Meet Erika Hoffner-Martin | Doctor of Physical Therapy

We had the good fortune of connecting with Erika Hoffner-Martin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Erika, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
The older I’ve gotten, the more selfish I’ve become, but in a good way. American work culture doesn’t make it easy to prioritize yourself. People are encouraged to work as much as they can, giving everything they have to employers, all for 2-3 weeks of vacation, no sick days, and no parental leave. As a person who works in healthcare and has both seen and felt the repercussions of this mindset, I know how detrimental this is for the mind and body. If I was already starting to feel the effects of burnout only 2 years into my career, how was I going to be in 5 years? 10 years? Starting my own practice was my way out of this cycle, and I couldn’t be happier that I did it.

The mind and body are very much connected and influence one another. I see every day how stress, anxiety, depression, and other unmanaged mental health issues cause increased pain levels and negative changes to all body systems. I was experiencing this myself. My depression was worsening, anxiety was through the roof, and I felt like I was stuck in fight or flight mode 24/7. I didn’t know this at the time, but my body was trying to fight and manage several chronic health conditions that I was only making worse by working past my mental and physical boundaries. If I wanted to feel better, I had to make a change to my work life in order for me to be able to change my health. I was lucky enough to find a clinic where I work part of the week to add to my income from my own practice, and I now have the down time to actually take care of myself. That means taking the time for mental rest, proper exercise, completing necessary daily tasks, having time to do things that I enjoy, and time to see my therapist and other health care providers. It also means saying NO to things and knowing your mental and physical boundaries. This is something that I have struggled with and still struggle with today, as I am a people pleasing perfectionist with ADHD. But, I have found power in being selfish and saying no, which honestly isn’t selfish at all. It’s just necessary to keep me feeling whole, and I hope that this is something my patients can learn to do for themselves.

What should our readers know about your business?
Physical therapy was not the career path I thought I would pursue. I originally wanted to be a surgeon (LOL), but after interviews and being waitlisted, I ended up not getting into medical school. I graduated from Florida State University with a bachelors degree in exercise science and had no idea what I was going to do with my life. My mom encouraged me to look into physical therapy, and I discovered a world that truly resonated with me. I played D1 softball in college, had chronic back and abdominal pain, pelvic floor issues since I was a kid, and was discovering how hypermobility (having extra stretchy connective tissue, like being double jointed) was affecting my health. All of these things about me could be addressed and even maybe fixed with physical therapy. So I jumped right in.

After graduating PT school in 2019, I began working at a large outpatient clinic that often required us to see multiple patients at the same time. I was often times treating 2 patients at once plus extra hours for documentation, and I could tell that I was already becoming both physically and mentally burnt out, after only 2 years of being in the work force. I wanted to work somewhere that allowed me to improve my own health and made physical therapy accessible and affordable to all, all while also focusing on the areas I was most passionate about- pelvic floor health, sports injuries, weight lifting, and hypermobility dysfunction. I wasn’t sure if such a place existed, so I decided to create that place myself. Thus, Persist Rehabilitation and Performance was born in 2021!

To me, quality physical therapy means being able to spend time one on one with your patient in order to best get to know them and their needs. PT should be personalized specifically to each patient, making adjustments as their treatment progresses. It means addressing both their physical and mental health and finding the kinds of treatments and exercises that best suit your patient, not just using a one-size-fits-all approach. Physical therapy should be something that is easily accessible to everyone, regardless of socioeconomic status or whether or not you have health insurance. By creating Persist Rehab, my goal was to create exactly that- a safe space that is accessible to all. A place where your aches and pains can be eased in the comfort of a home instead of a medical office. A place where you will be heard, even if you feel your concerns have not been listened to by other healthcare professionals. Whatever your body needs to feel better, Persist Rehab is here to help.

