“I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s 3 years ago. It has been great getting back to physical therapy after the pandemic. I thought I had declined immensely, losing muscle mass, range of movement, balance, and agility and could never gain it back.
Michaela has helped me by tailoring Physical Therapy exercises to address my weaknesses, stiffness, strength, and balance, mostly on my right side. She checks progress periodically by using her tools to measure your strength in your arms, hand, legs,etc. She has also identified exercises that can be easily done at home with no equipment, as well with inexpensive bands, balance disc, weights, etc.
The balance and strength classes taught by Vera have also been very effective. These small size classes are conducted twice per week and allow personal attention to targeted weak areas. Her positive attitude towards life is contagious.
My strength, mobility, and balance have greatly improved. I can even jump now, which I could not do when I started.
I have a new positive outlook on life. My confidence and attitude has improved immensely.”
Shirley C, September 25, 2022
“Why I like Vera’s classes:
Art C, August 16, 2022
- She is a long time expert in her field
- She has an entertaining approach
- The class atmosphere helps me learn from classmates
- If this was Amazon, I would give her 5 Stars.”
“Tensegrity…… I am a golfer and a fan of Tensegrity.
I had major back surgery in 2016. Due to disappointing and debilitating back pain that continued even after surgery, I felt beaten. As a result, I neglected my physical therapy losing muscle strength and balance. Six years passed. I am now 76. During this time, my competitive golf game was deteriorating as fast as I was. It became evident that unless I took action I would only continue to lose muscle and strength and the joy that comes with a good golf game. I determined to stop this downhill spiral.
Today I am working with Michaela at Tensegrity to regain my strength and balance. As a measure of my progress, I have increased my golf driving distance over 20 yards and improved my ability to hit the ball dead on sending it where I want. My game is coming back. So is my joy.
Michaela knows how to design the therapeutic exercises appropriate for my age and strength. It goes without saying, we are not all the same. We need programs tailored to our specific needs and goals. Michaela has and is doing that for me. Because of our work together, I am back on the competitive golf course hoping to continue to play this game for many years to come. Thank you, Michaela.”
William W, February 10, 2022
“I started to see Michaela to become more familiar with Pilates practice and to address lower back pain. She was incredible! Such a great listener and able to identify the source of my pain (which wasn’t my back at all!). She gave me exercises to continue at home, challenged me in our sessions, and helped me to make progress! She is truly the best PT I have ever had! Tensegrity offers many services and I will try other options like massage, nutrition, and group fitness classes. Super clean, safe, and friendly atmosphere.”
Ericka E, December 22, 2021
“Tensegrity offers massages that improve your health and your understanding of your body. If you are looking to learn more about how to improve your overall health, this is the place to go! I saw Melissa, and she helped me understand the connections between my nervous system and organs. I left feeling rejuvenated and with tools to work on those connections on my own.”
Brooke A, November 4, 2021
“Amazing hot stone massage with Kimberly. The massage was catered to the needs of my body and not a pre-prescribed therapy. Her attention to my comfort was much appreciated and the space at Tensegrity is both calming and relaxing. Booking was easy and flexible. I look forward to exploring Tensegrity’s multiple other services.”
Kelly S, October 22, 2021
“Michaela Is a caring and knowledgeable PT. I have gone to her over the course of 7 years. She has helped me immensely. I have always trusted that she knows how to help me and has the ability to do so. I highly recommend her and will go back to her if I have any issues.”
Sally C, September 23, 2021
“Kayla is an amazing physical therapist and educator. She manipulated/adjusted my back a few years ago, and it was incredible! She’s better at this than men twice her height. I recommend her to all my friends and family.”
Nicole R, September 13, 2021
“Kayla helped me a few years ago, with feet problems as well as shoulder pain. I still do these exercises daily to live without pain. When I stop doing them, I can sure feel it within a short period of time and that’s when I get right back to doing them again. I love that she not only helped rid my intense pain – she taught me how to stay pain free. Thank you Kayla!”
Becky O, September 13, 2021
“Michaela has a specialty that made her able to work around my ornery dad’s Alzheimer’s issues, making her the only person to be able to help him regain enough cognition to help him look forward to staying fit right up until 98 years of age.”
Ana M, September 3, 2021
“Michaela was very on the ball when helping my Physical Therapy after 2 knee replacement 3 month apart. I was able to roller blade 6 weeks after surgery. I would ask her to handle my recovery for any future needs I may have. Am without pain and rock and roll dancing too.”
Vera S, August 7, 2021
“I received such great care!! I was on vacation (about a month out from shoulder surgery) and needed to find a PT for a few weeks. I am so glad I found Dr. Michaela! I am so grateful for all the progress I made during my 5 visits. I also received 2 amazing massages from other providers at this location which contributed to my progress. Thank you, Dr. Michaela, for being so skilled, a great listener and meeting me where I was at. It was the perfect amount of support and challenge to keep things progressing safely. Wish I could have stayed in Tucson longer!”
