Instructors & Assistants

Meet Our Staff

Edo Zylstra, PT, MS, OCS, IMSp

Owner, CEO, Lead Instructor for Introductory & Advanced TDN Courses

Edo Zylstra was active in developing the current standards for trigger point dry needling training in Colorado. He has taught over 50 dry needling courses internationally and is currently developing more advanced techniques for therapists experienced in TDN.   

Edo Zylstra received his masters degree in physical therapy from Regis University in Denver, CO.  In 2005 Edo opened his clinic Kinetacare, previously Sport & Spine Physical Therapy brighton, in Brighton Colorado.  Prior to opening his clinic he spent over four years working in a chronic pain clinic specializing in manual therapy utilizing intramuscular stimulation (IMS), and trigger point dry needling. He received his certification for dry needling from The Institute for the Study and Treatment Of Pain (iSTOP) in Vancouver, British Columbia. Edo then took a second series of training courses through Pain and Rehabilitation in Bethesda, Maryland, where he learned Travell & Simon's techniques for diagnosis and treatment of myofascial pain and trigger points. Edo was instrumental in the process of getting trigger point dry needling accepted as a treatment technique within the scope of practice for physical therapists in Colorado and continues to do the same for other states that do not currently have TDN within their scope of practice for physical therapists.

In 2006 Edo developed and began instructing both Introductory and Advanced Trigger Point Dry Needling (Intramuscular Manual Therapy) Courses. In 2007 he joined Robert De Nardis to develop and instruct the TDN courses in Australia and in 2008 Edo and Robert founded GEMT - Global Education of Manual Therapists.  As of 2010 the North American Branch was renamed Kinetacore and Edo became the sole director while Robert DeNardis serves as the Director for the Australian branch which remains GEMt.  Edo has a passion for Dry Needling therapy and hopes to continue to educate therapists across the globe in this amazing technique so that patients that once had no access can now find a provider in their city.

Edo received his board certification as an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist in 2011 and is currently pursuing his Doctorate through Regis University.  Edo hopes through his education and his passion for educating others by the year 2020 the field of physical therapy will have elevated to the respected level it deserves.  

E-Mail Address: edo@kinetacore.com

Click here for Curriculum Vitae

Lesley Poladsky, B.S Psyc, - President, COO, CFO

Lesley has worked in the health care field since 2003. She earned her B.S. in psychology from the University of Colorado at Denver and soon began working at a pain management clinic as a medical assistant and ultimately moving into management. Edo zylstra, (Director and instructor of KinetaCore) also worked at this clinic as a provider specializing in TDN/IMS. In 2005 Edo opened a private physical therapy practice (Kinetacare, Brighton, CO) and Lesley was soon hired as the office manager. Since then Lesley has worked with Edo and Robert DeNardis to develop GEMt/ KinetaCore's TDN courses as well as progress and manage the fast growing business. She has enjoyed watching the development of TDN treatment and training spread throughout the US and hopes to aide in KinetaCore's development and presentation of many more continuing education courses.  

E-Mail Address: Lesley@kinetacore.com

Sasha Digges, PT, ATC, CSCS - Assistant Instructor (IMT/TDN Course)

Sasha Digges, Jr. is the President & Founder of PEAK Physical Therapy & Sports Rehabilitation and the CORE FITNESS Performance Training Center in Williamsburg, VA. Sasha is a Licensed Physical Therapist, Certified Athletic Trainer, and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. Sasha acquired his Masters of Science in Physical Therapy at Wheeling Jesuit University and received training in sports medicine at Marquette University. He specializes in orthopedic/sports medicine, spinal rehabilitation, Intramuscular Manual Therapy, and Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) & Functional Movement Screen (FMS). Sasha has worked with athletes from the Milwaukee Rampage (professional soccer team), College of William and Mary, Marquette University, Wheeling Jesuit University as well as local schools & athletic teams.

