Your onward fort collins physical therapy team

Brian is a physical therapist that specializes in treating orthopedic, spine, and sport-related injuries. He has additional training as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and a CrossFit Level 1 certificate. Brian serves as lead faculty for the Institute of Clinical Excellence (ICE), where he travels the country teaching other PT’s how to approach decreasing pain and increasing strength for folks with neck and back pain.

After completing his Doctorate of Physical Therapy Program at the University of the Pacific, Brian has pursued extensive training in spinal manipulation and dry needling. He enjoys treating athletes across the lifespan, in traditional sports and barbell athletes. His passion is helping people increase their confidence in the gym and get back to what they love.

Brian’s partner in crime is his wife and best friend, Ellison. They have an amazing little boy named Cassius, his little sister Marley, a dopey Rottweiler, and two cats. In his free time, Brian loves weight lifting, watching NBA basketball, mountain biking, and obsessing over houseplants.

Dr. Ellison Melrose is a pelvic health physical therapist and holds her CrossFit Level 1 certificate. She is trained as an internal pelvic floor clinician and specializes in the management of both male and female pelvic floor dysfunction including pudendal neuralgia, incontinence, overactive bladder, constipation, erectile dysfunction, pelvic organ prolapse, painful intercourse, musculoskeletal pain, diastasis recti, pregnancy and postpartum care, and return to exercise postpartum.
Elli utilizes a hands-on, fitness forward approach with advanced training in pelvic health, dry needling and spinal manipulation. In addition to co-owning and operating Onward Fort Collins, Elli is lead faculty for the Dry Needling division of Institute of Clinical Excellence where she educates other healthcare professionals on the updated techniques and guidelines for dry needling.
Elli is passionate about assisting mamas throughout their pregnancy and postpartum journey by facilitating fitness, instructing in labor and delivery prep and encouraging early return to exercise postpartum safely. Outside of the clinic, Elli enjoys spending time with her husband Brian and their 2 kids where you can find them either at the CrossFit box or exploring the mountains, hiking, camping, climbing and mountain biking.

Dr. Sam Lemminger is a physical therapist specializing in treating orthopedic injuries and pelvic health. She also has extensive experience working with adaptive athletes. Sam has additional training in internal pelvic floor assessment and treatment, dry needling, manual therapy, and rehabilitation of rock climbers and CrossFit athletes. After participating in gymnastics for 16 years as an athlete and coach and transitioning to D1 cheerleading at the University of Wisconsin, Sam has a passion for giving back to these sports. Her goals as a physical therapist include helping people of all ability levels optimize their health and fitness and reduce pain to feel their best while pursuing their passions. When away from the clinic, Sam loves being active by hiking, CrossFit, climbing, running, or snowboarding. When it’s time to slow down, you can find her baking bread and pastries!