US Army Veteran and Community Support Specialist with Dynamic Therapeutics, Dr. Tonya Butler Ed.D, LMT, NSCA-CPT, is a dedicated professional, driven by her desire to improve the lives of fellow Veterans who have suffered traumatic brain injuries. Prior to this dedication, Dr. Butler's biggest mission was to serve her country as part of the United States Army. While doing so, and on a 6 year active duty tour, she served as a Sergeant/E5 and was a part of the US Army Band, playing the Flute and Piccolo. After also serving as a NCO Master Fitness Trainer, she then moved on to the US Army Reserves for two additional years of service.

 

Upon her Honorable Discharge, Dr. Butler made the decision to join the fitness industry. As she did so, she realized that she could combine her love for fitness with her appreciation for fellow Veterans, especially those who had been injured. In preparation for this role, she attended the University of Georgia, where she earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Recreation and Leisure Studies, with a focus on Exercise Programming and Outdoor Recreation. From the same university, and after concentrating on Community Wellness and Corporate Recreation, she also earned her Masters of Science. In 2011, Dr. Butler graduated from the Georgia Medical Massage Institute, earning a certificate and a license in Medical Massage Therapy and Advanced Trigger Point Therapy. Following this achievement, she completed her studies at the United States Sports Academy and earned her Doctorate of Education in Sports Management with an emphasis on Adaptive Sports. While earning this degree, she chose to focus her dissertation on the topic of, The Efficacy of Offering Adaptive Sports to Wounded Female Veterans.

 

Throughout her education, Dr. Butler held various roles in personal training. Not only has she served as a Health and Fitness Consultant, Wilderness Medical Support for Wilderness Therapy Programs, Fitness Director, and Cardiac Rehabilitation Specialist, but she was also a Team Therapist for the NFL's Atlanta Falcons. Along with working as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist, in 1997, she opened her own company, De Novo Fitness Systems, where she created fitness and corporate wellness programs. Selling the company in 2007, Dr. Butler gained the position of Assistant Professor at the University of North Georgia where she taught Exercise Science, Sport and Recreation Studies. This would open the door for her to also teach courses such as Sports Nutrition, Survival Skills, Weight Training, Canoe and Kayaking, and many other subjects. As a certified kayak instructor through the American Canoe Association, she was able to form a chapter of Team River Runner in South Alabama that helped wounded and disabled Veterans heal through the use of paddle sports.

 

Today, Dr. Butler's role is that of Owner and Community Support Specialist of Dynamic Therapeutics and Sports Performance. Here, while specializing in adaptive sports, it is her mission to help wounded warriors who have suffered traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries to reestablish their independence and improve their quality of life. In doing so, she provides adaptive sports and expressive arts therapy for wounded warriors. Alongside this, she utilizes an extensive amount of knowledge in medical massage therapy to provide techniques such as trigger point, myofascial release,  musculoskeletal interventions, and biomechanical retraining to guide her clients in easing their pains and frustrations, and above it all, restoring a pain-free, quality of life they have long deserved.