Dr. Ben Mahoney, DPT, COMT, MFDc, Cert-DNES, Spinal Manipulation Endorsement

Physical Therapist, Orthopedic Manual Therapist, Myofascial Decompression Specialist, Dry Needling Certified, Osteopractic (Joint Manipulation) Medicine

I enjoy treating people who desire the best for their health and are willing to work hard toward a common goal. I love helping people whose jobs and passions require strength and function. Be that a firefighter, a weightlifter, or a mom having trouble picking up their child. 

I grew up playing every sport I could (football, wrestling, baseball, soccer, basketball, golf, and snowboarding) and got into strength training early. I spent my college years doing CrossFit, intramural sports, trail running, disc golf, and fly fishing at the University of Montana. As I’ve gotten older my activities of choice have transitioned to outdoor recreation with my family. Since moving to Bellingham in 2017 we’ve spent our free time hiking / backpacking, mountain biking, paddling (outrigger canoe, kayak, and packraft), snowboarding, trail running, salmon fishing, mushroom foraging, and gardening. I strength train to support my hobbies, and hope to one day hike the PCT with my kids.

I’ve sustained and recovered from multiple significant injuries and have learned a lot about training around pain to help others in a similar situation. I’ve overcome debilitating chronic low back pain, knee surgery, shoulder injuries, neck pain, high ankle sprains, and hand surgery. All of these experiences have made me more effective at treating the body as a whole.

Areas of Specialty:

Knees - Pre and Post Operative care as well as conservative management. Expert in ACL tear rehab and return to sport performance. Also meniscus tears and tears of other ligaments of the knee including the PCL, LCL, MCL, and MPFL. Patellofemoral pain and other forms of knee pain related to load intolerance.

Shoulders - both conservative management and post operative care. Extensive experience with rotator cuff tears and procedures for instability including labrum tears, capsular shift, and Latarjet.

Low back pain

Hip impingement

Tendinopathy / tendon pain

Physical Therapy is a process that requires commitment. This approach is your best opportunity to heal. My passion is to Empower patients to be strong, resilient, and pain free.

Credentials:

DPT: Doctor of Physical Therapy, Western Kentucky University, 2017.

ICE Dry Needling Certification (Cert-DNES): Ben is one of the first providers bringing Dry Needling and Electrical Stimulation to Physical Therapy in Washington State.

Spinal Manipulation Endorsement: Ben is one of the few physical therapists licensed to perform adjustments or Osteopractic manipulation in Washington.

Myofascial Decompression Certification (MFDc): The style of sport cupping used on professional and Olympic athletes. Ben’s the only certified provider in Bellingham.

Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist (COMT): Ola Grimsby Institute, 2018: One year of post-graduate coursework devoted to hands on treatment of the entire body.

Other Education:

ACL Mastermind Group: Active Participant

Institute of Clinical Excellence (ICE):

  • Total Spine Thrust Manipulation

  • Neck Management

  • Low Back Management

  • Extremity Management

  • Management of the Fitness Athlete, Pregnancy and Post-Partum

  • Dry Needling: Lower Body

  • Dry Needling: Upper Body

  • Dry Needling: Advanced

Multiple courses from Jay Dicharry on treating professional runners and ironman triathletes.

Multiple courses from Matt Walsh on evaluating and treating Olympic Track athletes.

What If I Don’t Get Better?

We get it. It’s impossible to guarantee results in healthcare. We won’t promise results.

What we will promise is satisfaction. If you are not satisfied with your experience at Empower PT, your money will be refunded (Out of Network / cash pay services only).

We care about you being able to do what you want on your terms. Because of that, we also promise the following things.

Our Promise

We will do everything in our power to resolve your discomfort. In the rare case we cannot, we will send you to someone who we believe can.

We will only tell you to stop doing something as a last resort. In some situations, it is necessary to temporarily modify or reduce the volume of a particular activity. However, our goal is to help you do as much as possible of what you love while letting your injury heal.

We will be honest about the likelihood of your pain resolving with conservative management. If your best option is surgery, we will tell you.