Dr. Montiero believes the root causes of bodily injuries stems from the way people move around in everyday life. “Many of our aches, pains, and injuries come from lifelong bad habits. Walking in over-cushioned and restricting footwear, texting, driving, even the way we rest and go to the bathroom lead to poor postures and vulnerability to injury.”

Dr. Jonny Monteiro Adds “Whole Person” Perspective to Promoting Brain Health for Younger Audience

Dr. Jonny Monteiro was recently named to the Young Professionals Brain Health Advisory Council at the Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona. He has also served on their Advisory Council for a year, raising awareness of the importance of brain health as part of overall well-being.

This is the latest achievement in the blossoming career of the 29-year-old physical therapist from Long Beach, CA.

Dr. Montiero believes the root causes of bodily injuries stems from the way people move around in everyday life. “Many of our aches, pains, and injuries come from lifelong bad habits. Walking in over-cushioned and restricting footwear, texting, driving, even the way we rest and go to the bathroom lead to poor postures and vulnerability to injury.”

Growing up in southern California with five siblings, his days were filled with sports. When his family moved to Phoenix, he played basketball on two high school teams—Higley and Perry. However, it was his academic prowess that earned him a scholarship to Arizona State University, where he received a B.S. in Kinesiology.

He was fascinated with biology and figured he was headed for a career in medicine or physical therapy. Interning at an urgent care center was a real eye-opener. While patients’ immediate symptoms were treated, he saw the need for a closer relationship with their medical practitioner for long-lasting recovery.

It was this desire to take a “whole person” view of each patient that led him to earn his doctorate in Physical Therapy from A.T. Still University in 2018. To further emphasize his belief in this one-on-one approach, he opened AthElite Performance Therapy in Phoenix. With a personal understanding of athletic competition and kinesiology, Dr. Monteiro made an observation that would shape his approach: “My patients were mostly athletes who had been treated by physical therapists but kept getting injured. Even worse, they would get depressed and frustrated, which compounded their problem.”

He believes the root causes of bodily injuries stems from the way people move around in everyday life. “Many of our aches, pains, and injuries come from lifelong bad habits. Walking in over-cushioned and restricting footwear, texting, driving, even the way we rest and go to the bathroom lead to poor postures and vulnerability to injury,” he explains.

Far from providing easy answers to complex issues, Dr. Monteiro asks us to consider what would be required for long-term, patient-focused healing and health. “Think about it: With so many advancements, why are injuries increasing here?  It’s clear that the current treatment of quick fixes is leading to injuries that include brain trauma,” he says. “We need to establish healthier, natural skeletal structures, as seen in many indigenous people around the world.”

His interest in creating a comprehensive, relationship-based treatment plan for those he works with dovetails perfectly with his own experience as an athlete.

“Jonny’s unique approach represents our commitment to exploring ways to bring health awareness to people of all ages,” affirms Scot Taggart, the Young Professionals Chair. “The earlier someone begins building healthy habits, the better off they will be.”

Brittany Sweeney-Lawson, CBIS, is the program manager for the Brain Injury Alliance and appreciates practitioners like Dr. Monteiro. “He is able to recognize symptoms that could indicate brain injury. Consequently, he alerts his patients to this possibility and refers them to us for free resources and programs.”

Since the Brain Injury Alliance serves people at any age or stage of brain injury, Brittany is pleased that younger voices from so many different backgrounds are being strongly represented through the Young Professionals Council. “The fact that Dr. Monteiro is part of our Council indicates how important it has become to consider the whole body experience when addressing brain health,” she shares.

At the end of the day, Dr. Monteiro does what he does because he likes people and seeing them thrive. He attests that knowledge is not just a source of power for those healing from injury—it’s a necessity. “Giving [them] greater access to resources and programs they didn’t even know existed often surprises them,” he says. “We need to increase that awareness [for what’s available] throughout Arizona and the country.”

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ABOUT BRAIN INJURY ALLIANCE OF ARIZONA

The Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona (BIAAZ) is the only statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of adults and children with all types of brain injuries through prevention, advocacy, awareness and education. BIAAZ also houses the Arizona Brain Health Resource Center, a collection of educational information and neuro-specific resources for brain injury survivors, caregivers, family members and professionals.

What began in 1983 as a grassroots effort has grown into a strong statewide presence, providing valuable life-long resources and community support for individuals with all types of brain trauma at no charge.

The Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona:

• Works with Congressional Brain Injury Task Force
• Houses Arizona Brain Health Resource Center
• Hosts Statewide Opioid Use Disorder & Cognitive Impairment Workgroup
• Has Statewide Opioid Use Disorder & Cognitive Impairment Response team with peer support, training, and family wraparound services
• Facilitates Brain Health Advisory Council
• Manages statewide Neuro Info-Line: 888-500-9165