About Us

Physical therapist, Lori, sits on a chair speaking with a patient. Lori is laughing in the picture and there are rock climbing walls in the background.

At Inner Potential Physical Therapy, we believe every person has the capacity to move better, feel stronger, and live more fully.

Our whole-person approach blends traditional rehabilitation with self-management strategies, including strength training, myofascial release, breathwork, mobility work, nervous system regulation, and nutritional support. We primarily work with active adults, teenage athletes, and older adults who want to stay active, return to the activities they love, and build long-term resilience. Our specialties include:

  • Climbing related injuries

  • Complex hip, pelvis, lower back conditions (Pelvis Pro certification)

  • Dry needling

  • Running gait analysis

  • Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and hypermobility conditions

  • Adaptive athletes/climbers

By addressing the root cause of your symptoms, we help you unlock your full potential and achieve sustainable results.

Whether you're recovering from an injury or working through a chronic condition, we're here to help you move forward with confidence and continue doing what you love.

Meet Lori

Lori is standing outside on a mountain in the foreground of the picture, in the background there are mountains and blue skies

Lori Merlo, PT, DPT, ATC earned her Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from Westfield State University and her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from UMass Lowell. During her time at Westfield, she competed on the varsity cross country and track teams and discovered her passion for rock climbing. While in physical therapy school, Lori began volunteering with adaptive climbing programs.

With a background as both an athletic trainer and physical therapist, Lori has experience treating athletes of all ages across a variety of sports, including basketball, cheerleading, ice hockey, and running. She has completed advanced training in running gait analysis, climbing-related injuries, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and hypermobility conditions. Lori is certified in dry needling and has pursued further specialization in treating complex hip, pelvis, and lower back conditions through the Core Exercise Solutions Pelvis Pro certification.

Lori also serves as a physical therapist at a day program for adults with autism. Outside the clinic, she enjoys hiking, gardening, cooking, running, and rock climbing at local crags.

A person wearing a helmet, blue shirt, and orange backpack is rock climbing on a steep granite face in a mountainous area with forested slopes and snow-capped peaks under a clear blue sky.
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