Rick Contreras has been a licensed physical therapist in California since 1987. He attended Moreau High School in Hayward, California and received a Bachelors of Science degree from California State University at Long Beach in 1986. He has had decades of experience in the outpatient setting. He has treated patients with multiple types of orthopedic injuries, soft tissue diagnoses, spine and muscle imbalance dysfunctions. He has special interest and expertise in sport-related dysfunctions, and post-operative surgical rehabilitation of the shoulder, neck, hip, and back. He has been employed with Tri-Valley Orthopedics since 2006.
As the field of physical therapy evolves, Rick continues to expand his knowledge by attending in-person and on-line education courses. He takes an eclectic treatment approach to achieve functional goals and to restore optimal motion. He incorporates patient-collaborative problem solving, incorporates joint protection strategies, body mechanics instruction, the principles of Neuromuscular Re-education, manual therapy techniques, and evidence-based exercises. Rick utilizes these tools to assist the patient attain successful outcomes and optimal functional mobility.
While attending Moreau High School, he played on the school basketball teams all four years. He credits his basketball coaches and his college professors for being instrumental in his personal and professional development. He coached basketball at the elementary school level and at the high school level for 8 years and also youth baseball for 6 years. Although his involvement in youth sports has waned, he is actively involved with his adult children, his grandchildren, his two rescue dogs and other family members that keeps him and his wife busy.
