Sarah Powner is a residency-trained Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) specializing in pelvic health and orthopedic rehabilitation. She primarily works at Activcore in Denver, Colorado.
Sarah began her career in Los Angeles at a private practice before returning to her hometown of Denver in 2025. She is deeply passionate about supporting expecting, new, and long-time mothers, helping them prepare for childbirth and rehabilitate their bodies to return to an active, pain-free lifestyle with confidence. Her mission is to optimize every stage of pregnancy and postpartum through education, individualized care, and fostering a community of strong, informed mothers. She firmly believes that while issues such as urinary leakage and abdominal separation are common, they are NOT normal—and deserve individualized, evidence-based treatment.
Sarah earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Southern California, graduating with highest honors and the Order of the Golden Cane. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science with a minor in Psychology from California Lutheran University, graduating summa cum laude.
Sarah takes a whole-body, systems-based approach to physical therapy. Through advanced training in both orthopedics and pelvic health via a year-long residency at USC, she has developed a unique perspective that allows her to treat the entire person, not just a single body part or pain area. This expertise enables her to provide comprehensive, evidence-based care at the highest level, creating meaningful and lasting results for her clients.
In addition to her clinical work, Sarah serves as adjunct faculty at USC and is an active member of the Pregnancy and Postpartum Special Interest Group of the American Physical Therapy Association, keeping her at the forefront of maternal health research and best practices. She is also the published author of Postpartum Exercise Essentials: A Science-Backed, Clinically Tested, Comprehensive 8-Week Guide to Reconnecting With Your Body and Returning to Exercise Confidently After Delivery.
Outside the clinic, Sarah practices what she preaches. She enjoys staying active through Pilates, hiking, skiing, and HYROX competitions. She also loves exploring Denver’s food scene, cooking, spinning ceramics, and traveling abroad.
CERTIFICATIONS:
I needed help with pelvic floor recovery and diastasis recti rehab after giving birth, but the in-network PT my OBGYN recommended was too far away. So, I researched local options which led me to Dr. Sarah Powner. Initially, I hesitated at the cost of the Mom's Club PT program, but I decided my health was worth the investment. After six months of sessions, my waist returned to its pre-pregnancy size, and I felt stronger and more prepared to resume regular workouts. Despite occasional fatigue that made some exercises tough, consistently doing even a portion of the program significantly improved my recovery.
What truly sets Dr. Sarah apart is her deep understanding of female anatomy, her ability to tailor each session to individual needs, and the genuine enthusiasm she brings to every appointment. Her supportive approach motivated me to stay committed, especially on days I felt discouraged. Working with someone who genuinely believes in their practice was a game- changer for my confidence. If you're on the fence about postpartum PT, I highly recommend working with Dr. Sarah. It was one of the best decisions I made for my postpartum health, and I'd do it again without hesitation.
Dr. Sarah is an absolute expert in her field. Her knowledge of muscle groups, skeletal structure, ligaments, and female anatomy is outstanding, and she tailored every exercise to my body type and recovery needs. The workouts were straightforward, gentle, and highly effective, fitting seamlessly into my daily routine. I could do them in short 15-minute sessions, whether once, twice, or three times a day while caring for my baby. Some of the breathing exercises were even easy to do while sitting at work, helping me engage my core and expand my chest.
For anyone on the fence about postpartum physical therapy, do it! It's the best gift I gave myself after childbirth. I'm so proud of the commitment I made to my recovery, and I'm incredibly grateful to have worked with Dr. Sarah. Her expertise, warmth, and passion for helping new moms regain their strength are truly inspiring. She is the best thing, besides my baby, to come out of my postpartum experience. Hands down, money well spent!
I sprained my ankle at 30 weeks pregnant AND had a shooting pain down my right arm. I was pretty miserable before I started working with Dr. Sarah, but in just a few sessions she found the source of my pain and taught me how to correctly move my body in regards to my growing bump and the extra weight I was carrying around. Working with Dr. Sarah was a game changer because she prepared me with the tools I'd need for a smooth delivery. Everything I learned from her, including breathing exercises, pelvic floor prep, perineal massage, pregnancy posture, and more, not only helped me pop out my baby without any complications but also recover faster. I was up and walking around a few hours after delivery!
Dr. Sarah literally saved me! I was spending so much money on massages and anything else you could think of, when what I really needed to do was adjust my pelvic floor! Suffering from sciatica was becoming unbearable and for me meeting Dr Sarah and her teaching me about small muscles I wasn't using and her making me a personal routine saved my life literally!! I tell everyone about her because she taught me how to use my entire body and not stay stuck only depending on the bigger muscles in my body. Today I do not have pain. I continue to incorporate my routine 3-4 days a week. It takes about 20 min and it's literally 20 minutes that changed my life!
Earlier this year I had a number of issues with my knees and core that made me less active, which led to additional health problems, like increased weight gain. Dr. Sarah put together a plan that helped me rebuild from the ground up, regaining strength and range of motion until I could get back on the hiking trails and in the gym. Five months later, I've lost forty pounds and I'm feeling better than I have in years. I can't recommend this place enough, wish I'd found it sooner!
