Dr. Valentine Ngo, PT, DPT
Licensed Physical Therapist
Valentine is a licensed physical therapist based in San Diego. She graduated from the University of St. Augustine in 2021 with her Doctorate in Physical Therapy after completing her Bachelors of Science in Biology at the University of California, Irvine in 2018. She loves working with patients of all populations and has enjoyed working with orthopedic, pediatric, geriatric, and neurological patients. After seeing a variety of patients at her first job as a new grad, she has chosen to focus more on working with athletes as she transitions to her own private practice.
Why she chose PT
She has years of experience playing tennis, lacrosse, kung fu, karate, and football, which all sparked her interest in working with athletes. While she was active all her life, she suffered many injuries that were never addressed. A few doctor's appointments with no solution or diagnosis deterred her from truly addressing these injuries as she continued to play sports. With an initial interest in athletic training, she discovered the field of physical therapy in college. She was inspired by these doctors that had a direct impact on patients and could build a relationship with them as they progress through their plan of care. Shocked by how little was known about the benefits of PT in the general public, especially in Asian/minority households, she started to pursue PT in hopes of showing people that there are healthcare professionals who can help.
Currently, she participates in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and hopes to work with more combat athletes to decrease risk of future injuries in this field. Her prior experience working with medically fragile kids, young athletes, vestibular patients, and older adults with multiple comorbidities has prepared her to work with athletes with acute injuries, chronic conditions, and histories of head trauma. While she enjoys working with athletes, she truly values any time spent with patients who need her help. She believes that a good physical therapist can create the optimal environment for patients to reach their fullest potential so that they don't have to settle for pain and dysfunction.
Credentials and Certifications
Licensed physical therapist in the state of California
Certified Functional Range Conditioning mobility specialist (FRCms)
Certified Vestibular Rehabilitation and Concussion Specialist through the American Institute of Balance
Completed the 2022 Learning Movements Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Seminar Series
Certified Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) practitioner
Certified neuromuscular taping practitioner
Testimonials
JJ
“I saw Val for my patellar tendinitis. During my first session with Val for an evaluation, she asked me what I wanted to achieve since I work out regularly. I told her I wanted to become stronger, more flexible, and have better mobility. This personalized approach immediately stood out to me and set the tone for the rest of the sessions.
Now, having completed the sessions, I can confidently say that my experience with Val has been incredibly positive. Val’s expertise and dedication to my progress were evident from the very beginning. Not only did she possess a deep understanding of my condition, but she also tailored each session to address my specific needs and challenges.
Throughout the sessions, Val’s guidance and support were invaluable. She patiently explained each exercise and its purpose, ensuring that I not only performed them correctly but also understood their impact on my recovery. This not only boosted my confidence but also kept me motivated to consistently engage in the exercises between sessions.
What truly set Val apart was her ability to create a comfortable and encouraging environment. Her positive attitude and genuine interest in my progress made the sessions not only productive but also enjoyable.”
GL
“I fell a few months ago and damaged my rotator cuff. The good news was I didn’t need surgery. But I was instructed to see a physical therapist and I was fortunate to meet Valentine (Val) Ngo.
Val asked about my goals (to play golf again), organized a treatment plan consisting of twice weekly, one-hour sessions, and targeted specific exercises to help me achieve my goal. Each session consisted of manual therapy and exercises. The plan was designed to gradually improve my shoulder mobility and muscular strength.
During the time I was in PT, I saw great improvement in shoulder mobility and muscular strength and began playing golf again without pain. In addition, she helped me construct an ongoing exercise plan that I can do at home to ensure the improvements continue.
Val was always very professional and an absolute pleasure to work with. She was sensitive to any physical issues I had prior to the session and used our meeting to address them. If I ever need physical therapy again, I would definitely work with Val again.”
JM
“Dr. Val is an amazing physical therapist and friend. I tore my ACL, and she designed a comprehensive recovery plan that took into consideration my sport, my athletic level and my overall goals for a timeline to be back to 100%. I’ve been able to return to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and I don’t have to think about my knee anymore. I would recommend her for not only injury recovery, but for general injury prevention and sport-specific maintenance.”
