Restore Your Body
When you've been living with chronic pain, unexplained fatigue, or a condition like EDS or POTS, you already know what it feels like to walk into a clinic and leave feeling unseen. A standard exercise handout isn't going to help. Neither is a therapist who hasn't heard of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome or doesn't understand why loading your joints the typical way makes things worse.
That experience is more common than it should be, and it's exactly what Dr. Kendra Lucas, PT, DPT built Mermaid Well to change.
Physical therapy at Mermaid Well in Dayton, Ohio starts with one thing: actually understanding your condition. Whether you're dealing with joint hypermobility, CRPS, fibromyalgia, back pain that's been dismissed, or fatigue that no one has been able to explain, Kendra brings specialized training and a full evaluation to every appointment. No assumptions. No cookie-cutter protocols.
What Makes Physical Therapy at Mermaid Well Different
Dr. Kendra Lucas holds a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) and is one of a small number of therapists in the Dayton area with specialized training in hypermobility and connective tissue conditions. She is certified in Finding Functional Foundations and the Integral Movement Method through the EDS ECHO program, training designed specifically for clinicians treating Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and hypermobility spectrum disorders.
She is also a Clinical Specialist in Aquatic Physical Therapy, a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, and a HeartMath Certified Practitioner. That combination matters for patients whose pain, fatigue, or nervous system dysregulation requires more than traditional land-based PT can offer.
The result is a practice where your history is taken seriously, your evaluation is thorough, and your treatment plan is built around how your body actually works, not how a typical body is supposed to.
Services
Hands-on Manual Therapy
Myofascial Release
Intraoral Release for Jaw Pain
Cupping Therapy
Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM)
Heated Scraping with Achedaway Tool
Aquatic Therapy
Pilates Rehab
Tai Chi Rehab
Exercise Prescription
Finding Functional Foundations (FFF)™ Training (EDS ECHO)
The Integral Movement Method (IMM) Training (EDS ECHO)
Pacing with Visible
SenMoCOR™ (Sensory Motor Control-Oriented Rehabilitation) Training
Functional Movement Training
Vagus Nerve Stimulation
Rest and Restore Protocol™ (RRP)
Pain Neuroscience Education
TRX® Suspension Training
Spinefitter® by Sissel® Training
Yoga Tune Up® Therapy
Dynamic Air Compression with Normatec Go by Hyperice
Kineon Red Light Therapy
What to Expect
- A thorough evaluation — Your first appointment is a comprehensive assessment of your movement, strength, pain patterns, and history. Kendra takes the time to understand what's been tried before and what hasn't worked.
- A personalized treatment plan — Based on your evaluation, you'll receive a plan that draws from the full range of modalities below. For complex conditions like EDS or POTS, this often means a slower, more careful progression than standard PT protocols.
- Ongoing collaboration — Treatment at Mermaid Well evolves with you. As your body responds, your plan adjusts. You're not being handed a home exercise sheet and sent on your way.
Conditions Treated
Generalized Deconditioning
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)
Arthritis
Joint Pain
Nerve Pain
Neck Pain
Craniocervical Instability
Migraines and Headaches
Jaw Pain
Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMD)
Low Back Pain
Spinal Stenosis
Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD)
Disc Herniation
Lumbar Radiculopathy
Lumbar Spondylolisthesis
Sciatica
Scoliosis
Sacroiliac Joint Pain
Hip Labral Injuries
Hip Impingement
Bursitis
Knee Pain
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
Chondromalacia Patellae
Frozen Shoulder
Rotator Cuff Injuries
Hand Pain
Thumb Pain
Achilles Tendinopathy
Ankle Sprain
Heel Pain
Plantar Fasciitis
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
Dance Injuries
Fibromyalgia
Subluxations and Dislocations
Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD)
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS)
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)
And More!
Physical Therapy That Meets You Where You Are
Specialized in complex conditions. From fibromyalgia and hypermobility to CRPS and craniocervical instability, this is PT for the diagnoses that most clinics don't have the training to treat well.
More tools than a standard clinic. Aquatic therapy, myofascial release, Pilates rehab, vagus nerve stimulation, red light therapy, and 20+ additional modalities are available in one practice.
Out-of-network, on your timeline. Mermaid Well is a private-pay practice. No insurance restrictions on appointment length, treatment type, or how many sessions you can have. FSA and HSA accepted.
Dayton-based, deeply experienced. Serving patients in Dayton, Kettering, Centerville, Beavercreek, Miamisburg, and West Carrollton.
Pricing
Physical Therapy Initial Evaluation - $200
Hypermobility (HSD/EDS) Initial Evaluation - $200
Aquatic Initial Evaluation - $200
Physical Therapy Follow-up Treatment - $150
The Integral Movement Method (IMM) Virtual Group Session - $55
Virtual/Telehealth Physical Therapy Available to Patients located in:
Ohio
Indiana
Pennsylvania
Virginia
West Virginia
Florida
Testimonials
"Dr. Kendra has made a hugely positive impact on my life. I have learned so much from being in therapy with her. Thank you for listening and for all your hard work." ~Physical Therapy Patient
"Dr. Lucas was incredible! She was super attentive to my ailments and excited to help! I'm very excited to begin my journey to repair my body and reach my fullest potential. I love that Dr. Lucas is enthusiastic and energetic, because it makes me feel more comfortable going through this therapy!" ~Physical Therapy Patient
"My heart is filled with gratitude for a reboot!!! Thank you for all your help in Therapy. My heart is so grateful for Dr. Kendra for teaching me how to use tools through pain. Like breathing, Tai Chi, and the floor exercises. Also for just listening!!!" ~Physical Therapy Patient
"Dr. Kendra has a caring heart and a generous spirit, and I'm so grateful that my life has been touched by both. I have enjoyed my sessions with her. Thank you for helping me!" ~Physical Therapy Patient
Frequently Asked Questions
No referral is required. You can book directly through the online scheduler. Because Mermaid Well is an out-of-network, private-pay practice, you don't need insurance authorization to begin.
That's a common experience for people with hypermobility, POTS, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue conditions, and it's often because standard PT protocols weren't designed with these conditions in mind. Kendra's evaluation is designed to understand your history and build a plan that works with your body, not against it.
Yes. Dr. Kendra Lucas is a Clinical Specialist in Aquatic Physical Therapy and offers sessions at the warm-water pool location at Twigs Kids in West Carrollton, Ohio (88 degrees F). Aquatic therapy is particularly well suited for hypermobility, fibromyalgia, arthritis, and conditions where land-based exercise is difficult to tolerate.