I started seeing Sarah after having a baby. I began my work out journey again and noticed I was having pain in my knees. I had an initial call and felt like it was the right place because I was committed to doing the work and getting back to feeling good in my body. Through my first few sessions with Sarah, it became clear that a lot of my weakness was stemming from an unstable pelvic floor. Sarah helped me understand what was going on and provided real time adjustments to support my healing. She made me feel empowered and strong. I was able to heal my diastasis recti through her support. I also got stronger in my pelvic floor.
I highly recommend Sarah. She was very knowledgeable, kind and empowering. Final note, this business is for folks that are ready to do the work. There were exercises I needed to do outside of my appointments and while it was a lot to follow, I had a fire within me to heal. I wish this fire for anyone reading this, good luck on your journey.
Dr. Sarah, thank you for the incredible work you did for me. I'm back to a lifestyle that I haven't had in over a year with physical training. Not only am I pain free, but free from the mental fatigue of it all. I hope and pray for the best for you and your team.
I've had lower back pain for over 15 years, along with knee pain on stairs. Sarah created a personalized exercise program that brought me immediate relief after just the first set of take-home exercises. She's incredibly attentive - if anything caused discomfort, she quickly modified it to suit my body while still targeting the right muscles. I felt like I finally made progress. I highly recommend this place!
Sarah was a HUGE help in getting my body realigned and supporting me in a bit of a tune up from an injury. She is so knowledgeable, detailed, and makes the work look so easy. Truly worked wonders. The whole team is so warm, welcoming and focused on getting their clients in tip top shape. Though I hope I do not need to go back in the near future- I will gladly return as needed knowing I'm in great hands (literally).
I very rarely write reviews but I've been working with Dr. Powner off and on for 2 years and she has been extremely effective in treating my stubborn lower back pain. I highly recommend her and this facility.
I had the chance to work with Sarah for some acute low back issues that had started to impact my sleep and daily lifeShe was amazing to work with. She was very thorough during her evaluation yet was able to identify the issues quickly. The education, treatment, and guidance she provided me was critical and she was able to get me back to normal and decrease my pain within 3 sessions. I highly recommend it.
100% worth it. I'm a runner and I came in with Achilles tendinitis I got while training for a marathon. Dr. Sarah did an incredibly thorough assessment to identify weak spots and imbalances contributing to the condition. After several weeks I was feeling stronger and better than ever and soon PRd on a 5K and a half-marathon. Her work did wonders!
I went into physical therapy because my foot was hurt last year and I started limping. Dr. Sarah was very compassionate and listened to all my questions and inquiries. She was very patient and demonstrated all the exercises with clarity. I feel confident that she was able to help me. My injury is gone now and I highly recommend her.
Dr. Sarah Powner was amazing. I was having chronic elbow pain after overdoing it with chin-ups and feeling a weird sensation like my arm was taffy stretching. After suffering for a few months, it wasn't getting better on its own. From reading online, I was sure it was tennis elbow. However, when I went to see Dr. Sarah about it, she checked me out and concluded that it wasn't tennis elbow but rather an irritated nerve. She had me strengthen the shoulder so it could function correctly, so I could stop asking my elbow to do the work that my shoulder should be doing. The pain that had plagued me for months went away almost instantly as we did PT exercises. Dr. Sarah is like a magician for the musculoskeletal system! Thank you so much!
Dr. Sarah is amazing. She quickly diagnosed and treated a misalignment that was deemed untreatable to several other physiotherapists. As a result, my pain decreased significantly in just 2-3 weeks and I was back and working (and travelling) comfortably much more quickly than I thought possible. Thank you!
Dr. Sarah Powner is an amazing PT. I've had mild but annoying lower back pain for over 15 years. I used to see a chiropractor but now understand that's not a long term solution. I tried another PT through my insurance and was discouraged as there was little science behind the sessions and it seemed like a waste of time. It was a cheap co-pay but ineffective. I took a chance after seeing really good reviews and their Instagram that was filled with evidence based information. I'm so glad I did. Dr. Powner is thorough with her assessment and explanations. She provides great cues for accurately performing the exercises.
Dr Sarah is one of the most knowledgeable physical therapists I have come across who has an in-depth understanding of what is going on with your aches and pains after initial assessment & was quickly able to show results with first exercise, that's experience and knowledge put to practice.
I came here to treat an injury because the other treatment options were not satisfactory. I have never had so little difficulty making an appointment, being treated, or receiving replies from medical professionals. They welcomed over the hill with enthusiasm, professionalism, and warmth. I not only improved my initial injury but rehabbed other areas needing help. Dr. Powner showed patience and a wealth of knowledge, while changing up my treatments on a moment's notice, to make me better. We may not be done as I'm not getting any younger but I'm also not slowing down thanks to the treatment I received here.
