Prior to joining Columbia, she worked at the Hospital of Special surgery, specializing in pediatric orthopedic pathologies and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. During that time, she was accredited the level one certification with the Barcelona Scoliosis Physical Therapy School, based out of Stevens Point, Wisconsin.

Her other work experience includes an adult inpatient rehabilitation facility and pediatric early intervention in Massachusetts, and a sports health fitness club and long term rehabilitation facility in the Netherlands.

While in the Netherlands, Prachi had an opportunity to treat many adolescents with scoliosis. She used conventional physical therapy to treat them, and although their fitness level and core strength and endurance improved, she was never able to correct their posture or curve pattern. While she was working in NYC, at HSS, she learned about the Schroth method, also referred to as physiotherapeutic scoliosis specific exercises (PSSE), and realized it gave her patients a valuable tool to help treat their scoliosis and kyphosis.

At Columbia Doctor’s, Conservative Care for Spine and Scoliosis clinic, she is involved in several research studies that are looking into the validity and reliability of these PSSEs on scoliosis and kyphosis. She has had amazing success treating patient with chronic pain from degenerative scoliosis, post fusion surgery, and adults with general back and neck pain. She strongly believes in educating the public on becoming experts of their own health and body. She also works very closely with Hagit Berdishevsky (website), and Kelly Grimes. Prachi holds a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Boston University, Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. She is licensed in NY and MA and a long-term member of the American Physical Therapy Association. She lives in NYC with her husband and her two daughters.

Education

Doctorate of Physical Therapy, Boston University: Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, 2004-2006

Bachelors in Health Sciences, Boston University: Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, 2000 – 2004

Work Experience

September 2014 – Present – Conservative Care for Spine and Scoliosis – Columbia University Medical Center
Co-Director – Scoliosis and Spine Physical Therapist – Outpatient PT clinic

August 2010 – October 2014– Hospital for Special Surgery, NYC, NY
Staff Physical Therapist – Inpatient Acute Care, Pediatrics, and Schroth Scoliosis Therapist

May 2010 – August 2010 – WZH Prinsenhof, Leidschendam, Netherlands
Staff Physical Therapist – Sub acute Rehabilitation Facility

December 2009 – March 2010 – Oostwest Fysiotherapie, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Staff Physical Therapist – Fitness club

January 2008 – Dec ember2008 – Riverside Community Care, Needham, MA
Staff Physical Therapist – Early Intervention

September 2006 – November 2007 – Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital, Braintree MA
Staff Physical Therapist – Acute Rehabilitation Facility

Presentations

June 2015 – CME – Conservative  Treatment for Childhood Scoliosis – Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital  – New York Presbyterian – NY, NY

” Schroth PT in your daily life”

June 2016 – Co-Director – Conservative Treatment for Childhood Scoliosis – Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital – New York Presbyterian – NY, NY

“Schroth for the Adult and the Aging Spine”

May 2017 – Co-Director – Conservative Treatment for Childhood Scoliosis – Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital – New York Presbyterian – NY, NY

“Realities of treating Spine Deformity in the aging patient”

Nov 2017 – NYPTA  sponsored CME conference – Columbia University, NY, NY “Overview of Current Management Strategies in ASD”

Feb 2018 – APTA CSM 2018 – New Orleans – ” The Latest on Spinopelvic Parameters: Clinical Implications for the Treatment of Older Adults with Spinal Deformity ”

Papers and Book Chapters

Matsumoto, H; Lindgren, A; Vitale, M et al. Compliance Matters: Patients Adherent to Physiotherapeutic Scoliosis Specific Exercise in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Demonstrate a Significantly Lower Risk of Curve Progression at 2 Year Follow-Up. Journal of Pediatric Orthopedics. Accepted for Publication

Bakarania, P; Grimes, K; Berdishevsky, H. et al. Sagittal Alignment in Spinal Deformity: Implications for the Non-Operative Care Practitioner. DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.69455.  https://www.intechopen.com/books/innovations-in-spinal-deformities-and-postural-disorders/sagittal-alignment-in-spinal-deformity-implications-for-the-non-operative-care-practitioner

SOSORT 2016 – ABSTRACTS ACCEPTED – CUMC – Co Author as part of Dr. Michael Vitale’s research team

• Adherence to a Schroth Therapy Home Exercise Program in Children with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
• Avoiding spinal fusion: Is it time to revisit conservative therapy?

SOSRT 2017 – ABSTRACTS ACCEPTED – CUMC – Co Autho as part of Dr. Michael Vitale’s research team

• Ten Sessions of Physiotherapeutic Scoliosis Specific Exercise (PSSE) Utilizing the Schroth Method in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Predicts Higher Compliance with home exercise program
• Rigo System Cheneau brace: Higher in brace Correction and lower risk of 6-month curve progression compared to TLSO
• Characterizing Upper Body Stiffness in Young women – A Poster Presentation

Certification and Licensure

August 2006 – Present – Registered Physical Therapist – National Board for Certification in Physical Therapist

August 2006 – Present – Registered Physical Therapist in Massachusetts

August 2010 – Present – Registered Physical Therapist in New York

November 2009 – November 2010 – BIG Register – Fysiotherapeut, Netherlands

November 2010 – Present – Barcelona Scoliosis Physical Therapy School

(November 2012 – C1 – Stevens Point) (February 2016 – C2  Hunter College)

January 2016 – Present – SEAS -2  (Scientific Exercise Approach to Scoliosis) certified – ISICO (Italian Scientific Spinal Institute)

(Jan 2016- SEAS1) (Feb 2018 – SEAS2)