Brian T. Wessel, MPT, OCS

Physical Therapist

Orthopedic Clinical Specialist

Spine Care Expert

A resident of the Santa Barbara area for eight years, Brian entered private practice ownership with the establishment of Therapy Specialists of Santa Barbara in 2007.  His long term vision is for a multi-disciplinary therapy center offering advanced and comprehensive care from a variety of specialists in the field of rehabilitation.  He believes that therapists are uniquely qualified to administer treatment for neuromusculoskeletal conditions with a combination of motion diagnoses, manual intervention and exercise prescription.  A wide variety of therapy experiences, including business ownership, have enabled Brian to develop a dynamic approach to patient recovery.

A graduate of Loyola Marymount University of Los Angeles, California (B.S. 1993) and Western University of Health Sciences of Pomona, California (M.P.T. 1999), Brian has been practicing Orthopedic Physical Therapy for nine years.  He has developed strong manual therapy skills with a special interest in motion dysfunction of the cranio-cervical, cervico-thoracic and lumbo-sacral spines.  His skill set lies in the manual application of graded mobilization/manipulation combined with neuromuscular re-education.  He is considered to be an expert in non-surgical care of the spine and regularly delivers lectures on spinal topics to local Physical Therapists.  His post-graduate education includes advanced study with the Institute of Physical Art anticipating completion of his Certification in Functional Manual Therapy in the near future.  Brian is also completing Certification in Orthopedic Manual Therapy of the spine with the International Academy of Orthopedic Medicine.  In 2005, Brian sat for and passed the APTA board examination and is recognized as one of few Orthopedic Clinical Specialists in the Santa Barbara region.  He has been a member of the American Physical Therapy Association as well as the APTA Orthopedic interest section since 1997.  He is also a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists.  He is a sound diagnostician with regard to dysfunction and disability who advocates an active care system for his patients’ specialized needs.

“The successful outcome of your Physical Therapy experience depends on focused, individualized care from professional therapists who understand the specifics of motion dysfunction”.  For questions regarding your interest in Physical Therapy, Brian can be reached at (805) 682-1481 or  .