Amber Maxwell, PTA – Physical Therapist Assistant in Richardson, TX

Physical Therapist Assistant | Pediatric, Orthopedic & Neurological Rehabilitation

Amber Maxwell, PTA, is a Physical Therapist Assistant at On Point Movement & Performance in Richardson, Texas, with a diverse clinical background spanning pediatric physical therapy, musculoskeletal and orthopedic rehabilitation, neurological rehabilitation, post-operative care, gait and balance training, and functional strengthening.

While Amber has a special passion for working with children, particularly toddlers and young children, she enjoys the variety of treating patients across the lifespan. Whether she’s helping a child develop new movement skills, an adult recover from an orthopedic injury, or someone improve their balance and functional independence, Amber brings the same encouraging and individualized approach to each patient.

Pediatric Physical Therapy

Pediatric physical therapy holds a special place for Amber.

Before joining On Point, Amber gained hands-on experience providing pediatric home-health physical therapy, working with children from infancy through adolescence and closely involving their families in the rehabilitation process.

She especially enjoys working with toddlers and young children, helping them develop strength, balance, coordination, mobility, and confidence as they grow.

One question Amber hears frequently from parents is: “Is this normal?”

Parents may notice their child falls more frequently, moves differently from other children, struggles with certain physical skills, or simply doesn’t seem to be keeping up with their peers. Amber understands how concerning that uncertainty can be for families. She enjoys helping parents better understand their child’s movement while creating an environment where children feel comfortable exploring what their bodies can do.

Her pediatric experience has included developmental milestones, functional mobility, neuromuscular conditions, orthopedic needs, sensory considerations, and children who benefit from individualized approaches to communication and participation. She has also worked alongside occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and other professionals to help children work toward meaningful functional goals.

Orthopedic & Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation

Amber also enjoys working with adolescents and adults experiencing musculoskeletal injuries, pain, weakness, or limitations in movement.

Her outpatient orthopedic experience has included rehabilitation for sports-related injuries as well as patients recovering from knee, spine, shoulder, and wrist surgeries. She has worked with individuals participating in activities including ballet, baseball, soccer, and golf.

At On Point, Amber’s orthopedic treatment approach focuses on helping patients progressively restore:

• Strength and muscular endurance
• Mobility and range of motion
• Balance and movement control
• Functional capacity
• Confidence with everyday activities
• Tolerance for recreational and athletic activity

She enjoys helping patients bridge the gap between simply feeling better and becoming confident in what their body can do again. Learn more about orthopedic physical therapy and sports rehab at On Point.

Neurological, Gait & Balance Rehabilitation

Amber’s clinical background also includes experience with neurological rehabilitation, gait training, balance deficits, generalized weakness, and functional mobility.

During her hospital-based clinical experience, she worked with patients requiring rehabilitation for neurological conditions, generalized weakness, orthopedic post-operative care, gait and balance limitations, and cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation.

She has experience using neuromuscular re-education, gait and balance training, therapeutic exercise, and functional activities to help patients safely navigate everyday life. Amber particularly enjoys finding creative ways to help individuals who may require a different approach to movement, motivation, communication, or learning.

Her goal isn’t simply to get patients through an exercise session. It’s to help them develop skills that translate into greater independence and confidence outside of therapy. Learn more about neurological rehabilitation and balance and gait treatment at On Point.

Amber’s Approach to Physical Therapy

Amber brings a little Southern charm to On Point along with a philosophy that balances compassion with appropriate challenge. She believes patients, children and adults alike, are often capable of more than they think.

Sometimes that means encouraging a toddler to attempt a new movement. Sometimes it’s helping someone with a neurological condition take on a challenging balance activity. And sometimes it’s showing an orthopedic patient that their recovering shoulder, knee, or back is stronger and more capable than they realized. Amber enjoys finding that extra bit of potential and helping patients recognize it for themselves.

At the same time, she understands that effective physical therapy isn’t about simply telling someone to “push through the pain.” She pays attention to how her patients respond and knows when to progress, modify, or scale back an activity.

Her philosophy can be summed up simply: Encourage. Challenge. Listen. Adapt. This approach allows Amber to challenge patients appropriately while ensuring they feel heard and supported throughout rehabilitation.

Who Amber Works With

• Toddlers and children working on gross motor development, strength, balance, coordination, and functional mobility
• Adolescents and athletes recovering from musculoskeletal and sports-related injuries
• Adults experiencing orthopedic pain, weakness, or movement limitations
• Post-operative patients rebuilding strength and mobility
• Neurological patients working to improve movement and functional independence
• Older adults addressing gait, balance, weakness, and fall risk

That versatility allows Amber to treat patients throughout different stages of life while still pursuing her particular passion for pediatric rehabilitation.

Education & Professional Background

Amber earned her Associate of Applied Science in Physical Therapist Assistant studies from Central Georgia Technical College in 2023. She previously earned an Associate of Health Science from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in 2021.

She passed the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) in January 2024 and began practicing as a licensed Physical Therapist Assistant. She also served as President of her Central Georgia Technical College PTA cohort in 2023.

Her clinical and professional experience includes:

• Pediatric Physical Therapy
• Pediatric Home Health
• Orthopedic & Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation
• Post-Surgical Rehabilitation
• Neurological Rehabilitation
• Gait & Balance Training
• Neuromuscular Re-education
• Functional Strengthening
• Sports Rehabilitation

Outside the Clinic

When Amber isn’t helping patients move better, you’ll probably find her spending time on the farm with her husband. Amber and her husband also have a heart for animals and foster cats and dogs, providing animals with a caring environment while they wait for their next home.

Her love for children, animals, and helping others fits naturally with the warm, down-to-earth personality she brings to On Point. Patients can expect plenty of encouragement, a little Southern charm, and someone who believes they may be capable of more than they think.

Meet Amber at On Point Movement & Performance

Whether you’re looking for help with an orthopedic injury, recovering from surgery, working to improve balance and mobility, managing a neurological condition, or wondering whether your child’s movement and development are on track, Amber and the On Point team are here to help. Schedule an evaluation.