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Postural Restoration Institute (PRI) Certified

Karen Taylor Soiles, PT

Postural Restoration Institute (PRI) Certified

Karen Taylor Soiles, PT

Our Practice

Why Choose Us

How We Are Different

A Center for Sensory Integration

We are dedicated to ethical, holistic application of Physical Therapy and Postural Restoration Science.

We offer advanced assessment at every step of the rehab progression. This is accomplished via analysis of breathing patterns, position of the body and patterns of movement. In this way, we gently assist you to achieve your goals using a unique, cutting-edge approach.

How We Are Different

Karen primarily uses

the approach taught by
The Postural Restoration Institute

The PRI approach to physical therapy targets breathing and how we move to resolve injury and enhance performance.

PRI Helps With

How We Are Different

PRI Helps With

Arthritis
Bursitis (shoulder, hip)
Neck or back pain
Parkinson's, stroke and neurologic disesases
Post concussion
Rehabilitation of total joint replacements
Scoliosis and other postural dysfunctions
Sports injuries
Sprains and strains
Tendonitis (achilles, tennis elbow, golfer's elbow, carpal tunnel and patella femoral syndrome)

Postural Restoration (PRI)

Basic Concepts of PRI

The human body is not symmetrical. The neurological, respiratory, circulatory, muscular and ocular systems differ on each side of the body with different responsibilities, functions, positions and demands. The asymmetry balances the body — for example — the torso is balanced with a liver on the right and a heart on the left.

PRI trained therapists recognize these imbalances and typical patterns associated with system disuse or weakness that develops because of dominant overuse. This dominant overuse of one side of the body can develop from other system unilateral overuse. This asymmetry compliments the special functions of the two sides of the brain. Although the two hemispheres of the brain share responsibilities for some functions, each hemisphere controls the opposite side of the body. PRI trained therapists understand how the two hemispheres of the brain affect the balance of the body.

When these imbalances are not regulated by reciprocal function during walking, breathing or turning, a strong pattern emerges creating structural weaknesses, instabilities or musculo-skeletal pain syndromes. All PRI trained therapists incorporate reciprocal function to balance muscle activity around the sacrum (pelvis), the sternum (thorax) and the sphenoid (middle of the head). Different factors can all influence asymmetrical tendencies and patterns. Other animals have their own tendencies. Toads use their right forepaw more than their left, chimpanzees hold a branch up with the left hand and pick the fruit with their right hand, and humans usually balance their center of gravity over their right leg. PRI trained therapists recognize the common, integrated patterns of human stance like extremity use, respiratory function, vestibular imbalance, mandibular orientation and foot dynamics and correct these patterns through exercise programs.

About Karen

Karen Taylor Soiles, PT, MA, PRC

An energetic physical therapist with over 20 years of experience and a neurology specialty in varied clinical settings (out-patient, in-patient rehab centers, acute care and home care), Karen brings extensive experience to her practice. Her caseload is typically orthopedic injury (back, neck, jaw or limb pain) and neurological (stroke, Parkinson, spinal cord injury). Post-concussion syndrome and mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) are areas of keen interest. Having many years of hands on experience as well as the theoretical background to support this emerging area of study, Karen is in an excellent position to maximize function and promote the body's ability to heal. She is a focused, open-minded clinician with a true commitment to high-quality care, professional growth and strength in multi-cultural sensitivity. Karen is proficient in French and Greek.

Education

Physical therapy degree (summa cum laude), Northeastern University Boston, MA

Master of Arts in Motor Learning, Columbia University

New York, NY

Postural Restoration Institute Certification

Lincoln, NE

Experience

Collaborative Physical Therapy, Arlington, VA, 2015-2022

Hand N Hand Therapy, Arlington, VA, 2006-2014

George Washington University Hospital, Washington, DC, 2005-2006

Praxis Physical Therapy, Athens, Greece, 2000-2004

Athens Paralympic Games, Greek Olympic Committee, Aug 2004

Athens Summer Olympics, Greek Olympic Committee, Sep 2004

FINA International Diving Competition, Athens, Greece, Feb 2004

Spaulding Rehab Hospital, Boston, MA, 1997-1998, 1992-1996

New Direction Wellness Programs, Paris, France, 1989-1991

Barnert Hospital, Paterson, NJ, 1986-1988

JFK Medical Center, Edison, NJ, 1984-1986

Teaching

Postural Restoration Institute certified conference presenter, April 2018

Postural Restoration Institute annual PRC conference presenter, April 2014
Successful Bell's Palsey Case Study Using PRI and Optimal Treatment of Neurological Diagnoses with PRI

Postural Restoration Institute teaching assistant or foundational and advanced courses, 2012-2013

Marymount University tutorial facilitator for doctoral students, 2006-2007

Northeastern University teaching assistant for neurological PT course,1996-1997

National Stroke Conference presenter for clinical applications of motor learning,1996

Testimonials

Dustin C

I tried traditional PT for my back pain and wondered why it wasn't working. As time went on it actually seemed to make it worse. I knew I was too young to be struggling to get around, but didn't know what was wrong, much less where to look for help. Luckily someone turned me onto CPT and the PRI approach. Karen helped me discover what was causing my pain and taught me techniques to manage and overcome it.

Recently, I went deep sea fishing for the first time since starting PRI. It was amazing to notice the difference in my mobility. I was able to easily do things I had previously struggled with. Looking back, I honestly don't know how I was able to function before PRI. Thanks to Karen my back pain is no longer a daily battle!

EM

Dustin C

As I think about the shift in awareness it has so much to do with how my body felt able to relax and breathe. I now realize that I also was aware of the energy exchange with the therapists. When I came home from that initial visit I knew that a shift was occurring for the better and that ongoing shift enables me to trust myself more, especially because of all the affirming comments that Karen graces me with.