Tina Anderson, PT - Assistant Instructor (IMT/TDN Course)

Dr. Anne-Marie Fox, PT, DPT, COMT - Assistant Instructor (IMT/ TDN Course)

Annie has been practicing for over 20 years, focusing on the areas of TMD (temporomandibular dysfunction), orofacial pain and spinal disorders. She progressed from a neurological rehabilitative setting to private practice settings where she began her training in the area of head, neck and TMD under the guidance of Professor Mariano Rocabado, PT from Santiago, Chile. She continued in this specialty with further progression in treatment of the entire musculoskeletal system. She is a Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist trained by the Maitland/Australian approach to manual therapy. Annie received IMS treatments after a bad car accident in 1998 and was inspired to learn this technique to better treat her own patients. She became a Certified Intramuscular Stimulation (IMS) practitioner in 2001 and has been an assistant instructor for Kinetacore since 2009.

Andy Free, PT, MS, IMSp - Assistant Instructor (IMT/ TDN Course)

Andy has been working in the field of Physical Therapy since 1993 and acquired his Master of Science in Physical Therapy from Regis University. Andy is currently with Physiotherapy Associates at their Greenwood Athletic Club location. Andy has taken extensive continuing education in manual therapy focusing on spinal manipulation, Maitland mobilization, Nags & Snags Mobilization, rib dysfunctions; nerve-dural mobilization, muscle energy techniques, soft tissue and myofascial trigger point treatment. Andy is also certified in Intramuscular Stimulation Technique (I.M.S.) and has been an assistant instructor since 2007.

Al Gesite, PT, MS, COMT, STC - Assistant Instructor (IMT/ TDN Course)

Al has been a physical therapist since 1997 in an outpatient orthopedic setting. He received his degree in both Bachelors of Science in Physical Therapy and Master of Science in Physical Therapy from Armstrong Atlantic State University. He has taken extensive continuing education courses in Manual therapy, Sportsmedicine, and Movement Science nationally and internationally. He has a post-graduate certificate in Orthopaedic Manipulative/Manual Therapy from Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia and a Sports Physical Therapy Certification from both North American SportsMedicine Institute and University of St Augustine. He is the owner of PhysioEdge Physical Therapy in Atlanta, Georgia and utilizes IMT/TDN techniques daily as an adjunct to treatment. He has been certified in IMT / TDN since 2009 and an assistant instructor since 2010.

Tamer S. Issa, PT, DPT, OCS, CMPT, CMTPT - Lead & Assistant Instructor (IMT/ TDN Course)

Dr. Issa received his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (2006), B.S. degree in Physiotherapy from the Hogeschool Enschede in the Netherlands (1998), and B.S. degree in Exercise and Sport Science from Pennsylvania State University (1995). Dr. Issa is a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy (OCS) through the American Physical Therapy Association, a Certified Manual Physical Therapist (CMPT) through the North American Orthopaedic Institute of Physical Therapy (NAIOMT), and a Certified Myofascial Trigger Point Therapist through the Janet G. Travell, MD Seminar Series. He also has advanced training in the field of craniofacial pain and disorders under the instruction of Mariano Rocabado, PT from Santiago, Chile. Dr. Issa has published, taught and lectured on the topics of myofascial trigger point therapy, trigger point dry needling (intramuscular manual therapy), orthopaedic manual therapy, headaches, craniomandibular dysfunction, and the differential diagnosis of fibromyalgia. Dr. Issa owns a private practice, Issa Physical Therapy, in Rockville, MD.  Tamer has been an instructor with Kinetacore since 2010.

Mike Kohm, PT - Assistant Instructor (IMT/ TDN Course)

Mike is in the process of opening his own private physical therapy practice in Colorado and has 16 years of physical therapy experience. Mike has taken over 25 continuing education courses and specializes in treatment of the spine, orthopedic injuries, and headaches. Mike is a co-owner of Whole Yoga in Denver and enjoys incorporating functional movement assessment into evaluation. Mike has been utilizing TDN in his practice for several years now and has been an assistant instructor since 2009.

