A boutique, physical therapy, and wellness studio founded by Elisa Passaro, PT, offering one-on-one, evidence-based care designed to restore balance, strength, and vitality.
At Radical1, every session is personal. As a licensed physical therapist, Elisa blends clinical precision with an integrative, whole-body approach — merging movement, recovery, and wellness to help you feel your best from the inside out.
This is not a clinic; it’s a private experience. A space where your healing begins within, guided by expertise, compassion, and purpose.
Radical1 is where recovery becomes renewal — and therapy becomes a lifestyle of wellness.
With over three decades of experience as a licensed Physical Therapist, Elisa Passaro, PT brings a rare blend of clinical mastery, intuition, and heart-centered care to every session. After earning her degree in Physical Therapy in 1994, she spent years refining her expertise in orthopedic and sports medicine before creating Radical1 Therapy — a private, boutique practice devoted to healing through connection, movement, and mindful precision.
Elisa’s passion lies in helping clients feel strong, capable, and at peace within their bodies. Her approach is deeply personal and hands-on — merging advanced manual therapy, movement re-education, and restorative training in a serene, one-on-one setting.
Guided by both science and intuition, she creates individualized pathways for recovery and renewal, helping clients not only return to movement but rediscover confidence and alignment.
Outside the studio, Elisa finds balance through weight training, meditation, travel, and spending time in nature. Guided by one belief — that healing begins with love — her work celebrates the beauty of authentic connection and the transformative power of care.
At Radical1, “boutique” means full one-on-one care — you see the same licensed physical therapist (not an aide or tech) for the entire session. This allows for more personalized, responsive treatment and better outcomes. Unlike high-volume clinics where 2–4 patients may share an hour, we focus on quality, not quantity.
We’re located at 37555 N. Hum Road, Suite 107, Carefree, AZ 85377, with a presence at the Carefree Galleria building.
We specialize in post-surgical rehabilitation, musculoskeletal pain (e.g. back, knee, shoulder), sports injuries, and movement dysfunction. Our integrative approach uses manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, and hands-on adjustments to help restore optimal function.
We offer self-pay / cash-based services, which gives us the flexibility to spend more time with each patient and avoid insurance limitations. If you have questions about cost or payment options, contact us directly and we’ll walk you through it.
Because we provide boutique, personalized care, each session is typically 60 minutes During that time, your therapist remains fully engaged (no hand-offs) and adapts the plan continuously based on your progress.
Please bring any relevant medical imaging (MRI, X-rays), physician referral (if applicable), and any prior physical therapy or rehab records. Wear comfortable workout clothing so we can assess your movement. Arrive 10–15 minutes early to complete any new patient intake forms.
The number of visits depends on the nature and severity of your condition, your goals, and how your body responds to treatment. After your initial evaluation, your therapist will propose a personalized plan with an approximate timeline that we’ll adjust as you progress.
At Radical1, continuity of care is paramount. You will see the same licensed physical therapist (Elisa Passaro, PT, or a designated partner) for each session, ensuring consistency, accountability, and personalized adjustments over time.
Manual therapy involves skilled, hands-on techniques—such as joint mobilization, soft tissue manipulation, and controlled stretching. At Radical1, manual therapy is integrated with movement-based exercises to help reduce pain, improve mobility, and restore functional movement.
While home exercises are a component, boutique PT includes real-time feedback, manual correction, progression, and adaptation. We continually monitor form, respond to pain or compensation, and adjust the program in session — something home routines lack.
In many cases, yes — we often integrate strength, conditioning, and sport-specific training into the rehab process. We’ll coordinate your exercise load, rest, and progression so you stay active safely and rebuild performance.
You can contact us at (480) 687-7535, email elisa@radicalrecoverypt.com, or use our online contact form via the website. We’ll guide you through intake, scheduling, and answer any questions along the way.
While individual results vary, many patients experience reduced pain, increased strength and mobility, better movement quality, fewer compensations, and a return to their usual activities or sport — often faster and more sustainably than under generic care models.
Yes — Radical1 offers in-home physical therapy sessions for patients in the North Scottsdale and Carefree areas. In-home visits are ideal for post-surgical recovery, limited mobility, or anyone who prefers the comfort and convenience of being treated at home. Contact us to see if in-home care is right for you.
Manual therapy is a hands-on treatment approach that targets the body’s joints, muscles, and connective tissues to improve motion, relieve pain, and restore proper function. At Radical Recovery Physical Therapy, we integrate several advanced manual therapy techniques into our care plans based on each patient’s unique needs:
Joint Mobilization
When a joint becomes restricted — often from injury, poor posture, or overuse — surrounding muscles can tighten and cause pain. With joint mobilization, your therapist applies gentle, rhythmic movements to the affected joint using precise amplitude and slow velocity. These small, controlled oscillations help loosen the joint capsule, improve lubrication, and restore motion that you can’t achieve on your own. Unlike stretching or exercise, joint mobilization directly targets the joint mechanics to relieve stiffness and improve alignment.
Maitland Method
The Maitland® Concept is a specialized manual therapy approach that focuses on assessing and treating pain and stiffness in the musculoskeletal system. Using passive and accessory joint mobilizations, the therapist works to create subtle movement within stiff or painful joints. This helps reduce pain, improve range of motion, and enhance function. The Maitland Method also emphasizes constant patient feedback — adjusting treatment intensity based on your comfort and response — making it a highly individualized and gentle form of care.
Soft Tissue Mobilization
Muscles, tendons, and fascia can develop tightness, adhesions, or scar tissue after injury or surgery. Through soft tissue mobilization, your therapist uses deep, targeted pressure and rhythmic stretching to break down these restrictions. This improves circulation, reduces muscle spasm, and restores smooth movement between layers of tissue. It’s especially beneficial for chronic neck and back pain, postural tension, or athletes recovering from overuse injuries. A detailed, layer-by-layer assessment ensures the exact source of restriction is treated.
Muscle Energy Techniques (METs)
Muscle energy techniques are an active form of manual therapy that use your own gentle muscle contractions to help realign joints, lengthen tight muscles, and improve mobility. Your therapist will position your body precisely, then ask you to contract a muscle group while they apply a controlled counterforce. After each contraction, the muscle is stretched to a new length. This technique helps restore symmetry and control without aggressive stretching and is typically very comfortable and well-tolerated.
Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM)
In IASTM, your therapist uses smooth, specialized tools instead of their hands to treat the soft tissues. The tools allow for deeper, more precise pressure and can help detect and release areas of scar tissue or tightness that are difficult to feel manually. By using different tools, angles, and levels of pressure, we can target specific layers of muscle, tendon, or ligament. IASTM is highly effective for chronic tendinitis, plantar fasciitis, and other soft tissue injuries that need focused intervention.
Rapid Release Technology
The Rapid Release device is a high-speed vibration therapy tool designed to safely reduce pain and improve tissue mobility. With five built-in treatment heads, it can deliver consistent vibration to areas ranging from small muscles (like those in the jaw or neck) to larger ones (like the hamstrings or lower back). This vibration increases blood flow, decreases muscle tension, and helps release tight fascia. It’s especially useful for stubborn trigger points, muscle soreness, and post-exercise recovery. Patients typically describe it as fast, effective, and surprisingly relaxing.
By combining these manual therapy techniques, we can address the root cause of pain—not just the symptoms—so you regain freedom of movement and confidence in your body. Each technique is selected and adapted specifically for you based on your exam findings and goals.