Starting my own practice was certainly NOT easy. And to be frank, it was a little terrifying at first. There’s no guarantee of success, and self doubt was already very much present. I absolutely had imposter syndrome, thinking things like “I’m not good enough to go out on my own”, or “I have no idea how to run a business so I shouldn’t do this” or “people will think it’s weird to come to my house for PT” (which surprisingly has been the complete opposite!). Thankfully, these thoughts did not win, and here I am 3 years later. Turns out, I do know what I’m doing, and my patients really enjoy being in my home because it is much less threatening and intimidating compared to being in a medical office. It also helps that my pup, Tony, is always there to help comfort my patients when they’re not feeling their best. The best part of it all is that my patients often get better faster and are better able to care for themselves by the end of their plan of care.

While I am still very early in my career, I’m proud of myself for taking control of my future and health by stepping out on my own. The field of physical therapy is ever changing, and if I wanted to feel my best and provide the best care, I knew something needed to change for myself. Advocating for yourself is so much harder than one would think, but the positive change that has occurred in my life has made every hardship worth it. I do not take for granted that I have been lucky enough to both have the means to do exactly what I want with my career and also find something that I am truly passionate about and love. So, here are the things I want people to know:

1. Pelvic floor health is important and NECESSARY for all women, especially during and after pregnancy, and we need more education on how our body actually works.
2. Hypermobility dysfunction can be a significant factor in pain and overall health in ALL body systems.
3. PT is an option for SO many different pains, conditions, and ailments; you can see me WITHOUT a prescription, too!
4. You can often times make yourself feel better by just using your own mind and body; you just need to be taught how.

How cool is it that we can make such a huge impact on people’s quality of life without using medication, surgery, or other expensive and invasive treatments? That’s the beauty of physical therapy; it gives you the tools to make yourself feel better so that you don’t need me. Everyone deserves to have that knowledge and independence, and that’s what I provide.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Atlanta has SO many different things to offer! Amazing food, so many different neighborhoods and vibes, and tons of entertainment. I’m a person who typically likes more low-key/non-fancy places, so here are some of my favorites.

Food:
Brekky/Brunch- Emerald City Bagels, Ria’s Bluebird, Waffle House, PERC Coffee, Flying Biscuit, My Coffee Shop, Hell Yeah Gluten Free, Muchacho

Lunch/Dinner- Gaja, Victory Sandwich Bar, El Rey Del Taco (really anything on Buford Highway), Antico, Fellinis, La Fonda, OK Yaki, Krog Street Market, Superica

Drinks: Argosy, Little Spirit, any of the ATL breweries, Jojo’s Beloved, Ormsby’s*, Northside Tavern* (also has live music!), Mr. C’s*, Painted Duck*, Smith’s Olde Bar*, Twain’s*, The Local*
* – These places have games too!

Entertainment: I love live music, and Atlanta has a massive music scene. Check out a show; some of my favorite venues are The Eastern, Variety Playhouse, Buckhead Theater, The Tabernacle, Terminal West, and Cadence Bank Amphitheater (Chastain Park).

– DRAG SHOWS! Atlanta has one of the richest and most talented drag scenes, and I am a major Drag Race enthusiast. So of course a drag brunch is a MUST, along with a late-night show at MSR or Lips! You literally cannot be unhappy at a drag show.

– Fun neighborhoods to walk around- Little 5 points, Inman Park, Downtown Decatur, East Atlanta Village, West Midtown, Oakhurst Square

– The Beltline- see a little bit of everything! There’s bars, restaurants, and shops to stop in along the way. Great way to see a lot of the city in a short amount of time

– The Georgia Aquarium- it’s just amazing. If you’ve never been, it’s an absolute MUST. I love ocean life, and I would spend hours in there if I could.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would not be where I am today had it not been for a close friend that I have known since I was 14 years old, and I am now lucky enough to call this person my husband. I couldn’t have taken this leap into being a business owner if Eric did not support me 100% every single step of the way. He supported me all through PT school and encouraged me to follow my heart and gut in starting my own practice. He has been the one keeping me going throughout my own health journey and has always taken me at my word. He has put up with my constant talk of hypermobility and pelvic floor issues, and even allowed me to practice treatment techniques on him. Had it not been for his unwavering love and support, I never would have had the courage to take my career into my own hands. Because of him, I’ve found exactly where I need and want to be work-wise and am the happiest I’ve ever been. Thank you, Eric, and I love you a lot.

Website: http://persistrehab.com

Instagram: @drhmartin

Image Credits
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