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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!
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!!!
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. 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
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.
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!
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).
“Move it or lose it” is one of Marissa’s favorite sayings. She believes that movement is medicine and healing comes in all different forms whether for a pre-existing condition or in the realm of prevention. Competitive by nature, Marissa is passionate in optimizing health as much as possible in order to stay in the game.
Dr. Marissa is a born and raised Yankee from Upstate NY where she graduated with honors from Utica University. Marissa received her B.S in Healthcare Science and minor in Healthcare Ethics in 2019 and later went on to pursue her Doctorate in Physical Therapy in ’21, all while playing on the women’s volleyball team.
During her time at Utica, Marissa conducted research regarding increasing lung capacity in healthy adults for endurance related sports such as swimming or cycling. Following graduation, Marissa quickly made the leap to move south to purse opportunities outside of her comfort zone. Marissa has received certifications in Dry Needling (DN-L1), Emergency Medical Response (EMRA), and is enrolled in the Sports and Orthopedic Manual Therapy Fellowship through the Institute for Athlete Regeneration.
Outside of the office Marissa enjoys skiing, CrossFit, cooking, and being with her family and friends. Marissa is forever-seeking local recommendations for good-eats (preferably Italian) as well as books to add to her reading list.
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.
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.
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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.
Dave Battle2024-04-14Great facility and great people! They have been instrumental in helping me through training and injuries.
Clara Stella Pazencaos2024-03-26They are nice, kind, and knowledgeable. Since the first visit, the service has been excellent. Dr. Marissa took the time to listen to the whole picture, and she did a complete evaluation. I strongly recommend their services. Clara Stella Arenas
Lauren Cobb2024-03-19This is without a doubt the best physical therapist I’ve seen. I broke my ankle about 5 years ago, and have been burning through PTs with little to no progress. It always seemed like we were just throwing things at a wall to see what stuck. At TCA, the knowledge and experience they bring to the table is unmatched. We jumped right into things that brought me immediate relief/release, as well as careful planning in gaining the strength needed to progress towards my goal. Dr. Leah is great at pushing me in my daily exercises, while at the same time providing great convo. Can’t forget the giant fur baby Moose (not actually a moose, but a lovable Bernese Mountain Dog) greeting you at the door. All around incredible experience thus far and highly recommend!
Temy Clemons2024-03-15These folks treat you like family, and genuinely want to see you getting better. The sessions and “homework” were always thoughtfully put together, and they were quick to answer the phone if I had questions between sessions. I highly recommend this PT team!
Melissa Patterson2024-03-13Where do I begin!! I started seeing Dr. Leah a for an SI joint injury that I could not seem to shake. I saw chiropractor after chiropractor and felt so discouraged. After one visit she immediately gave me reassurance and acknowledged there was something wrong accounting for the pain. I could go on and on about how much she helped me, but the biggest thing was how genuine and personable she was. I looked forward to seeing her every single week. Cannot recommend this place ENOUGH!!!!
Tyler Poe2024-03-11I have dealt with lower back pain on and off for over seven years. I have regularly sought chiropractic care and attended yoga to relieve my pain and discomfort to no avail. My pain became so unbearable that I was unable to do any deadlifts, RDLs, or barbell squats. It was difficult to even bend over to tie my shoes. Throughout all of my efforts to seek treatment for my issue, I never received a conclusion diagnosis or even realistic thought of what may be causing my pain. Within one visit at Charlotte Athlete with Dr. Leah, I was told what she believed to be the cause of my pain and we immediately began working through a treatment plan to fix the issue. Within two visits I noted a dramatic decrease in all pain and had an increase in mobility with no discomfort. I am now fourteen visits in and have regained all mobility; I am deadlifting and doing RDLs with my usual working weight and have no agitation to my lower back. I have not been this pain free in nearly seven years. If there was one piece of advice I could go back in time and give myself as it relates to my lower back injury, it would be to seek care at Charlotte Athlete MUCH sooner. The one-on-one approach and dedicated therapy time is unique and allows for immediate feedback and attention to your every need. I cannot speak highly enough to this practice, their providers, and their mission to better their patients.
Madeline Hodge2024-02-27I came to see Dr. Ells to help with symptoms related to bilateral vestibulopathy — vertigo, episodes of severe unbalance, and unsteadiness. His approach to vestibular therapy was amazing. He was thorough, attentive, and informative. He even encouraged lifestyle changes that would benefit me on my road to recovery. What I appreciated the most was his genuine concern and care for my wellbeing. It always felt like a very uplifting personal experience. In the end, although I cannot fully undo the damage done to my vestibular system, I'm happy and grateful to say that my symptoms have been at the LOWEST they have ever been due to the therapy exercises and lifestyle changes I learned here and continue to implement at home. I feel like myself again 🩵
A Google User2024-02-15Andrew is the man! Been seeing him for knee therapy and over the past few months I’ve noticed a great improvement. After my experience I would recommend physical therapy to anyone dealing with nagging pain!
Kyle diPretoro2024-02-12I started going to Charlotte Athlete about one year ago for chronic back issues. They have always been great to work with. Welcoming. Responsive. Knowledgeable. Flexible. I have spent most of my time working with Dr. Mike in particular. He has been extremely thoughtful and meticulous with his approach and is willing to make necessary tweaks to the plan based on my goals, such as being able to lift weights on a consistent basis. I highly recommend Charlotte Athlete!
Tere Druen2024-02-11Aeriel did a great job helping me work through an injury, but even more , she helped me find weaknesses I could target to help prevent injury going forward. At my age , I thought I knew my body well enough, but I’ve learned so much more after my time at Charotte Athlete. I am so thankful for the expertise and new content I was given that will enable me to keep running many miles for years to come!
