Dr. John Crawley

Dr. John Crawley is a Doctor of Physical Therapy at Mend in Boulder, specializing in a “rehab-to-performance” model for rock climbers, runners,endurance athletes and mountain athletes. With a Doctorate from Regis University, advance training as an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) and 20 years of personal climbing and running experience, John understands that true recovery extends far beyond the resolution of pain. His clinical expertise is designed to bridge the gap between acute injury management and high-level athletic output, ensuring that his patients don’t just return to their sport, but do so with increased resilience and power. His goal is to keep his clients participating in their sport of choice as fully as possible while working through injuries.

John provides a comprehensive approach to the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and fingers. Leveraging his knowledge of climbing specific demands on the body that he has built over the 20 years of his climbing career. He guides athletes through the transition from healing climbing specific injuries such as pulley strains, elbow tendonitis, rotator cuff tear or other climbing related injuries to implementing long term strength, power-endurance, or skilled task training.

Similarly, for runners, John addresses low back, hip, knee, and ankle pain by integrating gait analysis, dynamometry, return to sport testing to guide sports-specific strength and conditioning planning. By identifying the mechanical breakdown that leads to running related low back pain,”runner’s knee” or chronic ankle instability, he generates effective treatment plans that first get you out of pain, then move you into advanced training and sport specific performance.

John’s approach is centered on 1 Hour one-on-one appointments, allowing for a systematic evaluation of the “whole person.” During the appointment John works with his patients to identify the pain generator and the factors that led to the injury. When that is all figured out a thorough treatment plan is created. Treatment plans combine evidence based manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, and sport specific coaching. When indicated by the nature of the injury John can use dry-needling, spinal manipulation, joint manipulation, joint mobilization techniques, and myofascial release techniques to decrease pain and improve exercise tolerance. When working with John, don’t expect just bands and light exercises. He works with his clients to build strong home exercise plans that include weight lifting, wall climbing, and the outdoors to effectively resolve pain and performance deficits.

When John is not in the clinic he is out climbing,running, or scrambling in the flatirons in Boulder or the canyons of the front range. He enjoys plugging gear, clipping bolts, and wrestling boulders. One day you might find him cruising up a multi pitch route in Eldo and the next battling out on an overhanging sport route in the flatirons. He has climbed up to 13 c/d and bouldered up to V10. For him it’s not all about grades, it’s about experience and personal challenge.

• Bachelors of Exercise Science, Northern Arizona University

• Doctorate of Physical Therapy, Regis University

• Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS)

• Dry-needling level 1 and 2.

• Member: American Physical Therapy Association, and Colorado Chapter

• Sport, Boulder, and Trad first ascensionist