Gerry Van Dyke

Gerry received his Physical Therapy degree from Chicago Medical School and Athletic Training degree from the University of Illinois. Over 35 years of experience in sports medicine include working with Olympic, professional, and major college athletes. He is in demand as a national lecturer and is a noted blogger on the subject of sports medicine and injury prevention. Having served on the sports medicine staffs of UC Berkeley, University of Illinois and several Bay Area colleges, he continues to serve on the sports medicine staff of the United States Olympic Committee.

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 an innovator. Always has been. 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.

Gerry Van Dyke is the only practitioner in the greater Santa Cruz/Monterey/San Benito Tri-County area who is both Board Certified in Sports Physical Therapy and a licensed Physical Therapist and Certified Athletic Trainer. 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.