Cohen Health and Performance

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Cohen Health and Performance Physical Therapy and Performance Training to help you conquer pain and optimize performance

Physical therapy and performance training for those that take their health seriously

We believe that all active people deserve the high quality and individually focused care that is typically only reserved for elite athletes. Our mission is to enhance the lives of individuals who desire to live an active lifestyle by providing elite level physical therapy and performance training. This means that we treat you as an individual, rather than splitting time between 2-3 patients at one time. This helps you to overcome injury and return to performing at your highest level in the least amount of time!

08/03/2026

For those of you who haven’t already, meet Dr. Alex Nemer PT, DPT, ATC/L, CSCS!

Dr. Alex grew up as a high-level athlete competing in football and basketball, sustaining numerous injuries that ultimately sparked his passion for rehabilitation and performance. That firsthand experience drives his focus on working with athletes and active adults to this day. Before pursuing his degrees, he spent three years as a strength and conditioning specialist in the private sector, building a strong foundation in performance science alongside the athletes he served.

Alex began his academic career at Virginia Tech, earning a Bachelor’s in Human Nutrition, Food and Science, before completing a dual degree in Physical Therapy and Athletic Training at Shenandoah University in Wi******er, Virginia. His clinical training brought him to some of the most demanding environments in sports medicine, including the Wake Forest University football program and Champion PT & Performance, a top sports PT clinic in the Boston area. He most recently completed a sports residency in Lawrence, Kansas, where he worked with University of Kansas and Baker University athletics and gained exposure to leading sports medicine surgeons in the Kansas City area.

Dr. Alex’s rare combination of strength and conditioning expertise, athletic training credentials, and high-performance clinical experience allows him to deliver an exceptional level of care to athletes and active adults pursuing peak performance.

07/24/2026

Your warm-up isn’t just about getting sweaty—it’s about getting your body ready to move well. 💪

Priming your core and hips before lifting helps:
• Create a stable base for every rep
• Improve movement quality and lifting mechanics
• Maintain proper form as the weight gets heavier
• Reduce unnecessary stress on your spine by improving trunk stability and hip control

A few intentional minutes before you lift can make a huge difference in both performance and longevity. Train smarter, not just harder.

SportsPT LiftSmart StrengthAndConditioning

07/20/2026

I recently wrapped up a half marathon training block and have about 6 weeks before I start preparing for my next marathon.

To figure out what strength work to prioritize during this off-season, I put myself through the same strength testing I regularly use with my athletes.

Here’s what I looked at and why it matters:

🏃‍♂️ Jumps – Help identify asymmetries in how well I produce and absorb force dynamically. Running is essentially a series of single-leg jumps, so this is a key performance metric.

💪 Hip Strength – Critical for runners and often undertrained. Strong hips help with stability, efficiency, and injury prevention.

⚡ Hamstring Strength – Plays a major role in propulsion and becomes especially important when picking up the pace during workouts and races.

🔥 Hip Flexor Strength – Essential for faster running speeds and historically one of my personal weak points.

🦵 Quad Strength – Strong quads help keep your knees healthy and improve your ability to handle hills and higher training loads.

Testing helps reveal where to focus your training so you can get the most out of your next block.

If you’re a runner dealing with an injury or looking to take your performance to the next level, come check us out!

07/10/2026

Always learning. Always growing.

Team Education Day is one of our favorite traditions because investing in our team means investing in the care we provide. Every quarter, we come together to learn from one another, share knowledge, sharpen our skills, and stay committed to becoming even better physical therapists.

We’re proud to never stop growing so we can continue providing the highest level of care for our patients. Here’s to lifelong learning and a team that’s always striving to be better—together. 💪📚

07/06/2026

For those of you who haven’t already, meet Dr. Michael Bearden PT, DPT, CSCS!

