Riva Preil, PT, DPT, WCS, BCB-PMD, CLT

Leading Physical Therapist in NYC for Pelvic Floor Therapy

Riva is a leading pelvic floor physical therapist. After graduating from Hunter College, Riva practiced at St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center’s (SJRMC) outpatient department treating patients with various musculoskeletal and neurological disorders. Riva’s passion for women’s health led her to create the Pelvic Floor Program at SJRMC, where she treated women with bladder, bowel, and sexual dysfunction. After her experience at SJRMC, Riva worked at a renowned pelvic floor physical therapy clinic in New York City where she continued to treat women with various pelvic floor disorders, including, dyspareunia, interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, pudendal neuralgia, constipation, incontinence, prenatal and postpartum conditions, pelvic organ prolapse, and chronic pelvic pain. Riva has also treated pediatric bladder and bowel dysfunction.

Riva is Also Trained Craniosacral Therapy and Other Modalities

In addition to using therapeutic exercise and manual therapy, Riva is certified in various modalities to help her patients achieve their goals. She is a Board Certified Specialist in Women’s Health Physical Therapy (WCS) and she received biofeedback certification in treating pelvic floor dysfunction from BCB-PMD. She is also a Certified Lymphedema Therapist (CLT) through the Academy of Lymphatics, allowing her to treat individuals who experience upper and/or lower extremity swelling. Furthermore, she is trained in Craniosacral Therapy to help patients with hyper-sensitized central nervous systems and disruptions in cerebrospinal fluid flow.

To complement her clinical experience, Riva hosted a pelvic floor radio show and writes a blog on women’s health. She is excited about being the founder and owner of Revitalize Physical Therapy, and she looks forward to having the opportunity to help many along their healing journey.

Melissa Goldstein, PT, DPT

Melissa Goldstein is a physical therapist who specializes in treating patients with pelvic floor needs and chronic pain syndromes. After graduating from SUNY Downstate, Melissa practiced at Burke Rehabilitation, treating patients with a wide range of orthopedic, neurologic and pelvic floor diagnoses. Melissa has furthered her pelvic floor education with the Herman and Wallace Institute, attending courses focusing on pelvic pain, colorectal pelvic health, urogynecologic examination and treatment, and bowel and bladder incontinence.

As a mother and a runner, Melissa is eager to help women throughout each lifecycle event and enable them to continue exercising and to live their life to the fullest without being held back by pelvic pain or incontinence. As a therapist, Melissa is passionate about providing therapy for males who are struggling with pelvic floor issues and providing education about a topic that few men know about. Melissa creates a safe space during the treatment sessions enabling patients to provide a full medical history and ask any questions they may have.

Melissa has experience working with male and female pelvic floor diagnosis such as prolapse, neurogenic bowel and bladder, urinary and fecal incontinence, constipation, vulvodynia, interstitial cystitis, pudendal neuralgia, prostatitis and dyspareunia. She uses a combination of manual techniques, individualized exercises, education about the anatomy and diagnosis, and neurological reeducation to ensure the optimal outcome for each patient. Melissa feels privileged to assist patients on their pelvic floor rehabilitation journey.

Shayna Zelefsky, PT, DPT

Shayna (Sheryl) Zelefsky earned her bachelor's degree in biology from Lander College, a division of Touro University, followed by a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Hunter College. Shayna is passionate about helping women and men regain strength, confidence, and control after surgical procedures, childbirth, or with conditions like urinary incontinence, chronic constipation, or pelvic pain. With experience in both orthopedics and pelvic floor therapy, Shayna takes a holistic, evidence-based approach to care, treating the entire body, not just the pelvic floor, while customizing each treatment plan to meet the individual’s unique needs and goals. Inspired by her own postpartum journey, she is dedicated to supporting others on their path to healing and wellness. When she is not in the clinic, Shayna enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter, staying active, or whipping up something delicious in the kitchen.

Elise Shangold, Marketing and Social Media Manager

Elise is a professional actor & social media manager. Her content creation & social media experience expands through restaurants, women’s health & fitness, wedding & family photography, and now – pelvic floor PT! With a pelvic floor dysfunction herself, she is thrilled to be spreading the word far & wide. She is passionate about educating on pelvic health, and erasing the stigma! She also has extensive experience as a performer! Elise has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from Rider University. Right after college, she was in the new musical national tour of An Officer and A Gentleman, that she had been with through its reading and workshop stages with Work Light Productions. Select regional credits include Mystic Pizza at the John W. Engeman Theater, You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown, Beehive, And The World Goes Round at Forestburgh Playhouse, and Snow White at the Hangar Theater.