Breakthrough Performance Physical Therapy

Fantastic experience: Incredible fry needling, pain free after 2 visits! Also incredible patient care, allowed me to feel supported with all my concerns and neurosises. So hard to figure out these days where pain is coming from. Daniel and Emma both helped a bunch with feeling heard and understood.

Fantastic experience: I can not recommend Dr. Dan and his staff enough! Dr. Dan has helped me when other PTs weren't able to. He is an incredible problem solver - I swear I can see his brain working when I speak with him and when he gives me diagnostic tests. The philosophy over there is to rehab you so you 1) don't need them and 2) can still participate in life, whether you're an athlete or not. I would give more than 5 stars if I could. Since seeing him, I've been able to squat heavy without pain or mobility restriction and that is amazing. Also, everyone who I have referred into Breakthrough Performance has had great results.

Fantastic experience: I had been dealing with a lower back injury for years, and finally decided to seek professional help. Working with Dan has drastically improved my performance and quality of life. He and the rest of the staff at Breakthrough Performance are incredibly knowledgeable and experienced, particularly for those who live an active lifestyle. Making my appointment here was one of the best decisions I could have made.

Fantastic experience: Tremendously helpful! Would recommend them to anyone needing help with pain or mobility issues !!

Fantastic experience: I highly recommend Emma Gasinski at Breakthrough Performance Physical Therapy. She is very knowledgeable, professional and focused. She listens to my concerns and questions and makes me feel at ease. She helps me not only achieve my goals, but exceed them. The center is clean and organized and the staff are very friendly.

Fantastic experience: Dan is a phenomenal physical therapist. He has helped me through some pretty serious injuries and got me back to 100%. He is super smart, has many techniques, so if you aren’t responding with one technique he will suggest until one works. He is also diligent in making sure there is progress. I have been to several PTs and none remotely compare to Dan and the team at Breakthrough Performance. I highly recommend them for any injury recovery.

Fantastic experience: I had a running analysis done with Emma, She confirmed some things my body has been telling me, but the running shoe sales people never seemed to understand. Then moved me in a few new ways that helped sort out and guide me to strengthen my weak areas. I left with a good plan to run and feel better. Thanks.

Fantastic experience: Would highly recommend seeing the guys at Breakthrough for any PT needs. Everyone I have dealt with has been extremely nice and genuinely cares about my wellbeing. I recently pulled my back and Dr. Walden was super accommodating to help me get worked in for appointments and get the care I needed.

Fantastic experience: I cannot say enough good things about my experience with Dr. Emma at Breakthrough. I came to try PT for chronic back pain as well as various newer injuries incurred through high impact sport play. Dr. Emma asked me questions, listened to me, and came up with a step by step treatment plan to address each injury. Every time I went to the office, I received one on one, individual attention, including the option for dry needling and cupping, as well as exercise instruction to take and do at home. I found the app they use super helpful, as it lists each daily exercise and stretch with an instruction video, and the option to check off each exercise when complete. I have learned what exercises and stretches address each area and issue I have with my body so i can continue on my own. It’s my opinion this is the best PT available.

Fantastic experience: Dr. Dan was fantastic in assessing and aiding my knee. Easy to talk to and highly knowledgeable. Also, a genuinely kind of and thoughtful person. Highly recommend!

Fantastic experience: Dr. Dan has been treating me for over 5 years. In that time, he’s worked with me through a constantly changing rotation of sports - weightlifting, powerlifting, track and field, CrossFit, aerial arts and pole. I have seen other physical therapists in the past, and I appreciate Dan’s ability to listen and assess the entire situation based on my goals. It is also important that Dan can treat me based on my needs that day rather than the body part listed on an insurance treatment plan. Because of Dan, I haven’t missed a planned competition in the last 5 years, and I’ve even been able to set a few “old people” records. I highly recommend him and the other physical therapists at Breakthrough Performance.

Fantastic experience: I emailed Dr. Dan and his team about a quad ailment that stuck around for over a week. He was very responsive and I was able to book an appointment quickly with Dr. Daniel Walden. I have had two sessions with him and they have been incredible. Very knowledgeable and helpful when explaining treatment and movements I need to be doing to get back to 100%. I am already feeling and moving much better in this short amount of time after these appointments. I would recommend to anyone.

Fantastic experience: Audra was great! I had limited shoulder mobility after an injury and years of swinging hammers. She was able to identify where my imbalances and weakness were - pretty much my whole backside - and gave me stretches and exercises that really helped, it feels good to have range of motion back and to be stronger in ways I didn’t know before. Lastly, you get to hang with a pretty cool pooch during treatment so it’s always a lite a fun atmosphere.