Kerri M, January 21, 2023
“Michaela is a wonderful physical therapist. I had two issues going in and I remember asking if she could give me a timeframe. She told me she estimated 6 weeks til I was back in the gym, and she was spot on!”
Aiden B, December 22, 2022
“As someone with scoliosis and osteoporosis, I’ve been doing PT with many talented therapists for 35 years or so. No one has been more helpful with my “bad” neck (from a car accident 50 years ago), crooked spine, and aching, misaligned shoulders than Mikaela Gaither at Tensegrity. Besides being very kind and a delight to work with, she knows her anatomy inside and out and comes up with routines and exercises that are varied and very efficient. The protocols have gone so much deeper than past therapists have brought me. My right shoulder now sits inches back from when we started 7 weeks ago, my neck and posture are markedly improved, and my pain level is way down. I don’t know of anyone else in Tucson who spends a full hour with clients one on one, sends exercise homework via email or text, will take videos on my iPhone to help me remember key points, does deep hands-on manipulation followed by heat or ice. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to work with Mikaela. It truly has transformed my life in unexpected and wonderful ways.”
Mary H, September 25, 2022
“Michaela offers a great combination of physical therapy and Pilates that definitely helps me with my multiple aches and pains. She is a superb physical therapist and Pilates instructor; she modifies the PT exercises and tailors them to my needs. Tensegrity is a very friendly place that greets you with a bowl of chocolates!”
R B, September 24, 2022
“Kayla is an amazing Physical Therapist and helped me regain movement after my femur fracture. After only three weeks my doctor was amazed at how wonderful I was progressing with my recovery. Kayla is very attentive and helped me feel so much better. She has so much knowledge plus equipment and used everything to help me regain strength in my leg. I highly recommend Tensegrity Physical Therapy and Wellness!!”
Margaret S, September 5, 2022
“Tensegrity took me from barely being able to raise my arm (my right humerus was broken in 3 pieces) to gaining full mobility. Michaela was GREAT!!!”
William S, July 31, 2022
“Beautiful new facility and top of the line care! Check them out!”
Nicole S, July 23, 2022
“Not only did I receive excellent care & treatment but the one-on-one care was truly life changing for me. I have less pain & more movement in my right ankle. Dr. Michaela Gaiter, thank you for your wonderful care & for making my treatment as bearable as possible. You are the Best!! I highly recommend Tensegrity Physical Therapy & Wellness.”
Debra K, May 24, 2022
“What a professional and caring place for PT. Michaela offers every possible way to heal you up. Pilates equipment, electric stimulation, heat treatments, and dry needling along with exercises to work on your problems. Many other services available.”
Marica S, May 17, 2022
“Personal, take their time to help and explain everything. Great care and felt cared for.”
Janice R, May 6, 2022
“I have used a couple of the services Tensegrity offers and they have made such a positive impact on my well-being. Michaela is amazing and very knowledgeable. I continue to go to Michaela and Tensegrity to maintain my overall health.”
Rigel E, April 10, 2022
“In choosing Tensegrity PT, you are choosing an office that is knowledgeable, caring and pointed to giving the best service based on your individual needs. I highly recommend them.”
DeAnn C, April 10, 2022
“I’ve now had two massages by two different therapists. They were two very different styles, but both with good results. Really top-notch facility and great staff! Kayla is extremely knowledgeable and will guide you toward whatever therapy you might need. She was just educating me on dry needling, which I may try next. I am a physician and am highly impressed with Tensegrity. Highly recommend!”
Sven S, January 19, 2022
“I went to a restorative yoga session with Liz Johnson at this wellness center. The space is used as a Physical Therapy clinic but also offers some yoga and wellness classes as well as massage and other restorative options. I booked through classpass and happened to be the only one booked for the session. Liz was so kind and made me feel right at home and catered the whole restorative yoga session to my needs. A lot of the poses were held in a passive way kind of like yin yoga, but she provided many props from the studio to support me and help open me up in my poses such as pillows and yoga blocks and bolsters. She even covered me with blankets when appropriate to make me feel cozy but also because the weight of the blanket further helped to let my body give way into the poses. The PT and Wellness Center does not have any signs visible from the road displaying that yoga is available there, so if you feel up to an amazingly restorative yoga session, do yourself and Liz a favor and book a class now!”
Lauren S, March 2, 2023
“Michaela was a miracle worker on my shoulder/neck and arm pain She’s so sweet and takes her time. I never felt rushed, and she explained everything she was doing so well. I would highly recommend her! The massage therapist they have on staff is also amazing and I felt years of tension melt away! She definitely knows what she’s doing when you need a deep tissue/ therapeutic massage.”
Ann M, April 18th, 2023
“I’m a long-time athlete, including college wrestling, club rugby, Triathlon’s, marathons, and 10K’s. But about 12 months ago I had brain surgery that threatened to end my activities. Once the doctors cleared me, I started running again. But I had trouble getting my gait back and couldn’t get effective help until I was referred to Michaela at tensegrity.