Dr. Mike Bearden is originally from Georgia and recently moved to the DMV area. He grew up playing various sports and had a passion for baseball and football in his youth. Coming from a military family, he decided to join the army after high school and pursue becoming a member of the 75th Ranger Regiment. After spending 4 years as a Ranger, he decided to pursue a career as a physical therapist and strength coach to help people continue their journeys in being active and injury free.

Mike graduated from Columbus State University with a Bachelors in Kinesiology and continued his education at Georgia Southern University, graduating with his Doctor of Physical Therapy. During that time, he worked as a strength coach and continued his own competitive journey, competing in Olympic lifting, strongman, and Muay Thai kickboxing.

Driven by a strong desire for working with athletes and acute injury management, Mike continued to work alongside athletic trainers to provide care during sporting and military training events. He has a strong passion for helping athletes of all ages and backgrounds to get back to their preinjury state and improve their performance in order to become the best version of themselves possible.

07/01/2026

Doing the right exercises doesn’t matter if you’re not challenging yourself. 👀

One of the biggest mistakes we see?

People attack their workouts 💪 but coast through their mobility and corrective exercises.

Your body only adapts when it’s given a reason to.

The second mistake? 🚨

Rushing through your program just to get to the “real workout.”

Slow down.
Focus on quality.
Apply effort.

Sometimes 3 exercises done well are better than 10 done halfway. 🎯

Train your rehab and maintenance work with the same intention you bring to the gym.

06/29/2026

Think your core is just about abs? 🤔

For many people with back pain, the issue isn’t strength. It’s pressure control.

If your stomach pushes out every time you brace, lift, run, or train, your spine may be taking on more stress than it needs to. ⚠️

A strong core isn’t just about looking good. It’s about:
💪 Supporting your spine
🫁 Managing pressure effectively
🏃 Moving efficiently
🏋️ Lifting with confidence

Sometimes the key to better performance and less back pain isn’t doing more core work. It’s learning how to use the core you already have.

06/22/2026

“Torn meniscus.” “Bone-on-bone.” “Degenerative changes.” 😳

Hearing those words on an MRI can be scary... but they don’t automatically mean you need surgery.

Many people have degenerative changes and still live active, pain-free lives. 💪

The bigger question is:
👉 How well does your knee move?
👉 How strong is it?
👉 Can it handle the activities you want to do?

Before jumping to surgery, focus on what you can control:
🏋️ Strength
🦵 Mobility
🎯 Movement quality
📈 Progressive loading

Your MRI is only part of the story.

In many cases, the right rehab program can help you get back to doing what you love without going under the knife. ✅

06/19/2026

Shoulder pain doesn’t always mean you need to stop lifting. 🏋️‍♂️

A few smart exercise modifications can keep you training while your shoulder calms down.

Try these swaps:
✅ Landmine press instead of overhead press
✅ Neutral grip pull-ups instead of traditional pull-ups
✅ Limit bench press range of motion with a pad or block

The goal isn’t to avoid training. It’s to train smarter. 💪

If your shoulder hurts during lifts, the problem may not be the exercise itself. It could be mobility, strength, technique, recovery, or how your body is handling load.

Keep moving. Keep training. Address the root cause. 🎯

06/15/2026

Did you know ACL injuries happen more often on turf than grass? ⚠️

One reason: turf tends to “grab” your cleats more aggressively. When your foot gets stuck, those rotational forces have to go somewhere... often straight to the knee. 🦵

If you play lacrosse, soccer, or football, here’s what matters most:

✅ Strength training
✅ Proper warm-ups
✅ Good landing and cutting mechanics
✅ Turf-specific footwear
✅ Staying hydrated and managing fatigue

Turf isn’t going anywhere. The goal isn’t to avoid sports. It’s to prepare your body to handle the demands of the game. 💪

The strongest athletes aren’t just fast and powerful. They’re resilient.

Address

5272 River Road, Suite 350
Bethesda, MD
20816

Opening Hours

Monday 7am - 7pm
Tuesday 7am - 7pm
Wednesday 7am - 7pm
Thursday 7am - 7pm
Friday 7am - 7pm

Telephone

+12406865609

Website

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