Fantastic experience: 5 stars isn't enough! I am a power through type person so going to PT seemed like an annoying necessity. I'm sooo glad I finally went. Dr. Emma was wonderful and met me right where I was physically and mentally. She is incredibly knowledgeable and super positive but VERY realistic. She explained every aspect of the treatment, and was patient with me when I asked a ton of questions, stalled, or was feeling unmotivated. She checked in to make sure I was doing okay, and to make sure I was putting the work in ; ). After about 8 weeks I'm back to lifting heavy with no shoulder pain!! Scheduling was easy, cost was transparent and they are committed to getting you back to your peak condition. Trust the process!

Fantastic experience: Jocelyn is one of the best Physical therapists I have ever had. She is very professional and takes the time to enquire about my needs at the start of each session, asked what I am looking to get out of the treatment, and took the time to explain the therapy. She explained the targeted body anatomy, correct form and motion, and guided the activity over several appointments to help me get the most out of my therapy session in office so that I can perform it with confidence at home. She also performed dry needling with the same level of care and professionalism. With her guidance I have been able to relieve muscle tension caused by years of self neglect and pinched nerves that was causing daily pain and lack of sleep. I have included these exercises into my morning and evening routines. Be honest with yourself and interactive with your therapy and you will get the care and relief you need.

Fantastic experience: I started working with Dr. Emma Gasinski to help with knee, hip and back pain that has been preventing me from reaching my goals and doing all the things I love. Emma was so knowledgeable, helpful, and kind in our sessions. She gave me a handful of exercises to complete to strengthen my muscles and made sure I left feeling confident in my ability to perform them. It’s only been a few weeks and I already notice a difference. I was able to go on a hike without any knee pain! I can’t wait to continue my work with Emma, we are both confident that I’ll be running again soon. Can’t recommend her and this clinic enough.Thank you Emma!

Fantastic experience: Daniel is an amazing physical therapist. At my first visit he took the time to listen and ask appropriate questions so that he could better understand my symptoms and my concerns. He then discussed his diagnostic conclusions with me and asked for feedback to make sure we were moving in the right direction. He started off with good daily stretches which definitely helped. Over the next five sessions he used exercises as well as dry needling to get my back feeling better. When my back was sore, he didn’t always encourage backing off of movement. Instead, he encouraged continued movement with proper form to help me get the most out of each exercise. He took the time to get to know me and always followed up on things in my life. He is easily one of the most optimistic and engaging people I have had the pleasure of meeting since moving to Asheville. I would recommend Daniel and the entire staff at Breakthrough Performance to anyone in need of a physical therapist who listens, points you in the right direction, and delivers on their promises from day one.

Fantastic experience: I started working with Dr. Jocelyn Taylor due to a 3 year old shoulder injury. I tried several different providers including chiropractor and massage therapist. They helped, but the pain persisted, and it woke me up from sleep. On my first visit, Jocelyn applied dry needling treatment. The results were incredible, nearly all of the pain vanished! She offered exercises (homework) and after a few weeks all of the pain is gone. She's a great diagnostician and communicates her findings in a way that is easy to understand. But what really stood out to me was her ability to connect with patients (she also treated my wife after knee surgery). Jocelyn's positive energy is contagious, and in my opinion promotes the healing process. Her positive energy truly sets the tone for the session. She's a happy person. Thank you Dr. T - you're the best!

Fantastic experience: Emma is fantastic! She has so much knowledge and shares it in a compassionate and supportive way. With her help, I have seen vast improvements in my mobility and day-to-day activity. Thank you, Emma!

Fantastic experience: At 75, I have been slowing down. Working with Dr. Emma Gasinski has helped me strengthen weakening muscles, improve posture, and boost my energy. The quality of my life has clearly been increasing.

Fantastic experience: Incredible! Can’t say enough about the quality of work! Feeling better than ever!!

Fantastic experience: My experience with Dan has been excellent! I had many accumulated several leg injuries (hip, knee, and Achilles) from 20 years of running and other physical activities. I've been working with Dan on exercises for mobility and strengthening for about 2 months now. My pain is completely gone and I have the best running form that I have ever had. Dan is super knowledgeable and an excellent physical therapist. I highly recommend!!! UPDATE: After seeing Dan for ~8 months, I ran my first marathon, which I didn't think was possible a year ago because of chronic injury issues. I had no pain from any previous injuries and still don't. Amazing! Dan fixed me!!!

