Physical Therapy · North Liberty, IA

For the pain nobody could explain.

You’ve been told it’s just stress, just aging, just something you live with. Twenty-four years and a fellowship in pain science say otherwise. One cause-first evaluation is how you find out what’s actually going on.

Book My Free Consult See What We Treat
★ 4.9 79 Google Reviews
A physical therapist at Motion Matters guiding a seated patient through a dumbbell exercise in the clinic
Mon to Fri, 8am to 5pm
Licensed Physical Therapists No Referral Needed 4.9 on Google 24 Years of Experience One-on-One, Every Visit Benefits Checked Up Front

What We Treat

Sound familiar?

Point to where it hurts. We’ll show you how we fix it.

Front-facing body model highlighting seven common areas we treat
2

Shoulder Pain

Reaching for the top shelf and stopping halfway: rotator cuff pain, frozen shoulder, that catch every time you lift overhead.

Learn More about Shoulder Pain
View All Conditions

The 30-Second Pain Check

Not sure where to start?

Three taps. No forms. Most pain like yours is fixable. See for yourself.

Where does it hurt?

Services

Care for every kind of comeback.

Whether you’re post-surgery, postpartum, or years into pain nobody has explained yet, there’s a plan for you here.

A Motion Matters physical therapist coaching a seated patient through a dumbbell press in the clinic Physical Therapy Everyone Post-op Chronic pain One-on-one, hands-on care with a licensed physical therapist, every single visit. A person holding a bridge position on an exercise mat, a core exercise used in pelvic floor therapy Pelvic Floor Therapy Postpartum Pelvic pain Leaking, pressure, and pelvic pain treated properly, by someone who does this every week. Gloved hands placing a dry needling needle into a patient's upper back at Motion Matters Dry Needling Stubborn knots Chronic tightness Precise trigger-point work for the knot that has outlasted everything else you tried. A person sitting with eyes closed and hands together in a calm, breath-focused position Yoga-Informed PT Trauma-informed Nervous system Breath and movement that teach your nervous system to stand down. Therapist's hands working along the shoulder of a patient lying face up on a treatment table Manual Therapy Hands-on Mobility Hands-on joint and soft tissue work that gives the exercises something to build on.
View All 15 Services

The Recovery Journey

A plan you can see. Progress you can feel.

You’ll never wonder if it’s working. Four phases, each with a job, a timeline, and a way to know you’ve earned the next one.

Phase 1 of 4

Weeks 1–2

Pain

Calm the pain down.

  • Hands-on treatment starting your very first visit
  • Pain education so you understand what’s really going on
  • Quick wins early so you trust the plan
A woman wincing with her hand on the side of her neck, the kind of pain the first phase calms down

Weeks 2–6

Prime

Get your motion back.

  • Targeted mobility work for the joints and tissue holding you back
  • Exercise dosed to your body, not a generic sheet
  • Movement retraining so old habits stop reloading the problem
Therapist's hands mobilising the shoulder of a patient lying face up on a treatment table

Weeks 6–10

Perform

Make it strong enough to trust.

  • Progressive loading that builds real capacity, not just tolerance
  • Strength standards you have to hit before moving on
  • Confidence under load, so you stop bracing for pain
A man standing at his desk working through a shoulder and arm strengthening exercise

Weeks 10+

Prevent

Make sure it never comes back.

  • Sport- and life-specific testing before you’re cleared
  • A simple keep-it-gone program built for your real schedule
  • Clear graduation criteria: you’ll know exactly when you’re done
A person resting in child's pose on a mat, part of the keep-it-gone stretching and breath work

Not sure which phase you’re in? That’s exactly what the evaluation is for.

Get My Plan

Real Comebacks

Six weeks after hip surgery, still couldn’t walk without a cane

Left the cane behind on the first day and walked out with no devices

Post-op hip rehab 1st visit

Months of pain that nothing had settled

Pain free, with every exercise adjusted session by session

Persistent pain 6 weeks

Bad discs at L4 and L5, back and leg hurting, and surgery already on the table

Back stopped hurting, surgery declined, pain clinic injection cancelled

Back pain & sciatica 2 visits

Back pain he had accepted as part of middle age, posture getting steadily worse

No back pain, and standing an inch or two taller

Yoga & back pain 3 months

Years without that much freedom of movement in his back

Walked out of one dry needling session moving freely again

Dry needling 1 session

Her daughter in intense pain, barely able to walk

Walking without a limp, running, jumping, and four days at Disney with the school band

Teen chronic pain A few months

Six weeks after hip surgery, still couldn’t walk without a cane

Left the cane behind on the first day and walked out with no devices

Post-op hip rehab 1st visit

Months of pain that nothing had settled

Pain free, with every exercise adjusted session by session

Persistent pain 6 weeks

Bad discs at L4 and L5, back and leg hurting, and surgery already on the table

Back stopped hurting, surgery declined, pain clinic injection cancelled

Back pain & sciatica 2 visits

Back pain he had accepted as part of middle age, posture getting steadily worse

No back pain, and standing an inch or two taller

Yoga & back pain 3 months

Years without that much freedom of movement in his back

Walked out of one dry needling session moving freely again

Dry needling 1 session

Her daughter in intense pain, barely able to walk

Walking without a limp, running, jumping, and four days at Disney with the school band

Teen chronic pain A few months

The Numbers

Proof, in numbers.

