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Sue Leger, PT, MS, PhD, ND, IMD, DPT
Sue Leger, PT, MS, PhD, ND, IMD, DPT is a physical therapist with biomechanical, neuroscience, and physiology specialties. As managing partner and the director of First Step Physical Therapy, Sue has forged the Symptom Recovery Model (SRM) and hundreds of Symptom Recovery Programs (SRPs). Highly successful programs are helping persons recover from symptoms such as joint and spinal pain, walking and balance difficulties, as well as weakness and functional loss from both pediatric and adult neurological dysfuntions.
Dr. Leger has six university degrees, beginning with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy (1979) from the University of Florida. Sue published her thesis Exercise Risks and Benefits for Diabetic Individuals: A Review and received a Master of Science in Exercise Physiology and Cardiac Rehabilitation (1985) from Louisiana State University. She attained her first doctorate degree, Doctor of Science in Health Science and Nutrition (Westbrook University, 2004), completing a dissertation on The Effects of Integrative Manual Therapy on Spinal Cord Injury Recovery. Dr. Leger was awarded a Doctor of Naturopathy (Westbrook University, 2011) with a focus on Toxicity, Dietary and Supplemental Considerations for Autoimmune Disorders. Next, Dr. Leger completed a Doctor of Integrative Medicine (Westbrook University, 2012), with a concentration on Holistic Natural Healing for Central Nervous System Disorders. Most recently, Sue completed her Doctor of Physical Therapy through Arcadia University (2013) with two unique studies; A Physical Therapy Symptom Recovery Model for Charcot-Marie-Tooth: A Clinical Perspective and Symptom Recovery Model Physical Therapy Producing Significant Pain Reduction and Sensory Gains in Persons Diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth: A Cohort Study.
Along with extensive university education, Dr. Leger has attended hundreds of continuing education classes, holding numerous certifications and in-depth training in many areas; including, Neurodevelopmental Treatment (Certified 1987), Infant NDT Treatment (Certified 1989), Acupressure, Cranial Sacral, Manual Lymphatic Drainage, Motor Control and Learning, Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation, Sensory Integration and Praxis, Mechanical Link, Visceral Manipulation, Manual Perception, Biomechanical and Fascial Regulators, Integrative Manual Therapy (CSIMT Certified 2002), Integrative Manual Therapy (Westbrook Univ. Certified 2004), Manual Pattern Recognition, Women’s Health (Certified 2011), Autism (Certified 2010), Essential Oils and Aromatherapy, Functional Medicine, BioGeometry and recently received her certification in Structural Rehabilitation (S.R.C. 2012).
Dr. Leger has taught over 250 continuing education workshops. Her teaching focus began on biomechanical and neurological assessment, handling and movement, lower extremity biomechanics, gait, and the fabrication and function of lower extremity serial casts, splints and orthoses. She has been a speaker at numerous state, regional, and national conferences. Sue has been on the faculty for The Connecticut School of Integrative Manual Therapy (CSIMT) and Dialogues in Contemporary Rehabilitation (DCR), teaching advanced courses in IMT since 2002. She is a co-developer, with Dr. Sharon (Weiselfish) Giammatteo, of manual therapy courses on stroke, a pediatric-neuro series, as well a series of courses on the ankle and foot certified through the University of Tennessee. Most recently (2010), Dr. Leger developed 5 Series (42 workshops) of Symptom Recovery Model courses.
Sue’s publications include: Exercise Risks and Benefits for Diabetic Individuals: A Review, Significant Functional Gains Using Integrative Manual Therapy With a Patient Diagnosed With Cerebellar Ataxia and Peripheral Demyelination, Lower Extremity Biomechanical Checklist for the Neurologically Involved, and Taping Applications for the Neurologically Involved.
Dr. Leger is currently completing her 20 volume series titled A Guide For Never Evers: A Symptom Recovery Model. These ‘unfinished manuscripts’ will be available through Symptom Recovery Models (SRM), Education for Healthcare, website www.SymptomRecoveryModels.com.
