Our Story
The vision for MERGE was born in 2015. Dr. Dani LaMartina was working as a physical therapist in a brick-and-mortar clinic, coaching remotely, and consulting remotely for injured strength athletes. These athletes wanted a PT who knows what it’s like to train hard. Desperate to claw their way back to full strength, they needed to bridge the gap between training and rehab.
At that time, only a handful of PTs were using targeted training as a component of rehab, rather than something to which their athletes could return afterwards. By breaking the traditional rehab mold with a blend of scientific knowledge, hands-on experience, and a deep understanding of biomechanics, Dani was able to not only heal these athletes, but empower them to progress safely and sustainably for the long haul.
Although the MERGE vision began with barbell athletes, these rehab principles evolved from Dani’s clinical work with a broad range of patients. Her compassion and heart for serving people and their goals - from carrying kids and unloading groceries to squatting a new personal best - has remained the heartbeat of why and how we do what we do.
At MERGE, we abide by the following core values:
Communication: Open-ended dialogue reflecting curiosity and compassion to respond to evolving needs.
Partnership: Committed to the client’s goals.
Warmth: We solve problems and build lasting relationships with our clients.
Intellectual Honesty: Commitment to grow our knowledge, challenge our beliefs, and remain objective, curious, and empathetic.
Differentiation: We’re athletes and clinicians. We train, compete, work through injuries, and progress.
Our mission statement:
“To equip and propel our clients to their own success in a way they never thought possible.”
About Dani LaMartina, DPT, CSCS:
Dani is a world-ranked powerlifter, Duke University DPT alum, coach, and EliteFTS columnist. She knows what it means to get stronger, get injured, get weaker, and come back stronger yet again.
Dani begin clinical work at age 15, and throughout her career she’s seen the gamut of PT - the good and the bad. While her experience and skill set uniquely qualifies her to work with strength athletes, her goal has - and always will be - to dignify and take care of people from all walks of life.
Throughout her career she’s also learned that most of us have something that sets our souls on fire. For her and Dave, this is strength sports and bodybuilding. She knows all too well that when you can’t do the thing you love, the loss is far more than physical. Whatever it is you do, Dani wants to help you get back to it - better, stronger, and more prepared for the road ahead.
About David LaMartina, CSCS
Dave began lifting at age 15 as means to get into better shape, and he quickly feel in love with all things training. Since then, he’s learned from countless sources, absorbed reams of information, and taken every opportunity to grow himself physically and mentally. His intelligent but relentless approach to training exemplifies the way he faces challenges and dedicates himself to a task. He competed in powerlifting at the national level for years, and he’s now turned his competitive focus towards bodybuilding.
As a coach, Dave seeks to not only provide instruction, but to pass on his love of the training process. He knows the life-altering effects it can have on a person’s life, and regardless of clients’ competitive goals, he wants them to get the same experience. Working with Dave, you’ll grow stronger and smarter with your own training, and you’ll get countless opportunities to break through physical and mental barriers. With Dani’s eyes on your program, you’ll also be empowered to train safely and progressively, and to navigate any injury or obstacle.
