Physical Therapy

I specialize in guiding runners through injury and back to training. 
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Dr. Blake Dircksen
PT, DPT, CSCS

  • Physical Therapist: licensed in New York, Colorado, and Indiana
  • Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), NSCA
  • Noblesville High School: Assistant Coach, Cross Country & Track & Field (NHS Class of '09)
  • Manhattan College: Team Physical Therapist
  • Team Prep USA: Director of Operations

My approach is a blend of experience and continued athletic pursuits, mixed with the latest evidenced-based orthopedic approaches.

I received my Doctorate in Physical Therapy from New York University, and Bachelors in Exercise Science from Indiana University, where I competed on the XC & Track teams.

​Currently, I coach my former Indiana high school XCTF team, the Noblesville Millers, remotely from NYC.

Upcoming Audacious Goals:
  • March 2023: OSR30 - 30 mile race around the perimeter of Manhattan
  • November 2023: NYC Marathon - sub 2:30
  • April 2024: Boston Marathon

Running is a lifelong pursuit - follow me on Strava!

Dr. Blake Dircksen PT, DPT, CSCS

My role is to help navigate through running injuries and build durable, injury-resistant athletes.
Things I commonly treat
Foot & Ankle
  • Achilles Tendonitis
  • Plantar Fasciitis
  • Ankle Sprains
  • Shin Splints
  • Bunions
  • Calf Strain (chronic & acute)
  • Stress Fractures
  • Sesamoiditis
  • Morton's Neuroma
  • Tibialis Posterior Tendonitis
  • Peroneal Tendonitis
  • Ankle "Instability"
​Knee
  • "​Runner's / Jumper's knee"
  • Patellar Tendonitis
  • IT Band Syndrome
  • Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
  • Meniscus Injuries (and post-surgical care)
  • Osgood-Schlatters 
  • Tibial or Femoral Stress Fractures
  • Strains of Hamstring, Quad, & Adductor
  • Knee "Instability"
Hip
  • Hip Flexor Strain
  • FAI - "Hip Impinge"
  • Sciatica
  • Labral Tear
  • Hip Stress Fractures
  • Gluteal Tendon Pain
  • Hip Bursitis
  • Hamstring Tendon Pain​
Low Back
  • SI Joint Pain
  • Acute Low Back Pain
  • QL Pain
  • Disc Herniation
  • Spinal Stenosis
  • Degen. Disc Disease (DDD)
  • Back Pain With Running
  • ​Osteo porosis
  • Spondylosis
What to expect
The visit:
  • Each visit is 60 minutes in length, one-on-one with me.
  • For your first visit, we'll spend as much time as needed discussing your experience, and perform various tests to determine the cause of your pain and what to expect going forward.
  • For follow-ups, we'll spend the first portion of the visit assessing what worked last time, what didn't, and what your experience was like in the time between visits.
  • Likely some form of manual therapy will be used in the initial stages of the visit, followed up by specific mobility and strength work.
In between visits:
  • ​After each visit, you'll receive a follow-up from me​ detailing your specific strength and mobility program to follow.
  • This program will tell you exactly how much, how often, and how intensely to do each movement, as well as descriptions of how each movement should feel.
  • Over time, we will build on your program - progressing and regressing where necessary based on your response to these exercise prescriptions to continue towards your goals.
What to wear:
  • We will likely be using the gym space and treadmill, so come dressed ready to move.
  • Shorts are ideal if we're working on the knee or hip, t-shirt or tank if we're working on the shoulder.
  • Bring your running shoes so that we can address wear patterns and perform a gait analysis.
Certifications & Licensure
  • New York University, Doctor of Physical Therapy
  • Indiana University, Bachelors of Science
  • ​Licensed Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) in New York State, Colorado, and Indiana
  • Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) - NSCA
  • Functional Range Conditioning (FRC)
  • Kinesiology Taping, Fascial Movement Taping Certified - RockTape
  • Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization - IASTM Technique
  • Basic Life Support - American Heart Association
  • Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support - American Heart Association
I am an out-of-network provider, which means that I do accept insurance with out of network coverage. The pricing of your physical therapy care is dependent on your specific insurance plan. Cash pay rates and package bundles are available, and HSA and FSA cards are accepted. 

More information on insurance can be found here.

