Susan Leger, PT, MS, PhD, ND, IMDc, DPTc

Dr. Susan Leger is a physical therapist with a neuroscience specialty and is the director of First Step Physical Therapy located in Fayetteville, GA.  Susan received a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy (1979) from the University of Florida, and a Master of Science in Exercise Physiology (1985) from Louisiana State University publishing her thesis Exercise Risks and Benefits for Diabetic Individuals: A Review.  Susan attained a Doctor of Science in Health Science and Nutrition (Westbrook University, 2004) completing a dissertation on The Effects of Integrative Manual Therapy on Spinal Cord Injury Recovery. Dr. Leger was awarded a Doctor of Naturopathy (Westbrook University, 2011) with a focus on Toxicity, Dietary and Supplemental Considerations for Autoimmune Disorders.  Dr. Leger is scheduled to complete a Doctor of Integrative Medicine (Westbrook University, 2012 pending) currently studying Holistic Natural Healing for Central Nervous Systems Disorders.  Dr. Leger has also begun a Doctor of Physical Therapy through Arcadia University with proposed research on Physical Therapy for Charcot-Marie-Tooth.

Along with extensive university education, Dr. Leger holds numerous certifications and has received in-depth training in many areas; including, Neurodevelopmental Treatment (Certified), Acupressure, Cranial Sacral, Manual Lymphatic Drainage, Motor Control and Learning, Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation, Sensory Integration and Praxis, Mechanical Link, Visceral Manipulation, Manual Perception, Biomechanical and Fascial Regulators, Integrative Manual Therapy (Certified), Manual Pattern Recognition, Women’s Health (Certified), Autism (Certified), Essential Oils and Aromatherapy.

Dr. Leger has taught over 250 continuing education workshops.  Her teaching focus began on biomechanical and neurological assessment, handling and movement, lower extremity biomechanics, gait, and the fabrication and function of lower extremity serial casts, splints and orthoses.  She has been a speaker at numerous state, regional, and national conferences.  Susan has been on the faculty for The Connecticut School of Integrative Manual Therapy (CSIMT) and Dialogues in Contemporary Rehabilitation (DCR), teaching advanced courses in IMT since 2002.   She is a co-developer, with Dr. Sharon (Weiselfish) Giammatteo, of manual therapy courses on stroke, a pediatric-neuro series, as well a series of courses on the ankle and foot certified through the University of Tennessee.

Susan’s publications include: Exercise Risks and Benefits for Diabetic Individuals: A Review, Significant Functional Gains Using Integrative Manual Therapy With a Patient Diagnosed With Cerebellar Ataxia and Peripheral Demyelination, Lower Extremity Biomechanical Checklist for the Neurologically Involved, and Taping Applications for the Neurologically Involved. Dr. Leger is currently working on a series titled A Guide For Never Evers:  A Symptom Recovery Model.  Volume One:  Phases and Stages will be introduced and videotaped in a weekend workshop October, 2012.  Subsequent courses are scheduled every few months and the release of the initial nine volume set is anticipated in the very near future.