ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Before she was stretching out the muscles of local Tampa Bay weekend warriors, Lisa Chase was working with some of the top women tennis players in the world as a physical therapist for the Women’s Tennis Association.
“Teaching them how to take care of their body, how to manage stress on the road, how to improve their recovery, how to decrease the risk of injury,” said Chase.
From Wimbledon to the U.S. Open, to the Olympics, Chase was making a difference at the highest level of her profession.
“The players knew that we had their best interests at heart and we really wanted to help to take care of them and make sure that they could perform their best,” said Chase.
However, like many of the champions she worked with, it was eventually time to walk away from the spotlight. In 2012, she opened her own practice in St. Pete, Back 2 Normal Physical Therapy.
“So I can really use those same philosophies that I use with the pro athlete, looking at the person as a whole, and what do they need to be able to get back to their activities,” said Chase.
Every day she works to strengthen her local clients, but she never could have imagined the toughest rehab assignment she would face wasn’t an arm, leg or knee, it was the pandemic.
“Honestly patients were in pain and they were very grateful that they had a place to come because there were places that weren’t open,” said Chase.
Whether it was telehealth or pilates in the park, Chase never stopped caring in 2020. Her clients may have not been gunning for a grand slam, but they were still counting on her just the same.
“I feel blessed to be able to have a career where I can impact people’s lives,” said Chase.