An Atlanta native, Erika grew up being very active, playing softball for 15 years and into college at Florida State University, where she achieved her bachelors degree in Exercise Science. While she always thought she wanted to pursue orthopedic surgery as her career, she soon realized that physical therapy was much more fitting for her interests and personality. She received her doctorate in physical therapy from Mercer University in 2019. Since beginning her career, she has become well adept at treating various orthopedic conditions, sports injuries, and women’s pelvic floor dysfunction.

Erika became interested in physical therapy during her undergraduate studies. She played on the Florida State Division I softball team and watched multiple teammates suffer from severe injuries, getting a few minor ones along the way herself. Through rehabilitation, each one of her teammates was able to return to playing softball at the highest level, sometimes stronger than they were prior to the injury. Sports medicine and orthopedic physical therapy has since been a favorite of Erika’s, and she has continued her love for exercise, weight lifting, and athletics into adulthood.

In physical therapy school, Dr. Martin’s interest turned towards women’s health and pelvic floor physical therapy after having pelvic floor dysfunction herself. She realized that pelvic floor dysfunction does not discriminate against age, gender, or whether or not you have had children, and she searched for more information on how to fix her issues. Through her own journey with pelvic floor dysfunction and chronic low back pain, she has been able to find a second passion in working with women who have pelvic floor dysfunction and helping them to become active again.

As an active woman who enjoys weight lifting and exercise, Dr. Martin has realized that there is a disconnect in many outpatient therapy clinics. Oftentimes, there is a limitation in their ability to continue to train patients at higher performance levels, and the discussion on the importance of pelvic floor health (for women AND men!) is left out entirely. She has sought to change that narrative by creating Persist Rehabilitation and Performance, where her goal is to be able to combine her knowledge and experience with athletics, orthopedics, and the importance of pelvic floor health in order to provide the most well rounded and complete approach to physical therapy.