24+

Years Experience

68

5-Star Reviews

24

Conditions Treated

4.9 on Google 79 verified reviews No referral needed We check your benefits

Why Motion Matters Physical Therapy and Wellness

You’ve maybe done PT before. Not like this.

A lot of people land here after somewhere handed them a printout and a heat pack. Here’s what’s different when a licensed physical therapist owns your whole visit.

A Motion Matters physical therapist assessing a patient’s hip and knee during a standing movement test
Inside the Motion Matters clinic: a therapist working one-on-one with a patient against the yellow wall
One-on-one Every visit
01

One-on-one, every visit

You’ll never be handed off to a tech or share your therapist with three other patients.

02

A licensed physical therapist, every time

Every session is with a licensed licensed physical therapist, not an aide.

03

No referral needed

In IA, you can start PT without seeing your physician first. We handle the paperwork if your insurance needs it.

04

We handle the insurance maze

We verify your benefits before your first visit, so there are no surprise bills.

Your First Visit

Know exactly what to expect.

No mystery, no surprises: here’s your first hour with us, minute by minute.

0:00

You’re greeted by name.

Paperwork’s already done: you did it at home. Straight back, no waiting room purgatory.

0:05

We watch how you move.

A full movement assessment, not just where it hurts, but why it hurts.

0:25

Treatment starts today.

Hands-on work in the very first visit. You’ll feel the difference before you leave.

0:55

You leave with the plan.

What’s going on, how long it’ll take, and exactly what happens next.

One hour. You walk out knowing what’s wrong, how long it takes, and what happens next.

Book My First Visit

Meet the Team

The people behind your recovery.

Three licensed physical therapists. You see the same one every visit.

Natalie Johnston, MPT, owner and founder of Motion Matters Physical Therapy and Wellness

Natalie Johnston, MPT

Owner and Founder, Physical Therapist

  • MPT
  • Fellow in Pain Sciences
  • Lifestyle Medicine

“We specialize in holistic healthcare for complex pain conditions.”

Ask me about

Chronic and complex pain, and how yoga teaches an overactive nervous system to settle

Book with Natalie
Dr. Adam Janowski, PT, DPT, PhD, physical therapist at Motion Matters

Dr. Adam Janowski, PT, DPT, PhD

Physical Therapist

  • DPT
  • PhD

“My favorite part of my job is getting to see how different we all are as individuals and tailoring my treatment intervention to our unique characteristics.”

Ask me about

Chronic fatigue and chronic pain syndromes, including ME/CFS, long COVID and fibromyalgia

Book with Dr. Janowski
Dr. Alex Furtado, DPT, CPPC, physical therapist at Motion Matters

Dr. Alex Furtado, DPT, CPPC

Physical Therapist

  • DPT
  • CPPC

“I am dedicated to providing person-centered care where you are actively heard, and we are collaborating together towards your health and wellness goals.”

Ask me about

Pelvic health, postpartum recovery, and birth-informed physical therapy

Book with Dr. Furtado
Meet the Whole Team

Patient Stories

Real people. Real comebacks.

  • I went to Natalie at Motion Matters for lingering back pain after a bulging disc, and I’m so glad I did. I had previously tried physical therapy twice but nothing fully resolved the issue. She is incredibly knowledgeable about how the body works and does a great job of identifying the cause of the problem.

    Kris K. · Back pain after a bulging disc

I Ian B.

Best PT experience I’ve ever had. Natalie is super in-tune with what you need as a patient and as a person. Would highly recommend Motion Matters for anyone in need of PT, even more so if you are hypermobile.

via Google

R Rhode A.

6 weeks post hip surgery, I wasn’t able to walk without a cane. First day with Natalie and her treatment, I left the cane and was walking with no devices. Since then my improvement has been remarkable.

via Google

K Karlee S.

Natalie was such a great resource during some of the most physically painful moments of my life. She really knows how to adapt treatment depending on the patient, she listens and brainstorms with you to make sure you are setting tangible goals.

via Google

M Monica F.

Natalie at Motion Matters has helped me tremendously. I suffer from hypermobility, EDS, arthritis and neurological migraines. She is compassionate, easy to talk to, and so knowledgeable.

via Google

D Deanne M.

Natalie listened carefully each session to adjust and improve each exercise. After months of pain and now after 6 weeks at Motion Matters, I’m pain free.

via Google

E Eric E.

I had an incredible experience with Natalie at Motion Matters PT. One session that stood out to me was dry needling with electrical stimulation on my back. It was life changing.

via Google

A Ashley C.

My son injured his knee during a weight lifting incident while training in the off season. I reached out to Natalie Johnston’s office in hopes of getting him seen quickly before summer lifting and conditioning began.

via Google

J Jeff E.

