For as long as she can recall, Alyssa Dorney has been interested in the sciences, particularly those that involve the human body like anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology. Over time, as Alyssa diligently studied these topics and realized that a strong understanding of the body could be used to help people with pain and disabilities, she developed a great interest in becoming a physical therapist. The opportunity to attain a doctorate through her education, and therefore learn at the highest level about function and dysfunction of the human body, served as the final drive for her to pursue a career in physical therapy. This led Alyssa to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Biology with an emphasis in Psychology from Loyola University Maryland. She then went on to Touro College School of Health Sciences, where she earned a Doctor of Physical Therapy and graduated summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA. While studying at Touro College, Alyssa became well-versed in researching and applying the latest advances in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
Twin Boro Physical Therapy was pleased to welcome Alyssa to our staff in September of 2020, when she was assigned the Clinical Director position at the Wyckoff location. Before joining Twin Boro, she worked at other outpatient clinics, where she treated patients of all ages and ailments. Throughout her career, Alyssa has completed a number of continuing education courses, with focuses on orthopedic and neuromuscular practices, including vestibular training and current concepts regarding ACL rehabilitation. Alyssa also became a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) during her final year at Touro College, and she has applied ideals from this scope of practice to many aspects of her career as a physical therapist.
Alyssa’s varied clinical experience has allowed her to treat patients at all stages across the lifespan, from athletic adolescents to flourishing geriatric patients. She has frequently treated post-surgical conditions—including ACL repairs and hip and knee replacements—as well as surgical and nonsurgical disorders. Alyssa considers her therapeutic approach to be unique, as it always involves an individualized program that she designs for each patient. These programs typically include manual therapy (joint mobilizations/manipulations, Mulligan techniques, the McKenzie Method, and Functional Manual Therapy), strength training (advanced and evidence-based exercise prescriptions), and motor control (including neuromuscular re-education). She believes that the rehabilitation of each patient requires an active education, which encourages self-empowerment while preventing dependency on the provider and providing all patients an opportunity to always be involved in decisions about their care.
Alyssa also bases her management strategies around Twin Boro Physical Therapy’s One2FourTM Care Model. This unique approach accounts for the relatively low level of function a patient might experience after an injury or surgery, and then aims to take them all the way through to the peak performance required to return to their prior or preferred level of function. Alyssa sees this model as a clear means for patients to understand the state of their current condition before initiating treatment and what they can expect for a prognosis. It also helps guide the patient along their path as they aim to achieve an optimal level of function.
