Meet Karen Yanelli

Karen Yanelli received her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree and Bachelor of Science degree from New York Institute of Technology, graduating with distinction. She provides private, one-on-one physical therapy for adults with spine, orthopedic, neurological, myositis, and rheumatological conditions.

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SPINE AND McKENZIE METHOD® CARE

Karen earned certification in McKenzie Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy through the McKenzie Institute International. Since receiving her certification, Karen has used the McKenzie Method® to evaluate and treat adults with a wide range of spine and musculoskeletal presentations. She is also an adjunct lecturer in New York Medical College’s physical therapy program, where she teaches McKenzie Method theory and manual techniques.

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ERGONOMICS

Karen is a Certified Ergonomics Assessment Specialist (CEAS). Her ergonomic assessments may address industrial, healthcare, and office settings and follow applicable Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidance.

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ORTHOPEDIC AND POSTOPERATIVE REHABILITATION

Before opening her private practice, Karen worked in home physical therapy, subacute rehabilitation, acute-care rehabilitation, and outpatient settings. She later served as an advanced clinician at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, working with orthopedic conditions across multiple stages of recovery. Her experience includes preoperative and postoperative rehabilitation for joint replacement, spine surgery, and other orthopedic procedures.

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PARKINSON’S AND NEUROLOGICAL CARE

Karen began working extensively in neurological physical therapy in 2006. At Hospital for Special Surgery, she founded the hospital’s first outpatient adult neurological physical therapy program and worked with the Muscular Dystrophy Association-funded ALS/MD clinic. She has presented on Parkinson’s disease and peripheral nerve damage and represented physical therapy at the Michael J. Fox Foundation Therapeutics Conference.

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MYOSITIS AND RHEUMATOLOGICAL CARE

Karen developed a subspecialty in rheumatological physical therapy beginning in 2010, including work with myositis, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus. She has collaborated with rheumatologists, presented to autoimmune-disease support groups, and spoken at the 2022 American College of Rheumatology conference. Hospital for Special Surgery also publishes her educational resource, “Physical Therapy and Myositis.”

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EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS

Karen has completed more than 40 postdoctoral courses covering spine disorders, orthopedic extremity conditions, and neurological care. She has served as a keynote speaker and guest lecturer for universities, medical conferences, national organizations, professional education courses, support groups, and patient-education seminars. Karen coauthored ‘Conservative Management of Osteoarthritis,’ a monograph in APTA Orthopedics’ course Osteoarthritis: Linking Basic Science to Intervention. She has also contributed to the book Multiple Sclerosis for the Non-Neurologist.​