Joanna Lee Hess
PT, DPT
Owner, Physical therapist
Physical Therapist (PT)
Member Since: 2025
Original Join Date: 2025
Professional Bio
Dr. Joanna Hess is a board-certified pelvic health physical therapist known for her warm, evidence-based, and trauma-informed approach. With over 15 years of clinical experience in pelvic health, orthopedics, and sports medicine, she combines high level clinical reasoning with practical, patient-centered care.
She earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy from Washington University in St. Louis, holds certification from the Postural Restoration Institute, and is a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Women’s Health Physical Therapy. Dr. Hess has trained with leading experts and institutions—including the Neuro-Orthopedic Institute, Postural Restoration Institute, Aspetar Sports Hospital, Diane Lee, Linda-Joy Lee, Julie Wiebe, Susan Clinton, and the Herman-Wallace Institute. Actively engaged in advancing the field, she mentors early-career therapists, serves as adjunct faculty at Thomas Jefferson University, reviews APTA pelvic health board applications, and contributes as a peer reviewer for the Journal of Women’s and Pelvic Health
Her care integrates innovative patient education, accessible therapeutic movement, and advanced manual therapies such as myofascial release, dry needling, visceral mobilization, craniosacral therapy, and cupping. Guided by a biopsychosocial framework, she tailors interventions to each individual for optimal outcomes and partners with patients to relieve symptoms, support nervous system regulation, and empower long-term self-management.
Joanna lives in West Philly with her husband and three children. Outside the clinic, she enjoys running, porch sitting, and volunteering in her communities.
She earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy from Washington University in St. Louis, holds certification from the Postural Restoration Institute, and is a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Women’s Health Physical Therapy. Dr. Hess has trained with leading experts and institutions—including the Neuro-Orthopedic Institute, Postural Restoration Institute, Aspetar Sports Hospital, Diane Lee, Linda-Joy Lee, Julie Wiebe, Susan Clinton, and the Herman-Wallace Institute. Actively engaged in advancing the field, she mentors early-career therapists, serves as adjunct faculty at Thomas Jefferson University, reviews APTA pelvic health board applications, and contributes as a peer reviewer for the Journal of Women’s and Pelvic Health
Her care integrates innovative patient education, accessible therapeutic movement, and advanced manual therapies such as myofascial release, dry needling, visceral mobilization, craniosacral therapy, and cupping. Guided by a biopsychosocial framework, she tailors interventions to each individual for optimal outcomes and partners with patients to relieve symptoms, support nervous system regulation, and empower long-term self-management.
Joanna lives in West Philly with her husband and three children. Outside the clinic, she enjoys running, porch sitting, and volunteering in her communities.
ABPTS Board-Certified In
Pelvic and Women's Health
Other Certifications
Postural Restoration Certified, Certified Running Gait Analyst
Languages Spoken
English
Practice Name
HAZEL PHYSICAL THERAPY & WELLNESS
Populations Treated
,
Areas of Expertise
Pelvic Health, Women's Health, Endometriosis, Female Athlete, Hormones, Vaginal Dryness, Labor & Delivery Prep, Pregnancy & Postpartum, Cesarean Incision & Scar Management, Diastasis Rectus Abdominus (DRA), Menstruation Pain, Peri-menopause, Menopause, Male Pelvic Health, Male Pelvic Pain, Male Genital Pain, Male Sexual Health, Transgender Pelvic Health, Bladder Health, Chronic UTI, Interstitial Cystitis (IC), Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS), Nocturia, Stress Incontinence, Urge Incontinence, Urinary Incontinence, Urgency and Frequency, Bowel Health, Bowel Incontinence, Constipation, Orthopedics, Postural Disorders, Sacroiliac Dysfunction, Sciatica, Sexual Health, Sexual Dysfunction, Hernia, Trauma Informed Care, RED-S, Autoimmune, Obesity-Related Conditions, Pelvic Floor Dysfunction, Pelvic Muscle Weakness, Pelvic Muscle Spasm, Dry Needling, Pelvic Organ Prolapse, Rectocele, Cystocele, Uterocele, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Pelvic Pain, Chronic Pelvic Pain, Fibromyalgia, Rectal Pain, Pelvic Girdle Pain, Coccydynia, Pudendal Neuralgia, Vulvodynia, Vaginismus, Dyspareunia, Proctalgia Fugax, Vestibulutis, Vestibulodynia
Practice Setting
Wellness/Prevention/Sports/Fitness Center
Practice Description
At Hazel Physical Therapy, we are experienced, compassionate, evidence-based, board certified specialists in pelvic health placing patients at the heart of our care philosophy. With more than 15 years of hands-on experience and a commitment to ongoing education, Dr. Joanna Hess brings a refreshing, trauma-informed, inclusive and practical perspective to the field of physical therapy for West Philadelphia.
Home Visits
Yes