Emma Massarelli on Her Journey and Passion for Physical Therapy
Photo Credit: Junio Teixeira
Graduation from NYU
Dance has always been at the center of my life. From beginner ballet classes at my local dance studio to performing at New York City Center, I have always put dance first and made it my top priority. When the time came to pick a path for my life, there was no question – I wanted to be a dancer and would do everything in my power to create that future for myself. Life, however, had other plans for me. Throughout my collegiate career, I discovered my love for the human body, an incredibly intricate and powerful system, and how it serves as a vessel for creativity and passion. I wanted to further understand how dancers could utilize their bodies to optimize their performance and reduce injury, and thus, my passion for physical therapy was born.
New Jersey Ballet's Nutcracker, 2014. Emma: third from the left.
My first exposure to physical therapy was when I was 16 years old. I was attending two summer intensives at the same time, and because I was asking too much of my body without properly recovering, I sprained my ankle a few weeks in. Mentally, I was not very interested in my rehabilitation – I just wanted to get back to dancing as quickly as possible. The reoccurrence of this injury three years later, however, was a life-changing experience. I was a second-year dance student at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, and was overworking myself in order to seize every opportunity the incredible program had to offer. In a late-night rehearsal, I simply jumped up in the air using two feet – upon descent, my ankle rolled onto the outside edge and immediately began to swell. I knew this was unlike the first injury, and that I would not be able to ignore the recovery process in order to continue dancing. I spent many hours of that semester in physical therapy utilizing modalities, receiving manual therapy, and strengthening surrounding musculature. With every appointment, I found myself thinking, “I wish I had this knowledge; I would love to do this one day.” I loved watching my physical therapist work with me and others, and I admired how she was so effortlessly able to identify problems and their sources.
Emma's lab group after finishing their Gross Anatomy course.
Because of this strong interest and respect for the art of rehabilitation, I was back to my pre-injury performance level a few months later and was able to successfully complete my collegiate dance career without another injury.
My final year of college, although incredibly enriching, came with some hesitation and anxiety. I had previously thought that physical therapy would be an eventual path for me, one that I would begin after a long and fruitful dance career. However, as graduation was approaching, I felt as though something was amiss. I still loved dance as much as I did starting NYU, but I was beginning to question whether this career was for me. This felt somewhat like an identity crisis – how could I not want to be a dancer? This was all I had wanted for my entire life; how could I possibly question it?
Emma on Columbia's main campus.
Clarity, however, came from an unexpected source. A few months before graduation, my father, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2014, underwent a procedure called Deep Brain Stimulation that attempted to reduce the disease’s effects and progression. Although the procedure was successful, he began to have issues with his balance following the surgery. He began going to physical therapy in order to maintain an upright posture and gain strength. I was absolutely inspired by this entire experience – my father was not letting his impairments stop him from maximizing his quality of life, and had a team of dedicated professionals helping him achieve that goal. It became more and more obvious to me that I wanted to be on that sort of team, and I wanted to help others challenge their limits and push themselves and their bodies toward success. Upon graduation, I made the life-changing decision – I was going to speed up my timeline and begin the process of applying to Doctor of Physical Therapy programs the upcoming fall.
After the decision was made, the hard work began. I had decided that I wanted to complete the application as quickly as possible and would put all of my energy into speeding up this process. In the year and a half following, I completed 11 pre-requisite courses, 170 hours of volunteer work at physical therapy clinics, took the GRE, and completed my applications. This was an extremely stressful time – I was re-introduced to science courses I hadn’t taken since high school, trying to find time to volunteer and prepare for the GRE, upon mounds of homework, and at one point was even enrolled in two different academic institutions. However, I knew it would all be worth it. After all of that work, I was so fortunate to be accepted to a number of programs, including Columbia University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program. I accepted Columbia University’s offer, and began their program in the fall of 2020. I am currently finishing up my first year, and I am even the class president! I am working toward my goal of helping individuals regain mobility and function, and I am grateful everyday for such an incredible opportunity.
"STEADFAST," choreographed by Jordan Ryder. Photo credit: Travis Magee.
Although my life plan took an unexpected turn, I continue to prioritize dance in my life. I am still a member of RyderDance, a New York City-based contemporary company founded by Jordan Ryder in 2018. I am also a part of the dance club on Columbia’s medical campus, Dance Haven. I would not have recognized my passion for physical therapy without dance – I probably would never have understood how powerful rehabilitation was, and I would have never met the incredible people that led me to this path. I am incredibly thankful for this journey, and would not have wanted it to happen any other way. I am so excited to work with dancers in my physical therapy career, and cannot wait to help them get back onstage.