Athletes, coaches, and parents at all levels of rowing speak volumes about Karen Calara and her holistic approach to injury prevention and rehabilitation. These are just some of her current and former clients experiences with Karen:

Karen Calara has been a crucial supporter in my development as a high performance rower.  I first met her when I was suffering a low back injury and she designed my rehabilitation and prevention programs.  Over time, our relationship has evolved from patient-therapist to athlete-adviser and she has used her immense knowledge of biomechanics to help improve my training regimen and stroke style.  Her programs and advice had significantly reduced my frequency of injuries and I would not be where I am today without her.

Alex Twist, Seattle Rowing Center, Riverside Boat Club and US National Rowing Team – Bronze Medal, 2015 Lightweight 8+, 2017 Lightweight Men’s 2-, 2019 Lightweight Men’s 2-

I’m a novice master’s rower (started summer 2014), age 57, and came to Karen looking for help improving flexibility and preventing injury. She did a full workup, reviewing my prior sports history (swimming, cycling, soccer) and all injuries (mostly ankle and knee, also recurring back pain).  She is the first healthcare provider I’ve ever worked with who took a holistic look at me.  She’s the only one who ever noticed one leg is a bit shorter than the other and fitted me with a simple 1/16″ cork shoe shim.  She zeroed in on three key things for me to work on: hip capsule flexibility, hamstring flexibility, and core stability.  After four months, my flexibility is vastly improved.  I’m pain free.  My stroke is about two feet longer thanks to better compression and better core strength.  I’m rowing a single with vastly improved stability (and speed), and my coach is having me stroke a quad.  Thank you, Karen!

Mark N., Master’s Rower, Vashon Island Rowing Club, Vashon, WA

Karen was one of the first people to cross my path in my quest for a spot on the Senior National rowing team. In our first session together she identified weaknesses, accommodations, and work-arounds that I needed to pay attention to in order to begin a process of healing and self-improvement. Working with Karen has been some of the most consistent development of both sports-specific and individual-specific techniques I have ever experienced. From the peak volue of winter training to race day prep and recovery, she has so much energy and understanding of both my sport as well as broader body health awareness.

Christine C., 2018 and 2019 USRowing National Team

I believe once your child is at a competitive level in rowing, it’s almost inevitable that aches and pains begin to crop up – some more serious than others. When Katy began having issues with her back muscles in particular, we scheduled visits with her physician, a chiropractor and a kinesiology specialist. While well-intentioned, they were unable to provide real relief from existing issues or preventative measures to avoid future issues. At the suggestion of her coach, we reached out to Karen Calara for help.  It wasn’t until Katy began working with Karen that issues with her back (and later with her knees) improved significantly. Karen worked with her one-on-one, and provided helpful physical therapy exercises and equipment (insoles, a rollout bar and kinesiology tape among other things) as well as important lessons in nutrition and biomechanics specific to rowing. She’s been a great ally and partner in Katy’s successful rise into elite high school rowing ranks and are grateful to have her as a resource as Katy enters the world of Division 1 collegiate rowing. As a parent interested in keeping my child healthy and competitive for the long run, I’d highly recommend Karen to other parents and their athletic children.

Anne G., parent of Junior rower (2014&2015 JNT member + medalist, UW Women’s Rowing), Seattle, WA

I have worked with Karen extensively since 2006, when I first joined the Pocock Elite Sculling Team, and consider her a true miracle worker when it comes to helping athletes overcome injuries, prevent their recurrence, and optimize performance in and out of the boat. From creating preventative core workouts and alignment exercises for our entire team, to developing an individualized plan to address mobility issues in my ankles and lower back, to helping me overcome a variety of injuries, Karen was a vital member of my training team during the years I spent training and competing nationally and internationally. She brings a deep understanding of rowing mechanics and of common issues that result from years of practicing 2-3x/day, and takes an integrative approach to addressing the root cause of a problem, not just the symptoms. Through a combination of stroke analysis on the erg, manual therapy, exercises, and proprioception training, Karen helped me reduce chronic lower back and SI joint pain, increase flexibility in my ankles and hips to sit more comfortably at the catch, “even out” a body that was off-balance from years of sweep rowing, and ultimately to develop a stronger, more efficient stroke. On two separate occasions, I experienced injuries (a torn tendon in my wrist, and two dislocated ribs), that doctors told me could sideline me for months. In both cases, Karen had me back in the boat within two weeks. She worked with my coaches to develop modified training plans and incorporate recovery exercises into my workouts so that I was able to not only recover and compete as planned, but prevent recurrence of those injuries in the future. Although I retired from elite several years ago and have moved on to other athletic pursuits, I still rely on Karen’s expertise and her holistic therapeutic approach to keep me fit, flexible, and injury-free. She is deeply invested in the wellness and success of every athlete she works with, and I would highly recommend her services to anyone looking to take their performance to the next level.

