When it comes to physical therapy, few local practices approach healing with the depth, empathy and movement-centered philosophy found at FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers – West Hartford.
Co-owned by husband-wife team Matthew Burger & Jessica Hubbard, FYZICAL is led clinically in West Hartford by Dr. Spencer Simmons, PT, DPT and recently welcomed Dr. Michael Srokowski, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT, to their senior clinical team.
The practice blends evidence-based care, advanced problem-solving and deeply personal motivations that shape everything they do.
For Dr. Srokowski, physical therapy isn’t just a profession — it’s a calling rooted in family. Growing up with a brother who has cerebral palsy and is nonverbal, he spent much of his childhood accompanying him to therapy appointments. He remembers vividly how the simplest actions made a meaningful difference.
“Getting him onto a big therapy ball, or down on the ground to move outside of his wheelchair, brought out his smile and helped him interact with the people around him,” Dr. Srokowski says. Those early experiences taught him the power movement has on both the body and human connection.
Today, that perspective drives his approach to patient care, where empathy, patience and education are central.
What sets FYZICAL apart, Dr. Srokowski explains, is its commitment to advanced problem solving through the lens of movement.
“We like to think of physical therapy as fixing movement problems,” he says. “Our focus is always on the root cause — the movement system impairments that explain why pain or dysfunction is happening in the first place.” This deeper level of assessment allows FYZICAL’s clinicians to go beyond symptom relief and create treatment plans that restore long-term function.
Matt adds that FYZICAL’s growth reflects a broader shift in people being more proactive with their personal health. As life expectancy increases, more individuals are living longer with chronic conditions — and, in direct-access states like Connecticut, they’re turning to physical therapy without seeing a physician first.
“People see PT as a positive, cost-effective alternative with real success,” he says. He also points to the popularity of extreme sports, recreational leagues and athletics. “The wear and tear is real — PT helps people stay active and pursue their passions.”
Dr. Srokowski agrees, noting the rise of wellness culture and PT’s growing role in physical and mental well-being.
“It’s one piece of a much bigger wellness pie,” he says.
Compassion and patient-centered care sit at the heart of FYZICAL’s daily practice and Dr. Srokowski says that begins with empathy and listening.
“We want patients to tell us everything they’re experiencing. When you’ve had trauma or pain, the uncertainty can be scary. So, we explain what’s happening in the body, how structures interact and why each part of treatment matters.”
He believes education is essential to helping patients regain confidence in their movement.
Matt emphasizes that the experience is intentionally personalized from the moment someone walks through the door. The initial evaluation is thorough, calming, and relational.
“You’re working one-on-one with a clinician who really gets to know you,” Matt says. “We also build at-home programs so recovery continues between visits.”
Innovation and technology play a strong supporting role — but doesn’t replace the hands-on skill that defines great physical therapy.
“We’re better at the art of PT when we know how to use the right modalities, mobilize joints and select tissue-specific exercises,” Dr. Srokowski says.
Technology enhances the framework, allowing clinicians to share videos for home programs, streamline note-taking and facilitate communication.
“Technology is an enabler, not a substitute,” Matt adds.
Looking ahead, FYZICAL envisions growth, both clinically and geographically. The Greater Hartford Area is fortunate to have an advanced healthcare ecosystem with leaders like Dr. Cliff Rios and his colleagues at Orthopedic Associates of Hartford providing world class surgical care, the demand for post operation recovery and on-going support is robust.
Dr. Srokowski joined FYZICAL to strengthen their orthopedic services – an expansion of other verticals already supported at FYZICAL including neurological rehabilitation, women’s health and pelvic therapy.
"These specializations allow us to serve a whole new suite of patients who might have gone elsewhere,” Burger says. Convenience will continue to guide their expansion across West Hartford and the Greater Hartford region.
For Dr. Srokowski, the future is about continually elevating care while staying grounded in the purpose that led him to the profession in the first place: helping people move better, feel better, and reconnect with the world around them.
“At the end of the day, movement is life,” he says. “Helping people regain that is the greatest reward.”
FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers
61 South Main St., West Hartford
Phone: 860-733-1200
Online: fyzical.com/west-hartford-ct