Licensed Physical Therapist Derek Clark started Mountain Ridge Physical Therapy to emphasize higher quality care and help people sustain healthy and active lifestyles. Derek has been passionate about the outdoors, endurance sports, and strength training for about three decades. In that time, he has competed in and trained for over 420 trail running, road running, track, ultramarathon, mountain biking, cyclocross, road cycling, off-road triathlon, road triathlon, and road duathlon events across 19 states. He’s learned many valuable lessons along the way about what leads to injuries, what prevents injuries, and how best to recover from injury, in addition to an appreciation of proper athletic development and longevity. It is those varied experiences and the knowledge of human potential for adaptation and improvement that drives his patient and coaching client interactions. He knows what it's like to have anything from fractures to shoulder rotator cuff strains to every ankle and foot injury tendinitis you can imagine. When he's not coaching or being a clinician, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons, playing with their two dogs, hiking, kayaking, canoeing, fixing anything that's broken, remodeling, reading, and researching maps for the next mountain adventure. 

Education:

  • West Virginia University, School of Medicine

    • Doctor of Physical Therapy, 2008

  • Frostburg State University, Department of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation

    • Master of Science in Human Performance, 2005

  • West Virginia University, College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences

    • Master of Science in Athletic Coaching Education, 2004

  • West Virginia University, School of Medicine

    • Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology, 2002

Certifications:

  • National Strength and Conditioning Association Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)

  • American Red Cross Adult/Infant/Child CPR

  • American Red Cross Adult/Infant/Child Automated External Defibrillator (AED)

  • American Red Cross Adult/Infant/Child First Aid

Follow the adventures on Strava: