When Liz Henry and Fred Locke moved to Wilmington in 2010, they saw a niche where they could combine traditional physical therapy and new movement technology. 

The city’s athletic scene and relaxed, coastal feel made Wilmington an attractive prospect after the couple left the hustle-bustle of New York City. Now, two years later, they are using advanced technology to help clients rid themselves of the aches and pains that can come along with living an active lifestyle.

Henry and Locke, owners and operators of LifeForce Physical Therapy and Wellness at 6752 Parker Farm Drive, Suite 1B in the Mayfaire Town Center, came to Wilmington with the intention of creating a start-up physical therapy center that could showcase Henry’s expertise.

The husband-and-wife team runs the business together. They are, however, looking to hire an associate around the beginning of the year.

The practice was planned with having three full-time therapists on staff once it got off the ground, but the rapid growth of the customer base might make an extra hire a necessity sooner than initially planned.

Henry and Locke started the business to offer professional-level treatment and care to Wilmington’s active population.

Right now, most of the business stems from treating sports and dance injuries as well as spinal pain. 

But the couple said that golf and athletic performance optimization, which helps clients improve their swings, is becoming the fastest growing part of the company.

Some of the services offered by LifeForce are physical wellness classes, virtual golf swing analysis, pain management and injury recovery.

“Most physical therapy practices market to physicians. We’re trying a model where we market directly to the patient.” Henry said.

In addition to the new technologies being utilized at LifeForce, Henry brings more than 31 years of experience in physical therapy to her practice.

After graduating from the University of Vermont with a degree in physical therapy, Henry continued her education in the graduate program for clinical biomechanics at New York University. She is currently enrolled in a doctorate program for advanced physical therapy practice at the University of Andrews in Michigan.

Henry said she also is fellowship certified.

“Fellowship training is the highest level of training in orthopedic manual physical therapy that there is,” Henry said. 

“In order to qualify for fellowship training, you have to be board certified initially. So there is a ladder of training possible once you graduate from physical therapy school. Fellowship training is at the very top of that ladder, and there are very few of us around.”

A former director for Westside Dance Physical Therapy in New York City, Henry was a therapist for the dancers of the New York City Ballet as well as students at The Juilliard School’s dance program.

Henry said her work in Wilmington also has attracted a number of local dancers.

“But that’s for me. I like to keep my hands in dance. There’s a very athletic population here – watersports, tri-athletes, there’s a lot of young students who are very active,” she said.

One of LifeForce’s tools is its K-Vest Game Improvement System, created by international golf equipment company Titleist.

The system consists of a vest containing three strategically placed motion trackers connected via Bluetooth to a computer.

While wearing the vest, the client goes through the motion of a standard golf swing. The computer then decodes the information captured by the motion sensors and creates a diagram of the athlete’s motion.

For a standard session, Henry sets up a personalized motion range for the client based off of the individual. The system then analyzes posture, hip rotation and upper body management from the original stance to the follow through.

Based off the information, Henry determines how to maximize distance, accuracy and flexibility through the swing to help the golfer get the best action possible.

“I wish I had had access to this technology earlier in my career. It is amazing,” Henry said. “We’re getting ready to go through some beta testing for using the K-Vest technology for tennis players as well.”

Not just anyone can operate the K-Vest system effectively. Titleist has trained Henry in the technology.

“The Titleist [Performance] Institute certifies various professionals in their golf fitness training methods in different tracks or fields,” Henry said. 

“I’ve been on the medical track, and they have several different levels. I’m currently a certified level two. Fred is a certified level one. I’m in the process of becoming level three certified, the highest you can go.”

In addition to Henry and Locke’s work with athletes, LifeForce offers several classes teaching proper body maintenance and ways to treat common pains.

“You can come in and get a lot of information. You learn exercises. You learn stretches. You learn posture and basic ergonomics. We pretty much teach patients how to self-manage,” Henry said.

Moving to Wilmington from a place like New York City is a drastic change in lifestyle, and starting a new business is a challenge in itself. 

For Henry and Locke, the area has provided the varied clientele they wanted.

“I think it’s just a huge magnet. After working with professional, elite level athletes for my entire career, it’s nice to work around an active population,” Henry said. “This just became our area.”