Biographies
Denise Schwartz, PT, CIMT, CAFS, CFGS, Owner
Healing begins when we stop fighting the body and learn to meet it—and ourselves—exactly where we are.
Pain isn’t just physical.
I was watching my son compete in a triathlon when an unexpected thought stopped me.
It wasn’t about his performance or the energy of the race. My attention kept returning to the para-athletes competing alongside him. What struck me wasn’t that they were racing—it was how they were doing it. There was focus, steadiness, and a quiet acceptance—an absence of the frustration I so often see in people whose bodies aren’t cooperating.
They met their bodies exactly where they were—without bargaining, resentment, or denial.
That moment crystallized something I see every day. Injury, pain, and physical limitation aren’t just physical events; they’re emotional ones. Like the para-athletes—and like so many of my patients—people move through a healing process that includes grief: grief for moving freely, for who they once were physically, and for who they’re becoming.
This emotional journey is central to my work. Patients often tell me I feel like part physical therapist, part therapist. I take that as a compliment. My role is to meet people where they are—physically and emotionally—and guide them through rehab in a way that feels safe, systematic, and respectful of their body’s reality, helping them return to the things they love.
Education is a core part of my approach. I help people understand how their bodies function throughout the day—how they sit, stand, walk, and move—often hearing, “I’m finally learning how to use my body again.”
I began honing my skills in 1988, spending fourteen years at a Level I Trauma Hospital before co-founding Center IMT in Elmhurst and Wheeling, where I worked with complex medical and chronic pain patients. In 2010, I opened The Manual Touch to bring this whole-person approach into my own practice, piecing together each patient’s story like a puzzle.
Outside the clinic, I’m a mother of two grown children. My daughter, Jenna, is an entrepreneur living in Tampa. My son, Drew, is a software engineer in Chicago, where he lives with his wife, Victoria, and their dog, Barry. I love walking with friends at the Botanic Garden, traveling, and telling stories at open mics around the city.
Dr. Shital Kothari, PT, DPT
Graston Certified | Yoga Trained | 20+ Years of Experience
Healing deepens when movement, understanding, and compassion come together.
Dr. Shital Kothari believes everyone deserves to move freely and feel strong in their body. With over two decades of experience, she helps patients reduce pain, rebuild confidence, and return to the activities that make life meaningful.
Her approach blends the science of physical therapy with mindful movement and personalized education. Each session is shaped around the individual—listening closely to their story, identifying the root of discomfort, and creating a clear, sustainable path toward healing.
Patients often describe their work with Shital as encouraging, energizing, and empowering. She has practiced across outpatient, private, and home-health settings, supporting people recovering from surgery, managing chronic pain, healing from athletic injuries, and improving balance and strength. She meets patients where they are and guides progress at a pace that feels both supportive and effective.
A lifelong learner and former Clinical Coordinator of Clinical Education, Shital also mentors future physical therapists who share her commitment to compassionate, patient-first care.
Having lived abroad and traveled extensively throughout Southeast Asia, Shital brings a broad, global perspective to health and movement. Outside the clinic, she ran a half-marathon with Team Asha to support school-building efforts overseas, participates in a local pickleball community, leads a monthly book club, and teaches yoga—reflecting her belief that true wellness connects the whole body.
