Meet Our Team
Joe King, PT, Owner
Physical Therapist and Athletic Trainer Joe King opened Physical Therapy Advantage in April of 2007, determined to translate his lifelong interest in the sciences and human anatomy into compassionate and effective care for his patients.
He was introduced to the health sciences by an older brother of his who is also an athletic trainer.
When Joe was in high school, he suffered a severe orthopaedic injury which exposed him to long bouts of physical therapy. He was intrigued not only by what was being done to heal his physical pain, but also by the overall approaches to care from different health professionals. He learned what made him feel better mentally and emotionally as well as physically, and studied the differences in how his health professionals approached him and his treatments.
“That’s why it is so important to me now to treat patients like I wanted to be treated,” he explains. He built his whole practice around evidence-based compassionate care and his clinic has a reputation for that, with clients experiencing more one-on-one time with their physical therapists and a significant education component so they can be empowered to help with their healing.
Joe has a Bachelor’s Degree in Athletic Training from the University of Nebraska -Lincoln and a Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
Having
worked in the western suburbs for more than 12 years, when Joe decided where to open his own practice, he realized he didn’t have to go far from home. In April of 2007, he brought his respected hands-on physical therapy services delivered in a one-on-one setting to the Fox Valley.
Joe has 19 years of varied experience treating collegiate and high school athletes, orthopaedic patients, and pediatric clients in athletic medicine and outpatient physical therapy settings.
He also has a special interest in pediatric sports medicine and functional foot orthotics. A life-long learner, he is equally at ease treating premature infants with special needs or treating marathon runners. Through the years he has also acquired experience in the fabrication of foot orthotics, myofascial release, cerebral palsy, running techniques, pediatric milestones, lower back dysfunction, pediatric sports injuries, shoulder pathologies, patello-femoral and lower extremity injuries, Mulligan techniques and Augmented Soft Tissue Mobilization (ASTYM).
Julie Crane, PT, DPT
Julie Crane has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the Ola Grimsby Institute.
She joined the team at Physical Therapy Advantage in March of 2009.
Prior to that she worked in a variety of settings including outpatient orthopaedics, inpatient acute care working primarily with joint replacement patients and in the area of neurological rehabilitation
Julie oversees our vestibular rehabilitation therapies.
Her manual training emphasizes exercise prescriptions.
She also has experience in Pilates which she incorporates into her practice.
Julie lives in Batavia with her husband and three children.
Amy Schneider, DPT
Amy Schneider graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Music in 2000. She went on to pursure a Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of Indianapolis, and graduated in 2006. Amy has experience working in a variety of settings, including outpatient orthopedics, inpatient rehabilitation, workmans compenstation, pre-work screening and work conditioning.
Amy lives in Sugar Grove with her husband and four children. In her off time, she enjoys reading, exercising, playing music, and spending time with her family and friends.
Rick Freund, PT, NSCS
Rick Freund, who has more than 30 years of experience in physical therapy practicing in various settings, graduated from Northern Illinois University in 1984 with his Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy degree.
For 19 years, he has been the independent Physical Therapist contractor for Caterpillar, Inc. (Joliet and Aurora campuses).
He is also well versed in treating industrial and sports medicine injuries.
When he is not working, his hobbies include furniture making, gardening, hiking, climbing and fishing. Rick also enjoys traveling the United States to visit his grown children. His favorite past-time is spending time at his cabin in North Central Wisconsin.
Shae Phillips, PT
Shae Phillips graduated from Hardin-Simmons University in 2013 with her doctorate in Physical Therapy. Since graduation she has practiced in several settings including outpatient orthopedics, home health, schools, and skilled nursing.
Shae lives in North Aurora with her husband and 2 young children. In her free time she enjoys exercising, reading and spending time with her family.
Jen Overby, Business Manager
Jen Overby joined Physical Therapy Advantage in 2015 to serve as front office and business manager.
She graduated from DeVry University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and concentration in Project Management in 2009.
When Jen is not working she enjoys camping, going for walks and hikes, and spending time with her husband, daughter, and dog.
Travis Siwiec, PT Aide
Travis Siwiec graduated from Roosevelt University in 2016 with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Biology.
Travis plans to continue his education in the field of Physical Therapy by entering a DPT program in the near future. When he is not working, Travis enjoys partaking in recreational baseball and softball.
Jessica Woodward, PT Aide
Jessica Woodward graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2017 with a bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She plans to attend physical therapy school and eventually practice with a focus in vestibular rehabilition.
In her free time, Jessica likes to try new restaurants, travel to new places, and work on her photography business.
Sarah Stengle, PT Aide
Sarah graduated from Waubonsee Community College in May of 2016 with her Associates of Science. She then transferred to Northern Illinois University to receive her Bachelor of Science, majoring in pre-physical therapy with a minor in psychology, in December of 2017. She hopes to further her education and attend graduate school to receive her Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree.
When Sarah is not working, she enjoys expanding her whiskey palate, exploring new destinations, participating in indoor and beach volleyball, and playing with her new puppy, Jax.
Andrew Wahrman, PT Aide
Andrew Wahrman obtained his Emergency Medical Technician certification and then moved onto his Associates degree with a focus in science from Waubonsee Community College in 2015-2017.
He is currently working on a Bachelor’s degree from Northern Illinois University with plans on moving into the graduate program to become a Doctor of Physical Therapy.
When Andrew is not working, he enjoys listening to music, playing his instruments and Frisbee golfing.