Fantastic experience: Got injured while climbing, and Emma fixed me up in no time! :)

Fantastic experience: I have been working with Audra since the end of December to reduce my hip/back pain and return to running which has been a long time goal for me. Each 1-2 weeks I meet one on one with Audra for both hands on work/dry needling and 1on 1 exercises in the gym. I have found her to be both very knowledgeable and personable. She assigns home exercises via an app which has a short video for each exercise which I find helpful. I feel “good” soreness after our workouts and am getting stronger. I highly recommend her services. It is great combination to have a knowledgeable PT set up an exercise plan, listen to your feedback and provide hands on work/needling. I have found this superior to working with a trainer that may not have as much knowledge of injuries and specific exercises to target a recovery. Thank you Audra for your assistance and encouragement! Wendy B.

Fantastic experience: Dan and the team at Breakthrough Performance are incredible. They have the knowledge, experience and compassion necessary to pinpoint the cause of chronic pain and find effective and safe solutions. We are so lucky to have them in our community.

Fantastic experience: I've had, and continue to have, great experiences with Dan and the people at Breakthrough Performance. He can diagnose the problem, explain what's happening in a super technical way or dumbed down version, fix the problem and give me ways to prevent the same thing happening again.

Fantastic experience: Dr. Dan has been responsive to my needs around going deeper in understanding chronic headache symptoms, is skillful in addressing those deeper root causes and I've experienced considerable relief. So Grateful!

Fantastic experience: Dan has been very helpful and informative about my lower back issues! His facility is motivational and welcoming.

Fantastic experience: Dan has been very helpful

Fantastic experience: Dan is thorough and really knows his stuff! He helped me recover from back surgery and complete my first half marathon!

Fantastic experience: I have been suffering with debilitating hip pain for at least 6 years. My journey began with a large PT practice, I went weekly, sometimes twice a week, I did everything I was instructed to do and to no avail. In fact, after 6 months my low back was also an issue. They would only address one body part at a time. Long story short,I had steroid shots, X-rays, MRI’s and finally surgery. Of course then I worked to recover with another large PT group (and PRP injections) after about 3 months I was told they couldn’t do anything more for me. Orthopedists started discussing hip replacement (I was 49 at the time). Then I met Dr Dan!! My goal was a simple walk 1/2 a block without my leg throbbing the rest of the night. That’s it. So after working with Dr Dan I can walk a couple miles with minimal discomfort, and am pretty confident I will be able to cycle once again. I have some neck shoulder issues as well and Dr Dan happily addresses all my high maintenance physical issues. Dr Dan uses a combination of body work including very effective dry needling and strength training to allow the appropriate muscles to do their job If you are tired of going through silly routines at big industry PT’s call Dr Dan now. I wasted years and finances on insurance paid therapy. In the long run you will save money and avoid heartache and frustration with Dr Dan Kari Williams

Fantastic experience: I have been to at least 10 Physical therapist in the past 10 years and none of them have been even remotely as effective and professional as Dan. He is a true specialist in his field and I would recommend him to anyone feeling discouraged by countless uneffective physical therapy sessions. He will take it to the next level and help you fix your problem. He is well worth the money and time. He is the only person that was able to treat my problem and fix it so that I could continue to do sports. Thanks Dan you are a wealth of knowledge and true gem to Asheville!

Fantastic experience: Couldn’t be more pleased!! I did a running analysis because I kept having issues with my knee when I would run and now I am able to run pain free!!!

Fantastic experience: Dr. Dan is an excellent practitioner! His dry needling and exercises were integral in healing my frozen shoulder! I refer my chiropractic patients to him when I know that his modalities would help them best. Thank you

Fantastic experience: Dr Dan is an excellent Physical Therapist. Due to his individualized exercises and personalized advice, I have returned to Ultimate Frisbee, running, and moving freely without pain. As an over 50 female, I am in better shape than ever and am enjoying a resurgence of athletics and freedom. I’m grateful for his support and time!

Fantastic experience: I’m in my 60’s and do CrossFit workouts 6 days a week. I started going to Dr. Audra Burtch because of very painful sciatica; it was so painful, just putting on shoes was agony. Instead of being told to stop the vigorous workouts, Dr Burtch helped me alleviate the pain and showed me warmup exercises to employ before workouts. In addition, she helped me with a chronic shoulder issue that was often aggravated by a particular lift (snatches). Again between the office visits and the warmup exercises, I am able to snatch without pain. Because Audra Burtch lifts, she found ways to help me continue my exercise routine instead of giving it up due to age. I recommend her to anyone needing help with pain!

Fantastic experience: I had been dealing with the same running injury for close to a year. I had seen multiple PTs and there would always be a little improvement but a few weeks later the injury would show up again. Since I have been seeing Emma this ankle and foot injury is almost non existent. Emma has helped me through dry needling and has given me a number of exercises that other PTs haven’t. I have now been at the same weekly mileage for almost two months without having to take a break due to my ankle. I highly recommend Emma and the team at Breakthrough! Definitely will be sticking with them.

