DOCTORS OF INTEREST
The PHYSICAL THERAPIST
BY ALISHA McDARRIS
For Dr. Fernando Figueroa,
72
every patient is unique like
a chess game, each presenting
a series of possible
solutions, a combination of moves
that requires a strategy to solve the
problem and win the game.
Each patient is a challenge, and
Figueroa considers it his duty to get
to the root of the problem and ease
the pain.
Since high school in Chile, he has
known what he wanted to spend his
life doing, and he says it’s been his
pleasure to return independence to
patients of all ages since he started
practicing 23 years ago in Texas.
The doctor’s goal is to reach out
to his clients, using therapies to
rehabilitate those with a wide
range of afflictions.
He takes a teaching approach,
believing that helping the patient
understand what’s wrong and how
to fix it is an essential part of his
profession. Much like in chess, there
must be a reason, a strategy behind
each move.
At Fernando Physical Therapy
in Stuart, patients of all ages come
in with back pain, joint problems,
dizziness and other symptoms.
Many leave with a new lease on life,
never happier to be back on the golf
course, in the garden, or dancing at
their daughter’s wedding. Those
are the motivations Figueroa
strives to reveal.
To better aid them in recovery,
he returned to school and studied
for his doctorate, not because it
was a requirement but because the
additional knowledge could help
his patients.
In addition to the hard-earned
degrees on his walls, he also boasts
many certifications in ergonomics
evaluation, spine disorders,
osteoporosis and manual therapy.
He has worked for Martin
Memorial and in larger practices
in the past, but loves the familiarity
that his individual practice
offers. He enjoys spending
time with his patients, getting
to know them and crafting
ALISHA McDARRIS
>>
Stuart physical therapist Dr. Fernando Figueroa
began practicing 23 years ago in Texas.
Treasure Coast Medical Report