Dr. Noah Zacharko, DPT

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  • Owner & Founder of Osteopractic Physical Therapy of the Carolinas

  • Fellow, American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists

  • Senior Faculty, AAMT Fellowship in Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy

  • Senior Instructor, American Academy of Manipulative Therapy’s Spinal Manipulation & Dry needling institutes

Dr. Zacharko has lived and worked in the Baxter Village area in Fort Mill, SC for over 13 years. He moved to Charlotte, then eventually Fort Mill, following the completion of his three professional degrees from East Carolina University. 

Noah received his Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from ECU in 2005 after also earning a Masters in Physical Therapy (MPT) degree and a BS in Exercise and Sport Science also from East Carolina.  While working towards his doctorate, he completed intense clinical residences that exposed him to top level sports rehabilitation institutions.  These included ProSports of Westchester, NY, the Nicholas Institute of Sports Medicine at Lenox Hill hospital in NYC as well as the United States Olympic Triathlete training center in Clermont FL.  In addition to sports and orthopaedic rehabilitation, Noah has also had significant exposure to the research side of the profession as he worked in the biomechanics and 3D motion science laboratories at East Carolina contributing to several research studies that are published in highly respected scientific journals.  Dr. Z currently a co-investigator of multiple randomized clinical trials within the AAMT Fellowship in Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy program.

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Since obtaining his license, Noah has worked tirelessly in the outpatient orthopaedic setting to specialize in orthopaedic manual therapy and the treatment of neuromuscular dysfunction.  Noah is an expert in Dry Needling (DN) and Spinal Manipulation Therapy (SMT) and is one of the most experienced Dry Needling practitioners in the southeast.  Noah has studied spinal manipulation and dry needling through several different institutions throughout the years and obtained his certification in Spinal Manipulative Therapy (Cert. SMT) and Dry Needling (Cert. DN) through the Spinal Manipulation Institute & Dry Needling Institute respectively, under the American Academy of Manipulative Therapy (AAMT).  Dr. Zacharko was one of the first in North and South Carolina to have achieved the Cert. SMT designation and is one of only a few clinicians in NC and SC possessing the qualifications and experience to perform both SMT & DN.

Dr. Zacharko completed his fellowship training in Orthopaedic Manual Therapy through (AAMT) under the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists (AAOMPT) earning the prestigious FAAOMPT credential. This is the highest level credential a physical therapist can earn in the field. Dr. Z is also a Senior Instructor for AAMT’s Spinal Manipulation Institute and Dry Needling Institutes. He travels internationally teaching and lecturing on these topics. Dr. Zacharko also serves as a senior faculty member for the AAMT Fellowship in Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy.

Over his years in clinical practice, Noah has placed a strong emphasis on post-graduate continuing education. In addition to the clinical education discussed above, Noah also has training and countless hours of course work through other highly reputable institutions including but not limited to The North American Institute of Orthopaedic Manual Therapy (NAIOMT), The American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Therapists (AAOMT), Kinetacore, The McKenzie Method, The Mulligan Concept and The Institute of Physical Art (IPA).

In addition to rehabilitation, Noah has also functioned as a sports performance expert and has worked with all levels of athletes from little league to professional.  Noah has worked extensively with injured and well athletes to return them to sport and to keep them performing at a high level. Personally, Noah has competed in sports his entire life.  He was a decorated baseball player in high school as well as a highly competitive golfer.  Later in college, he began studying martial arts and became a competitive Muay Thai kickboxer where he competed regionally for over a decade.  Noah continues today as a Muay Thai kickboxing instructor under the Thai Boxing Association and served as assistant fight team coach for Muay Thai and MMA fighters.  Noah remains highly active and stays on the leading edge of the sports performance and fitness industries and is a resource to several area Crossfit’s, Weightlifting & Powerlifting gyms and martial arts/MMA gyms.

Education:

  • Doctor of Physical Therapy, East Carolina University

  • Masters of Physical Therapy, East Carolina University

  • B.S. Exercise Science, East Carolina University

Professional Designations:

  • Fellow, American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists (FAAOMPT)

  • Certified Spinal Manipulative Therapist (Cert. SMT)

  • Certified in Dry Needling (Cert. DN)

  • Diploma in Osteopractic (Dip. Osteopractic)

Professional Affiliations:

  • American Physical Therapy Association, APTA

  • Sports Physical Therapy Section, SPTS