Dr. Gerrit VanBeek
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Biography:
Gerrit VanBeek, PT, DPT
LOCATION: SPT – Lake Stevens
Hello! I grew up in Arlington and lived there most of my life before moving around for school. My academic journey included attending Everett Community College, followed by Western Washington University, and ultimately completing my Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at Eastern Washington University. After graduation, I moved back to Stanwood to be close to the community that I love. Outside of work, I spend most of my time with my wife, our one-year-old son, and our German Shepherd, Koda, who all do a pretty good job of keeping me busy. My favorite form of physical activity is weightlifting. Since my early college years, I have developed a strong passion for strength training and improving both performance and muscle growth. Before that, I competed in a variety of sports throughout high school, with track and field being my favorite. I especially enjoyed the sprint events because of the emphasis on raw athleticism, speed, and power, and I was fortunate to win state titles in two consecutive years. Like many physical therapists, my interest in the profession started through personal experience with injury. I dealt with repeated hamstring strains during my senior year of high school and into college, which ultimately pushed me toward learning more about rehab, performance, and injury prevention. That experience gave me a strong appreciation for people trying to navigate the challenges of injury while still participating in the activities they love. My current rehab interests include providing weightlifting modifications to reduce pain, plyometric progressions for rehabilitation and athletic development, and improving sprint mechanics and speed performance while minimizing injury risk. My goal is to help people of all backgrounds stay active, move better, and return to the activities that matter most to them.
EDUCATION:
Everett Community College — Associate in Arts and Sciences
Western Washington University — Bachelor of Science
Eastern Washington University — Doctor of Physical Therapy
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS:
APTA
BEYOND THERAPY:
Sports Performance
Weight training modifications to reduce pain
PERSONAL QUOTE:
“Progress lives in the attempt, not in the guarantee.” – Gerrit