Gerry Van Dyke Owner

Gerry Van Dyke received his Physical Therapy degree from Chicago Medical School and Athletic Training degree from the University of Illinois. He over 40 years of experience in sports medicine include working with Olympic, professional, and major college athletes.

Gerry is the only Physical Therapist who is both Board Certified in Sports Physical Therapy and Athletic Training in the tri-county area. His core beliefs are simple. The keys to highly successful treatment outcomes come from using scientifically proven principles – what is now called Evidence Based Practice – and educating the patient so they better understand the nature of their injuries and how to better protect themselves in the future.

The first 10 years of his career were spent designing and supervising physical therapy/sports medicine clinics at hospitals (California Pacific Medical Center – San Francisco), universities (UC Berkeley, University of Illinois), and corporations (SPARC, APT). Recognizing the growing needs of the greater Santa Cruz community, he founded California Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy Services, Inc. in Aptos in 1995.

Gerry is also recognized as an innovator. He emphasized early weight bearing, early motion and high rep/low load exercises to speed recovery 30 years before it became mainstream. Decades before Wellness Centers became commonplace, he understood the importance of having all components for a client’s full recovery and access to prevention techniques and resources under one roof. He was also the first physical therapist to utilize high intensity exercise/weight lifting for treating Parkinson’s Disease. Gerry developed this unconventional treatment in 1998 with the support of noted local Neurologist Dr. Allan Dorosin, for his father (Lindell Van Dyke), who had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. The use of high intensity exercise is now considered mainstream treatment for this affliction.

United States Olympic Committee
Sports Medicine Staff

United States Track And Field Association
Sports Medicine Staff

World Cup Soccer
Sports Medicine Staff

University of Illinois
Sports Medicine Staff
Guest Lecturer
Consultant

University of California, Berkeley
Staff Physical Therapist
Guest Lecturer
Consultant

University of California, San Francisco
Clinical Faculty

University of the Pacific
Clinical Faculty

Regis University (Denver)
Clinical Faculty

National Athletic Trainers Association
Examiner for national test, speaker

American Physical Therapy Association
Book Reviewer, mentor, speaker

Physicians Medical Group (Santa Cruz)
Consultant