Women’s Health Physical Therapy in Alexandria, VA

Dr. Kate Hovde is a physical therapist specializing in pelvic floor physical therapy, women’s health, and oncology rehabilitation. She is passionate about helping women navigate pelvic health concerns throughout the lifespan, including urinary incontinence, urinary urgency and frequency, constipation, pelvic pain, painful intercourse, and changes associated with perimenopause and menopause. She also has specialized training in lymphedema management and works with women during and after treatment for pelvic cancers and other cancers affecting pelvic health and function.

Kate’s path to women’s health physical therapy began after a 22-year career in the military as a medevac pilot. As she prepared for military retirement and transitioned into motherhood, her own postpartum experience gave her a new perspective on the gaps that exist in women’s healthcare.

After seeking physical therapy for her postpartum recovery, Kate discovered firsthand how difficult it could be to find clinicians with the specialized pelvic health training women need. After spending months of her limited self-care time as a new mother without getting the answers or results she was looking for, she knew she wanted to provide women with a different experience—one where their concerns are taken seriously and they receive knowledgeable, individualized care.

Her passion has since expanded beyond pregnancy and postpartum to caring for women experiencing pelvic floor dysfunction during perimenopause and menopause, as well as those navigating the effects of cancer treatment, medically induced menopause, surgery, radiation, and lymphedema. Her interest in oncology rehabilitation is also deeply personal, shaped in part by witnessing her sister’s breast cancer diagnosis at just 40 years old.

Kate believes symptoms like leaking, urgency, constipation, pelvic pressure, and pain should not simply be accepted as a normal part of motherhood, aging, menopause, or cancer treatment. Her goal is to help women better understand what is happening in their bodies and give them the tools, strength, and confidence to return to the activities that matter to them.

At Athena Wellness & Physical Therapy, Kate is proud to provide compassionate, evidence-based pelvic health and oncology physical therapy to women in Fort Hunt, Alexandria, Mount Vernon, and the surrounding Northern Virginia community. She is committed to creating a space where women feel comfortable discussing concerns that are often difficult to talk about—and where they feel heard, supported, and empowered throughout their care.

My background is in science, research and design, and program management. After completing my PhD, I spent much of my career helping develop health-related tools, systems, and programs focused on protecting and supporting military populations. Over time, I realized I wanted to apply those same skills and experiences more directly to helping people navigate recovery, healing, and long-term wellness.

My own experiences during pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and cancer survivorship deeply shaped the way I view healthcare and recovery. I saw firsthand how many people are left trying to rebuild strength, confidence, energy, and function after treatment or major life changes without enough guidance or support within a fragmented healthcare system. That experience sparked a passion for bridging the gap between healthcare, movement, recovery, and everyday life.

In many ways, it felt like a natural shift in who I wanted to dedicate my work toward protecting and supporting. I now feel called to focus my efforts on women, mothers, and cancer survivors navigating some of the most vulnerable and transformative seasons of their lives.

I’m especially drawn to oncology recovery, women’s health, and helping people safely rebuild strength in ways that are realistic, sustainable, and compassionate. I believe movement can be empowering, but it should also meet people where they are — including during low-energy days, periods of uncertainty, or seasons of rebuilding.

What drew me to Athena is the whole-person approach to wellness and recovery. I love that we focus not only on rehabilitation, but also on education, prevention, strength, community, and helping people feel seen and supported throughout all stages of life and healing.

I’m also passionate about helping people better understand and track their own health, recovery, and progress in ways that feel empowering rather than overwhelming.

My goal is to create a supportive environment where clients feel safe starting wherever they are, even on the hard days.

Dr. Sara Acheson is the founder of Athena Wellness & Physical Therapy. She specializes in breast cancer rehabilitation, oncology physical therapy, pelvic floor physical therapy, and orthopedic care for women throughout the lifespan.

Sara earned her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Emory University in 2015. After completing an orthopedic residency, she became a Board-Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist in 2017. That same year, she completed an upper extremity lymphedema certification, where she discovered her passion for working with women undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

Wanting to better understand the complex shoulder, upper extremity, and functional changes that can occur during and after cancer treatment, Sara completed an Upper Extremity Athlete Fellowship with a focus on breast cancer recovery in 2019. She has since dedicated much of her career to helping women manage the effects of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and hormonal therapies, including pain, stiffness, weakness, lymphedema, fatigue, neuropathy, and difficulty returning to exercise and everyday activities.

As she worked more closely with women undergoing cancer treatment, Sara also recognized how frequently pelvic health concerns, sexual health changes, and medically induced menopause affected her patients. This led her to expand her training into pelvic floor physical therapy and comprehensive women’s health care.

Today, Sara works with women across all stages of life, including those navigating pregnancy and postpartum recovery, pelvic floor dysfunction, breast and pelvic cancers, perimenopause and menopause, osteoporosis and osteopenia, joint pain, and orthopedic injuries.

Sara is a strong advocate for the Prospective Surveillance Model of Care in cancer rehabilitation, which emphasizes evaluating patients before or early in cancer treatment and continuing to monitor strength, mobility, function, and quality of life throughout treatment and survivorship.

Outside of the clinic, Sara is a mom of two young children and can usually be found trying to keep up with them and enjoying time with her family.

Stephanie earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from The George Washington University. She began her career at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD, specializing in wound care in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Later, she expanded her expertise in Northern Virginia working in home health, providing both wound care and traditional physical therapy services.

Becoming a parent sparked Stephanie’s interest in pelvic health, a passion that grew while living abroad in Germany. There, she experienced a different model of pre- and post-partum care, which inspired her to deepen her training. Upon returning to the U.S., she completed specialized training through the Herman & Wallace Institute and practiced in outpatient orthopedics and pelvic health.

Stephanie joined Athena Wellness to provide care that reflects her values: holistic, individualized, and low-stress.

Outside of work, Stephanie enjoys life with her husband and two children. She has also discovered a love for Olympic weightlifting, finding joy in challenging herself and getting stronger with the barbell.