LD

Dustin C

LD

After a recent vacation and hiking trip, the pain and suffering I had was like none I had ever experienced. I couldn’t even walk the dog. Karen’s treatments and exercises put me into alignment and back on my feet quickly. I am now playing tennis and taking part in all activities, pain free.

KS

Jill R

LD

Four years ago, I had an opportunity to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. I also had a hamstring that had been in pain for years, even after several attempts to heal it traditionally. Then I started going to see Karen Taylor Soiles, PT. Karen worked with me on a number of postural restoration exercises that isolated and strengthened the dormant muscles in my leg and core, while leaving the poor overused ones alone. After just a few visits, I had a pain free day. I practiced the basic “hip shift” exercise everywhere — at work, in the car, at the movies. In a few short weeks, I went from a hamstring that was so painful at times I couldn’t sit down to feeling 95% pain free. Four months later, I climbed to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro 19,341 ft. I will be forever grateful

Jill R

Karen exhibits a passion for her discipline that is unmatched! She is compassionate, thorough, and driven. I have been treated by Karen for years and I hold her and PRI in the highest regard.

Nancy

Jill R

Hi Karen, I’m writing to tell you how much you have helped me and how good I and my hip feel. No problems at all! I am so happy about that. You were an excellent person for me to work with. You were so sincere in your concern and interest that I learn and get better. And it worked!

As you know, we were in France for 2 weeks. And you definitely know there are so many stairs in the Metro. In fact, the whole 2 weeks were full of stairs and walking. I could mange it all easily. Now we are in VT and I look forward to lots of mountain hikes. It feels so good to be out-of-pain and to be able to enjoy all the walking and hikes.

Thank you again, Karen. I so appreciate you and our time together.

Anonymous

I had to make a decision about finding a safe place to do physical therapy. On my own I googled for places in Arlington and came up with a couple of places that might work for my circumstances. I felt really heard by one of the therapists and decided that was whom I was going to go with. It has turned out to be a wonderful fit. I am not only learning what I need to do to strengthen my body but the coaching is spot on, I feel free to ask questions and not be judged, I feel truly heard, and I am blessed to be affirmed on my insights and progress.

Saida D

Anonymous

After an episode of excruciating back pain that took me to a hospital emergency room 18 months ago, Ms. Karen Taylor Soiles literally helped me get back on my feet. Back pain has been a lifetime problem, so I have experienced physical therapy virtually everywhere I have lived in Europe and in the US, and I have been fortunate to find competent physical therapists to relieve my pain temporarily. Ms. Taylor Soiles is by far the very best and most efficient I have known. Not only did she use the panoply of traditional methods with great care, skill and compassion to relieve the symptoms quickly and efficiently but also she dealt with the core issues underlying my back problem. She taught me how to defeat chronic back pain. Thanks to her focus on and mastery of an integrative approach to physical therapy (PRI) and to her very clear instructions, I have been free of back pain for the last year and a half. I am eternally grateful to her and highly recommend her services.

RN

Anonymous

RN

Hi Karen, just want to share this with you while I'm so clearly aware — my experience today was that as I was getting dressed after the session I felt myself grounded in an old way — it felt familiar and took a minute for me to realize that I hadn't felt that way in a long time — the way I used to be of standing, feeling grounded, my body in space. Next, as I went to the car, I realized that my left leg was sore but not hurting, if that makes sense. I was aware of walking in a natural way, without being aware of a glitch or tightness in those two places on the outside of my knee. In the car, I was aware of my leg bending more easily as I drove and not needing to be stretched out as much. When I climbed the stairs into our building, my knee went straight up (in alignment) rather than drifting out to the left as it usually does unless I can make it stay straight. In my sessions I was able to keep my knees bent more of the time and because it felt like the muscle/tissue was working or stretching but not hurting, I was again able to hold the stretch more and breathe into it for a longer period of time. Then when I left work and went to the grocery store and got out of the car, it still felt the same — kind of sore but not hurting. Carrying a big bag of groceries brought back the pain feeling, however when I got home and got out of the car, the painful feeling was gone and it was just that soreness. This is the longest that I have felt that way in my left knee since September. Even now sitting here at the computer, I can pull the knee into more of a bend and it feels like a pull and sore but not as much pain. (My experience previously is that the pain would disappear while I walked to the car or down the block, but as soon as I sat for a while or after walking a block, it would come back and then from then on it would really hurt whenever I moved.) Also, I was able to feel on the inside how the hamstrings working when I walked meant that I was more able to feel into the ground and that my attention could be on that and not on the pain in my knee. so, Thank you! I have been feeling hopeful; this experience has given me a sense of my body as it used to be, and the awareness in my body of how it can be again. I wish I could hire a skywriter to go above Ballston with my expressions of gratitude for you to see whenever you want!

Karen Taylor Soiles, PT

Karen Taylor Soiles, PT

Our Practice

Why Choose Us

How We Are Different

How We Are Different

How We Are Different

How We Are Different

How We Are Different

PRI Helps With

How We Are Different

PRI Helps With

Postural Restoration (PRI)

Basic Concepts of PRI

About Karen

Karen Taylor Soiles, PT, MA, PRC

Education

Experience

Teaching

Testimonials

Dustin C

Dustin C

Dustin C

EM

Dustin C

Dustin C

LD

Dustin C

LD

KS

Jill R

LD

Jill R

Jill R

Jill R

Nancy

Jill R

Jill R

Anonymous

Anonymous

Anonymous

Saida D

Anonymous

Anonymous

RN

Anonymous

RN

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Breathing

Posture + Movement

Posture + Movement

Posture + Movement

Posture + Movement

Posture + Movement

Nutrition + More

Posture + Movement

Nutrition + More

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