A New Kind of Physical Therapy Arrives in Stanfordville

Dalton Physical Therapy’s new clinic in Stanfordville looks less like a doctor’s office than a compact training studio, but it offers something increasingly rare in health care: 45 minutes of one-on-one time with a licensed physical therapist, covered by insurance.

The practice opened Oct. 6 as the only physical therapy provider in Stanfordville. It enters a region that has been without a local clinic since Pine Plains’ sole physical therapist retired in June, leaving residents with long drives for care.

The clinic is led by Mariel Mustello, who holds a doctorate in physical therapy from Nazareth College where she also earned dual bachelor’s degrees in health sciences and psychology. She is the full-time provider for the Stanfordville location and directs clinical care. Her business partner, Ryan Dalton, holds a doctorate in physical therapy from SUNY Upstate Medical University and a bachelor’s degree from St. John Fisher College. He manages the practice’s original office in Yorktown in Westchester County, now in its third year.

“People are thrilled to have something in Stanfordville,” Mustello said. “We’ve gotten random emails saying things like, ‘We’re so glad you’re here.’”

The enthusiasm reflects a genuine gap. Distance, more than demand, often dictates whether rural patients seek care at all. “One person told me today, if they had to drive 10 miles, they weren’t going to go,” Mustello said. “Being here means people who can’t drive far — especially at night — can actually access care.”

Their practice is built around extended, individualized treatment: no assistants, no overlapping schedules, and sessions lasting 45 minutes or more. “There are very few times in our lives when we have undivided attention towards something,” Mustello said. “Here, it is literally just me and the patient… I’m watching everything they’re doing, and I can modify the entire time, progress things as needed.”

Dalton said the approach stems from research emphasized in his training. “My program shared research showing the two biggest problems in our profession: overuse of passive modalities and under-challenging patients,” he said. “You can only do that appropriately if you have your eyes on them. We’re not willing to do that.”

Mustello also completed advanced coursework and certification in pelvic-health therapy, a specialty with limited availability in rural counties and significant regional demand. “There’s a real shortage of providers for that,” she said. “People are realizing that pelvic physical therapy can be super valuable and help avoid medications and procedures and pain and dysfunction.”

The clinic was designed with that specialty in mind. Mustello said pelvic-health appointments are conducted in a dedicated private room separate from the main exercise space. “Any client who comes in for a pelvic-health visit has their evaluation done in a confidential environment where anybody who comes in for the next appointment can’t hear anything that’s being said back there,” she said. “Their comfort is preserved.”

The Stanfordville location reflects an intentional focus on movement. Plyometric boxes line one wall; nearby, a squat rack, leg press, functional trainer, and kettlebells allow for a wide range of strength work. “The research tells us that movement is the most effective in creating a long-term change,” Mustello said. “We wanted to bring that to life in here.”

Dalton said the setup allows the same equipment to serve patients of all ages and abilities. “This would look very different than most other clinics that you would walk into,” he said. “A 90-year-old patient and a 17-year-old patient might use the same box, same exercise — different purpose.”

To keep costs manageable while maintaining one-on-one care, the partners handle all scheduling, billing, and insurance authorizations themselves. “In terms of front desk administrative staff, it’s us,” Dalton said. “We’re wearing both hats.”

Two evenings a week, the clinic transforms into a fitness studio.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m., Pine Plains native Kyle Gillis leads small-group strength and cardio classes in the space. Gillis, who runs sessions across Millbrook, Clinton Corners, and Stanfordville, had previously collaborated with Dalton at Noble House Physical Therapy in Millbrook. When Dalton and Mustello began searching for a location, Gillis already knew the building well — his friend’s mother had been the general contractor on its renovation.

“I started doing classes about three, four years ago in Millbrook,” Gillis said. “Then I expanded to Clinton Corners, and now I’m here. I have three locations and run classes six days a week.”

Class sizes in Stanfordville cap at eight, making it the smallest and most personal of his sites. Ages range unusually wide. “I have someone in my class who’s 13 and someone in their 80s,” Gillis said. “It’s a wide range.”

For many participants, the appeal is proximity. Ginny Gertling, who started attending Gillis’s classes over the summer, said she was “very excited” to hear he was expanding. “Kyle is amazing,” she said. “He’s super supportive and encouraging… And it’s so close. That part I really like.”

Jennifer Gardner, who recently moved from California, agreed. “It’s fabulous,” she said. “We love the town, but everything is a 20- or 30-minute drive. It’s great to see new businesses come to Stanfordville.”

Mustello and Dalton said the town has been supportive from the start, from planning board members helping them work through zoning details to residents stopping in during fitness classes just to say hello. “They really want us to succeed,” Mustello said.

Dalton said the most meaningful feedback comes from patient referrals. “It still surprises me, and it feels really good when someone refers a friend, or a family member, or a coworker,” he said. “They trust us. That’s the most rewarding thing.” He added that their goal remains straightforward: “I just want people to know that we’re here to give high-quality, independent, personalized care. Every session could look very different, and it’s because every person that walks through the door is different.”