Find the missing link. Change the pattern.
As a Movement Specialist, I use movement assessment, manual therapy, corrective movement, and breathing techniques to identify movement patterns that may contribute to pain and performance limitations.
In-person sessions are available in Charlotte, NC and NYC, with virtual sessions available nationwide.
Pain is a signal your body is telling you something.
You shouldn't have to keep chasing temporary relief for the same pain, tension, or movement limitation.
I'm Bethany Vivo, a Pain & Movement Specialist with 20+ plus years of hands-on experience.
I help curious, active people uncover the missing links behind recurring pain and restricted movement, so they can understand their bodies, move with greater confidence, and get back to the things they love.
With a whole-body approach, I focus on helping you become less dependent on treatment—not more.
#1 choice in New York City
Charlotte • NYC • Virtual
WHAT IF THE PLACE THAT HURTS ISN'T THE WHOLE STORY?
I bet you've probably already tried fixing it. Maybe you've even seen multiple practitioners.
A massage. An adjustment. Stretching. Strengthening. Rest.
And it helped—for a while.
Then the same tight neck, aching hip, painful shoulder, or clenched jaw came back. That's frustrating I know.
And it can leave you wondering, “Why does this keep happening?”
I look beyond the symptom to explore what might be driving the pattern.
Because your body doesn't work in isolated parts.
The way you breathe can affect how you move.
The way you stand can affect how you walk.
An old injury can change how you load your body.
Stress can change how you breathe, stabilize, and move.
The painful area matters. But it may not be the entire story.
I'm a bit of a body detective. Here’s how I search for that missing link
Why Choose Me
My goal is to empower you to perform at your highest, most optimal level in life.
My Unique Approach
I will take a full body approach to your care. Together we will take a dive deep into your everyday life: By assessing exercise routine, ergonomics, and posture. I treat the whole client not just injuries.
My Experience
Over 20+ years of experience working with professionals and athletes helped me be the #1 choice in New York City. And now I have brought my passion to North Carolina where I practice 3 days per week.
Recovery & Prevention
Receive a full assessment with custom hands on treatment, followed by a game plan for recovery and prevention, including a custom set of movement drills to retrain movement in the body.
Modalities I Use To Relieve Pain
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Active Release Technique is a hands-on therapy used to treat muscles, nerves, joint capsules, scar tissue, and connective tissue that have been injured by acute, chronic, or pressure injuries. This treatment was developed by Dr. Michael Leahy. His technique is based on a system of specific movements and massage methods designed to eliminate pain and increase mobility.
This is not a ‘normal’ manual technique; as the goal of this treatment is to restore normal mobility and motion between muscle tissue and nerves. Active Release treatment has become known as a ‘Gold Standard’ treatment for world-class athletes around the world.
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Neurokinetic Therapy focuses on hands-on muscle testing, which helps me to quickly assess why a muscle may feel tight or may be overcompensating for weakness in other parts of the body. Neurokinetic Therapy (NKT) is a type of neurological physical therapy. It is designed to help your brain reconnect with your neurological-muscular signals. It is based on a chiropractic technique called
Applied Kinesiology and was co-developed by David Weinstock in the mid 80s. By using NKT I dig deep to get the total scoop on all of your injuries and can often identify any missing links in your treatment.
Using muscle testing I evaluate the effect that weak movement patterns have on your entire body. Next, expect a custom set of exercises to retrain your motor control and recharge your body.
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Selective Functional Movement Assessment was developed for practitioners by Gray Cook and his colleagues, the same group who developed the Functional Movement System. The assessment is a series of 7 full-body movement tests that are used to assist with the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal pain.
I use SFMA to evaluate seven fundamental movement patterns that are crucial to moving pain-free on each individual client. The assessment provides a clear, systematic picture of what is happening in your body, allowing us to trace the root cause of any pain.
Selective Functional Movement Assessment enables me to prescribe the right treatment combination. Movement building, Active Release Technique, and other assessment corrective exercises are all forms of treatment we use to get you back to doing what you love, pain-free.
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DNS is a neuromuscular re-education, it’s based upon the groundbreaking neurodevelopmental and rehabilitation principles organized by Pavel Kolar. This new rehabilitation approach is called Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS). The nervous system establishes plans that control human posture, movement and gait. This ‘motor control’ is largely established during the first critical years of life. Therefore, this technique emphasizes neurodevelopmental aspects of motor control in order to restore healthy function in the body.
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Anatomy in Motion is a new way of looking at the relationship between how your body moves from the foot up. This system was developed by UK expert in human movement and anatomy, Gary Ward. His philosophy is simple:
The human body is the ultimate healer.
Using the Anatomy in Motion philosophy, we assess your feet, looking at factors such as: how your feet are positioned, how your toes move or don’t move, how you shift your weight, and how you strike while walking and running. These factors allow me to see how your feet are affecting the rest of your body.
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Cupping therapy is a technique that has been around for hundreds of years from ancient Chinese Medicine. A cup is heated (I use plastic cups) and placed on the skin creating a negative vacuum suction, which pulls blood to the surface of the skin. A tight or injured spot will let itself be known by an immediate bright purple reaction also known as petechiae. In Chinese Medicine, pain ensues when there is a stagnation of heat in the body, and cupping clears this by moving ‘qi’ around the body.
Cupping therapy, along with oxygen, increases the blood flow to the injured area and launches an inflammatory immune response. The immune system releases proteins called cytokines to address and reduce inflammation.
Cupping is used to enhance performance by providing: reduced stiffness, reduced muscle cramps, loosened congestion, diminished scar tissue as well as faster scar healing. Note that bruising can last up to 2 weeks, depending on how you heal.
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RockTape is a type of kinesiology tape that athletes and healthcare professionals use to support muscles and joints, reduce pain, and improve movement. It works by lifting the skin slightly to reduce pressure on underlying tissues, which helps with decreasing pain, reducing swelling, and improving blood flow. It's also water-resistant and can be worn for up to 3- 5 days.
WHO I WORK WITH
You don't need to be an athlete to work with me. You might be…
A busy professional who spends too much time at a desk.
An athlete who can't quite get past a nagging issue.
A parent who wants to keep up with their kids.
A wellness-minded person who wants to stay strong and mobile as they age.
Or someone who has simply tried several things and still feels like something is missing.
What you do have is curiosity, and a desire to explore the factors contributing to the pattern.
And you're willing to look beyond the obvious, participate in the process, and learn more about your own body.
HOW WE WORK TOGETHER
01 — START WITH A CONVERSATION
I don't offer a public scheduling link because I want to make sure we're a good fit first.
Email me and tell me a little about what's happening, what you've tried, and what you'd like to be able to do more comfortably.
02 — GET A CLEARER PICTURE
We'll look beyond the obvious symptom and explore your movement, history, patterns, and goals.
03 — BUILD A PERSONALIZED APPROACH
Your session may combine manual therapy, movement assessment, breathing strategies, nervous-system techniques, corrective movement, and other approaches based on what your body needs.
04 — TAKE THE WORK WITH YOU
You'll leave with a better understanding of your body and practical strategies you can use between sessions.
The goal isn't simply to feel better today. It's to help you understand what your body needs going forward.
Conditions I Treat
Neck Pain
Headaches & Migraines
Shoulder Pain
Calf Strain
Lower Back Pain
Hip Pain
Ankle Sprain
Muscle Strain
Plantar Fasciitis…plus more.
Stay in touch with me!
See how my specialized approach to pain relief and movement therapy has transformed the lives of those I have worked with.
Read what our clients have experienced on their journey to better health.
I don’t bombard you daily. My newsletter is monthly, and only the important stuff!