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Josh Davis, PT, DPT, MTC, CSCS, IMT, Cert. DN, MSC Specialist , SRM Specialist, Practice Manager, Partner
Dr. Joshua Davis is a highly advanced physical therapist with a specialty in dry needling, biomechanics, manual structural correction, and the Symptom Recovery Model of PT. With his business partner, Dr. Sue Leger, Dr. Davis owns and manages First Step Physical Therapy. He is the outpatient facility’s Practice Manager, as well as the director and developer of the Men’s Health Symptom Recovery Program (SRP), of the Balance Disorders SRP, of the Pain SRP, and of the Sports Injury SRP.
Josh began his university training at the University of Georgia, graduating with a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Exercise and Sport Science/Kinesiology in 2002. He was immediately accepted to the University of St. Augustine and earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT) in 2005. Having a strong integrative mind, Josh’s doctoral study combined lower extremity orthopedic deformity, surgery, and gait biomechanics, with the Neurodevelopmental Treatment approach.
With his continued thirst for broadening his knowledge for both diagnostics and integrative treatment, Dr. Davis pursued and received a certification from the Back School of Atlanta as a Certified Ergonomics Assessment Specialist (CEAS) in 2006, then completed his Manual Therapy Certification (MTC) from the University of St. Augustine in 2007. Dr. Davis then attained a certification as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) from The National Strength and Conditioning Association in 2008, followed by excelling and completing a 3 year program at the Connecticut School of Integrative Manual Therapy (completed 2012). In 2012 Dr. Josh also received his certification in Structural Rehabilitation (S.R.C. 2012), as well as completing his Manual Structural Correction (MSC) Specialist Certification through Symptom Recovery Models, LLC. Next in 2013, Dr. Davis became certified in Dry Needling by the Dry Needling Institute division of the American Academy of Manipulative Therapy.
With his high pace of attending 10 to 15 continuing education trainings per year, Dr. Josh has rapidly advanced his broad scope of expertise, including physical therapy for vestibular disorders, balance rehabilitation, taping techniques, as well as biomechanics and ergonomic assessment. Dr. Josh Davis mastered the full Symptom Recovery Model (SRM) Specialist Certification in 2013 and has begun assisting each of the MSC and SRP seminars as part of Symptom Recovery Models, Education for Healthcare. Dr. Davis also teaches several times per year, classes on fall prevention, balance training, strength training, vestibular disorders, core strengthening, back injury prevention, and ergonomics.
Dr. Josh, assisting with Dr. Leger’s 2012 sixty person study on SRM PT for Charcot-Marie-Tooth, was co-author for both articles; Clinical Perspective: A Description of a Symptom Recovery Model Physical Therapy Program for Patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease (2013) and Symptom Recovery Model Physical Therapy Producing Significant Pain Reduction and Sensory Gains in Persons Diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth: A Cohort Study (2013). He has begun co-writing with his business partner, Dr. Sue Leger, a physical therapy multiple component text titled Symptom Recovery Models for Vestibular Disorders.
Dr. Davis is an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), the Physical Therapy Association of Georgia (PTAG), and serves as First Step PT’s Coordinator of Clinical Education (CCCE). This position allows Josh to be in constant contact with Physical Therapy (PT) and Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA) schools, as well as the students who are interested in gaining experience through clinical rotations. Dr. Josh is very active in his community and is an active member of both the Young Professionals of Fayette County and the Rotary Club of Peachtree City.
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Matthew Kilgore, PT, DPT, MSC Specialist, Clinical Manager
Dr. Matthew Kilgore is a physical therapist with expertise in lower extremity biomechanics, manual therapy, and the balance systems of the body. Matt graduated from Columbus State University in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science, excelling further at Georgia State University completing his Doctor of Physical Therapy (2013). His doctoral thesis was on Lower Extremity Meta-Analysis Comparing Static Stretching with Contract Relax Methodology.
