Amanda Birk PT, DPT, SCS, better known as Mandy, is a native of St. Charles, MO. Growing up with older brothers & as a 3 sport athlete, sports & fitness have always been a source of comfort & passion. Naturally, a career helping people regain the ability to do what they love, achieve goals that may seem impossible after injury & to live a long healthy life was a perfect fit.

Mandy graduated from Washington University in STL with her Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2015 & chose to pursue specialization by completing a Sports Physical Therapy Residency in Houston, TX. While there, she treated a highly sports focused population, worked in training rooms at the University of Houston & with HS athletics, and did research on ACL return to sport & multi ligament knee injuries. After residency, she moved home to St. Louis & became a Board Certified Sports Physical Therapy Specialist in 2017. She now specializes in treating overhead athletes and both operative & non-operative hip & knee rehab. After working in a fast paced environment for the past 8 years, Mandy is excited to get back to the art of physical therapy & performance in a 1:1 environment at Optimal Movement.

When not working, you can find her working out, playing volleyball, making memories with family, friends & her 8yr old puppy, or attending sporting events or whatever concert she can find.

Amanda Birk PT, DPT, SCS, better known as Mandy, is a native of St. Charles, MO. Growing up with ... Read More

In March of 2023, Ed Pilgrim joined our team. Ed is a St. Louis native who specializes in shoulder and end stage ACL rehab. After suffering a career ending baseball injury as a sophomore in college, Ed obtained his Bachelor’s in Exercise Science from Missouri Baptist University and his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Missouri. Since completing his schooling, Ed has gone on to rehabilitate and train athletes from the MLB, NFL, UFC, and NCAA. Ed’s love for the city of St. Louis and his passion for being able to provide patient-centered care is what brought him back home to join the Optimal Movement team. When Ed’s not working, you can find him grilling, golfing, or enjoying a St. Louis sporting event.

In March of 2023, Ed Pilgrim joined our team. Ed is a St. Louis native who specializes in should... Read More

Taylor Summers is the owner and founder of Optimal Movement Rehabilitation and Performance. Taylor is a St. Louis native who specializes in ACL rehab and has a passion for the weightlifting/crossfit community as well as bridging the gap between rehab and performance for high school and college athletes.

She tore her ACL her junior year of high school, initially sparking the interest in becoming a physical therapist after a long and gruesome rehab process that allowed her to continue to play college soccer at Quincy University.

After playing 4 years of college soccer, Taylor went on to Washington University in St. Louis to earn her Doctorate in Physical Therapy. Taylor has extensive training in ACL return to play, video jumping and running analysis, dry needling, and ASTYM (soft tissue mobilization).

Her goal is and has always been to provide exceptional care to clients and patients while helping them achieve all of their goals. She believes in a true holistic rehab process and is passionate about providing clients with all of the education and tools necessary to move smarter, perform better, and live optimally.

Taylor Summers is the owner and founder of Optimal Movement Rehabilitation and Performance. Taylo... Read More