Our Approach
At FPI, we take a comprehensive approach to addressing your pain and getting you back to what you love.
Our strategies are intended to not only address your current pain symptoms, but to identify underlying movement issues and improve them, in an effort to minimize risk of re-injury.
This offers you a long-term solution, not just a short-term band-aid.
Meet the Team
Danielle Damelio, DC
Dr. Danielle Damelio founded Functional Performance Institute in 2003 with the desire to bring a truly integrated approach to wellness.
She graduated Magna Cum Laude from both Rutgers University, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, and Los Angeles College of Chiropractic (SCUHS) with her clinical Doctorate degree.
A background as both a competitive gymnast and track athlete laid the foundation for her interest in sports injury. She has established herself as an expert in soft tissue sports injury treatment and prevention, with a concentration on functional muscular balance in athletes, ergonomics and posture. This focus distinguishes Dr. Danielle from chiropractors who traditionally focus on the skeletal system and enables her to see and treat a larger array of injuries.
Dr. Danielle did an externship in sports injury under Dr. Timothy Brown, where she became a specialist in SPRT Kinesiotaping. Dr. Damelio is one of only a few chiropractors in the state trained in SPRT taping.
She holds advanced certifications in the following techniques: Functional Movement Screen (FMS), Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA), Functional Range Conditioning/Release (FRC/FRR), Eldoa Method and Mulligan Mobilization with Movement.
Dr. Damelio is also an active member of the Association of New Jersey Chiropractors Sports Council. She volunteers for such organizations as the Central Jersey Road Runners Club, New Jersey Tae Kwon Do and New Jersey Track & Field.
She has been on the medical team at such events as the Mountain Dew Tour, Levels 9 and 10 NJ State Gymnastics Championships, the USGA Senior Amateur Championship, the New Jersey Triathlon, the New York City Marathon, the California AIDs Ride, and the Avon Breast Cancer Walk. She served as the Rutgers University Gymnastics Team Chiropractor and continues to serve on the medical staff for Team Jamaica at the Penn Relays Track & Field. She is also an industry-leading speaker on athletic injury protocols over various platforms in the state.
Dr. Danielle has had the honor of working with professional athletes from the NFL, NHL, NBA, Division 1 collegiate athletics and WTA (tennis), as well as national and Olympic Level track athletes.
Kara Conroy, DC
Dr. Kara Conroy is a chiropractor who specializes in treating musculoskeletal issues, pregnancy/postpartum, and sports injuries. She utilizes manual chiropractic adjustments, functional rehabilitation, and functional movement assessments as the foundation of her patient’s care.
She was born and raised in North Carolina, but moved to the Midwest to attend the University of Missouri. She played lacrosse during her time there and assisted with coaching in her last year. She received her Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Logan University where she was a leader on campus as a representative of the Motion Palpation Institute chapter. She did an internship at the University of Memphis working with the sports medicine team and treating their D1 athletes.
Dr. Conroy also has a special interest in women’s health and pediatric care. She empowers women to take control of their own pregnancy, birth, and postpartum period. Kara also enjoys working with infants and children and has extensive training to help kids of all ages.
Most of her treatment approach is based off principles from Motion Palpation Institute, Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization, Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (McKenzie), Functional and Kinetic Rehab (FAKTR), Perinatal Manual Care, and TMJ Dysfunction courses. With this as her base, she is dedicated to making you even healthier so you can reach your goals!
Violet Brodowska-Legiec L.Ac.
Wioletta Brodowska-Legiec, known as Violet, is a licensed and board certified Diplomate of Acupuncture by the NCCAOM acupuncturist in New Jersey and New York. She graduated in 2012 from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in New York City, where she received her Bachelor of Professional Studies and Master of Science in Acupuncture. She also received her second Bachelor from Kean University in Psychology in 2017.
In Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, Violet completed four years and 3,400 hours program of acupuncture and related therapeutic modalities, with a substantial portion of studies devoted to western medicine. Her clinical experience included the Initiative for Women with Disabilities at NYU Langone, where she treated complex cases including musculoskeletal and nerve pain.
Violet is passionate in providing comprehensive holistic care through acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, moxibution, gua-sha and cupping.
Kathryn Blaze, CPT
Kathryn Blaze is on a mission to help people reclaim their health by recommitting to movement. She is a certified kettlebell specialist and NASM Certified Personal Trainer with a focus on movement rehab.
With a background in classical ballet, Kathryn kicked off her group fitness career teaching dance cardio and barre formats for over a decade at Equinox Fitness clubs and other gyms around NJ and NYC.
She fell in love with kettlebells after a functional chiropractor prescribed strength training for her chronic neck pain and went on to become certified as a StrongFirst Kettlebell Specialist.
She has studied rehab approaches like Dynamic Neuromuscular Rehabilitation (DNS) and is also a Pre and Postnatal Corrective Exercise Specialist.
Kathryn’s approach rejects conventional fitness extremes and focuses on a balanced middle ground. She believes in training for LIFE, and creating a movement plan that helps set you up for long term success + longevity.
Get in touch.
We’d love to talk more about how we can help you reduce pain, feel stronger, and perform better.