Steady State

I finally decided to seek out physical therapy after having progressively worse knee pain when hiking (especially on descents) and multiple "light knee sprains" when playing soccer. According to my doctor, this didn't require PT, just weeks of rest each time it happened. I'm by no means an elite (or even competent) athlete and I just wanted to be able to hike pain free and play adult rec soccer without spraining my knee every few months.Since I'm not an athlete and I'm just a desk jockey (so my knees have no impact on my job), I was hesitant to justify spending the money on PT when I couldn't get a referral from my doctor to use my insurance for traditional PT, but it has been totally worth it. I cancelled my gym membership to save some money and used my HSA to afford the cost. I wasn't sure if they could/would help me because I'm not some great athlete and I don't really run at all beyond the bare minimum to be able to play soccer. From the very beginning, they were very welcoming and more than willing to help me and never made me feel like my goals weren't valid because it wasn't some amazing athletic feat (for reference, it was just walking a 15 minute mile with carrying 45 pounds). Since insurance has been cut out of the equation, I'm in control over the process and I decide when I have met my goals.I worked with Ashten and she is great- she actually listens to my problems and explains potential causes and how my body works, then gives me exercises to help correct the issue. At our next appointment, we go over how I'm feeling and what worked and what didn't and make adjustments. I had an ankle sprain happen during my program and Ashten was super responsive when it happened and was able to give me advice immediately and I was able to heal much faster than if I had just rested it for weeks.Now I'm able to hike pain free and play soccer without knee issues. I have a better understanding of my body and I can adjust my exercise regime as necessary. I can push myself harder at the gym, especially when doing squats, which was always a problem before. Now hiking is fun again and I can get back to my favorite hikes in the White Mountains with confidence. I recommend Steady State to anyone I know who has any sort of issues doing the physical activities they love.

Steady State has given me so much confidence and helped me turn a corner in how I see myself as an athlete. When I first talked to Kelton I was struggling with back spasms and pre race nerves. Before I was even a client he gave me program to help with this. They want to help first and foremost. They understand running and Kelton was the first physio I talked to that did not roll their eyes when I explained the intensity of my run training. Instead, he created programs that where true to my ideas of myself as an athlete. They stay true to their philosophy around provider dependency and because of this I learned how to take care of myself while lifting heavy and running high mileage. Even with all this great help, the best part of working with Steady State is having someone with so many of the same experiences and passions. Any athlete will surely notice this when working with them.

Being an avid and competitive runner it has been hard to be bogged down with several injuries as I have gotten older. I was pretty much done with running a year ago. Then someone recommended I meet with Kelton, so I started meeting with him last spring, and I have been working with him not only to help me fix some injuries, but to gain strength and a more positive outlook about where my running is going. Most importantly, I have also started to enjoy running again.

I reached out to Kelton at SS after experiencing some knee pain, which I later learned to actually be my IT band. Unable to run and caution to do any big hikes, I worked with Kelton to incrementally gain my strength back through a training program. He was very attentive and tailored the exercises to what worked best for me and my goals. Feeling just as normal as before any of this ever happen, I now have the knowledge needed to help myself if I ever find myself with IT band issues again. Great guy who is current with his learnings and enthusiastic about his craft, couldn't recommend him enough.

OUTSTANDING!! I'm a middle of the pack marathoner, if not hobby jogger, with essentially no experiencing lifting weights who developed a shoulder injury after joining a program to pass the US Navy Diver Qualifications. Ashten was able to isolate my weak muscles and build a progressive plan to strengthen them. Steady State seems to have perfected the balance between PT-related rehab and performance-related pre-hab. I was new to PT and I really benefited from someone showing me how to do exercises correctly and effectively. My shoulder now feels bulletproof and when I work out I can focus on the task at hand, not worrying about injury. Incidentally, after overcoming injury, I feel like I carry my shoulders better and I feel more confident and relaxed on a day-to-day basis. Really awesome business that I 10/10 recommend!!

The foot/ankle/lower leg strengthening exercises Kelton taught me have made a significant difference in my running, as I feel like I can run with better form and power for much longer - what used to be a weakness is now becoming a strength. I really feel like my feet/lower leg are helping to propel me forward, rather than just being along for the ride (and then suffering once they fatigued). And my ankles used to be sore for a couple days after a long run and were generally wobbly/sore when I first got out of bed until I walked around a little - all of that seems to be in the past. Not an exaggeration to say that Kelton's training advice has been truly life-changing, since running/fitness is one of my primary interests/activities!

I’ve struggled with various injuries over the last several years, which has really limited my ability to train consistently. I was reluctant to work with someone as I expected that I would get the usual “rest it” suggestion I’ve gotten so many times before.My experience working with Kelton has been anything but the usual. Kelton understands the frustrations and motivations of runners, being one himself, which has been a game changer. He does a great job listening to my various issues and then explains the exercises and program he’s putting together in detail so that I understand the reasoning behind everything. It’s been a great experience and I would highly recommend Kelton and Steady State.

I can’t say enough about the care that both Kelton and Ashten provide. From literally the moment I broke my ankle (sending photos sitting in the dirt) Kelton helped me navigate deciding if I needed an X-ray, and balancing proper recovery with the desire to complete my goal race 5 months later.He went above and beyond, proving me with information about lab work, proper nutrition and rest. He let me vent and stress and pushed me to keep believing in myself through the recovery. He gave me great guidance about when and where and how much to run and just rolled his eyes when I didn’t listen.Kelton and Ashten are both super knowledgeable and obviously care for their clients, and that care shows in both the time they spend with you in the clinic and also the resources they provide for you between sessions.5 months after breaking my ankle trail running I completed 64 miles in a mountain ultramarathon and I owe so much of that to Kelton’s care. I highly recommend working with Cullenberg PT (Steady State)!

I saw Ashten early on in my pregnancy with a goal to remain physically active and fit but do so in a safe way. She gave me a great prenatal workout plan specific to my goals and needs, and in doing so my fears of "working out the wrong way" washed away. She helped me recognize my areas of strengths and weaknesses as well. Halfway through my second trimester I started to suffer from severe pain in my left hip and had a terrible limp- Ashten was quick to help me and diagnosed me with pelvic girdle pain (something that can occur during pregnancy). She listened to all of my concerns and gave me exercises to help strengthen my core and lower back which were undergoing many changes due to pregnancy. She even taught me how to properly get in and out of bed and move smarter while accomplishing daily tasks. After a couple of weeks of consistently doing the exercises Ashten gave me, my hip pain went from an 8 to nearly a 2!! And now, at 32 weeks pregnant I can honestly say I feel the best I have so far and am still very active! Ashten is more than a physical therapist, she is a true, devoted friend who wants the absolute best for everyone and won't stop until you get there! Thank you, Ashten! 💗

I have been struggling with lower back pain on and off for 4 years now. My last episode was by far the worst and I was not getting better with my typical self created routine. Pain was to the point where I was in pain doing any task or at rest with or without medication, let alone leading an active outdoor lifestyle.Kelton worked with me to set a baseline, work on managing the pain by giving me skills to get myself out of spasm, as well as focus on strengthening my posterior chain, and core. The flexibility of in person and virtual visits really fit my busy workweeks well. His program plans were updated after each visit or if I had issues and helped me make the most effective use of my time for daily and several times a week routines.I am now in a place after 6 sessions where I am actively strengthening my body, lifting weights to avoid further injury, and finally getting back to my active outdoor lifestyle running and skiing.Thanks again Kelton!