Staff

Andy Ciarletta graduated from Quinnipiac College in 1995 and is currently the Owner of Step Ahead Physical Therapy. He has over 25 years experience treating Orthopedic and Sports Medicine injuries. Andy has extensive knowledge and expertise in manual therapy techniques such as myofascial release, joint mobilization, trigger point therapy, muscle energy, cupping and graston techniques as well as implementing individualized exercise programs to optimize full recovery. His company philosophy is to provide a one-on-one treatment approach in order to ensure a positive environment in which the patient can recover quickly and resume their normal life activities.

Andy treats a variety of injuries with areas of specialty including post-surgical conditions, knee and shoulder injuries. He treats patients in the Marblehead office.

Karen received her Masters of Science in Physical Therapy from Duke University in 2000. She has focused her physical therapy career on treating patients with orthopedic and sports injuries. Karen believes in a holistic approach to health and enjoys helping clients recover from all types of injuries. She empowers her patients to take a more active role in their health through educating them about how their body functions and injury prevention. She is also certified in Pilates and she uses this training to help her patients improve their posture and enhance their core strength. Karen is also very proficient in treating the complex TMJ dysfunction.  She treats  patients in our Cambridge office.

Barbara graduated from Northeastern University and has been practicing for over 30 years. Throughout her career, she has continued to advance education by attending yearly training focusing on lower extremity and foot biomechanics, lumbopelvic and sacroiliac dysfunction, taping techniques, rehabilitation and core fitness. She strives to keep her orthopedic clinical skills congruous with evidence-based research.  Barbara's  approach is to be client-centric and tap into an individual's unique capacity for disease prevention and injury healing through education, manual therapy and 1:1 guidance. She feels it is very important to help a patient understand their disability, recognize how posture and ergonomics affect symptoms, and learn how to prevent re-injury. The main objective is to empower people to help themselves. Barbara treats patients in our Marblehead office.

Kristen received her Masters in Physical Therapy from Old Dominion University in 2001. She practiced physical therapy for 10 years in South Carolina, most extensively in an outpatient orthopedic setting. She utilizes manual therapy and exercise interventions as part of her rehab programs. She has experience in treating a wide variety of injuries with emphasis on upper extremity and spinal conditions. Kristen also worked as a running coach, personal trainer and group fitness instructor. Kristen’s passion for fitness and healthy living, along with her caring personality and attention to detail help to motivate her patients to feel better while restoring their function. Kristen treats patients in our Marblehead office.

Andrea received her BA from UMASS at Amherst and her Master’s in Science degree in Physical Therapy from New York Medical College in 2000. She has practiced in CT at Danbury and Stamford Hospital outpatient centers treating patients of all ages with a variety of neurological and orthopedic conditions. In addition, she has worked at a private orthopedic practice where she enhanced her manual therapy skills and exercise programs. She is certified in Stott Pilates mat and reformer which she incorporates in her treatments always focusing on posture, core strength, and safe body mechanics.  As of 2023, she has completed the highest level of training in IASTM (instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization) becoming a Graston Technique Specialist.  She treats her patients out of the Marblehead office.