Dr. Annalise Calo
Dr. Annalise Calo
Physical Therapist
PT, DPT, OCS
Annalise Calo is proud to call Cincinnati her hometown. She graduated from St. Ursula Academy in 2011. She then attended Saint Louis University for 6 years, where she earned her Bachelor’s in Exercise Science in 2015 and Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2017. She worked in Alexandria, LA for 1 year in an outpatient physical therapy clinic before moving back to the tristate area to further her experience in the field. She has served her Cincinnati community as a physical therapist for the last 7 years.
After 3 years in practice, Annalise decided to continue her clinical education and participated in an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist residency program. This helped deepen her clinical diagnostic skills and functional treatment style. She has given back to the profession by taking on many students, mentoring new graduates, and mentoring OCS residents. She is passionate about using the power of touch combined with exercise to facilitate optimal movement patterns and pain reduction. She is well-practiced in spinal and joint manipulation, cupping, soft tissue and joint mobilization, post-isometric relaxation techniques, and blood flow restriction treatment, as well as advanced, specific exercise prescription.
Want to know more about Annalise? See her interview below.
BACKGROUND
How did you get into your field?
I’ve wanted to be a physical therapist since I was in high school. Like most PTs, a sports injury landed me in a physical therapy office, and that path to recovery was the gateway to my future career. Physical therapy embodies so many of my interests and passions: helping people face adversity and reach their highest potential, physical activity, science, and problem-solving. I knew early on that this was the job for me.
What is your training background and how long have you been practicing/teaching?
I attended Saint Louis University from 2011–2017 for my Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science and doctoral degree in Physical Therapy. I fell in love with outpatient orthopedics during that time frame and have been practicing in orthopedics for the last 8 years. After 3 years of treating patients, I wanted to grow the depth of my knowledge and did an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist residency program with Upstream Rehabilitation. That experience really expanded my understanding of how crucial individual treatment is to returning our patients to optimal function.
Who influenced your career path (who have you enjoyed learning from, mentor, etc.)?
I have had various formal and informal mentors throughout my career that have shaped how I treat as a therapist today. My main influences are a prior clinical instructor who showed me the fun in solving complex orthopedic injuries, my coworker who taught me how to make exercise challenging and intentional, and my OCS mentor who showed me how important it is for client goals to drive our overall treatment.
What makes you love your field?
Being a physical therapist is extremely gratifying work. Seeing people both physically and emotionally recover from injury and get back to doing what they love is one of the most rewarding joys in my life.
INTERESTS/SPECIALITIES
What kind of clients do you love working with?
I love treating a diverse clientele. My favorite clients are those who have had limited success with other interventions, including PT, and still need help. Working through this puzzle and helping you to the other side of being pain-free is something I really enjoy. I also have special interest in the functionally athletic population. This includes those who may not be competing on a day-to-day basis but need strength to live their lives to the fullest capacity. Whether you ski, run, lift heavy weights, hike, or wrangle small children—I want to help you do this pain-free.
What sets you apart?
My tenacity and problem-solving skills are the main things that set me apart from other therapists. If treatment is stalling or a client isn’t getting to where they need to be, I will continuously reassess and find new ways to help them reach their goals.
What’s your mission?
My mission is to assist clients in achieving their most optimal, pain-free life. I want a client to leave with more knowledge about their body and confidence in their resilience than they had when they first walked in the door.
HOBBIES
What brings you joy? What do you do with your spare time?
My two young daughters are the biggest joy of my life. Spending time with them and my husband is what fills my cup on most days. I also enjoy moving my body in a variety of ways (lifting heavy weights, running, walking, hiking, and skiing). One of my life goals is to hike in every U.S. National Park. If I have any spare time, I fill it with a good fiction book, a funny podcast, The Office, Parks and Rec, or Ted Lasso, almost any Bravo reality TV show, or making ceramic pots.