Nicole B., Former US National team rower, Pocock Rowing Center, Seattle, WA

Since 2013 Karen is the professional I go to — not only when injuries happen to my athletes but also when I need an initial assessment of a rower and to create an overall strength & conditioning plan for them. 

I trust no one else to patch up an injured athlete and give me an accurate timeline for recovery. Her assessments of my athletes gives me an idea of what to expect both in terms of strengths and weaknesses down the road. She can devise a plan of exercises to improve the areas that need it. This keeps them from getting hurt in the  first place and the athletes have had a low incidence of injury thanks to her holistic approach. If you get the benefit of Karen’s help you will be in the best hands possible in our sport.

Karen has been an invaluable resource not only in clearing up nagging pains before regattas, but in assessing physical limitations and providing corrective actions to improve health and performance. Specifically, she facilitated my development of more effective breathing patters, which has resolved most of my exercised-induced-asthma symptoms and saved me thousands of dollars in inhalers.

Justin K, 2018 US M4X, 2019 US M2X

Karen and I worked together for a variety of reasons. She helped me recover from serious abdominal surgery as well as helped develop a training program to prepare for Junior Team selection. She helped me accomplish my goals through both manual therapy and exercises. Through working with Karen I had decreased back and abdominal pain. 

Marlee B., 2014&2015 JNT member + medalist, UW Women’s Rowing, Seattle, WA

I began working with Karen about a year ago as an athlete at Vesper Boat club. She is an exceptional physical therapist.  After developing overtraining problems, mainly in my quads, Karen was able to keep me at a sustainable level where I was still able to train and race.  The knowledge and passion she has for her profession is unmatchable.  In 2014, I completed my Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science. After working with Karen, observing her professionalism and abilities in sports-directed therapy, I have decided to pursue a doctorate in Physical Therapy.  Not only has Karen been an exceptional therapist, but a huge role model, allowing me to see options available for career specialization.

Lauren, Elite Rower, Vesper Boat Club

I have been fortunate enough to be able to work with Karen over the past year through Vesper Boat Club.  She has been a tremendous help in all aspects of my rowing and training, from helping to control nagging injuries to stroke analysis and strength programs. Karen has truly been a fundamental part in keeping me on the water and in full training mode throughout the last year.  She is extremely knowledgeable, passionate, and enthusiastic in everything she does!  Since my first evaluation with Karen I have seen notable improvements in injury management, strength, and in being able to apply what we do on land to my stroke both in the boat and on the erg.  I look forward to the opportunity to continue to work with Karen as pursue my rowing career!

Liz Euiler, 2019 PanAM Games Women’s 2-, Vesper Boat Club

Karen Calara has not only cared for many of our junior rowers, but she has also provided her expertise to our coaching staff through workshops about common physical dysfunctions in young rowers.  Both her one-on-one and group services have strengthened our team by helping us better identify and manage imbalances/weaknesses before they become activity-limiting injuries. Karen has an incredible ability to communicate clearly and effectively with diverse groups of people, including coaches with whom she collaborates with to ensure that athletes are able to appropriately participate in their sports.  This is perhaps what  I appreciate most about Karen’s work; her passion for getting the athlete performing at his or her best within a realistic context.

Caitlin M., Former Junior Crew Coach and Current Collegiate Coach, Seattle, WA