Pelvic Health Physical Therapy

Charlene Somera Manalo is a physical therapist who received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy degree from the University of Illinois-Chicago in 2007. She is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist receiving certification through the American Physical Therapy Association. She is also a Pregnancy and Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist and has advanced training to treat pelvic health conditions including stress and urge urinary incontinence, urgency and frequency, dyspareunia and vaginismus and patients recovering from mastectomies. She has a special interest in runners and has treated this population for more than 14 years through corporate sponsorship of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Charlene enjoys staying active, running, exploring new and exciting restaurants, and traveling with her family. With a passion for empowering women to achieve optimal pelvic health, Charlene is committed to working alongside obstetricians to provide comprehensive care that supports both the physical and emotional well-being of patients throughout their reproductive health journey.

Melfa Laroza is a licensed physical therapist who earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Utica University in 2015. With advanced training in pelvic floor rehabilitation, peri- and post-partum care, and management of urinary and stress incontinence, Melfa is committed to empowering women through all stages of life. She incorporates principles from the Gray Institute and integrates functional movement strategies—including female chain reaction exercises—into her individualized treatment plans. Her holistic approach blends therapeutic techniques with elements of yoga and Pilates to promote strength, mobility, and overall wellness. Outside the clinic, Melfa cherishes traveling with her family and exploring the beauty, culture, and cuisine of the world. Her ultimate goal is to help her patients reduce pain, restore function, and thrive with confidence.

Kinjal Patel earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Northwestern University in 2021. She has completed advanced coursework in orthopedic conditions and their interplay with pelvic health, allowing for a more integrated and evidence-informed treatment approach. In her current practice, she manages patients presenting with urinary incontinence, pelvic pain, and other pelvic floor disorders. Her clinical interests are expanding toward perinatal care, with plans to pursue further education in pregnancy and postpartum rehabilitation. She is committed to improving patient outcomes by fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and enhancing awareness of pelvic floor conditions. Kinjal emphasizes patient education and strives to normalize conversations around pelvic health, ensuring that these often-overlooked issues receive the clinical attention they deserve. Outside of the clinic, Kinjal enjoys exploring new restaurants, cooking new recipes, traveling, and staying active through weightlifting.

Anna Kuljian is a physical therapist who has a Doctorate in Physical Therapy degree in 2021 from University of Michigan where she received the Outstanding Service Award. She also has a bachelor’s degree in exercise science and 13 years experience coaching figure skaters. A proud Certified Mulligan Practitioner (CM P), Anna improves patients’ mobility with this pain-free technique using active and passive forces. She has taken an Introduction to Diagnosis and Treatment of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction course which she integrates into external patient treatments. Overall, Anna takes a patient-centered approach to care combining her passions of using movement as medicine along with manual therapy to help her patients get back to doing what’s meaningful in life without pain. She has experience treating a variety of orthopedic and sports conditions and working with children, adults, and seniors. Special populations include: figure skaters, Parkinson’s Disease, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction. In her free time, you can find Anna enjoying figure skating, one of her passions since she was 4 years old, attending weekly run club, taking hip hop dance classes, hiking, and going to museums with friends. Anna looks forward to speaking with patients, in English or Spanish, soon!