Fantastic experience: I train weightlifting and had been experiencing hip, knee, and shoulder pain for quite some time. I was getting to a desperate place. I started PT with Dan. Within a few weeks I had much less pain and understood my pain and what to look for while I continue to train. I was able to recommit to training for competition. Dan also began writing my programming. My confidence grew. I began matching old PRs and have now set new ones. I have competed and qualified for Masters Nationals all pain free.

Fantastic experience: Dan is great. I have a several year history of unilateral hip pain, weakness, and reduced mobility. I attributed it to tight muscles and overuse from biking, but after self diagnosis and hip impingement online courses I elected to get it checked out for real. He doubted my inflexibility hypothesis, went to work on dry needling, strengthening stabilizer muscle groups, and then helped me build back up a snatch squat. The work was hard but progress was consistent, the phone apps to teach/track exercises are easy to work with, and Dan's advice is spot on. I'm pain free with squats for the first time in 7 years. He even helped me with some secondary shoulder issues. I am happy to recommend the Breakthrough Performance Team to anyone dealing with ongoing joint struggles...

Fantastic experience: I have been living with discomfort and aches for so long now, I thought it came with the aging process. I stumbled on an ad on Instagram for Breakthrough to help with running, and it's been night and day ever since. Dr. Carmack knows his stuff. My knee has never felt better. My ankles aren't jacked up anymore, and now we're working on my shoulder. It is a one-stop shop. But it isn't a miracle, you have to put in work to see results.

Fantastic experience: Fantastic experience...very focused on my athletic aspirations, thorough evaluations of my needs, home exercise program with frequent supervision, encouragement and accountability. Best decision for my health!

Fantastic experience: Dan has helped me tremendously just in the few sessions I’ve had. His depth of knowledge is truly incredible and I’ll never go anywhere else!

Fantastic experience: I was completely derailed by a degenerative neck condition. I tried every therapy, trainer and modality in town. Nothing really worked. Fortunately I didn't give up because once I started training with Dan my neck pain gradually started to get better. His approach to physical therapy, combined with his amazing ability to provide relief through dry needling, changed my life. I highly recommend Breakthrough Performance Physical Therapy. I've made so much progress I feel like I have my life back.

Fantastic experience: 61 y/o male Crossfitter with limited overhead mobility and radiating from the shoulder. An inrushes and thorough consultation - diagnosis and treatment fully explained. After a few weeks, noticed a definite improvement in range of motion as well as strength in my overhead position. Well worth my time and money - highly recommend

Fantastic experience: Dr. Audra did an excellent job helping me come back from a knee injury. The combination of strength training and mobility has me training stronger than ever!

Fantastic experience: In my experience Dan fills a niche that is woefully underserved - taking injured, active people back to fully active status. We're still working on me, but I've seen plenty of PT's over the years and can say that Dan stands apart for this sort of work. I'm making great progress and can see light at the end of the tunnel.

Fantastic experience: Dan is very knowledgeable and has a high quality product. He accurately predicted that with in 2-3 sessions that my shoulder pain would go away and then helped me make a plan to continue to strengthen my shoulder so the pain would not come back. He uses an app that has your regimen on it and there are helpful videos incase you forget how to do it. After I "graduated" from PT, he even continued my app program, so I still get reminders to continue on my strengthening plan. Thank you Dan!

Fantastic experience: Dan The Man, that's how I have it in my phone. Dan is truly involved in what he does and is not one of those half in/half out people in his craft. I've lived with pain in my lower back for decades and most recently an injury that I've been dealing with for over two years now. After a month and a half in, (couple months left to go) I can go an entire day before I notice any discomfort. I was ready to except that I'll never be an athlete again. However, after working with Dan, I 100% believe I can compete again! Dan's value far exceeds his pricing, this man is a godsend.

Fantastic experience: Dr. Dan really put me at ease about my shoulder pain, quickly checked it out and gave an easy to follow plan to fix it. My pain is almost gone after my 2nd visit!

Fantastic experience: Sneezed my back out and dan had me good to go within about 45 minutes. Easy going, effective care.

Fantastic experience: I went to Dan for treatment for a large herniation (L5/S1). Been in PT for low back issues multiple times and I thought that my Crossfit days had come to an end. Dan laid out his plan for me and 100% delivered. Within just a couple of weeks I was feeling so much better and was able to gradually regain strength and confidence that I was going to be ok. Within a couple of months I was pretty much back to normal, but a new normal--better form and understanding of my personal body mechanics. He coached me on lifting and provided tips and cues that have made me a much better lifter/mover. I feel stronger than ever and I know where to go if I have any more hiccups along the way. Thank you Dan!