Dr. McKenzie DiStefano

McKenzie DiStefano, PT, DPT, is the owner of Strength & Balance Physical Therapy and the founder of Strength & Balance Collective in Massachusetts. She has been a physical therapist for more than a decade, with experience in vestibular rehabilitation, concussion care, neurologic rehabilitation and complex connective-tissue conditions.

Much of her work supports people with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and hypermobility, POTS and dysautonomia, chronic pain and fatigue, vestibular disorders, functional neurologic disorder, and other complex conditions that do not fit neatly into traditional treatment approaches. She works with adults and children and understands that symptoms, energy and function can look very different from one day to the next.

Her connection to this community is personal as well as professional. McKenzie and her children have some of the same or related diagnoses as the people she works with. That experience shapes how she approaches care and gives her a deeper understanding of how these conditions affect the whole family, not just during appointments but in everyday life.

McKenzie uses a neuro-informed approach that looks at how the nervous system, movement, pain, fatigue and other symptoms interact. She often begins with nervous system regulation and then builds toward movement, strength, stability and confidence at a pace that works for the individual. Her goal is to meet people where they are and help them find practical ways to work with their bodies instead of feeling like they are constantly fighting them.

She also loves helping people understand what is happening in their bodies. Through Strength & Balance Collective, she is creating approachable resources for patients and families, including pediatric content and the Ziggy children’s book series, to make complex health information easier to understand, less overwhelming and more hopeful.

Outside of work, McKenzie enjoys time with her husband and two children, being outdoors, and quiet family time at home.