I received a thoughtful and professional treatment at Motion Matters. I have severe spinal problems which Natalie is slowly, but steadily correcting. I have been to many Physical Therapists and she is the best for pain treatment and permanent correction.

via Google

O Olga K.

I’ve came to Natalie with a complex muscle/nerve damage of my bicep/rotator cuff/shoulder blade that was over 6 months old and slowly getting worse. I’ve tried some other remedies and a different techniques without much help then my doctor reffered me to this place.

via Google

B Brenda E.

Natalie is the very best Physical Therapist my family has ever had. We suffer from Hypermobility Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) primarily for PT services. She addressed all of our health concerns with empathy and knew how to help without causing our bodies further injury.

via Google

K Karen W.

I went to Natalie for joint stiffness. She was great to work with and in a short amount of time I was on my way to recovery. Natalie gave me the exercises to move forward and to manage daily activities. I only wished I had gone to see her sooner!

via Google

H Harleah B.

Great woman-owned business focusing on getting clients back to their best functional level. I’ve been to many physical therapists but Natalie beats them all. Knowledgeable, caring, and focused on you and your goals.

via Google

★ 4.9 rating · 79 Google reviews

Read them all →

Live From Google

Don’t take our word for it.

Every review below is pulled live from Google. We can’t edit them. That’s the point.

Live Google reviews load here. If they do not appear, read them directly on Google using the link below.

Read every review on Google

The Honest Truth

Pain rarely waits with you.

Here’s what actually happens in the next 90 days, on both paths.

If you keep waiting

  • Your body compensates: other joints quietly pick up the slack
  • Simple problems layer into complicated ones
  • The workouts, walks, and weekends keep shrinking
  • Painkillers manage the noise, not the cause

If you start this week

  • A licensed physical therapist finds the actual cause: visit one
  • Hands-on treatment starts the same day
  • A phase-by-phase plan with an endpoint, not endless visits
  • The same therapist, who already knows your history, every visit

Nobody regrets starting too early. Every week, someone in our clinic says they regret waiting.

Start My Comeback

The Boring Stuff, Handled

Insurance and paperwork, without the headache.

We check your coverage first

Insurance is the part everyone dreads. So we do it for you: send us your plan details and we verify exactly what is covered and what it costs before your first visit, then call you with a real number. No surprise bills, no guessing at the front desk.

Not sure whether your plan works here? That is exactly what we check. Call us: (319) 382-2743

Free benefits check

Send us your insurance details and we’ll verify your exact coverage and cost, then call you with the answer. No guessing at the front desk.

All fields are required unless marked optional.

Your details are used only to verify your coverage. We’ll call within one business day with your exact cost.

Questions, Answered

Everything you’re wondering before you book.

Straight answers: no medical jargon, no runaround.

An evaluation that looks for the cause, not just the sore spot. We go through your history, watch how you move, and test what actually hurts. Then hands-on treatment the same day, exercises chosen for you, and a plain explanation of what we found. Come rested, and tell us what pain medication you have taken that day so your therapist can set the intensity accordingly.

Usually not. Iowa has direct access for physical therapy, so you can consult a licensed physical therapist without a physician’s referral. Medicare is the exception: that plan does require one. If your plan needs paperwork from a doctor, tell us and we will chase it down so it does not delay your start.

We accept Blue Cross Blue Shield and Medicare Part B. Beyond those it depends on your plan, and the rest comes down to your deductible and your visit limits. You should not have to decode that by yourself. Send us your information and we will check your benefits for you, then tell you what we find before your first visit.

Wear comfortable, loose clothing you can move easily in, nothing that restricts circulation. Depending on what we are treating, your therapist may suggest particular shoes or a brace. Bring anything from your medical history that might help: X-rays, ultrasounds, and your doctor’s notes. A photo ID and your insurance card, if you have one, get the paperwork done faster.

Visits run about 30 to 60 minutes, depending on your condition and the techniques used. Two to three visits a week for four to six weeks is the usual range, and you get a real estimate at your evaluation. Your plan moves through four phases: Pain, Prime, Perform, Prevent. Every situation is different, though you can expect to start seeing change within a few weeks. This is a plan with an endpoint, and your therapist tells you plainly when you have hit your goals and are ready to be done.

Tell your therapist the moment it happens. You are never expected to push through pain quietly to prove something. The intensity or the technique gets adjusted right then, so treatment stays comfortable enough to actually work. Nothing is ever done to you here without an explanation first.

Yes, you will have exercises, chosen for you and dosed for where you are. That home work is what makes the progress hold between visits. Follow it as written, and check with your therapist before you add anything new. Questions about your condition or your plan are welcome before a visit, after a visit, or over the phone in between. You will never be left guessing about your own body.

Book Your Visit

Ready when you are.

Request a time and a real person calls you back. No phone tree. No ‘someone will reach out.’ Just a plan.

  • Hours Mon-Fri: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • (319) 382-2743 Prefer to talk now? Call us.
  • No referral needed in Iowa

4.9 · 79 Google reviews

Typical response: under 2 business hours

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So we know who to look for when you walk in.

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Motion Matters Physical Therapy and Wellness

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