled parks to take her two dogs to, and constantly seeks ways to get outside by-way-of paddleboarding, biking, backpacking, and hiking. She graduated from Texas Tech University in 2020 with a B.S. in Agricultural Communications.

Find out what makes us Charlotte's Best.

We’re changing the Charlotte Physical Therapy game. Check out how we’re doing it and what’s different than your traditional Physical Therapy experience.

WE'RE DOCTORS, EDUCATORS, & ATHLETES

At The Charlotte Athlete, we are passionate about not only helping our community but growing in our profession. We travel both locally and nationally to collaborate with athletes in collegiate and professional organizations. We teach their clinicians advanced physical therapy concepts and skills. We believe the teaching is best practice to mastery. 

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Eli Godfrey
Eli Godfrey
2022-07-27
I've had neck pain for most of my life, and it had gotten to the point that it was disturbing my sleep almost every night. I found the Charlotte Athlete while digging for answers on the internet late one night and decided to give them a chance. Within one session, Dr. Mike was able to pinpoint the source of my pain and show me stretches and movement patterns that eliminated 80-90% of my issues. I have not woken up in neck pain since that day (almost 4 months ago). General practitioners have tried to put me on muscle relaxers and painkillers over the years but I've always refused, because I knew there had to be a better answer. I finally found that answer here. It's well worth a shot to talk to the people at The Charlotte Athlete if you are suffering from neck and/or shoulder pain.
Alexandrea Hostetler
Alexandrea Hostetler
2022-07-01
Prior to COVID, I used to do crossfire workouts avidly. When we began to quarantine, I took up running more consistently and once COVID restrictions relaxed, began to train for half-marathons. In the course of training for the first one and preparing to do a second one 6 months later, I started to have sharp pains from my SI joint that initially occurred whenever I went for a run. I was hoping to make it through my next race and then planned to rest and allow it to improve. However, it started occurring even with walking and could often times be present at rest. Once the pain began to radiate around my hip and inhibit my ability to exercise regularly and train effectively, I decided to start coming to Charlotte Athlete. I had come here previously for shoulder pain a few years ago, though stopped coming when COVID ramped up. I started back seeing Aerial and in her assessment recognized the imbalance in the activation of my hip flexors/extensors and need for glute/core strengthening and hip flexor mobility. She has been working with me for 4 months now with exercises centered on this. I was able to run my race 2.5 months ago with only mild pain, though in the time since then, have progressed to be able to run without any recurrence of pain as I have continued to progress in therapy. I have started getting back into crossfit workouts/lifting and can also feel a significant improvement in my form and efficiency with barbell movements as well. It has been a positive experience and am thankful for her help and support. Would highly recommend!
Mai I
Mai I
2022-05-28
I have always had on/off chronic back issues since I was in middle school, but about a year ago from today I sprained the muscle in my neck so badly I couldn't move it for a week and was on heavy muscle relaxers in order to bear the pain. This was the start of a long, painful journey with a PT in San Diego that made my issues WORSE through over-stretching. After their 16-week program, I was defeated to the point of quitting my job and moving back home to be with family, since my neck pain was still there and I now additionally had chronic shoulder pain that I would say was worse than the original neck issue. I am SO thankful I was able to find a blog post by The Charlotte Athlete that described my exact issues with my shoulders. I immediately reached out, hoping they could work with me even though I live on the other side of the state. Luckily they do telehealth! I was slightly skeptical of how well telehealth would work, but I was more desperate for relief than anything so I decided to go through with it. I knew I needed people that actually know what they're doing AND give me really specialized treatment... since the treatment I got at the facility in San Diego was so cookie-cutter I swear I couldn't done better just YouTubing exercises myself at that point. My experience with Mike at The Charlotte Athlete has been really positive. For starters, he figured out the curvature in my spin that has been causing my issues (I should also mention I have sciatica down my left leg). He has really helped me understand the "why" behind the exercises which not only helps me get into better form and enhance my mind to muscle connection, but it also motivated me to do them! I honestly think that physical therapy has changed my life. When I was in pain initially, I was in the wrong kind of physical therapy and saw a chiropractor, acupuncturist, and massage therapist. Now I have the knowledge to understand why massage therapy was making my shoulders and neck hurt worse-- my neck muscles were OVERstretched and lengthened. I think learning how to retrain your muscles so that they stabilize the spine correctly is so important and the therapy I've received from Mike is already helping significantly. We are still working through my sciatica issues, but my shoulders almost never hurt like they did anymore and that alone is so incredible to me considering I was at the point where my primary care practitioner was recommending that I get routine steroid shots and prescribing me benzos to deal with my muscle spasms. I would recommend this place to anyone and even though it was technically "out of network" for me, I am still able to submit the superbills to my insurance to get it partially covered... even if insurance had denied it, I still would recommend this to anyone with chronic pain because the amount of money/time you might waste elsewhere or on treatments that AREN'T working is crazy. I could have saved over a thousand dollars if I had known about The Charlotte Athlete from the very first day I got injured... so spread the word. Thank you to Mike and the team at The Charlotte Athlete! 🙂
Katy Posithai
Katy Posithai
2022-05-21