Michaela prescribed some specific changes to my gait, both using the state-of-the-art equipment at Tensegrity and exercises I could do at home.
I started improving after 4 weeks and was substantially better after 8 weeks. Today I’m better than I was before my surgery.
I would refer anyone to Michaela at Tensegrity. Their staff is very efficient, and pleasant to work with. If they were managing ‘Dancing with the Stars’ everyone would get a 10.”
Art C, November 23, 2022
“Michaela helped me rehab my lumbar and hip dysfunction as a result of chronic disc bulge/annular tear. She took the time to analyze my movement patterns and was able to come up with corrective exercises to help me stay active. I have sent many of my own patients to her to work on various rehab issues. She is friendly and great at what she does. I highly recommend her!”
Jason M, July 7, 2021
“This place and Dr. Michaela Gaither, the owner, were a miracle for me. My ankle injury post a year and a first-time sciatica episode had me in constant pain for months. She cured me, set me up with a home program and her bedside manner was excellent! The receptionist is fantastic too, she got me in immediately and was always eager to serve me. The ongoing wellness program is my next step.”
Nancy R, June 28th, 2023
“I have degenerative disc disease. I have been going to different people (physical therapists and doctors) for this problem over the last three years. Not one of these people has been able to help me. Doctors push me off on pain management, and a physical therapist that helped me in the beginning only to give up on me when my condition changes as it often does with this problem. Michaela Gaither is the owner and mastermind of Tensegrity and has given me back my life, not an easy feat to accomplish. Michaela is a physical therapist by trade, but she is so much more than that. Any problem I came to her with she always had a solution. When my condition changes, she has been there to help me overcome it. Michaela is a wealth of information and has wonderful people that work with her. So, whatever your problem is, from just getting back into shape or you think things are hopeless and there is no help out there, go to Tensegrity and be amazed at what Michaela and the wonderful people can do for you, like Xiaoli Ade massage therapist extraordinaire and front desk receptionist Audrey Whitehead, who will do her best to get you in at the time that is good for you, and many more people there to help you on your path to wellness. Also, they offer classes in Pilates, yoga and more.”
Susan B, July 5th, 2023
“I love the clinic it has so many options with different professionals working there. Kayla was my therapist and helped me so much. She is trained in so many ways as a physical therapist. I have recommended the clinic to many people.”
Susan L, August 30th, 2023
“I’ve only had one session so far with Katie, the pelvic floor specialist and it has completely changed my life! I’m 41 years old and have heard all kinds of things about how to strengthen our pelvic floor but I didn’t want to just go with random online advice, but rather someone who heard ME and my concerns. Katie is incredible. What I needed turned out to be the opposite of everything I thought, and I can’t stop telling everyone how much I learned! After only one session. So shocked, so happy, and so grateful!”
Elliott S, September 6th, 2023
“I can’t recommend Tensegrity enough. They offer a holistic approach that goes beyond physical therapy. Everyone on staff is very knowledgeable, attentive and tailors their sessions to the patient’s needs, which I really appreciate. If you’re recovering from an injury, needing nutritional guidance or in need of a therapeutic massage, for instance, this place is wonderful. They also offer a lot of classes like yoga and Pilates at their studio on Oracle. I’m grateful to Dr. Michaela Gaither and the staff for helping me get back on track. I highly recommend this practice.”
Katherine O, November 11th, 2023
“I have experienced a few other Physical Therapy places, and they have all been a disappointment until I went to Tensegrity. Michaela is so thorough and connects the dots in different parts of the body and gently leads you into a program that will safely and slowly adjust the body… After a few sessions I just want to add that Michaela is outstanding and is hands on and really cares about your progress. There are classes and massages available. This is a 10-star service.”
Dana P, December 5th, 2023
“I love Tensegrity, Michaela and Audrey are caring, kind and great PT. Michaela assesses how I’m feeling each visit and tailors her recommendations how to proceed as needed. She spends a lot of time with me, and I never feel rushed. I would highly recommend Tensegrity if you find yourself needing physical therapy for your back, or after surgery. Call them and make an appointment.”
Sharon H, December 14th, 2023
“XiaoLi did a body treatment on me, and I’ve never walked away from a treatment so much better than before I came!! I’m recovering from a C5-6 spinal cord injury and am in constant and chronic pain due to my irregular gait trying to walk again. Whatever she did on me worked magic. I was better the whole rest of the day and part of the next day, until I upset the nerve again. I walked better and had reduced pain. I will be going back to her for sure!!! Thank you, XiaoLi!!”
Amy S, January 28th, 2024
“Michaela and Tensegrity are categorically the best physical therapy and body work business I have ever found the need to use – and I have been to more than a dozen physical therapists and body workers. Michaela restored me to more than just functional health. She provided me strategies to maintain my health and keep me active. I could not more highly recommend Michaela and Tensegrity to anyone in need of physical therapy and/or body work.”
Dan S, February 11th, 2024