Dr. Powner and her team were professional, thorough and had excellent customer service. I had atraumatic lower back pain that impacted my ability to workout. I had tried PT through my insurance with no results. From the first session, I felt confident that Dr. Powner knew what she was doing. She provided a comprehensive assessment and plan at each visit and gave me detailed "homework" to continue her plan between visits. Her sessions provided a framework for me to continue my fitness and health journey. I am truly grateful for all her help. Dr. Powner and her team are worth every penny and I recommend their services without any reservation.
I've always struggled with issues in my back, legs, and other areas, constantly dealing with pain throughout my body. There were times when I couldn't even sit properly due to the severity of my back pain. Over the years, I've worked with multiple doctors and therapists, but none of the treatments fully addressed the problem. The pain would always return after a short period. After meeting with Dr. Sarah, she patiently worked with me to address my problems. Dr. Sarah's treatment has changed my life. I no longer live with the recurring pain in my back and legs, and I can now sit for extended periods without discomfort. I'm deeply appreciative of her education and treatment, which have significantly improved my health and life. I highly recommend this group to all. All of the doctors and staff are friendly and professional.
Worked very closely with Sarah. I've done physical therapy twice now (at different organizations) and what I've realized is that physical therapy is a very-very exact science. What I appreciated about Sarah is she takes exact science very seriously. She knows EVERY muscle and assesses exactly what muscles need to be supported and strengthened. She analyzes and writes down angles of movement range to track progress and see where work needs to be done, she works with you specifically on the exact posture and position you need to do in order for the exercise to be effective. It's because of all of this that I not only healed and got back range of motion but also understood what was happening through the process. I would obviously highly-highly-highly recommend it.
Just got home from my physical therapy appointment. Sarah Powner my PT spent a whole hour assessing me.. She was very informative and thorough. I gave her very detailed information about the areas I am having challenges with and felt heard and cared for. I was able to tell her exactly what I was feeling throughout my body, my expectations and goals and that is important to me.
I went to see Dr. Sarah and her knowledge and skills to listen to how you're currently feeling was great. She took the time to explain to me why my shoulder could be feeling the way it has been and demonstrated exercises prior to me trying them out for myself. My shoulder was feeling better even after 1 session. The office is clean and all the providers were very welcoming!
I highly recommend this team! I came here with pain in my SI joint (after a couple of unsuccessful chiro appts) and just after the initial session, I felt so much better. As the sessions went on, Dr. Sarah (who is amazing btw) was able to help me pin point additional issues that were causing pain throughout my body (shoulder, lower back, ankle). What I appreciated the most was how educational each session was. I had a billion questions each time and Dr. Sarah was so patient with me and explained what was going on in my body in a very clear way + provided feedback on what I should be doing during my workouts. Not only was I able to walk away pain free, but I had gained a lot of knowledge that I'm sure will be helpful in the future. After each session, the team updates a shared doc with all of the exercises we talked about so I could do them at home. The atmosphere is also great! You can tell the team likes to work with each other and everyone is super friendly. If you're looking to fix a specific problem or aren't even sure where the problem is coming from, I really recommend them!
Dr Sarah Powner is an exceptional PT, with an impressive ability to digest a lot of background information, assess every aspect of pain & range of motion, and clearly educate her clients - even those of us who lack a scientific/medical background. She has amazing time management skills and fits a LOT into an hour. Additionally, the facilities are immaculate - something I also value greatly.
Dr. Sarah worked with both my teens. She's GREAT. Very thorough and detailed. I'm so glad I found an PT who understands teen athletes, their development, and can grow with them. Thank you!!
I've always struggled with issues in my back, legs, and other areas, constantly dealing with pain throughout my body. There were times when I couldn't even sit properly due to the severity of my back pain. Over the years, I've worked with multiple doctors and therapists, but none of the treatments fully addressed the problem. The pain would always return after a short period. After meeting with Dr. Sarah, she patiently worked with me to address my problems. Dr. Sarah's treatment has changed my life. I no longer live with the recurring pain in my back and legs, and I can now sit for extended periods without discomfort. I'm deeply appreciative of their education and treatment, which have significantly improved my health and life.
Dr. Sarah was extremely knowledgeable and did an incredible job of evaluating my needs throughout the several weeks I received treatment. Providing me with exercises that not only strengthened my weak points but also helped with any imbalances that I may have had. After a couple weeks of doing the exercises I was able to run pretty much pain free and we started to focus a bit more on strength training in the following sessions. We finished my final PT session confident going into the race and I was able to PB in the half- marathon feeling stronger than the last. I can confidently say that I would not have felt as strong if not for the help of Sarah.
Shoutout Dr. Sarah! It's obvious that she knows her stuff, and will work endlessly with you to diagnose and address your problem. Make no mistake, it's still on the individual to do the exercises at home, but it's easier to do so knowing that following the plan will lead to desired results. I'd go back here for any PT needs, even given the fact that they're out of my insurance coverage network. I highly recommend them!
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