I competed in a Crossfit competition in November, during it, I seemed to have injured my knee doing the last workout. It didn’t seem too bad immediately after the workout, it was sore, but I assumed it was the accumulated fatigue and stubbornness. The next morning, I woke up with a lot of pain and stiffness in my leg and was unable to bend it. Considering it was nearing the holidays, it was tough getting immediate treatment. However, a good friend referred me to a sports chiro. After a handful of visits, I still had the recurring pain when I squatted. I had a pinching pain behind my knee that occurred when I squatted too much, or if I squatted too deeply. As a person who liked to compete, it was devastating. I ended up at The Charlotte Athlete, after Aerial (one of the PT that make up the team) notified me that there was availability. Even though I enjoyed who I was seeing currently, I was not seeing results. I decided to amicably part ways and see Dr. Mike. At that point I was a little skeptical, but at the second visit, Dr. Mike was able to recreate the pain that I was experiencing and give me an explanation for it. He took time to research my slightly unique injury, as most dealt with pain in front of the knee. It surprised me that he took the time to research my case, instead of having an immediate diagnosis. I felt humbled and I felt hopeful again. After 6 visits, I was given education, compassion, and exercises (homework) to expand my knowledge and get me back to being able to squat painlessly to depth again (and as many times as I’d like hahah). I would refer him to any low-key fitness fanatic who has recently injured or is enduring a recurring injury - or if I could drag my retired parents to see him, I would!! Thank you, Dr. Mike, for being an awesome PT and human!
Fred Teumer
Fred Teumer
2022-05-10
Best PT in CLT. Helped me through pain and mobility in the hips and took my lifts (squat / deadlift) up 20+%
Patricia Terrell
Patricia Terrell
2022-05-04
The Charlotte Athlete has been the most successful treatment I've received! I've experienced constant pain in my back & shoulder for more than a year. Back pain so severe I was unable to roll over in bed, let alone complete my regular exercise program. After xrays, MRIs, and many costly rounds of outpatient physical therapy, I had not seen marked improvement. Since beginning sessions with TCA, I no longer have such extreme pain and Dr. Aerial has helped improve my form & understanding of how the body moves. Highly recommend!!
Matthew Chieco
Matthew Chieco
2022-04-20
The Charlotte Athlete has been amazing to help me progress in the right direction and learn about my strengths and weaknesses and what to work on. I’ve had lower back issues and they have helped me identify what causes the majority of the issues. Ever since starting, Dr. Mike has been great and my mobility has increased immensely, which has helped in all my lifts and to reduce back pain. In the past I have gone to chiropractors which has been a good quick fix but i always ended up back in the same position. I feel now that I am progressing towards a goal to be more mobile and fit and understand my body, vs just going through the motions. Their approach to PT is different than you will see elsewhere, and will definitely help you progress towards whatever goals you have, I can promise you that.
James Kim
James Kim
2022-04-06
I first visited Dr. Andrew Kenas @ the Charlotte Athlete about 10 months ago when I dislocated my 2nd shoulder playing soccer. I enjoy playing competitively and desired to perform at a decent level without risk of reinjury and Dr. Andrew really came through with great exercises and advice on how/what I can do in order to avoid subsequent injuries. Currently, I'm feeling great with the level of mobility in my shoulder, and able to pursue my hobbies without any fear of reinjury. Charlotte Athlete offers a service where I can go 1x/month for routine maintenance and it also comes with other benefits (my personal favorite is the normatec boots to help accelerate recovery). The best part is the flexibility - I'd go weekly if I didn't have other commitments e.g., work, school, hobbies, social life, etc. but Dr. Andrew and his team have been incredibly accommodating. If you're an athlete or just someone that wants to maintain a quality of life with a decent level of physical activity, I'd highly recommend The Charlotte Athlete. I'll be going back without any hesitation if I were to reinjure my shoulders or, God forbid, something else.
Tyler Ziegler
Tyler Ziegler
2022-03-22
My back has always been tight from sports and sitting a lot. I then hurt it working out and was out for several weeks. After a year of dealing with a few minor flair ups, I finally saw the Charlotte Athlete. I thought The problem would go away, but it kept coming back and keeping me from coaching wrestling and working out. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Aerial at the Charlotte Athlete, and I’ve felt that it is her goal to get me out of her office and back to doing activities I enjoy. She has helped me understand why my back is hurting and what I need to do to prevent it, as well as things I need to do in my everyday life to help strengthen my affected areas. I’ve learned new things each session that I can incorporate to my daily routine. I would highly recommend to anyone.
Mary Johnson
Mary Johnson
2022-03-22
I have struggled with hip pain for the past several years. It would come and go as my running increased or decreased, and I figured it wasn't anything to worry about. But then my mom -- a lifetime runner -- had her hip replaced at the age of 62. She'd been in pain for years and hadn't done anything about it, and I knew then I didn't want the same thing to happen to me. I was referred to the Charlotte Athlete by a colleague and was immediately drawn to the 1-on-1 sessions and just their whole vibe. Dr. Andrew took my initial call and asked me a ton of questions (and really listened). Then, I started working with Dr. Aerial, and she's been fantastic! I've been for three sessions now, and I'm already noticing dramatic improvement in my hip. I've been able to start running again, after about six months off, and it feels incredible. She's also giving me a better understanding of how I can ensure my body stays strong and pain-free for years to come, which is huge. With this practice, there's such a respect for people who love to workout, be active, move their bodies, and you can feel that in their work with you. They want you to get back to doing what you love and to be able to do it for the long haul. I love that.

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