​To check your coverage, determine pricing, and schedule an appointment, click the button below:

Running Services

Bringing together a comprehensive suite of performance professionals to coordinate and build your optimal season.

Meet the team below:

Running & Strength

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​The role of run & strength coaching is to take the guesswork out of your training while pushing you to achieve those big, audacious goals.
Each running client journey starts with an initial consult call from the coach, nutritionist, sports psych, and PT. These consults help shape the athlete's upcoming training plan. 

Training plans are delivered via a coaching platform, VDOT, that allows the athlete and coach to communicate and share training effectively. 

​Nutrition

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My role is to build a fuel plan to support your unique eating style and performance goals, while providing accountability throughout.
​Diane Johnson RD, CSSD
I provide nutrition support and services to athletes looking to enhance their training and performance.  I am a Saint Louis University grad with a Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics with an emphasis in Physical Performance and a former D1 XC and T&F athlete at the University of Arkansas. 

I worked alongside Senior Sports Dietitians in T&F and Swimming at the Olympic Training Center, providing nutrition assessments and consultations with athletes and coaches to aid in training and competition.

Additionally, I am working towards becoming a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor to help individuals overcome over-, under-, emotional, and restrictive eating.

​I offer nutrition services to teach you how to eat to achieve a healthy weight and lifelong relationship with food.  I want to help you manage your weight the right way and supercharge your energy to gain optimal performance.  I offer 1-on-1 nutrition assessments to better understand your nutrition related goals and follow up consultations to ensure I have made the right meal plan for you. 

​Additionally, I offer quick and healthy recipes, grocery store lists, and accountability through MyFitnessPal to help make nutritious eating relaxing and fun!

Sports Psychology

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My role is to​ provide guidance on how to channel the anxiety, hardship, and unknowns along the way towards accomplishing your big goals.
Shannon Thompson M.A.P.P. has worked with some of the world's top endurance athletes, including the top-ranked Division 1 Northern Arizona University XC/Track teams, HOKA NAZ Elite, and Under Armour Dark Sky teams. 

An interest in the psychology of achievement led her to completing an undergraduate degree in psychology and a Masters in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania.

Below are some places where Shannon's made an impact: 

BOdywork

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My role is to keep aches & pains away, maximize tissue quality, and prepare your body to handle the heavy demands of endurance running.
Michael Croes formed Crow’s Massage in 2013 to help with sports injuries, pre/post natal care, muscular and joint dysfunction, and life’s general stress.

Drawing on over a decade of teaching and practicing massage, Michael believes in approaching massage in a different way: treating clients’ specific therapeutic needs while building holistic treatment plans.

Before forming Crow’s Massage, Michael was the program director at the Institute for Therapeutic Massage. There, Michael wrote curricula for the oncology and massage programs, oversaw Eastern Massage, and lectured on Chinese medicine and Shiatsu. Michael has been a guest lecturer and educator at Rutgers.

​Michael received his certifications from the Shiatsu Clinic & School (Shiatsu and Chinese medicine focus) and The Institute for Therapeutic Massage (a focus on anatomy and pathology). Since 2007, Michael has been licensed and practicing in New York.

BK & Soho locations

Sleep & Recovery

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My role is to​ guide you through optimal recovery strategies. If recovery isn't optimal, training adaptations aren't optimal. ​
Whoop is one training tool the team uses to ensure training stress and training recovery are in balance. You'll learn important biometrics like Heart Rate Variability (HRV), Resting Heart Rate (RHR), Respiratory Rate, and more, to master your body and learn what you need for optimal recovery. 

Often, it's not about how hard we train, but rather how well we recover to allow for those training adaptations to take place.

Consistent training and consistent recovery, over time, compounds for big gains. 

Gait Analysis

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The role of gait analysis is to understand your unique biomechanical profile to assist in developing your optimal plan. 
Gait analysis helps us understand how you're loading your body step after step. These insights can affect treatment plans, shoe recommendations, and guide strength plans to build durability in areas of overuse. 

Elite Performance model

The running services above are designed to meet you where you’re at. Each package is customizable, and pricing is fit for your experience level & needs.

We call this an Elite Performance Model because this is how the pros do it - dialed in coaching,  nutrition, mental strength, and recovery. You do not need to be "elite" to benefit, just have an elite mindset and be serious about your goals. 

Each client receives an introductory nutrition, sports psych, and injury consult regardless of the package that is purchased.