David L. Berger
Meet David L. Berger, PT, CSCS, CF-L2: The Resilient Performance Expert
For three decades, he has been at the forefront of physical therapy and performance training, guided by a simple, unwavering belief: everyone deserves to move better, recover faster, and live with enduring resilience.
David isn’t just a therapist; he is a unique blend of clinical mastery and high-performance training expertise. As a Licensed Physical Therapist with over 30 years of experience, he has the deep clinical knowledge to heal and restore. But his commitment goes far beyond the clinic—he is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and a CrossFit Level 2 Trainer (CF-L2). This powerful combination means his approach is not just about fixing injuries, but about building you into a stronger, more resilient human being.
A Legacy of Excellence
Since 1993, David has owned and led Central Physical Therapy Associates in Scarsdale, NY, establishing a reputation for treating everyone from those with common aches and pains to elite and professional athletes. His work is a testament to lifelong learning, integrating the best practices from sports rehabilitation, biomechanics, and performance science. He has even pioneered the integration of advanced Strength and Conditioning Specialist and CrossFit methodologies into physical therapy, proving that effective rehabilitation and high-level conditioning go hand-in-hand.
His Mission
David’s passion is to bridge the gap between recovery and peak performance. He knows that returning to baseline isn’t enough—the goal is to return stronger and more resilient than before the injury.
For Patients: He translates complex body mechanics into simple, actionable steps, helping you understand the root cause of your pain and giving you the tools to take control of your long-term health.
For Athletes: He acts as a true performance partner, designing sport-specific programs that maximize functional recovery and on-field results, ensuring you have the durability and explosive power needed for success.
When you work with David, you are partnering with an expert dedicated to maximizing your potential, ensuring your body can handle the demands of your life—whether that’s chasing a personal record or simply chasing your kids. He is your guide to not just recovery, but to resilient performance.
Dawn M. Franz
1. What is your background/Education and your role at Sprain Brook Manor?
I have worked at Sprain Brook Manor for 21 years. I initially moved from Freedom, NY to Westchester in 1997 and started working at Sprain Brook Manor as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, after earning my Associates Degree from Genesee College in 1996. I worked for many years as a COTA until going back to college at Dominican in The Master’s Program for Occupational Therapy. While attending the full time weekend program, I worked full time during the week at SBM. I then graduated in 2006 with my Masters Degree in Occupational Therapy. I worked as a full-time staff OT at Sprain and one year later in 2007 was promoted to Director of Rehabilitation (OT/PT) and have embraced this role ever since. I have also covered for (2) 6 month intervals as Interim Recreation Director when the position was waiting to be filled-being an Occupational Therapist allows me to have this versatility when it is needed.
2. Why did you choose to work with seniors and what do you enjoy most about working with the senior community?
I have always wanted to work with seniors. I love the fact that they have had full lives and therefore have had a lot of experiences which makes their personalities so interesting to me! I feel very fortunate to be there to help them with things that they need assistance with while also being able to celebrate the things that they can still do. It is a very rewarding field to work in and I would never choose anything else! I also love working with the families of our residents, letting them know how their family member has become a part of our rehab family.
3. What do you like best about this facility compared to others you’ve worked with?
I love that SBM is a small facility. Everyone here knows each other and many of us have built long-lasting friendships. We know all our residents very well and we have relationships with each one of them and many of their family members. It is also nice that many residents choose to come back to us when they need Rehabilitation again, so the bonds we make with many are long-term ones. I worked for BOCES for a year prior to SBM, at the Bedford Hills Women’s Correctional Facility part-time for a year, and have done coverage work in other Skilled Nursing Facilities and Outpatient settings, but they do not compare to Sprain Brook, and this is the reason I have worked here as long as I have.
4. What three words would you use to describe Sprain?
Family, Fun, Cohesive
5. Anything else families and patients should know about you?
I am a very hands on Rehab Director and participate in every aspect of our residents care. I love what I do and take pride in my Rehab Department. I am active in the interview process of each therapist and make sure that they have qualities that I feel are vital for this profession and population: compassion, empathy, drive, sense of humor, respect, trust, accountability, integrity, are team players, and are here for the right reasons. I even do my best to match the resident to a therapist who I think they would work well with.
A funny thing some may not know about me is that I was hired in 1997, by the Director of Rehab…and little did I know that 13 years later, he would become my husband
Vision
To create a future where every individual in our community has the strength, independence, and confidence to live without physical limitations.
Mission
To deliver world-class care by bridging the gap between clinical rehabilitation and personal wellness goals, building a stronger, more resilient foundation for every patient we serve.
