Why was Roots Founded?
Welcome back to another Rooted in Wellness blog! Since we’re still in the early days of this blog, I thought it would be the perfect time to share the story of how Roots Performance & Wellness came to be. But before I get into that, I want to take you through my journey in the field of physical therapy.
The Road to Realizing Change Was Needed
Before PT school, I worked as a tech and receptionist for two outpatient orthopedic clinics. I loved both, but they were high-volume settings where therapists saw two to three patients per hour while I supervised exercises. These experiences taught me how to build patient rapport and gave me insight into clinic operations. However, at the time, my knowledge of biomechanics and proper exercise corrections was minimal—just a week of training on basic PT exercises. Looking back, I now realize that while these patients were receiving standard care, it wasn’t necessarily the best care.
Fast forward to PT school, where I completed three full-time clinical rotations:
An outpatient worker’s compensation clinic
An inpatient and acute care setting
An outpatient sports medicine clinic
The outpatient settings had a similar structure—multiple patients per hour with limited direct time with the therapist. One day at the sports medicine clinic, my clinical instructor and I saw 63 patients in a single day. That number still astounds me. While these patients were receiving treatment, much of it felt like a textbook approach that didn’t truly account for their individual needs. Progress often stalled simply because there wasn’t enough time to tailor care appropriately.
After graduating, I found that the reality of outpatient PT wasn’t much different. I could share countless stories, but the takeaway is clear—our current physical therapy model prioritizes volume over individualized care, and as a result, many patients aren’t getting the treatment they deserve.
Why Roots Performance & Wellness?
As my career progressed, I sought out opportunities to work in one-on-one treatment settings, partnering with companies that valued quality over quantity. However, something still felt missing. Through patient conversations and personal reflection, I realized that true healing extends beyond just physical rehabilitation.
A person can have excellent mobility, strength, stability, and range of motion on paper yet still experience pain. This is where pain science comes into play—something I’ll dive into more in a future post. But the key takeaway is that physical rehab is only one piece of the puzzle. Other critical factors include:
Sleep
Nutrition
Mental health
Stress management
Lifestyle habits
This realization led to the name Roots Performance & Wellness. Here, we focus on laying a strong foundation—addressing all aspects of a patient’s well-being to help them truly heal and thrive. Just like a tree needs strong roots to grow, our bodies and minds need a solid foundation to reach their full potential.
Bridging the Gap Between PT and Holistic Wellness
I started Roots to bridge the gap between traditional physical therapy and holistic wellness. My goal is to treat the whole person, not just their symptoms, and to provide the time, attention, and compassion they deserve. My passion for this vision has only grown as Roots has transformed from an idea into a reality.
I’m excited to share this journey with you—both through my work with patients and here on the Rooted in Wellness blog. This space will be a resource for healthcare insights, wellness education, and much more. I can’t wait to continue sharing with you in future posts!
— Dr. Rachel Wolinski, PT, DPT, Cert. DN
Rooted in Wellness Blog