Keri Maywhort, MPT - Lead & Assistant Instructor (IMT/ TDN Course)

Keri received her Master's Degree in Physical Therapy in 1998 from Mount Saint Mary's College in Los Angeles. Specializing in manual therapy for spine dysfunctions she has experience working with a myriad of soft tissue and joint dysfunctions responsible for neck and back pain and headaches as well as shoulder and knee injuries. She previously worked as an assistant instructor with Manual Therapy Seminars in the United States and England teaching physical therapists and other health care practitioners techniques for assessment and management of spine problems and other musculoskeletal dysfunctions. She has also utilized diagnostic ultrasound imaging for treatment of segmental lumbar spine and cervical spine stabilization. As a native of Colorado she enjoys all that the mountains have to offer including skiing, hiking and mountain biking.  Keri has been an instructor with Kinetacore since 2009.

Nelson Min, MSPT, ATC

Nelson received his Masters from the University of Miami in 2002. He has traveled internationally with the United States Soccer Federation for various age groups including the US National Men’s Team.  He also served as Director of Sports Medicine for Delaware's Olympic Development Program, providing event coverage, injury management and off season conditioning both at home and abroad.  Nelson co-owns and directs Bodies In Motion Physical Therapy in Reston Virginia. He has been trained and actively providing trigger point dry needling since 2009 and has been an assistant instructor since 2010.

Matthew Nelson PT, DPT - Assistant Instructor (IMT/ TDN Course)

Matt is currently the Director of Orthopedic Physical Therapy at Canyon Rim Physical Therapy in Salt Lake City, UT. Matt is also an affiliate instructor for Regis University's physical therapy program. Prior to this position, he had worked with Sport and Spine Physical Therapy in Brighton, CO. He has been performing trigger point dry needling since 2008 and has also been a lab assistant for the Trigger Point Dry Needling Techniques courses since 2010.

Jeremy Snyder PT, DPT, MS, CSCS  - Assistant Instructor (IMT/ TDN Course)

Dr.Snyder earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Colorado College, and his Masters and Doctorate of Physical Therapy degrees from Regis University.  He is an active member of the Colorado Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association and a member or the National Strength and Conditioning Association as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. Dr. Snyder is co-owner of Rocky Mountain Rehabilitation in Colorado Springs, where he is a Physical Therapy consultant for Colorado College Athletics. His specialty areas include rehabilitation of shoulder dysfunction, knee dysfunction, and sports orthopedics. He has been performing trigger point dry needling since 2009 and has been an assistant instructor since 2010.

Scott Wacker PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS, CGFI - Assistant Instructor (IMT/ TDN Course)

Scott attended Regis University in Denver for both his undergraduate degree in Biology and his Doctorate of Physical Therapy. Currently he owns a private practice in the Vail Valley where he specializes in IMT/TDN, manual/manipulative therapy, and functional rehabilitation. He is a Board Certified Orthopedic Specialist (OCS), a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), and a Titlleist Performance Institute Certified Golf Fitness Instructor (CGFI).  Scott is an affiliate faculty at Regis where his course responsibilities have included teaching human anatomy and musculoskeletal management to graduate level students. During his free time is very active outdoors. He especially enjoys exploring the mountains with his wife Megan via ski, bike or on foot.  he has been an assistant instructor since 2010.

Chris West MPT - Assistant Instructor (IMT/ TDN Course)

Chris has been a practicing therapist in Boulder, CO for 15 years specializing in sports therapy and spinal dysfunction treatment. He finished his training in trigger point dry needling in 2007 and has successfully integrated it into his manual therapy practice with great results. He currently sees regular referrals from local physicians for dry needling specifically and as an adjunct to other therapy interventions.  He has been an assistant instructor since 2009.