With outstanding academic achievements, as well as strong manual therapy skills, Dr. Matt Kilgore made a tremendous addition to the team at First Step PT (2013). Keeping a rapid pace of continuing education, as well as training directly with Drs. Leger and Davis, Dr. Matt has attained an in-depth knowledge of the spinal and peripheral structures, and has attained his Manual Structural Correction Specialist Certification (2014). Dr. Matt Kilgore quickly grasped the component cycle of the Symptom Recovery Model of Physical Therapy, allowing him to advance into the role of Clinical Manager at First Step Physical Therapy.
Dr. Matt’s mastery of the SRM approach, as well as his unique ability to explain principles, has further advanced him into the Assistant Teacher role for all of Dr. Leger’s 5 Series (42 workshops) of Symptom Recovery Model, LLC courses.
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Daniel Draper, PTA, MSC Specialist, Therapeutic Equipment Manager
Daniel is a physical therapist assistant with a focus on manual therapy, biomechanics, as well as specializing in pelvic floor dysfunction and vestibular imbalances. He graduated from South University in Montgomery, AL in 2010, having excelled during his clinical internship with Drs. Leger and Davis, he joined First Step PT spring of 2011. Excelling in four levels of electrical stimulation, infrared and far infrared, ultrasound and phonophoresis, as well as cold laser, Daniel was advanced to Therapeutic Equipment Manager at First Step PT.
With a strong focus on continuing education, Daniel attends a broad gamut of physical therapy treatment classes on a near monthly basis. Integrative Manual Therapy, Strain Counterstrain, Myofascial Release, Myofascial Mapping, are just the beginning. Mr. Draper has attained an in-depth knowledge of the spine, the pelvic floor, the TMJ, as well as the vestibular mechanism, and has attained his Manual Structural Correction Specialist Certification (2013).
Assisting Drs. Leger and Davis, Mr. Draper was an integral part of a 60 person study on the Symptom Recovery Model of PT with persons diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth. His continued contributions to the field of PT greatly benefit the team and the patients at First Step Physical Therapy.
Meet The Team
Sue Leger, PT, MS, PhD, ND, IMD, DPT
Sue Leger, PT, MS, PhD, ND, IMD, DPT is a physical therapist with biomechanical, neuroscience, and physiology specialties. As managing partner and the director of First Step Physical Therapy, Sue has forged the Symptom Recovery Model (SRM) and hundreds of Symptom Recovery Programs (SRPs). Highly successful programs are helping persons recover from symptoms such as
Josh Davis, PT, DPT, MTC, CSCS, IMT, Cert. DN, MSC Specialist , SRM Specialist, Practice Manager, Partner
Dr. Joshua Davis is a highly advanced physical therapist with a specialty in dry needling, biomechanics, manual structural correction, and the Symptom Recovery Model of PT. With his business partner, Dr. Sue Leger, Dr. Davis owns and manages First Step Physical Therapy. He is the outpatient facility’s Practice Manager, as well as the director and
Matthew Kilgore, PT, DPT, MSC Specialist, Clinical Manager
Dr. Matthew Kilgore is a physical therapist with expertise in lower extremity biomechanics, manual therapy, and the balance systems of the body. Matt graduated from Columbus State University in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science, excelling further at Georgia State University completing his Doctor of Physical Therapy (2013). His doctoral thesis was
Daniel Draper, PTA, MSC Specialist, Therapeutic Equipment Manager
Daniel is a physical therapist assistant with a focus on manual therapy, biomechanics, as well as specializing in pelvic floor dysfunction and vestibular imbalances. He graduated from South University in Montgomery, AL in 2010, having excelled during his clinical internship with Drs. Leger and Davis, he joined First Step PT spring of 2011. Excelling in
Antonio Townsend, PTA, Therapeutic Equipment Manager